Bolts From The Blue

Chargers by the (Jersey) Numbers: #40

2009-11-07T06:13:16Z

And now, a break from the football season and time for some meaningless drivel! I’ve posted a few of these without causing a ripple on the front page, but now that there are some fun ones coming up, I thought I’d flash one, and maybe one every once in a while (and, of course, when a vote is necessary).

The 40s mark a departure from the 30s in terms of Charger players, past and present. Lots of good ones to choose from with interesting legacies.

We start with #40.

The "Runner"-Up

Gary Anderson, RB

The popular, "state-of-the-art" choice here might be Gary Anderson. After all, he was doing acrobatic leaps into the end zone before Reggie Bush was even out of diapers. (Heck, the Bush family may have even been watching Anderson on Channel 39.)

In fact, after his short stint in the USFL, Anderson took the NFL by storm with what he was able to do out of the backfield. Not too many Running Backs make it to the Pro Bowl their second season in the league after rushing for less than 450 yards! But it was the 80 receptions for almost 900 yards that earned him the trip to Hawaii.

By ‘88, with the Coryell years well in the rearview mirror, Anderson was THE man on the Chargers, rushing for over 1100 yards. But his discontentment was obvious. The Chargers were a lame team with a lame head coach, and things were about to get lamer. Anderson held out the entire 1989 season in a contract dispute. The following season, he was shipped off into deeper purgatory. That’s right, Tampa Bay. He never rushed for more than 650 yards. And more than costing himself a potentially great career, his stubbornness and greed cost him a Golden Jersey!

The Champ

Joe Beauchamp, CB

Sure, Anderson was the better athlete. Flashier, more exciting. But Beauchamp was solid. He did what he did, he did it well, and he never complained about his contract or the training camp food. Actually, I have no idea about his propensity to complain, but what I do know is that Beauchamp was with the Chargers – his only team -- for 10 seasons, played in over 100 games, played both Safety and Corner, and finished 5th on the team’s career interception list with 23, returning 3 for touchdowns.

Quiet and efficient. They barely make 'em like that anymore.

The Others

James Fuller, SS

Derrick Harris, FB

Bob Jackson, FB

Jim Jodat, RB

Mark Montreuil, CB

Clarence Williams, RB

Game Preview: San Diego Chargers at New York Giants

2009-11-06T21:06:02Z

More photos » by Denis Poroy - AP

5 days ago: San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers fires a pass during the Chargers 24-16 victory over the Oakland Raiders in a NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009 in San Diego. Rivers was 16 for 25 for 249 yards in the victory. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Browse more photos »

Sorry this is a little later than usual today. I had a bit of a busy day. That helped though, as it gave me plenty of time to contemplate what might be the most important, and one of the most evenly-matched, games of the season for the San Diego Chargers. Are you ready to dive in and see what the stats say about this game? Me too.

I'm going to start by dedicating this post to Wonko and maestro876, because for the first time at BFTB.....this week's game preview will include your normal stats and a dash of the super-fancy stats from Football Outsiders as well. Let's get to it.

When the Giants Have the Ball

Don't let the recent history fool you, this is a good offense. When healthy, Eli Manning is a more-than-capable quarterback. The running game, also fighting through nagging injuries, is not too different from the same ground game that won the New York Giants the Super Bowl in 2007. This offense has the potential to get a lot better very quickly, and I wouldn't be surprised if it happened on Sunday. Especially considering the Giants are at home, heading into a bye, on the verge of losing their season and it's a marquee matchup that the rest of the league will be watching.

Looking at the classic stats, the Giants offense has been quite good this season. They're ranked 5th in offensive yardage per game and 9th in points scored per game (both higher than the Chargers). Their rushing offense, which is still very dangerous, is ranked 7th in the league in terms of yards per carry and yards per game. The New York passing offense, which has taken a beating in recent weeks, is still ranked 11th in the NFL in terms of yards per game.

One stat that makes me hopeful is big plays. The Giants offense ranks 1st in the league in passing plays of 20+ yards with 32 of them. This is an offense that forces you to put 8 men in the box, and then beats you deep on the play-action pass. If the Chargers can manage to stop the run, I have no doubt that they can also stop the big play. The Bolts' D ranks 4th in the league in the number of 20+ yard passing plays given up, with 14 (which includes the blown plays with Louis Murphy and Kelley Washington), and has been effective at holding opposing offenses to small gains through the air.

The Chargers' defense has been slowly creeping up the ranks in the last couple of weeks, playing against weaker offensive teams. They're now ranked 12th in yards allowed per game and 21st in points allowed. Their 28th ranked 3rd down percentage is probably the most damning stat against Ron Rivera and his troops. The Chargers' pass defense, unsurprisingly, played well against the Oakland Raiders and is now ranked 6th in terms of passing yards allowed. The 27th ranked run defense remains a problem, giving up 4.2 yards per carry and 132.1 yards per game on the ground. That will need to get better if the Chargers want to get the Giants' offense off the field.

When you look at FO's stats, the Giants offense looks a lot less intimidating. With the 15th best offense, 14th best passing offense and 14th best running offense....they're about as average as average gets. FO's defensive stats tell roughly the same picture as the classic stats for the Chargers' defense. Ranked 23rd overall, 14th against the pass and 29th against the run.

Advantage: Giants It's not difficult to guess NY's gameplan. They are going to try to run Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw down the Chargers' throat, the same way the Raiders' did with their RBs and the Steelers did with Rashard Mendenhall. Chargers fans are fearful that these RBs won't be stopped, but Giants fans are convinced that Big Blue won't be able to take advantage of the weakness along the defensive line. Seeing as how I'm a Chargers fan, I'm crossing my fingers and expecting the worst for this game.

When the Chargers Have the Ball

Let's start with the fancy stats. The rushing offense has been so poor that it's dragged the rest of the offense with it. The Chargers are ranked a pedestrian 15th overall, 26th in rushing and 9th in passing. That's just about right when you look at the classic stats, where the Bolts rank 12th in offensive yardage and 10th in points per game.

Philip Rivers and his "angels" are ranked 4th in passing yardage, but part of that is because they have had to carry the offense. Surprisingly, though, the Chargers are ranked 13th in terms of attempted passes this season. The run-first Giants are ranked 4th.

The Chargers rushing attack seems to be going backwards. They're now ranked 31st in yards per game and are dead last in the league with their 3.1 yards per carry average. Dead last! Worse than the Chiefs, Lions, Browns and any other horribly bad NFL team you want to name. The only team with less runs of 20+ yards than the Chargers' 2 is the Arizona Cardinals, who have zero. The one shining spot in the running game is that no Chargers RB has fumbled the ball on a run yet this season (remember, LT's fumble was on a shovel pass). So that's good.

First, the classic stats of the Giants once-ballyhooed defense. 3rd in the league in yards allowed per game and a surprising 22nd in point allowed per game. Is that not shocking to anybody else? Their offense, statistically, hasn't been that bad. How the heck is the defense giving up so many points per game and so little yardage. I suspect the reason is that the Giants have been unable to stop big returns, but I can't find the stats to back up that theory. Little help?

The Giants' passing defense ranks 3rd in passing yards allowed, but is tied with Kansas City for 20th in terms of 20+ yard passing plays allowed (22). That certain bodes well for Rivers and Vincent Jackson. The Giants' rush defense seems equally as disappointing as the Bolts'. They're ranked 19th in rushing yards allowed per game and an astonishingly low 27th in yards per carry against their defense (4.6), which is significantly worse than the Chargers (14th). That bodes well for LaDanian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles.

Advantage: Chargers These teams are very similar. Both have trouble stopping the run. Both have offenses built around big plays in the passing game. Both are extremely beat up. The Giants get a little edge because they're at home and heading into a bye. However, when the Chargers are on the field I believe they have the advantage because of Philip Rivers. Going against a weak passing defense, he should be able to put up points as long as the offensive line can keep him clean. I believe they will.

So what's my overall prediction? Not a blowout, but a shootout. I think Sproles makes a few big plays and I think Brandon Jacobs will have his best game of the season. I can easily see this game coming down to whoever plays best in the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter, and those situations are impossible to predict. Let's hope, for the sake of me, Clip Show, and all of the other Chargers fans that are making the trek to Giants Stadium, that Philip Rivers works his magic and our playoff hopes are alive come Monday morning.

Injury Report: Chargers at Giants

2009-11-06T20:35:31Z

Chargers

Out

Nick Hardwick (ankle)

Doubtful

Tim Dobbins (knee)

Questionable

Kevin Burnett (ankle)

Ogemdi Nwagbuo (ankle)

Probable

Antonio Gates (foot)

Steve Gregory (ankle)

Travis Johnson (groin)

Shawne Merriman (foot)

Mike Scifres (groin)

Giants

Out

Aaron Ross (hamstring)

Questionable

Michael Boley (knee)

Chris Canty (calf)

Probable

Kevin Boss (ankle)

Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle/foot)

Mario Manningham (shoulder)

Sinorice Moss (foot)

Eli Manning (foot)

The Chargers are hopeful inside linebacker Kevin Burnett will play against the Giants, but ...

2009-11-06T18:43:03Z

The Chargers are hopeful inside linebacker Kevin Burnett will play against the Giants, but Brandon Siler could work as many or more than the almost-40 snaps he played last week against Oakland.

"I would think it's not a reach," Turner said when asked whether Siler might get his first start in three NFL seasons.

Burnett practiced in a limited fashion for the second straight day, his first two practices since injuring his ankle Oct. 19 against Denver.

"He's better today," Turner said. "He did more than he's done. That's progress. I know we have the ability to go with Siler and Stephen Cooper (the other inside linebacker). And if Burnett can go, that's a plus."

Hardwick unlikely to play vs. Giants

Giants Bench CC Brown

2009-11-06T18:05:55Z

Giants Bench CC Brown

Aaron Rouse will take his place. Rouse was much maligned in Green Bay a couple of years back, but probably not as much as CC Brown (of course it was Green Bay and not New York). The one interesting thing about Rouse is that he's tall. Almost as tall as VJ and Floyd and definitely taller than Gates and Naanee.

Who makes the playoffs from the AFC East? - AFC East - ESPN

2009-11-06T02:20:10Z

Who makes the playoffs from the AFC East? - AFC East - ESPN

Going off future opponents' winning percentage, the Chargers' remaining schedule is tied for 5th softest with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Power Rankings from Around the Web (Week 8)

2009-11-05T19:00:32Z

After two straight wins Chargers have squeaked back into the top half of the experts rankings at number 16. The Eagles look to be the big winners this week moving up four sports and getting back in the top ten while the Giants look to be the big losers falling all the way down to number 12. For the rest of the power rankings please click below.

Sources:
ESPN
Fox
CBS
USA Today
Football Outsiders
SI
Pro-Football Talk
NFL.com
Sporting News
Vegas Insider
SB Nation

Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck have not been dominant. Osi, I think, is not the same player he was a...

2009-11-05T14:18:10Z

Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck have not been dominant. Osi, I think, is not the same player he was a few years ago. Tuck tore his labrum in Week 2 and has been trying to play thru it, but he hasn't been dominant. Inside, Fred Robbins is coming off microcracture knee surgery and isn't what he used to be. The Giants might get Chris Canty back this week, and that has to help some. As for the run defense, here is my thought. robbins is not the player he used to be, same for Antonio Pierce. So, they aren't physically imposing in the middle any more. Also, there has been an astounding lack of discipline, with guys seemingly freelance and not handling their responsibilities. That is very un-Giants like, and very much on the head of the defensive coordinator.

A chat with 'Bolts From The Blue' - Big Blue View

I had a very interesting conversation the other day with Ed Valentine, manager of Big Blue View, about the strengths and weaknesses of the Giants and Chargers. Enjoy.

Stat of the Day: Grading the San Diego Chargers Offensive Line

2009-11-05T11:42:45Z

More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

Browse more photos »

About a week ago, somebody in the comments here (and forgive me for forgetting who it was) pointed me in the direction of a former HS football coach who was grading Chargers offensive linemen on every single play to give everyone a good idea of who was playing well and who wasn't. He was posting his findings on Facebook and the Chargers.com forums, but not here.

I reached out to him, to see if I could convince him to post his stuff here as well. Seeing as how most of us are stat-geeks, I assured him there'd be an audience for it. I finally got my response yesterday, in the form of an awesome spreadsheet. Go ahead and click on that link. It should open up the spreadsheet, which shows Paul's grades on every play for the Chargers games played in Weeks 1, 2, 3 and 8.

Looking just at last week's game against Oakland would probably be the best way to gauge where the San Diego offensive line is at. Louis Vasquez and Scott Mruczkowski have had enough time that their mistakes should be behind them, the line has been healthy enough for the past few weeks that they should have started to gel. So here's how they ranked against the Raiders:

Marcus McNeill - 1.8482
Louis Vasquez - 1.8482
Kris Dielman - 1.8035
Jeromey Clary - 1.7946
Scott Mruczkowski - 1.7678

Did that surprise anybody? Me neither. McNeill and Vasquez have both been playing solid football all season (when healthy). Dielman is definitely not playing at a Pro Bowl level. Clary has been good, but not great. Mooch has shown himself to be an okay backup, but not a potential starter.

Looking back at the Week 1 game in Oakland, the highest rated offensive lineman by far was Nick Hardwick. Hopefully he can get back this week and be the piece that gets the offensive line back to being dominating.

I know these stats are somewhat arbitrary. Somebody's opinion rather than official statistics. However, when it comes to offensive linemen this is really all we have. I think Paul has done an excellent job breaking down these games (you can get lost in that spreadsheet of his), and I look forward to seeing what he brings to the table in the future.

One stat I noticed, while perusing the stats for these four games, is how far the offensive balance has come. In the first 3 games of the season, the closest the Chargers got to "balance" was when they threw only 11 times more than they ran it against the Dolphins. In the Week 8 game against the Raiders, Norv called 28 runs to go with the 28 passes. How's that for balance?

Hindsight: How Could This Have Been Avoided?

2009-11-04T22:52:01Z

I think we have a good front office, especially considering some of the ones that are out there in other cities (Oakland, Detroit, St. Louis). But the fact remains that they've made some fairly significant errors that has lead to this team being in the state it currently is--an average team with a few talented players, but not enough to be considered an elite group.

Hindsight is 20/20. I'm not disputing that. But A.J. has, over the past few years, appeared to over-value the players already on the team, and not taken any affirmative steps to improve the team beyond the draft. What I'd like to do is take a look back at the 2009 off-season and see what A.J. Smith and the front office could have reasonably, and realistically, done to improve this team. I know it's easier to see things now than several months ago, but I still think it could be a useful and interesting exercise to see what could have been.

By "realistic" and "reasonable", I mean no signings of Albert Haynesworth for $100+ million, no firing Turner or the coaching staff as a whole, no firing A.J. Smith, no replacing half the team and switching to a 4-3. I mean moderate steps that could have translated to significantly improved product on the field.

Feel free to agree or disagree with me. Let's take a look.

The Draft

The draft is the primary tool A.J. likes to use to build and improve a team, and I largely agree with this approach. I don't really have an issue with many of the choices he made, but I think he made a mistake with his 1st, and by extension 3rd, round picks.

I like Larry English. I think he looks like a good kid and has the potential to be a stand-out outside linebacker. I also realize that we had a problem with rushing the passer last year. But despite what we were told in the off-season about a 3-headed monster of pass-rushers, the reality has been that with Shawne Merriman's return, English hasn't seen the field much, and when he has been out there it's mostly been special teams.

A first round pick that could have made an immediate and SIGNIFICANT impact would have been Michael Oher. Many of us hoped/expected us to take him when our turn came and he was still unselected, and I count myself as stunned as anyone else was when Goodell called out English's name instead of Oher's. The simple truth is that Jeromey Clary has been average. He has his good days, and bad days, but he's never going to light the world on fire. Oher could have stepped in and started immediately and played at a high level, just as he's done in Baltimore. That could have allowed us to shift Clary to guard, where many think he would be better suited.

With Oher at right tackle and Clary at right guard, our 3rd round pick could have been used on any other position of need--safety, defensive line, running back. I'm not well-versed enough in the draft to know who would have been available in the 3rd round for us had we not chosen Vasquez. And that's not to say I don't like Vasquez--I do and think he'll be a great guard. But it probably would have been better for the team overall to have an experienced player starting at right guard and to have used the 3rd round pick on a player that could have filled another position of need.

Free Agency

This is where I, and many others, have the biggest problem with A.J. Smith. It's an interesting problem, too, because in the past he wasn't as averse to free agency as he is now. He brought in multiple free agents in the 2004 off-season, and it was a major reason why the Chargers went from last-to-first in one season's time. I have no idea what happened between then and now that's made him avoid it to the extent he has, but since 2004 he hasn't signed one impact free agent I'm aware of (unless you count Kevin Burnett). If someone knows why, please enlighten me.

When you avoid free agents so completely like A.J. does, you're trying to build/improve a team with one hand tied behind your back, and that's not a productive approach. Like I said before, I'm not advocating the idea that A.J. should have paid through the nose to acquire someone like Albert Haynesworth. But there were multiple mid-tier free agents he could have at least PURSUED to attempt to improve the team.

For the safety position, A.J. did make an offer to Jermaine Phillips. Phillips isn't a bad player, but he's got an extensive injury history, evidenced by him missing the last several games of 2008 with a broken arm, and his being placed on IR already this season with the same injury. Plus at the time, many observers believed Phillips was making the rounds in free agency solely to induce the Buccaneers to increase their offer to him. This is in fact what happened, as Phillips re-signed in Tampa.

What A.J. could have, perhaps should have, done was pursue free agent safeties Brian Dawkins, Darren Sharper, and Sean Jones. Dawkins and Sharper have already proven to be impact players on their new teams. Jones hasn't gotten a lot of playing time and probably isn't as talented as Dawkins or Sharper, but he would definitely have been an improvement over the Hart/Gregory/Ellison platoon. Regardless, any of these three players, especially the first two, could have provided immediate impact in the secondary and significantly improved our defense.

On the defensive line, I've already suggested in a couple other posts that we should have pursued Chris Canty. The point has been made that he was injured, and that is true, but he was injured in practice the Wednesday before the first game of the season. That's the kind of injury that's a freak thing, and could just as easily not have happened had he been in San Diego rather than New York. He would have immediately upgraded our defensive line, especially with Bingham going down and Cesaire spending the entire off-season injured. At the very least, he would have been the second most talented player on the line after Castillo, and could have been a valuable contributor to the rotation on the defensive line.

Coaching

This section is perhaps not so realistic. It's probably more wishful thinking. I've made it known elsewhere that I'm not impressed with Ron Rivera. He's not a 3-4 coordinator, and it shows. It would have been really, really nice to have hired an ACTUAL 3-4 coordinator this off-season, one who knows how to use its strengths and disguise its weaknesses. It doesn't seem very realistic to have replaced Rivera this off-season, though, given that he seemed like he had things in hand towards the end of the season. Plus the top 3-4 coordinators, Nolan and Capers, were each hired on January 13th and 19th respectively, which were mere days after our season ended.

Conclusion

In the end, this team wasn't as good as we hoped it would be. Merriman has taken weeks to work his way back, LT is clearly not the back he once was, and our offensive line has struggled in both run blocking and pass protection. The steps I've suggested above wouldn't have been a quick fix by any means. But they would have helped. We would have had a better outlook for the remainder of the season, and people like me wouldn't be being accused of needing Prozac (that's for you, 'Tec).

Like I said, I like A.J. But he really needs to recognize this team's shortcomings, and instead of standing mostly pat and depending on rookies, he needs to go out there and take affirmative steps to improve this team in the 2010 off-season.

Return of Boley, Canty provide Giant upgrade

2009-11-04T14:10:56Z

Return of Boley, Canty provide Giant upgrade

Help is on the way to aid the ailing Giants defense. Linebacker Michael Boley and defensive tackle Chris Canty are both scheduled to take part in practice tomorrow when the Giants begin their on-field preparation for Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Last week, the injured duo took part in some individual drills, but this week they will be pushed even further. They certainly are needed, with the Giants riding a three-game losing streak.

Stat(s) of the Day: Philip Rivers vs. Eli Manning

2009-11-04T12:05:53Z

More photos » by Carolyn Kaster - AP

5 days ago: New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning sits on the ground after being knocked down during the second quarter an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Browse more photos »

Luckily for us, this game is not in primetime and is very important for both teams. Because of that, the Philip Rivers vs. Eli Manning storyline isn't getting as much attention as it normally would. Chargers fans are more concerned with a victory, which is desperately needed, and Giants fans are more concerned with Eli's health. Still, there's a way in which the QB conversation can be had in the context of this game and I'd like to do it.

		Passing									Rushing					Sacks
	G	Rating	Comp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/G	Y/A	TD	INT	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	TD	Sack	YdsL
2009 - Philip Rivers	7	95.9	142	238	59.7	2036	290.9	8.6	11	4	14	32	4.6	2.3	1	16	102

		Passing									Rushing					Sacks
	G	Rating	Comp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/G	Y/A	TD	INT	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	TD	Sack	YdsL
2009 - Eli Manning	8	86.4	140	242	57.9	1855	231.9	7.7	13	8	10	40	5	4	0	8	55

It's not difficult to argue that Philip is having the better season. He has about as many TDs (12 to Manning's 13) with half as many interceptions and a higher completion rating. These stats were also mostly attained under duress, evidence by the 16 times Rivers has been sacked in comparison to Manning's 8. That doesn't tell the whole story though.

Eli Manning injured his foot in a week 4 matchup against the Chiefs. The following week, it seemed all was fine as he destroyed the Raiders (8-for-10, 173 yards, 2 TDs). The three weeks since, however, have shown that Manning is struggling to be an effective QB because he's not comfortable planting on to that injured foot while throwing.

On the flip side, Philip Rivers has stayed healthy and consistent throughout the season. The last three weeks have resulted in 2 wins and 3 of Rivers' 4 best games of the season. So if we compare how the QBs have been doing over the last three weeks, it probably won't be pretty.......

Week 6-8:

Rivers - 61.3% comp., 791 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT, 6 Sacks, 104.8 QB Rating

Manning - 49.5% comp., 643 yards, 3 TD, 6 INT, 6 Sacks, 54.3 QB Rating

Okay, so everybody saw that coming. Also, before Giants fans start screaming about competition, here come more unsurprising stats about the last 3 weeks.

Week 6-8 Competition (Pass Defense DVOA):

Rivers - Broncos (6th), Chiefs (26th), Raiders (18th)

Manning - Saints (1st), Cardinals (13th), Eagles (2nd)

Now we'll start tearing down Rivers and Manning's stats. Rivers' stats look great for a 3 game stretch, but how much of that was beating up on KC? Let's see what happens when we take out that game....

62% comp., 523 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 6 Sacks, 95.6 QB Rating

Not bad, but the TD/INT numbers are less impressive and the 6 sacks are more striking over two games. I don't doubt Rivers will be fine against the Giants, but the team will need TDs to win and not just FGs.

Here's the most telling stat when looking at Eli's last 3 games. Watch this.....

@NO: 1 INT, 1 Sack
ARI: 3 INT, 3 Sacks
@PHI: 2 INT, 2 Sacks

Ron Rivera, you should probably make a note of that. The more sacks (and pressure) you can get on Eli Manning, the more turnovers he'll create. Keep those Safety blitzes and Corner blitzes coming!

State of the AFC West Week 8

2009-11-03T23:59:14Z

Good afternoon BFTBers, it's your old pal 'tec. We have 3 of the 4 AFC West teams in action during week 8, including the one inter-division game between the Raiders and our Chargers. The Chiefs had their bye this week, and the Broncos traveled to the east coast to take on Joe Flacco and the Ravens. Of course, we beat the Raiders 24-16, the Chiefs managed not to lose during their bye, and the Broncos are undefeated no more as the Ravens solved the Broncos enigma with a 30-7 beat-down. Let's take a look at the current standings.

AFC West Standings

	W	L	PF	PA
Denver	6	1	140	96
San Diego	4	3	185	159
Oakland	2	6	78	201
Kansas City	1	6	105	181

(updated 11.3.2009 at 1:44 AM PST)

The Chargers are now 2 games back of the Broncos with 9 game to go. As we know, the remaining schedules for both teams favors the Chargers in terms of difficulty. The Chargers are 3-1 in division games (the one loss vs. Broncos) with 2 division games left (vs. Chiefs and @ Broncos). We travel to New York this week to face the Giants. The Broncos are 2-0 in division games with 4 left (vs. Chargers, @ Chiefs, vs. Chiefs, vs. Oakland). The Broncos stay at home to face the Steelers.

Read the rest after the hop!

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs spent the week on their bye after a beat-down by the hands of the Bolts. Of course, it was a pretty eventful week after all thanks to Larry Johnsongate. This has to be a huge distraction for a team that has already had a tough year. The good thing is that there is nowhere to go but up and perhaps suspending Johnson might bring him to his senses and allow the team to come together. (I doubt it). He will be suspended one week. In former Chargers news, it appears that WR Chris Chambers, cut by the Chargers on Monday, was claimed by the Chiefs today. It looks like Chris will play one more game at Qualcomm Stadium this season. The Chiefs travel to face the Jaguars this week. Their next division game is week 10 at the Raiders.

Kansas City Chiefs Injuries

Probable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Branden Albert	ankle	11/02/2009

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Jon McGraw	undisclosed	11/02/2009
Lance Long	concussion	11/02/2009

Doubtful

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Rudy Niswanger	knee	11/02/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Devard Darling	knee	09/01/2009
Jackie Battle	shoulder	10/14/2009
Colin Brown	undisclosed	09/05/2009

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders are another terrible team with additional off the field issues, with ESPN's OTL reporting Head Coach Tom Cable's past nefarious exploits with his lady friends. It is up to the emperor of the Raiders Al Davis, whether he stays or goes, but the Raiders say they will be investigating the allegations. We will have to wait and see how much longer Cable lasts and continue the coaching carousel by the bay. Meanwhile, the actual football team (and I use the term lightly), is taking their bye this week. It is a good time for the team to rest up, as we saw last week they had major injuries, including Robert Gallery who is a big part of their offensive line. WR Chaz Schilens also remains out. It's not like it matters much, since nobody is watching the games; mostly because the poor attendance at the games are creating local blackouts. The Raiders next division game is week 10 vs. the Chiefs. Look at that injury list! Who do they think they are, the Chargers?

Oakland Raiders Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Cornell Green	calf	11/02/2009
Tony Stewart	chest	11/02/2009
Gerard Warren	toe	11/02/2009
Jon Alston	shoulder	11/02/2009
Ricky Brown	ankle	11/02/2009
Robert Gallery	fibula	11/02/2009
Tommy Kelly	elbow	11/02/2009
Chris Johnson	groin	11/02/2009
Chaz Schilens	foot	11/02/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
John Bowie	knee	09/30/2009
Oren O'Neal	ankle	10/14/2009

Denver Broncos: After a 6-0 start, the Broncos are undefeated no more after a 30-7 road loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Broncos will face another tough team this week, a MNF meeting with the Steelers at home. The Ravens seemed to solve the mystery of beating the Broncos, so we should look at this game in preparing for our second match-up with the Broncos. The Broncos special teams continued to struggle, allowing another kick-off for a touchdown, but we already knew that was a weakness. The Ravens were able to pressure Kyle Orton early, and apparently that threw him off of his game, which spread to the rest of the team. The Broncos seemed to be off all day, not executing like they had been in the rest of their games. The Broncos crossed over into Baltimore territory only 3 times all game, and got into the red-zone only once. The Denver defense is good, but not that good, and eventually they are going to get scored on. The key seems to be being able to disrupt the offense which starts with pressuring the QB. Orton isn't going to make many mistakes, but he's not a world beater either. With the Broncos D giving up 30 points on Sunday, the Colts take over as the best defense in football. The Broncos next division game is week 11 at home vs. the Chargers. The Broncos remain ridiculously healthy.

Denver Broncos Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Renaldo Hill	leg	11/03/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Nick Greisen	knee	08/05/2009
J'Vonne Parker	knee	08/08/2009

San Diego Chargers: First of all, apparently LB James Holt has been promoted from the practice squad. Now, you're going to have to find out from someone else who that is, because I have no idea. Maybe that Sliderockmpc guy, he seems to be pretty sharp. Anyhow, we all know that the Chargers front office pulled off yet another team shakeup, releasing Chis Chambers, who has already been picked up within the division by the Chiefs. These shakeups seem to be working, notwithstanding a closer than expected victory over the Raiders. Like Coach Hoke says, there are no good losses and there are no bad wins. Let's focus on our game this weekend in New Jersey. I bet there's probably at least one person that didn't know we were playing in New Jersey on Sunday. Over their three losses in a row, I've seen two big things about the Giants. First, Eli is still being bothered by his foot, in which he has plantar fasciitis. From what I know, this is not an injury that one gets over easily. Padre fans know that Kyle Blanks got it and was forced to sit out the last part of the season. Eli has been more inaccurate than usual because of the injury, which has been compounded by the fact that the Giants have been unable to get a running game going during the losing streak. Second, the Giants running defense has struggled, especially with runners up the middle. I posted a stat earlier in the week, but during the losing streak the Giants have allowed something like 7.6 YPC up the middle. Unfortunately, both of these weaknesses don't exactly translate to the Chargers strengths. We also have struggled this year with running offense and defense. On the bright side, at least I think LT has shown some substantial progress lately, and Shawne and Shaun also seem to be about to step up their game in a serious way. The Chargers next division game is week 10 at the Broncos. Tim Dobbins is going to be out a few weeks, maybe he'll come back the same time as Nick Hardwick. I'm hoping Kevin Burnett is healthy enough to play on Sunday, but I haven't heard anything.

San Diego Chargers Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Tim Dobbins	knee	11/02/2009
Nick Hardwick	ankle	11/02/2009

Doubtful

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Kevin Burnett	ankle	11/02/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Ryon Bingham	arm	09/05/2009
Jamal Williams	triceps	09/19/2009
Antwan Applewhite	hamstring	10/20/2009
Brandon Hughes	knee	09/02/2009

GO CHARGERS!

Poll

Can the Chargers come back and win the division?

James Holt promoted from practice squad to active roster, takes Chambers' spot -- ccpearce

2009-11-03T23:14:04Z

James Holt promoted from practice squad to active roster, takes Chambers' spot -- ccpearce

Interesting, I thought Beckwith was favoured for this. Is Holt going to be better against NY's run?

At least it wasn't Zach Thomas because then we'd need a new leader for this blog (after John did himself in).

(And of course I found this in the twitter-links on the side, but thought it should be raised for discussion).

The Chiefs have been awarded former San Diego WR Chris Chambers after making a waiver claim --...

2009-11-03T22:40:22Z

The Chiefs have been awarded former San Diego WR Chris Chambers after making a waiver claim -- kb_kcstar

Good news re salary, but a pity that he'll improve a foe in our division, especially as we're still to play our second game against them (though of course that is at home).

Good Day, BFTB

2009-11-03T19:35:51Z

A little bit of site news. sliderockmpc, who has been getting stellar recommendations for his weekly game reviews and grades, is now an official BFTB writer. Be sure to congratulate him in the comments below.

Also, as if you hadn't noticed......SBNation has had a little facelift. I've been getting feedback all day through my e-mail, but I'm eager to know what everybody thinks. Rock the vote!

Poll

What do you think of BFTB's new look?

Week 8 Review - Oakland Raiders at Chargers. Final: 24-16 Chargers.

2009-11-03T01:17:59Z

A good offensive 1st half, and a 2nd consecutive strong defensive effort is enough for the Chargers to beat the Oakland Raiders for their 13th consecutive win in the series.

Stats never lie, except when they lie. Looking at the Oakland Raiders' 4 scoring drives, not one went beyond 50 yards. The Chargers had 4 scoring drives of more than 50 yards. Oakland totaled 180 yards of offense, neither rushing nor passing for more than 100 yards. The Chargers ran for 100 yards, and passed for almost 250 yards. This begs the question...

How on Earth did the Raiders have a chance to tie this game in the 4th quarter? Answer: Unforced Errors.

In every game the Chargers have played this year (excepting Pittsburgh), the Chargers have been the biggest source of their problems. A good argument could be made that unforced errors have cost them 2 wins (vs. Baltimore, vs. Denver). Luckily, the Chargers played an opponent yesterday that was incapable of making the Chargers pay for their mistakes. Grades for each position are posted below.

Quarterbacks: B

Philip Rivers enjoyed his second straight game facing little-to-no pass pressure. He opened the first half on fire, making great use of mismatches as Norv Turner moved the receivers around to get favorable matchups. The tipped interception late in the first quarter likely snuffed a scoring drive, and was responsible for keeping the Raiders in the game through the first half. In the 3rd quarter, the entire offense was out of rhythm, and Rivers missed several throws, notably a slant to TE Antonio Gates that is usually a completion. In the 4th quarter, Rivers completed several clutch throws, one to WR Chris Chambers for a huge 1st down, and later threading the needle to Gates on a bootleg. A couple of chances for big plays were missed.

Running Backs: B

LaDainian Tomlinson continues to get better with each game. Despite scoring 2 TDs, we are still waiting on the "breakout" performance. Tomlinson also continues to improve in pass protection. Darren Sproles also contributed some nice runs, twice coming close to breaking free for touchdowns. Neither player was used much on screen passes, and both players served as decoys against the Raiders defense on passing downs. It should be noted that both players had more running room when operating out of spread formations than in power situations, and Tomlinson coasted for a TD on the Chargers 1st use of the Wildcat. Both FBs Jacob Hester and Mike Tolbert contributed drive-sustaining 1st downs on 3rd-and-1 dive plays. Tomlinson also recovered his potentially devastating fumble early in the 3rd quarter.

Wide Receivers: B

Vincent Jackson had another good outing, with 8 catches for 103 yards and a TD, but he made a serious mistake allowing a pass to deflect off his hands for an Oakland turnover. Also, somewhat similarly to the game against Kansas City, Jackson largely disappeared after a terrific 1st half. Gates made some huge plays, notably turning a 5 yard crossing route into a 30-yard gain, and a great catch off the Rivers bootleg mentioned above. Malcom Floyd contributed another marvelous jump-ball catch to set up the Chargers' first score, and Chris Chambers came up with a great catch, off a fade-stop with the sun in his eyes in the 4th quarter to keep Oakland's offense off the field.

Offensive Line: B-

For the second straight week, the pass blocking was sensational. The Chargers neutralized Richard Seymour, who wreaked havoc in the Chargers Week 1 escape. On the whole, nothing the Raiders did produced consistent pressure on Rivers. However, in the running game, the Chargers struggled again when running out of power sets, the exceptions a pair of FB dives on 3rd-and-1, and a 4th quarter 3rd-and 1 which Tomlinson took 13 yards to set up a 1st-and-Goal. The Chargers' most successful runs came from gimmick sets (such as the Wildcat) and out of spread formations. Penalties also hurt the Chargers; notably a false start against blocking TE Brandon Manumaleuna hurt the Chargers' chances to put the Raiders away in the 4th quarter. As usual, RT Jeromey Clary struggled with speed rushers - backup DE Matt Shaughnessy (subbing for Greg Ellis) abused Clary throughout the 2nd half.

Defensive Line: B

In the Week 1 matchup against Oakland, the Chargers lost Jamal Williams and got pushed around for a good part of the game. Yesterday, after Oakland fell behind, the D-Line contained Oakland's trap and slant based running game. Keeping Oakland in 2nd and 3rd-and-long situations benefited the Chargers line, allowing them to occupy linemen and create blitzing lanes for the linebackers. The DT rotation has improved with the addition of Ian Scott - the rotation of Scott, Vaughn Martin, and Ogemdi Nwagbuo has allowed the Chargers line to remain stout, if not disruptive at the point of attack. Holding the Raiders to 99 yards rushing, with a 3.7 per carry average, is good under any circumstances.

Author's Note: Vaughn Martin was inactive for this game, Travis Johnson was in the rotation at DT. Caught by the readers. Thanks for the info.

Linebackers: A-

OLBs Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman both got loose in the second half yesterday, each recording 2 sacks. Phillips made the play that all but clinched the game - crushing JaMarcus Russell late in the 4th quarter and putting the Raiders' offense in a huge hole. Merriman is getting closer to full strength, getting a sack after fighting through a block, and later blowing up Raiders' LT Mario Henderson on a bull rush. Inside, ILB Stephen Cooper contributed 10 tackles. ILB Brandon Siler, substituting in for Tim Dobbins (Dobbins was replacing an injured Kevin Burnett) contributed 6 tackles. The only issue for the ILBs was the failure to contain Oakland TE Zach Miller and RB Justin Fargas on short and intermediate routes.

Secondary: B

As was the case in Week 1, CBs Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie were not challenged by Oakland's receiving corps. WRs Louis Murphy, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Johnnie Lee Higgins combined for 2 catches, 16 yards. Cromartie contributed an interception early to force the Raiders' offense into a shell and sparked the Chargers' opening TD. Steve Gregory played well in his 2nd game as the nickel DB, and contributed a sack off a safety blitz. Safeties Eric Weddle and Kevin Ellison also had good games, although the group had problems with Miller in the middle of the field. Tackling was improved across the board, and there was none of the confusion that resulted in cheap plays for the Raiders (contrast this with Week 1, where Cromartie and former S Clinton Hart allowed a late TD bomb to give Oakland a 4th quarter lead).

Special Teams: C-

Surprisingly, this area has become a weakness for the Chargers over the last 3 weeks. Coverage teams allowed a long kick return - the Raiders were able to get a cheap FG late in the 1st half, just after the Chargers had taken a commanding 21-7 lead. For the 2nd straight game, the blocking teams were unable to create space for Sproles. Sproles himself had an unusually rough game, losing a fumble near midfield during a punt return - this play gave Oakland momentum after closing within 8 points. Later, on the kickoff following Oakland's last FG, Sproles mishandled the return, getting brought down at the Chargers' 8-yard line. P Mike Scifres nearly had a punt blocked when Hester missed a block. PK Nate Kaeding had only 1 FG attempt - he was his usual perfect self inside 40 yards, and made a touchdown-saving tackle on the return mentioned earlier. The Chargers should consider returning to the short, high kickoffs used the previous week in Kansas City.

Coaching: B

Norv Turner showed some imagination, using the Wildcat to get the Chargers on the scoreboard. He also was smart to emphasize the passing game in the first half against the Raiders, build a large early lead and force Oakland's passing game to keep pace. However, the Chargers came out with a stalled engine in the 3rd quarter, and it appeared that Turner didn't have an answer for jump-starting the offense. On defense, Ron Rivera dialed back the blitzes a bit against JaMarcus Russell, but nearly every call was effective. The only knocks against Rivera were not taking Miller completely out of the game with constant double teams, and not using more zone-blitzes in the first half to flood the middle of the field and take away what little comfort zone Russell has.

Biggest Positives:

Norv Turner getting innovative with the Wildcat inside the opponents' 10-yard line.
Emphasizing the pass to build an early lead in the first half.
Red-zone offense was improved, scoring 3 TDs in 4 chances.
Building a lead allowed the Chargers' defense to attack the QB - posting 5 sacks.
Defense holds the opponent to less than 100 yards rushing.
Defense keeps Oakland from scoring TDs in 3 out of 4 short field opportunities.
Improved pass protection for Rivers.

Biggest Areas of Concern:

The Chargers inability to control the line of scrimmage when operating a power-run offense.
Norv Turner's insistence on running the ball out of power-run formations.
Self-inflicted mistakes keep the Chargers from putting opponents away.
Inability to neutralize the opposing teams' TE.
Special Teams miscues gave Oakland great field position during the 2nd half.
Injuries to Burnett and Dobbins at ILB.

Looking Ahead:

To "monkey wrenching" Eli Manning's postseason hopes. Based on the Giants last three losses (at Saints, vs. Cardinals, at Eagles), their defense has problems handling spread offenses. With this in mind, Norv Turner should continue to emphasize the pass over the run. The game in New York will give us the first opportunity to gauge whether the Chargers have turned the corner, or whether they've taken advantage of 2 of the worst teams in the NFL.

Chris Chambers Released By San Diego Chargers

2009-11-02T20:33:04Z

Chris Chambers

#89 / Wide Receiver / San Diego Chargers

Height: 5-11

Weight: 210

Born: Aug 12, 1978

College: Wisconsin

I understand his play has been poor, but after making arguably the best play of the game Chris Chambers is out on the streets.

Chris Chamber was the catalyst for the 2007 Chargers' run to the playoffs. His production has declined since then, but he's always been fairly reliable in clutch situations and in playoff games. Against the Raiders, Malcom Floyd took his spot as the starting WR opposite Vincent Jackson.

This makes Legedu Naanee, who has disappeared since having a good start to the season, the Bolts' new slot receiver.

Chambers' 2009 stats:

	Receiving						Kickoff Returns					Punt Returns
G	Rec	Yds	Y/G	AVG	Lng	TD	KR	YDS	AVG	Lng	TD	PR	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
4	9	122	30.5	13.6	20	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Chris Chambers has been released -- ka

2009-11-02T20:17:57Z

Chris Chambers has been released -- ka

Holy Moly, didn't see this one coming.

Will add a LB in the next few days...Norv says Kassim Osgood will get work at receiver now (Go Aztecs!) and maybe Buster (lolz).

Bolts & Dolts: Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers

2009-11-02T18:15:42Z

More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

5 days ago: San Diego Chargers receiver Malcom Floyd goes for the diving catch while being covered by Oakland Raiders' Chris Johnson in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009 in San Diego. Floyd could not handle the catch but Johnson was called for illegal contact. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Browse more photos »

I don't think you guys are going to be real happy with me after you read this post. After looking though the post-game comments, I found myself disagreeing with a lot of you. In actuality, I should write a post about why certain players are not on the lists below, but that could take forever.

Without further ado, the most controversial episode of Bolts & Dolts.....

Bolts

Offense

Vincent Jackson - 8 catches, 103 yards, 1 TD. I know a lot of people will not agree with this. However, after that ball bounced off his hand for the interception, he turned into a beast. Also, considering he got only one hand on that ball, I consider that interception an un-catchable pass that was simply made worse by VJ's effort. Although Oakland did everything they could to cover him deep (his longest catch went for 20 yards), he still was a major factor in the Chargers victory.

Defense

Shawne Merriman - 7 tackles, 2 sacks. It was against the Raiders, so it has to be looked at differently, but that was a really good game for Merriman. I was worried in the first quarter because I saw Mario Henderson cut-blocking into Shawne's injured knee repeatedly, but I guess he's just fine. I've talked all year about how he's looked too bulky and not flexible enough. This game, he looked plenty flexible and it helped not only with the sacks but he was also in on seemingly every tackle. Look for a big second-half of the season from Shawne.

Shaun Phillips - 3 tackles, 2 sacks. Surprise, surprise. Phillips has a big game against the Chiefs, and suddenly Merriman is seeing less blockers. Merriman starts getting pressure, and suddenly Phillips is practically running free. Good things are starting to happen. Shaun Phillips is the type of player that's good in an OK defense, and an incredible weapon in a great defense (similar to Adalius Thomas). Watch out for him against the Giants.

Chargers CBs. Not only are Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer playing really good defense right now, I think they're playing tougher and I think Steve Gregory has something to do with that. Gregory again led this group with 3 tackles and a sack against the Raiders. Cromartie laid somebody out. Jammer went knocked a big TE out of bounds easily (although that's not exactly new). Also, the Raiders receivers yesterday were thrown to 8 times and totaled 2 catches for 16 yards. The Chargers secondary continues to be strong.

Dolts

Offense

Malcom Floyd - 2 catches, 64 yards. Put away your pitchforks and hear me out. I know his catch at the beginning of the game was spectacular, but Malcom Floyd needs to become a better player outside of the first quarter. Let's look at his stats by quarter this season...

	Rec	Yds	TD
1st Quarter	7	163	1
2nd Quarter	2	24	0
3rd Quarter	2	64	0
4th Quarter	0	0	0

Am I the only one disturbed by that? What the heck happens to him after the first quarter? When the Chargers needed a big catch from somebody not named Antonio Gates or Vincent Jackson yesterday, they had to take their chances with Chris Chambers. Look, I love Floyd's potential and catches just as much as any other Chargers fan. He was the most fun player to watch at training camp. I just can't overlook the fact that he appears to be a 1st quarter receiver this season.

Jeromey Clary. I don't why everybody is so eager to pile on Clary. He had a rough game. Players rarely have 16 straight good games. He struggles with speed rushers, which we already knew. He let Matt Shaughnessy through for the only Raiders sack of the game. It wasn't the worst game ever, but it was deserving of a Dolt.

Darren Sproles - 5 carries, 38 rush yards, 1 catch, 8 rec yards. Every few weeks Darren seems to have a game where the ball is extra buttery in his hands. It's a strange phenomenon. Despite the gaudy 7.6 YPC, Darren just wasn't a big weapon for the Chargers on Sunday.

Defense

Defensive Line. This one was actually close. A 3.7 YPC for the Raiders isn't that bad, and the Chargers didn't allow a run longer than 12 yards all game. The line's problem, and perhaps this is a silly criticism, was that there were only one or two plays where the Raiders were actually stopped for one or less yards. When it was 3rd and 3, Oakland could run it for a first down with ease. That's not good. This line seems to be good as individuals, but so far has shown no chemistry.

Stephen Cooper/Kevin Ellison - There's a reason these guys had 15 tackles between the two of them. They can't cover worth a damn. Did anyone ever bother to tell Cooper that he can actually stay close to the check-down receiver? Standing 5 yards behind him isn't helping anything. Ellison wasn't flat-out burned by anyone, but JaMarcus Russell had no fear throwing to Nick Miller when Miller drew Ellison.