A freaking car wreck, you see it from afar, as you approach you don’t want to look but you can’t help yourself… how bad and grotesque is it? Wheeeew that’s bad! They say you are never as good or bad as you look... hmmm after last night... look at the brightside, we are one game out of first place in the division with 15 games to go... OK seriously, here's my take:
We have to call out the O-Line and Coaches on this one. I say O-Line first because they just did not compete, period. No amount of coaching can overcome that horrible level of play. I can understand getting beat from time to time, especially when dealing with a stud like Merriman, but it looked to me like there wasn’t an ounce if fight in anyone of the O-Lineman… Gallery, Sims, Grove, McQuistan, Walker, you guys embarrassed yourselves, the team, your fans… at least show some pride…
I’m not going to jump on Tom Walsh too much and I’ll explain why… as an Offensive Coordinator, you expect that at the very least your O-Line can portray a reasonable resemblance of a true O-Line… with the piss poor blocking last night, it doesn’t matter what the plays are called, they cannot be executed… I won’t jump on Aaron Brooks either, again with that poor line play, it doesn’t matter who is QB, Brooks, Collins… heck, do you think having Peyton Manning under center would have changed things last night? But in terms his of blocking I will jump on Lamont Jordan… Jordan’s blitz recognition and pick-up was incredibly poor as well - half hearted attempts of trying to get in the way…
In terms of the Coaches, what was Rob Ryan thinking using a nickel package in the first half? Waaaaay too long to adjust.... And, where is the commitment to the run? The game was only 13-0 at half, our play selection still should have been tilted towards the run… Farty was not going to let Rivers throw regularly, the game was still there to steal…
Coach Shell obviously thought the team was ready and they were not, not even close… that’s on his head… how could he misjudge it so bad?
Was it because of the Moss interview? I highly doubt it, Moss was seen encouraging the O-Line, talking with his QB and Coach… hey, Moss had every reason to throw a hissy fit, but he acted like a leader… Mr. Media don't like that...
Was it Jerry Porter? I doubt that as well, Porter has been alienated by his teammates, he has no clout whatsoever… but we should suspend or cut him ASAP...
To me, the team looked tired, maybe they have been worked too hard… Gallery has little foot-movement, he was leaning and stretching and grabbing… all signs to me that his legs are spent…
Of course we play the zebras as well… on the first drive when Courtney Anderson was drilled while stretching for a pass, there was a definite forearm to the head that took his helmet off… that’s 15 yards, a first down in Charger territory, momentum, but hey the refs let the Chargers get away with it, much like last season’s mugging of Randy Moss… somehow the refs did not see it… the also didn’t see any unsportsmanlike taunts when the Chargers did their bull stomp thing after each sack… yes one player enjoying a short celebration after a sack is fine, but when team-mates join in, it becomes a 15 yard penalty and at least 4 sacks should have been turning into a 15 yard penalty and first down… but the refs did not see it… but they did see Randy Moss flip the ball to PK Nate Kaeding after a first down, that became a 15 yard unsportsmanslike… near the end of the game Charger O-lineman Olivea was called for a 5 yard false start on a pull… he did it 6 other times earlier, at least they called one late in the fourth quarter…
Anyways, all that said and where are we now? I honestly don’t know… Gene Upshaw used to call the O-Line the Heartbeat of the team"... the O-line should be our standard of excellence and as of today they are a standard joke… Nothing changes until the “heartbeat” of the team learns how to play…
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I agree with you that the O line was pathetic and most of the blame should be lie with them, but to say Tom Walsh couldn't have done anything to help with his play calling is wrong. Roll outs, screen plays, draw plays, slant routes are all plays that could help slow down the pass rush. Calling for 7 and 5 step drops on every passing play with 18-20 yard routes being run by the receivers is just asking for disaster. Also, run the damn ball. I know our running game is lousy, but say you gain an average of 2 yards per carry. If you run on 1st and 2nd down, that leaves you with 3rd and 6. That's a hell of lot easier to convert than 3rd and 17. Yes, the o line sucks, but the play calling did nothing to help them out. In fact, it set them up to fail. Tom Walsh must go.
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