Thursday Night Football is back

[FlackBase]

Woohoo! 30 points from Bush! I just dropped Brandon Jacobs and picked him up on Tuesday. McCoy is my other RB and he should run wild over the Cards.

[Polynitro]

great. this is the time of year they put the big games on NFL network only and I cant watch them. awesome.

[TNJ]

McFadden who?

Wow...Bush just brings it every time.
Not bad for a big man.
I think the Chargers may be done for the season.
Believe me, I can relate.

S.
j

[GovernorSilver]

Originally Posted by Donnie B.

Chargers O and D lines were pathetic. That team is in BIG trouble.

McNeil got hurt on a freak play. His replacement was awful. Dielman missed the game (concussion). His replacement sucked. Vasquez was in and out of the game due to injuries.

AJ Smith did a decent job putting together the starting O line, but he didn't pay much attention to the depth or to the right tackle position. He didn't want to pay Sproles to stay in SD, but was willing to pay Clary handsomely (more than Sproles) to be a revolving door at right tackle.

The D-line has some talent but the D-coordinator continues to be clueless. Anybody's D-line would look bad with this guy in charge. Last year's coordinator, Rivera, knew how to use his guys, as opposed to this year's.

[Bankston]

One thing I noticed was how often Norv kept running the same 4 wide set last night and running shot gun almost the entire game. I haven't watched a lot of the Chargers but ya gotta mix up your formations more than that in the NFL and you can't be consistently successful running the ball from the shotgun.

I understand that Mathews and Tolbert have been beat up but you have to at least make the defense think you're going to run the ball.

The Raiders were able to pin their ears back and go after Rivers all night.

[big mike]

Originally Posted by Bankston

One thing I noticed was how often Norv kept running the same 4 wide set last night and running shot gun almost the entire game. I haven't watched a lot of the Chargers but ya gotta mix up your formations more than that in the NFL and you can't be consistently successful running the ball from the shotgun.

I understand that Mathews and Tolbert have been beat up but you have to at least make the defense think you're going to run the ball.

The Raiders were able to pin their ears back and go after Rivers all night.

Don't forget, that SHOULD have worked.
Our #2, 3 and 4 corners were inactive. Lito Sheppard was sitting on his ass at home last week.
#1 safety (Huff) in a walking boot #2(Eugene) out in preseason. Giordano is a journeyman 'roster filler' guy, and Mitchell is a overhyped #2 draftpick. Mediorche at best.

The only 2 true starters in the secondary were Routt and Branch.
Curry (OLB) was a Seahawk 3 weeks ago. McClain was questionable and just back from missing a week, Wimbley's playing a LOT of end with Shaunessey out... raider's defense is like an add for walking boots.

4 wide with rivers, Jackson and crayton SHOULD have picked them apart.

But that's why they play them...

SD's defense was attrocious. Bush is good, but not fast. and he had some HUGE runs.

[big mike]

Originally Posted by TNJ

McFadden who?

Wow...Bush just brings it every time.
Not bad for a big man.
I think the Chargers may be done for the season.
Believe me, I can relate.

S.
j

Out here on the radio they were calling the loser of this game 'out' of the playoffs. "Write it down". Should be interesting.

raiders have Vikes in 10 days, then the schedule gets REALLY hard....Lions, Packers...2 more AFC West division games...

Indy's sucking for luck eh?

[GovernorSilver]

Originally Posted by Bankston

One thing I noticed was how often Norv kept running the same 4 wide set last night and running shot gun almost the entire game. I haven't watched a lot of the Chargers but ya gotta mix up your formations more than that in the NFL and you can't be consistently successful running the ball from the shotgun.

I think big mike nailed it.

Unfortunately, Norv didn't count on injuries to the starting OL and the backups being next to useless.

Normally, he calls running plays out of the usual formations (I, offset I, etc.).

[DWB1960]

Chargers have to travel to Chicago to play a rejuvenated Bears. Safe to guess that they get their asses handed to them.

I say fire Turner right after that game. I think the players have been hiding behind him since he's such as easy target for the press and fans to pin their woes on. Promote one of the coordinators to interim coach for the rest of the season. Rivers knows the offense inside and out. Let him try calling a game and see how it goes.

Then put out feelers to any available coach that would come in and kick some ass rather than constantly making excuses. Turner should have been livid during his post game press conference but instead he just used the same lame ass excuses as always.

Why let him finish up the season? No one has faith in the guy any more. Even my 2 co-workers who have stood behind him for years have given up on the guy.

[GovernorSilver]

Originally Posted by Donnie B.

I say fire Turner right after that game. I think the players have been hiding behind him since he's such as easy target for the press and fans to pin their woes on. Promote one of the coordinators to interim coach for the rest of the season.

I was calling for this very thing this past offseason. Fire Norv, and promote defensive coordinator Ron Rivera to head coach instead of letting him leave for Carolina. Ron can promote a trusted assistant to D-coordinator. Clarence Shelmon already holds the title of offensive coordinator. He was LT's RB coach before Norv promoted him to OC. He can probably handle being OC for real instead of in-name, or serve as OC/consultant like Tom Moore did for Peyton Manning if they want Rivers to go the Peyton route (which as we have seen is very dangerous for QB depth development).

The Spanoses ignored me.

Next best step is to fire Norv and fire GM AJ Smith, because he won't fire Norv and his drafts have slipped in dramatically quality ever since he lost his top scout Buddy Nix. Then hire Bill Polian as new GM if the rumors about him being on the outs with the Irsays and Caldwell in Indy are true. If not, try to steal a front office guy from the Saints or Packers organizations and hire him as GM.

[Bankston]

Originally Posted by big mike

Don't forget, that SHOULD have worked.
Our #2, 3 and 4 corners were inactive. Lito Sheppard was sitting on his ass at home last week.
#1 safety (Huff) in a walking boot #2(Eugene) out in preseason. Giordano is a journeyman 'roster filler' guy, and Mitchell is a overhyped #2 draftpick. Mediorche at best.

The only 2 true starters in the secondary were Routt and Branch.
Curry (OLB) was a Seahawk 3 weeks ago. McClain was questionable and just back from missing a week, Wimbley's playing a LOT of end with Shaunessey out... raider's defense is like an add for walking boots.

4 wide with rivers, Jackson and crayton SHOULD have picked them apart.

But that's why they play them...

SD's defense was attrocious. Bush is good, but not fast. and he had some HUGE runs.

Good insights. The Raiders' front 7 seemed to bail out the secondary by getting excellent pressure.

With the Chargers' O-line banged up, running 4 wides just makes it easier to rush the passer because you're either not using the TE or splitting him off the line of scrimmage. Rivers had little time to throw last night and was sacked six times. I kept expecting Turner to max protect or run the ball more to slow down the pass rush. They were only down one possession in the 4th quarter and had plenty of time left on the clock.

I think if you're facing a depleted secondary, you don't want to make it easier on them by running obvious pass formations. Mix up the run more and disguise what you're doing with play action and you're more likely to burn 'em.

[big mike]

Especially with all the yards we gave Denver last week
Norv went to catchup mode too fast

[TNJ]

What really had me scratching my head was that 3rd down play in the 4th quarter where Rivers did a hail Mary into the end zone, and the receiver didnt look for the ball, and was sandwiched between 2 defenders.
I mean...for the love of Mike, why not get a 1st down with a quick slant route, run some clock on the ground, and then go for 7 with an intelligent play?

Jeez...if Norv called that one, he should be called on the carpet.
That was one of a few plays that had me thinking Rivers isnt all together these days...or is he running the play as called (and not audible=ing out of it) to put some heat on the real play caller?


And, yes Big Mike, Indy is sucking for Luck right now.
What can I say? IF we get him, you and I will continue this conversation!



S.
j

[DWB1960]

Originally Posted by TNJ

What really had me scratching my head was that 3rd down play in the 4th quarter where Rivers did a hail Mary into the end zone, and the receiver didnt look for the ball, and was sandwiched between 2 defenders.

Vincent Jackson. According to Turner after the game, Jackson lost sight of the ball in the lights.........

Jackson looked to be phoning it in a number of times last night. Seem to go all Randy Moss on a number of plays when his number wasn't called.

[Bankston]

Haha, I can remember Jose Cruz always had trouble with the lights in "Jack Murphy" stadium when the Pads used to play there.