Answering Your Chargers Questions

http://www.nfl.com/teams/sandiegochargers/injuries?team=SD

Rivers is one of those guys that loves to spread the ball around. With that being said, Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates sometimes get longer looks than the other receivers. They’re the two players that are the most difficult to try to defend, so they get a lot of balls thrown their way when the Chargers running game isn’t working.

VJ is the big play guy. If you see the ball thrown more than 20 yards, there’s a good chance it’s headed to VJ and he’s going to catch it. Gates has been a third-down specialist throughout his career and that continues.

Norv Turner had a quote this week that summed up everything perfectly. I’m paraphrasing, but he said something to the effect of “This team is not as good as the fans and media think they are, but they can be.” I think they’re overrated going into this year because of the Merriman factor. Everyone seemed to assume that with him back the defense would automatically return to it’s 2006-2007 dominating form. However, he’s still not 100% healthy and not in “game shape” yet after being out last season. So without a huge impact from him, the defense still has flaws. With some major injuries (starting DT out for season, starting C out for 8 weeks), the team comes down even more. To answer your question, I think they can be a Super Bowl contender this season (their passing game and defensive secondary are fantastic), but some players need to get healthy and others need to step up to get there.

No, LT is not a member of the AARP yet.

He battled injuries through all of 2008 and only started 9 games. I think his injuries made him……less effective. In 2009, he seems to be able to get separation but he’s getting abused by physical cornerbacks and he’s dropping passes. I have no idea if he’ll turn it around in 2009 or not, but he still has his starting spot and isn’t losing it any time soon.

The Chargers entire run defense, which has been solid for a decade or so, has always centered around DT Jamal Williams. Two days before the Ravens game, Jamal had surgery on his Triceps and was put on IR. The Ravens were outplayed by the Chargers, but won because the defensive line simply could not win the battle of the trenches. Willis McGahee looked like a Pro Bowler against them.

With the Chargers experimenting with different people at DT, and having a DE that missed all of training camp and the preseason with a leg injury, their defensive weakness is trying to stop the run.

As I stated above, the Chargers’ defensive weakness is trying to stop the run. A power running game with Brown and Williams could make this game similar to the Colts game. Whether that means a win or loss for Miami I can’t say, but it’s certainly a gameplan that makes it tough for the Chargers to win.

Norv Turner will not be fired. Period. End of discussion. If they win the division again, he keeps his job. If they don’t, he may not. It’s that simple.

No idea. The Ravens and Raiders have focused a good deal of their gameplan on slowing down Gates and he still played well in both games. I know the Dolphins were able to defend Gates last season, but he played the entire season with a bad toe. He has said that playing injured forced him to get stronger in his upper body (he used to avoid the weight room) and forced him to watch more tape and get smarter. Now he’s 100% healthy, stronger and smarter than ever and it shows.

Your only chance is to double him on every play with a safety and a LB, but then you leave huge openings for Vincent Jackson downfield and Darren Sproles on the flat/screen.

If I’m the Chargers, I wait to see what Miami does. If they’re doubling him, I use him to pull the defense away from some other offensive weapons. If they’re not, I send him on seam routes up the middle for 15 yards on every play.

…..what?

Travis Johnson will probably be the starter when he’s healthy, but that’s probably not this week. Look for a mix of Ogemdi Nwagbuo (most likely starter, very young) and Vaughn Martin (a freak prospect who they did not want to see on the field this early). Alfonso Boone, who they signed this week, may also get a couple of snaps in there.

Last week was the last straw for a lot of Chargers fans. Against the Ravens he caught 3 of the 11 passes that were thrown to him. He seems to be playing scared, dropping balls because he’s hit in the back or simply because he hears footsteps. He’s definitely not worth what he’s getting paid, he’s lost enough speed that he can’t beat anybody deep and he will not be back with the team in 2010.

He remains the starter because Norv is stubborn, really. Also, the guys that would step up to replace him are either too inexperienced (Naanee) or too injury-prone (Floyd) right now.

Chambers was fantastic for the Chargers in 2007 and quickly became one of my favorite players. He still occasionally makes the fantastic catch and he plays better in the playoffs with the pressure on. Still, he’s been a disappointment the past two seasons and it seems his best skill these days is getting Pass Interference calls against the defense.

These are supposed to be football related questions…wanna know how hot the cheerleaders are, fucking google it…get outta here with that nonsense

Not as hot as my wife. ;-)

I really liked Sean Smith coming out of college and based on what opposing WRs have been doing against the Dolphins so far, I’m willing to bet he can hold his own. VJ dominates smaller CBs, but Smith presents challenge with his size.

The Taylor/Bell double-team on Gates intrigues me. One, because I’ve never seen Taylor in coverage and don’t know how good he is. Two, because Taylor could present the physical defense and Bell could keep up with Gates’ speed.

Outside of a blown screen pass that went for 80+ yards and a TD, and some big kick returns, the Ravens did a good job of “spying” on Sproles.

With the Chargers though, it’s a pick-your-poison defense. If you’re going with any of these options, you’re playing Cover 1 over the top against a strong-armed QB who loves to throw downfield to his tall receivers (VJ, Gates, Malcom Floyd are 6’5", Legedu Naanee is 6’2"). You’re also putting Will Allen one-on-one against either Floyd, Chambers or Naanee (none of which he can cover effectively one-on-one). Also, don’t forget to account for Jacob Hester, who has soft hands and is itching to make a big play on a pass reception.