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Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers - Defense
by DaBolts
on Nov 21, 2008 8:07 AM PST
The Indianapolis Colts defense is almost as lopsided as its offense. It has been effective against the pass, but they can be run against. I would suspect that it has something to do with the size of their defensive line; they have a smaller line, but as the link posted by 'Shake and Bake' shows they can be effective. Their front four weigh in at 1064 lbs total. While the Chargers have had their troubles running the ball, with LT healthy I would expect this should be a line that our offensive line should be able to wear on. A running game would also burn clock; the more the Chargers can keep the ball out of Peyton's hands, the less exposed our secondary will be. Here are the numbers for the Colts defense:
At just 181 yards a game, the Colts have been effective against the pass. Football Outsiders ranks them just about dead average against the pass and run; so some of these stats may be the result of facing good running attacks. Outsiders also ranks the Colts reasonably well covering the primary receivers, third receivers and running backs catching the ball seems to be weaker. Dwight Freeney at right defensive end brings the most heat on the pass rush, he has 7 sacks this season. Robert Mathis on the left has 5; the Chargers will need to slow them down to give Rivers time to find to throw.
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Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers - Offense
by DaBolts
on Nov 20, 2008 8:10 AM PST
The Colts offense, as it has for the last decade or so, keys off Peyton Manning. The year the Colts got manning the Chargers had the number two pick and ended up with Ryan Leaf. But the Colts have been a little uneven this year, they started off the year 3-4 and looked to be headed into the sunset, but since then they have reeled off three victories and are poised near the top of the race for a wildcard. The Colts offense now rests on the right arm of Manning more than ever, their running game has been spotty at best. Currently their stats look like this:
In some ways they are markedly similar to the Chargers with a great passing attack, but not gaining much on the ground. Manning has 17 TDs but 9 interceptions to go with them. Reggie Wayne is his favorite target; he has racked up 56 catches for nearly 800 yards this year. Surprisingly Marvin Harris' is fourth in terms of yards, ranking below both Dallas Clark at tight end and Anthony Gonzales. The concern for the Chargers has to be Dallas Clark; we have made average tight ends look like Pro Bowlers; what is a Pro Bowler going to look like? It will be interesting to see if Rivera thinks it more important to put S. Phillips on Clark in coverage or use him to try and get pressure on Manning. I would expect Jammer to be placed on Wayne; lets hope he doesn't cramp up at the end of this game.
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0 comments Phase Transition
by DaBolts
on Nov 19, 2008 1:49 PM PST
Matter comes in a variety of forms. If we look at water, when it is cold it becomes solid ice, warm it up and it becomes liquid; really apply the heat and it becomes a gas (steam). When matter moves from one state to another; they call that phase transition, that state of moving from liquid to solid. I watch Antonio Gates run the field and I swear he is in that phase transition somewhere between solid and liquid; he doesn't run routes, he flows along them.
When he jumps for the ball he just slides up to it, everything is one fluid motion. He doesn't even catch the ball, he just absorbs it as if it were some missing part of him. You watch him blow by linebackers and corners and you think he is moving slowly; just a languid run in the park; but somehow time has slowed down for the people around him.
Gates has not followed quite the same evolutionary path as the rest of us, he has once again taken a faster route just a little beyond the rest of us. He plays tight end the same way Einstein did physics or Newton worked at mathematics. This year Gates has been playing with a bad toe; which is a little like trying to play the violin without a bow. He began the season looking almost human, almost solid. We didn't see much of him in the Steeler game, but the few weeks prior you could see him come around; and even with the injury he leads NFL tight ends with six touchdown catches. It almost feels wrong to say Gates plays tight end, Gates is the tight end.
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Ask BigBlueShoe: Week 12
by BigBlueShoe
on Nov 19, 2008 6:11 AM PST
Chargers fans, I'm BigBlueShoe, the head writer at SB Nation's Colts blog: Stampede Blue. It is now time for you to take a few more shots at the Colts, the team your team has beaten three straight times (including one agonizing playoff game). This Sunday, your team play my favorite team, and this FanPost offers you the opportunity to ask me questions about the Colts. Is Bob Sanders healthy? Is Peyton's knee fully recovered? Did the Colts circle this game as a revenge game? I'm happy to answer your questions as best I can.
Sometimes joining me in these Q and As is Stampede Blue's contributing writer shake n bake. This upcoming Sunday night game should be a slug fest. Both teams are fighting to stay in the playoff hunt even though both started the season as everyone's favorite to win their respective divisions. But injuries and bad luck had both these teams stumble early.
Looking forward to the game and answering your questions. I often enjoyed reading DaBolts' FanPosts over at Mile High Report, and i'm thrilled he has his own Chargers blog now. Ask away.
10 comments | 6 recs
Static from around the Web
by DaBolts
on Nov 18, 2008 7:33 AM PST
A three game home stand starts on Sunday.
LT on the state of the Chargers.
Are the Bolts just getting long in the tooth?
The Chargers are losing badly on time of posession; tell us something we don't know.
Now that bettors have lost money, they are thinking of redoing some replay rules.
The Cardinals have been quietly putting together a nice season.
Hiding steroids? Never, they were just trying to lose a little weight for when they get their big shot on dancing with the stars.
Romo is back, and Norv is on the hotseat.
Cleveland beats the Bills; the Chargers defense sure makes QBs look good.
I keep thinking the Titans aren't for real, and they keep proving me wrong.
This is what I think the Bolts should do.
4 comments | 0 recs
Season Over???
by Jonny Dub
on Nov 17, 2008 9:18 AM PST
After yesterday most everyone might think so. The Chargers sure have figured out how to lose and the mighty Broncos have a two game lead with only six games left. But I still have hope. And you should too.
At the beginning of this season I was more excited with hope of a Championship than any season before. This excitement was based on the Chargers talent. Now across the board every aspect of our team has taken a step in the wrong direction, with perhaps the exception of Rivers (even after yesterday). But I still think the Bolts have enough talent to at least take the division. Yesterday we even saw signs of life out of the Defense. The Question is will all this sometimes hidden talent show up for the final six games?
If the Chargers manage one more victory than the Broncos over the next five games and do not lose any divisional games the season will come down to December 28. The final game here against the Broncos would decide the divisional winner. Does that sound impossible? Not really. So I still have hope, and you should too.
Football is the hardest sport on fans. With Baseball and its 162 games there is always tomorrow. In baseball, if your team sucks it’s a slow death that is easier to cope with. In football a season can go from optimism to tragedy in a single play. If the Chargers season is now over it lasted all but two months. And I for one refuse to wait 10 months for another season to start.
And think about this: The last few years we’ve been accustomed to winning. We expect it. But take yourself back to the seasons pre 2004. Those seasons were over in the first few weeks. I’d take this season over any Ryan Leaf season in a heartbeat. Sack up Charger Fans! And SHOW ME YOUR LIGHTNING BOLT!
4 comments | 2 recs
Grading the Bolts
by DaBolts
on Nov 17, 2008 8:12 AM PST
Another Sunday, another gut wrenching loss. This time the offense faded while the defense limited the Steelers offense to just nine points. Despite the agony of defeat; I enjoyed watching the Chargers hanging toe to toe with one of the great defenses of the AFC in weather cold enough to see players breath. The goal line stand by the defense was a thing of beauty after having been maligned all year, but the offense followed up with a safety and then turned the ball over twice and would end up with just ten points. To be fair the defense allowed did allow very long drives, time of possession went heavily against the Chargers (36-23). Coupled with the Denver comeback win at Atlanta you have to say that this puts a serious dent in post season hopes. While there is still time to make up ground; the Bolts would need help from the Broncos. You can still see the talent flash occasionally, but right now there is no getting around that we are not winning the close games.
In terms of yards given up the Steelers also dramatically out gained the Chargers; 410-213. It was also nice to see LT break into the end zone for the first time in four games. The other development on defense was a strange statistic virtually unknown for the past few games; they are called sacks.
Finally, change we can believe in!
The Chargers picked up four of them, which along with penalties killed off or limited Pittsburgh's drives. It's always nice when somebody you don't expect picks up the pace, today you have to give Jacques Cesaire credit for two sacks and one batted ball. I have been dying to see him do well ever since seeing the video of him cracking up the London guard. Unfortunately Luis Castillo went down in the third quarter, we will have to wait and see how that shapes up.
Defensive Line - B
Jamal looked good and what can you say about Cesaire? Not just two sacks, but he was also delivering solid pressure even when he didn't get there. More's the pity he went down near the games end with an injury. Willie Parker did rack up 115 yards, but the long was 13 yards.
Linebackers -C
This run defense has really improved with the return of Stephen Cooper. The coverage over the middle by linebackers is still wanting; but it was nice to see S. Phillips, J. Tucker and Cooper all get at least part of the QB. Why the C? The coverage over the middle still isn't there, until that gets solved teams are going to drive all day on us.
Safeties - B
Anybody else impressed with Paul Oliver? He came up with seven tackles; and you have to say when the Steelers are racking up that many yards and plays, but only nine points, the plays are not getting past the safeties. Clinton Hart really seemed to be going all out again this game; one play near the end of the game he came flying in out of nowhere to cut down the ball carrier. He has been burned a lot this season, but he is never phoning it in.
Corners - B
Quentin Jammer deserves to go to the Pro Bowl; two PDs and making tackles, every week he is giving his all. Cromartie seemed to pick up his game some, but he was another player that had to be walked off the field near the games end. That Pittsburgh turf just seems to eat players up.
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GameThread for San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers
by DaBolts
on Nov 16, 2008 10:15 AM PST
I'm just going to open this bad boy up early:
Kevin Acee trys to convince us that the weather could be worse.
This article lays some of the blame for the feeble running attack on the Oline. The Chargers bring up Tra Battle from the practice squad and send Corey Clark down (this has to be one of AJs least impressive drafts so far).
I think maybe I will just start reporting when Buster hasn't pulled his groin. Cletis Gordon is out and Safety Steve Gregory is out (which is why they brought up Battle).
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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. San Diego Chargers - Defense
by DaBolts
on Nov 14, 2008 8:01 AM PST
The Steelers are known for having a terrific defense and this incarnation of the steel curtain doesn't disappoint. A quick look at the statistics shows both a fierce run defense and an outstanding pass defense.
Giving up a stingy 71 yards rushing and just 164 yards against the pass, it is one of the great defenses in the NFL. And just like the Steelers of old, they know how to bring the blitz. The last time a group of men were this good at the blitz, they ended up taking Paris. Pittsburgh brings it from various positions, they shuffle players in and out of the line; not to mention pulling some great delayed blitzes. Sun Tzu, an ancient theorist on battle, said that "All war is based on deception." The Steelers understand this; you never know when, where or even if they are coming.
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