Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
I always wonder who will get a ring first: Marty or Peyton. It could well happen for one of them this year. I think both San Diego and Indy would be favored over Chicago or whomever else comes out of the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Here's what I want to know. Do you trust Marty once you get into the playoffs? This guy has brought good team after good team into the postseason - from Cleveland to K.C. to S.D. - and he has come away disappointed every time. It's no secret what the knock on him is. He feels the noose tightening around his neck once the ball is kicked off in January, and he gets ULTRA-conservative.
He's getting pats on the back for letting OC Cam Cameron open things up, and for allowing young Philip to let it fly. But this is the regular season. Do you have any worries that we are going to see the "same old Marty" once the playoffs begin? That would be a shame. This has the makings of a very special team, especially once they get all of their defensive personnel back. I'd hate to see poor coaching hold them back.
And for the record, I'm happy for the diehard Chargers fans. You had a couple of stretches of some HORRIBLE football there for awhile. It wasn't easy to watch. First with the Dan Henning teams in the early 90s which were led by John Friesz and Billy Joe Tolliver, followed later in the decade by the awful Craig Whelihan/Ryan Leaf squads.
I never have and never will like the Broncos and Chiefs, but I always found it hard to root against the Chargers. It's like trying to be mad at a koala bear or a basket of puppies. They've always been a classy organization. I hope you guys bring home the hardware for the AFC West!
Here's what I want to know. Do you trust Marty once you get into the playoffs? This guy has brought good team after good team into the postseason - from Cleveland to K.C. to S.D. - and he has come away disappointed every time. It's no secret what the knock on him is. He feels the noose tightening around his neck once the ball is kicked off in January, and he gets ULTRA-conservative.
He's getting pats on the back for letting OC Cam Cameron open things up, and for allowing young Philip to let it fly. But this is the regular season. Do you have any worries that we are going to see the "same old Marty" once the playoffs begin? That would be a shame. This has the makings of a very special team, especially once they get all of their defensive personnel back. I'd hate to see poor coaching hold them back.
And for the record, I'm happy for the diehard Chargers fans. You had a couple of stretches of some HORRIBLE football there for awhile. It wasn't easy to watch. First with the Dan Henning teams in the early 90s which were led by John Friesz and Billy Joe Tolliver, followed later in the decade by the awful Craig Whelihan/Ryan Leaf squads.
I never have and never will like the Broncos and Chiefs, but I always found it hard to root against the Chargers. It's like trying to be mad at a koala bear or a basket of puppies. They've always been a classy organization. I hope you guys bring home the hardware for the AFC West!
As for Marty, I had a little nagging bit of concern earlier in the year about him holding the team back, but while it will never be erased completely until the team wins it all, it is basically gone for me. I think that the team's talent and poise has allowed Marty to loosen the reins and have faith in the team's ability to play intelligently. Marty-ball seems to be the result of trying to minimize risk, and Rivers has shown great judgement and he doesn't make many bad decisions or bad throws. (I don't think even Kevin Gilbride could have ruined Rivers.) I haven't seen a replay of the playcalling that everyone chastised in the 2nd half of either the Oakland or Baltimore game lately.Cameron's play-calling can be a little confusing, though. At times he looks like a genius and other times you swear Marty-of-old is sending in plays. Cameron says he calls all the plays (but Marty, without a doubt, gives situational input), so I feel more and more confident that the offense won't turtle up with the game on the line. The defense (particularly Castillo) being injured/suspended the past few weeks may end up being the proverbial blessing in disguise. Making the offense carry the load has given the coaches and fans faith in Rivers and the offense in general, and I look forward to seeing the aggressiveness continue after the defense is intact again. If the Chargers falter in the playoffs, I don't think "Martyball" will be the reason.
