**The Official San Diego Chargers 2011 Season Thread**
- Thread starter Jaysav
- Start date
GOOD ARTICLE ......
Story by Nick Canepa
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Just the other day a trusted friend with enough NFL experience and knowledge to fill the Library of Congress’ library was telling me: “You don’t understand. The Chargers aren’t as good as you think they are.”
Could he be right? I wondered if my bud was joining me in a senior moment.
But after watching 46 constipated Chargers strain to get anything done Sunday to beat the measly Kansas City Chiefs by three measly points, I understand. He got me. Even if they must be an acquired taste, this Chargers cocktail goes down rough. There is nothing smooth and easy to swallow with this football team.
It has no personality. It doesn’t sing. It sits out on the stoop for 60 minutes whistling at the women who walk by. Not really a threat. They’re sure not bullies.
They have no kick. They’re blah. They aren’t bad, they aren’t good. They’re just sitting there like a lump of clay, waiting to be molded by head coach Norv Turner, who’s having a tough time playing Michelangelo with 10 opposable thumbs.
If the Chargers ever were among the NFL elite, and it seems so hard for us to look at them and believe otherwise, it’s clear after three games that they’re not. Elite teams do not struggle at home against a club that had been outscored 89-10 in its first two games, and the hosts had to hang on by their chin straps Sunday to drift by 20-17.
I don’t know why it is, and I’m sure he doesn’t know what it is or he’d do something about it, but every single Turner team here has been a work in progress. As it stands, this group may be 2-1 (exceptional for Norv), but it isn’t close to being very good. It has trace elements, that’s it.
Now whether these elements can come together and form something whole, you’re guess is as good as mine, and lord knows my guesses involving this team have stunk. Sure they’re nicked up. Kansas City was, too.
We hear they’re pumped, they’re prepared. Bah. Not even Philip Rivers is good right now, and if you consider six picks in three games (two Sunday) from a quarterback who threw 11 interceptions all of last year, good, you’re Eli Manning.
Turner can see it. He’s no rube.
“The biggest thing for me right now with our entire football team is we’re not in sync in terms of playing the entire game in the type of rhythm we’d like,” Norv would say.
Exactly right. There’s no flow to their game. They do something right and then either something stupid or something bad or not much of anything. Sunday they had but a 10-0 lead at halftime despite running off a whopping 44 plays worth 211 yards, going 7 for 10 on third down and gathering 14 first downs to the Chiefs’ 0 (zero, zilch).
Folks should have been heading for the exits at intermission. Instead, the Chargers allowed the inept Chiefs not only to make a game of it, but came within a heady interception by safety Eric Weddle (off a Matt Cassel screen pass with :55 remaining) to getting themselves tied or beaten.
They’ve been waiting for a breakout game by tailback Ryan Mathews, and he came close in this one, rushing 21 times for 98 yards and catching four passes for 51 more.
“I’m excited about Ryan and what he’s doing,” Turner said. “He’s getting better every week.”
But any time tight end Antonio Gates — “One of the four or five best players in terms of passing-game receivers I’ve even been around,” according to Norv — sits out with his bad foot, it can’t help the offense. And receiver Malcom Floyd (groin) wasn’t 100 percent.
Still, even with top wideout Vincent Jackson sitting out most of 2010 (and Gates also missing six games), the passing game is nowhere near as sharp with him as it was then, when Rivers was throwing accurately to a bunch of transients he’d just met.
Philip simply hasn’t been sharp. He has been hurried some, and he did damage his chest last week in New England, but most of his picks have come when he’s forced it or throwing off the wrong foot.
“The biggest thing is he’s trying to do too much,” Turner said. “The first interception, he’s trying to do too much. It broke down, there’s pressure, he’s out of the pocket and he can throw the ball away and we can make a decision (it was third down). The second one, he just didn’t bring Malcom across the field as far as he should. I’ve been around Philip long enough to know he’ll go on a stretch that it will start soon where he’ll go six or eight games without throwing an interception.”
Rivers just shrugs it off. “Two throws that weren’t great today and they were intercepted,” he said. “Two-and-1 is what’s important.”
Certainly. No such thing as a bad win. But this ugly creature was about as close as it gets.
When do works in progress stop progressing? Ask the Sphinx. I see no progress here.
[email protected] (619) 293-1367 Twitter: @sdutcanepa
Story by Nick Canepa
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Just the other day a trusted friend with enough NFL experience and knowledge to fill the Library of Congress’ library was telling me: “You don’t understand. The Chargers aren’t as good as you think they are.”
Could he be right? I wondered if my bud was joining me in a senior moment.
But after watching 46 constipated Chargers strain to get anything done Sunday to beat the measly Kansas City Chiefs by three measly points, I understand. He got me. Even if they must be an acquired taste, this Chargers cocktail goes down rough. There is nothing smooth and easy to swallow with this football team.
It has no personality. It doesn’t sing. It sits out on the stoop for 60 minutes whistling at the women who walk by. Not really a threat. They’re sure not bullies.
They have no kick. They’re blah. They aren’t bad, they aren’t good. They’re just sitting there like a lump of clay, waiting to be molded by head coach Norv Turner, who’s having a tough time playing Michelangelo with 10 opposable thumbs.
If the Chargers ever were among the NFL elite, and it seems so hard for us to look at them and believe otherwise, it’s clear after three games that they’re not. Elite teams do not struggle at home against a club that had been outscored 89-10 in its first two games, and the hosts had to hang on by their chin straps Sunday to drift by 20-17.
I don’t know why it is, and I’m sure he doesn’t know what it is or he’d do something about it, but every single Turner team here has been a work in progress. As it stands, this group may be 2-1 (exceptional for Norv), but it isn’t close to being very good. It has trace elements, that’s it.
Now whether these elements can come together and form something whole, you’re guess is as good as mine, and lord knows my guesses involving this team have stunk. Sure they’re nicked up. Kansas City was, too.
We hear they’re pumped, they’re prepared. Bah. Not even Philip Rivers is good right now, and if you consider six picks in three games (two Sunday) from a quarterback who threw 11 interceptions all of last year, good, you’re Eli Manning.
Turner can see it. He’s no rube.
“The biggest thing for me right now with our entire football team is we’re not in sync in terms of playing the entire game in the type of rhythm we’d like,” Norv would say.
Exactly right. There’s no flow to their game. They do something right and then either something stupid or something bad or not much of anything. Sunday they had but a 10-0 lead at halftime despite running off a whopping 44 plays worth 211 yards, going 7 for 10 on third down and gathering 14 first downs to the Chiefs’ 0 (zero, zilch).
Folks should have been heading for the exits at intermission. Instead, the Chargers allowed the inept Chiefs not only to make a game of it, but came within a heady interception by safety Eric Weddle (off a Matt Cassel screen pass with :55 remaining) to getting themselves tied or beaten.
They’ve been waiting for a breakout game by tailback Ryan Mathews, and he came close in this one, rushing 21 times for 98 yards and catching four passes for 51 more.
“I’m excited about Ryan and what he’s doing,” Turner said. “He’s getting better every week.”
But any time tight end Antonio Gates — “One of the four or five best players in terms of passing-game receivers I’ve even been around,” according to Norv — sits out with his bad foot, it can’t help the offense. And receiver Malcom Floyd (groin) wasn’t 100 percent.
Still, even with top wideout Vincent Jackson sitting out most of 2010 (and Gates also missing six games), the passing game is nowhere near as sharp with him as it was then, when Rivers was throwing accurately to a bunch of transients he’d just met.
Philip simply hasn’t been sharp. He has been hurried some, and he did damage his chest last week in New England, but most of his picks have come when he’s forced it or throwing off the wrong foot.
“The biggest thing is he’s trying to do too much,” Turner said. “The first interception, he’s trying to do too much. It broke down, there’s pressure, he’s out of the pocket and he can throw the ball away and we can make a decision (it was third down). The second one, he just didn’t bring Malcom across the field as far as he should. I’ve been around Philip long enough to know he’ll go on a stretch that it will start soon where he’ll go six or eight games without throwing an interception.”
Rivers just shrugs it off. “Two throws that weren’t great today and they were intercepted,” he said. “Two-and-1 is what’s important.”
Certainly. No such thing as a bad win. But this ugly creature was about as close as it gets.
When do works in progress stop progressing? Ask the Sphinx. I see no progress here.
[email protected] (619) 293-1367 Twitter: @sdutcanepa
NOTEBOOK: Backs carrying big receiving load http://buzztap.com/-jZ97T0
UT's Kevin Acee on depth at DE, status of Jammer/Sanders, concerns over Gates & Mathews' big game http://bit.ly/nyVSH2
VIDEO: Fumbles, interceptions, turnovers. Philip Rivers and Norv Turner discuss: http://bit.ly/nrDoyY --annie
Cesaire out at least two games http://sdut.us/nDWxOK
Mailbag updated http://bit.ly/3UF12u
UT's Kevin Acee on depth at DE, status of Jammer/Sanders, concerns over Gates & Mathews' big game http://bit.ly/nyVSH2
VIDEO: Fumbles, interceptions, turnovers. Philip Rivers and Norv Turner discuss: http://bit.ly/nrDoyY --annie
Cesaire out at least two games http://sdut.us/nDWxOK
Mailbag updated http://bit.ly/3UF12u
Rivers was also just plain inaccurate all day, even when he had time. Weddle did come through. It was a good play call by our DC and Weddle recognized the screen, so sat back and waited for the ball. Weddle said they worked on that play all week. Either way, Chargers get the win, Chiefs go home 0-3.
There's a lot of room for improvement, but this team is known for starting the season slow. Rivers will get it together soon, mark my words. And yeah, more fucking injuries, shit sucks.
Oh, and like I was saying all week, MATHEWS IS A BEAST!
There's a lot of room for improvement, but this team is known for starting the season slow. Rivers will get it together soon, mark my words. And yeah, more fucking injuries, shit sucks.
Oh, and like I was saying all week, MATHEWS IS A BEAST!
It saddens me to say it, but like I have been telling friends the past 2 weeks, it's the beginning of the end for Gates. He was out since like week 13 of last year and STILL isn't healthy. That foot injury he has is some serious shit. It never fully heals, all you can do is try to manage it. Sucks man. We need to draft a TE next year in the 1st or 2nd round.
It seems like his career IS in jeopardy. But I don't think we need to draft a tight end in the early rounds. Don't forget, Gates wasn't even drafted...even then, players like him come around once in a lifetime. McMicheal is a starting tigth end on most teams...Looke out for Sperry, he's a young stud
I was aware that Gates went undrafted, but he made it in the top 10 NFL players to go undrafted. We won't find another one like him. McMichael is not a long term solution, he's no spring chicken either. Sperry definitely has some upside, but I like what all these young TE's around the league are doing. You know, the ones that were drafted in early rounds. A couple that play on the Patriots are the first to come to mind, as well as a few others around the league.
My whole point was it's probably time to start preparing for life after Gates, and not wait til the last minute.
My whole point was it's probably time to start preparing for life after Gates, and not wait til the last minute.
this is the hot topic on a lotta sd sports talk radio right now...gates is the man but yeah his injury is getting the best of him right now and it looks like his best years are behind him..i agree i think we need to get ready to draft his replacement soon cause i dont think randy is a long term solution,although for right now his a good back up
i found some bar playing the game. only caught the second half.
but from what i saw...mathews still looking good i love it
lol at weddle getting another ball thrown right at his chest...everyone knows he doesnt deserve the money hes getting so the mormon god seems to really be trying to help him out
but from what i saw...mathews still looking good i love it
lol at weddle getting another ball thrown right at his chest...everyone knows he doesnt deserve the money hes getting so the mormon god seems to really be trying to help him out