August 27, 2006

Chargers best Seahawks 31-20 in next to final preseason game

Despite falling behind 14-0 to the Seattle Seahawks early on, you have to respect the way the Chargers hung in there and didn't become unravelled after falling behind the way they did against Chicago last week. Despite committing four turnovers, they settled down and played much better in the second half of this game. Even though he injured his shoulder slightly, Rivers finished 6 for 11 for 89 yards. Not spectacular numbers, but he only played one half after getting dinged. The offensive line contiues to play well and did a good job of opening holes for Michael Turner to do his thing. The Chargers are now down to their fourth-string left tackle, after Leander Jordan was injured. Four turnovers is still a bit much, so they have to somehow work on minimizing those mistakes which can be game killers, but at least they cut back on penalties this week. Ray Perkins did a nice job late in the game running the football. One thing that has become apparent is that the defense will keep us in a lot of those close games durning the season. I continue to be impressed by the play of the defense and especially some of the linebackers. Shawne Merriman had another fine play creating a turnonver and Antonio Cromarie is having some impact out there. Overall the defense played very well, pressuring Seattle's QBs and coming up with some big plays when they were needed. Dobbins, Cooper, Olshanksy, all those guys are playing well now and seem prepared to start the season. Even the back up quarterbacks had some sharp moments. A.J. Feely did a good job of avoiding some preassure and hooking up with receivers like Ryan Kraus on long plays. Again, it's only pre-season but you have to feel good about some of the things they are doing on defense to help them win ballgames. It looks as though more playing time is needed for some of the new additions to the team to get rid of some of the butterflies and to start making some contributions. We also have to see about some of the injuries to guys like Roman Oben, Marcus McNeill, Eric Parker and Vincent Jackson who had a good outing against the Pack in the first game. The starters are expected to see less action during the final game vs. the 49ers next friday and then we play for real.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Seattle Touchdown - Rocky Bernard fumble recovery in end zone.
(Josh Brown kick). 14:48 remaining.
Seattle Touchdown - 9-yard run by Shaun Alexander.
(Josh Brown kick). 11:14 remaining.
San Diego Touchdown - 38-yard run by Michael Turner.
(Nate Kaeding kick). 9:36 remaining.
San Diego Touchdown - 1-yard run by Michael Turner.
(Nate Kaeding kick). 0:23 remaining.
2nd Quarter
San Diego Field Goal - 27-yarder by Nate Kaeding.
7:16 remaining.
3rd Quarter
Seattle Field Goal - 40-yarder by Josh Brown.
12:32 remaining.
Seattle Field Goal - 28-yarder by Josh Brown.
3:51 remaining.
4th Quarter
San Diego Touchdown - 12-yard run by Ray Perkins.
(Nate Kaeding kick). 11:14 remaining.
San Diego Touchdown - 33-yard pass from A.J. Feeley to
Ryan Krause. (Nate Kaeding kick). 3:09 remaining.

Posted by Chargerweblog at 20:03:32 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

August 19, 2006

Chargers drop second pre-season game to Bears 24-3

Ok you could tell this one was going to be a stinker right from the start. It is hard to believe that this was the same team which played so well against the Packers last week. OK, yes I know that it is only preseason, but this one wasn't even close. It went downhill shortly after Rivers threw a pick which was run back by Brian Urlacher the other way. Rivers' numbers were absolutely atrocious, though he played less than an entire half: 9 for 14 for 75 yards, zero touchdowns and one glaring interception. The rest of the team didn't fare any better. Was there any mistake that can be made in a football game that this bunch didn't make tonight? Well, they have to improve fast and I gotta give Chicago some credit for playing some spirited defese. Fumbles, dropped passes, a lack of protection for the quarterback, and plenty of stupid penalties (11 for 90 yards to be exact.) We saw it all in one half of unspirited football. I wasn't so much dissapointed with the final score (though of course you'd like to win even in pre season games) but more in the lack of intensity which the team showed. Where was the defensive energy which they displayed last week? Where was the pass rush? And are we going to give up like this every time we fall behind early? I certainly hope not, because that's not the way the team was performing last year or even in 2004 when we went 12-4. It wasn't all bad, Marlon McCree had a nice pick to stop one Bears drive in one of the few good defensive stands for San Diego. Fortunatelly, the schedule for the first half of the season shows only two match ups with teams that posted winning records last season, but it's a new year and that may mean very little. Hopefully, so will this game and we can get back on the winning track and iron out the kinks before the start of the regular season in Oakland. I guess it's back to the drawing board folks.
Posted by Chargerweblog at 05:19:31 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

August 16, 2006

Sproles out for the season, Jackson hospitalized.

This is why I detest the preseason. I realize that some time is needed prior to the regular season to try out the kinks in the various systems and for new players to get acclimated, but the potential for injury is great and it is too damn long in my opinion. The Chargers are reporting that Darren Sproles, whom we used the past several seasons to spill L.T. and the other backup running backs, but whose primary use was as on runbacks on special teams is out for the season after being placed on I.R. following surgery for a fractured fibula, an injury sustained during last week's opening pre-season contest against the Packers. It's a big blow, Sproles averaged 6.3 yards per carry last season for the Bolts.

As soon as I saw the replay of that play on T.V. I knew it couldn't be good, I was just hoping that we would not have to lose Sproles for a prolonged period of time, but it looks like we are losing him for the season.

the team also revealed that wide receiver Vincent Jackson has been hospitalized since Aug. 12 with a bruised chest. Jackson is expected to make a recovery and return, though it was not revealed how extensive his injuries were. Jackson was outstanding in the win over the Packers, he averaged 19.7 yards receiving last season and is expected to get better if he can remain injury free. This is a big if when we have an entire month of pre-season games, why can't the NFL cut it down to 3 weeks? Shouldn't this be enough time to train and work out the bugs in the system? After all, it's not as if they don't have training camps to work on all summer and if you want to simulate actual game time situations, I think that should be ample time to do so. We will have to keep our eyes out for Jackson's return.

We would be remiss if we didn't also mention Junior Seau's retirement after 16 years in the NFL this week. Seau was one of the greatest linebackers in the history of the NFL. He helped the Chargers win the AFC West several times during the 90s and helped them to reach their only Super Bowl in 1994. Even though he played his last three years in Miami, I will choose to remember Junior not in the garish aquamarine uniform of the Dolphins, but as a Charger, where he played most of his career.

I'm fond of telling my friends a story about me and Junior. Even though I never met the man, I had tremendous respect for him as a player and anyone who ever saw him play will feel the same way. I told my friends (and some of them didn't believe it) that a pacifist such as myself was once almost involved in a bar brawl! It happened at an Acapulco's restaurant. My brother and some of his friends and me went to watch a Monday night game between the Chargers and the Raiders. It was a close game and the Chargers lost to Oakland the only time that season. I must have had a couple of beers because as we were walking out and the broadcasters were talking about Seau a guy wearing a Raiders cap said something dispariging about Junior, something about it being a sissy name. I practically lost it and got in the guy's face. He then took a swing at me and I think I went down, but I was a bit drunk so it didn't really hurt, and I had backup, my brother and his friends jumped in the fray. Needless to say we all got kicked out of the restaurant. At any rate, I am sure that it can be chalked up to the indescretions of youth because I would never do that again. These days, you are likely to get stabbed by a rowdy Raiders fan if you challenge them in a bar. One thing is for sure, one day soon Junior Seau will be in the Pro football Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio where he undoubtedly belongs.

 

Posted by Chargerweblog at 17:37:58 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

August 13, 2006

Chargers beat Pack 17-3 in preseason opener

Just like last year, the Packers came into San Diego in the pre-season, but unlike last season, the Chargers prevailed. I realize it's only preseason but even without Lorenzo Neal and Ladanian Tomlinson playing a single down, the Chargers looked good overall in their 17-3 win over Green Bay. Packers' QB Brett Favre played most of the first half but was met with heavy pressure from San Diego's front seven.

This may be one area in which the Chargers might be much improved on this season, pass rushing to go along with Shawne Merriman's outstanding skills. There are some kinks that still need working out, such as in the secondary. Though it's only the first game, Quentin Jammer has already picked up his first pass interference call of the year. However, on the positive side, Antonio Cromartie, the Chargers' first round draft pick had a solid effort playing corner and looks to have a good season ahead of him. On the offensive side of the ball, I like this kid Vincent Jackson. He gives the Bolts another option to throw to.

Overall it was a good opener and it makes me want to see more of these guys in pressured packed situations. I think they will be more competitive in the West than most give them credit for.

SCORING SUMMARY



1ST QUARTER:



 4:22 SDG - TD, VINCENT JACKSON 22 YD PASS FROM PHILIP RIVERS 

(NATE KAEDING KICK).

      SAN DIEGO 7-0.



2ND QUARTER:



12:44 SDG - TD, MICHAEL TURNER 13 YD RUN (NATE KAEDING KICK).

      SAN DIEGO 14-0.



3RD QUARTER:



12:37 SDG - FG, NATE KAEDING 23 YD.

      SAN DIEGO 17-0.



4TH QUARTER:



 2:31 GNB - FG, BILLY CUNDIFF 23 YD.

      SAN DIEGO 17-3.
Posted by Chargerweblog at 21:05:38 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

2005 season recap

A look back at the 2005 season 

source: sportsgamemagazine.com 

The San Diego Chargers finished 9-7 against the NFL’s toughest schedule in 2005. San Diego faced 16 teams with a composite record of 143-113 (.559) and four opponents coming off byes, more than any other team in the NFL. The schedule included a team-record five trips to the Eastern time zone. The Chargers flew a total of 34,559 air miles in 2005, second-most in the NFL. The Chargers played 11 games against teams with nine-or-more wins, including AFC West Champion Denver and Kansas City twice. The Bolts played seven games against playoff teams, including five games against teams that won their respective divisions.

Among the highlights of the season were victories against four teams that reached the playoffs.

• The Chargers beat the NFC East Champion New York Giants, 45-23, before a national-television audience on ESPN to hand the Giants their first loss of the season.

• The Chargers went to Foxborough, Massachusetts and won 41-17, ending the New England Patriots’ NFL-record 21-game home winning streak.

• The Chargers went to FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland and handed the Washington Redskins a 23-17 defeat in overtime.

• The Bolts shocked Indianapolis, 26-17, to end the Colts’ 13-game winning streak to start the season and team-record 12-game home winning streak (including playoffs).


Posted by Chargerweblog at 02:03:14 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |