Pittsburgh's defense, Miles Austin's second big game, more - Peter King - SI.com

As usual, they'll have to survive some bumps in the schedule. After Oakland at home this week, they're at the Giants, home to Philadelphia and at Denver. When this stretch is done, when a good three-game stretch of challenging football happens, that's when I'll take their temperature.

Why not now? Because I want to give Shawne Merriman every opportunity coming off knee surgery and a sore groin muscle to regain his pass-rushing form. And I don't want to be too harsh on the running game, particularly when stalwart center Nick Hardwick (who's really missed in goal line and short-yardage situations) is out for the next month due to injury.

This is a flawed team, as many are, but when I look at them I still believe the Chargers are a playoff team capable of beating anyone in January -- the way they've beaten the Colts two Januarys in a row.

25 days ago John (obviousman) 20 comments 0 recs |

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Peter king knows he loves us.

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by Gorditoe1 on Oct 26, 2009 8:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

that reminds me

His book is awesome. I need to review it soon.

The first story of his book is about the Rivers/Manning trade. AJ Smith was practically begging for Osi Umenyori and the Giants wouldn’t move him. They finally decided to change the 2nd rounder to a 1st rounder (which ended up being Merriman) to get AJ to forget about Osi.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John (obviousman) on Oct 26, 2009 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Worked out well for us.

They each even missed the same year, though Umenyiora has come back faster than Shawne.

We're boned.

by maestro876 on Oct 26, 2009 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I noticed that too. Kindof eerie.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John (obviousman) on Oct 26, 2009 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

I don’t think the Chargers are capable of “beating” anyone in January. I think this team has a decent chance with their schedule to qualify, maybe as a wild card. But, I think they are going to have to back into a few victories in January to make any noise. QBs knees exploding from a turf monster tackle. Teams losing their entire offensive line in week 16. Guys covering Jackson and Gates slipping and falling in the snow. Playing the Colts. Those are the only ways this team does anything in January unless some miracle happens to this team that makes them play better.

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by Wonko on Oct 26, 2009 11:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

If the defense does not improve greatly this team is not capable of beating anyone in January. But perhaps, and hopefully, the defense will. Although I doubt it.

by JeromeB on Oct 26, 2009 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The defense is already much improved over the last two weeks. There’s reason for optimism there.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Oct 26, 2009 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

any reason why AJ didn't go for Rogers trade with the Browns?were they asking for too much,or did he focus on another position?

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by Gorditoe1 on Oct 27, 2009 8:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's no evidence he was available.

And even if he was, the price would probably have cost us too much of the future.

We're boned.

by maestro876 on Oct 27, 2009 9:02 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Perhaps there is reason for optimism

but in my opinion the D played a good first half against Denver(although due to the kick returns by Denver their offense did not have many possesions) but got spanked badly in the second. And while I was very happy with the play of the D against K.C. our optimism should be tempered as it was the Chiefs that they were playing.

I don’t see the D line playing at a consistantly decent level this season. And while I know everybody loves Weddle and seems to think that Ellison is the second coming, neither is able to cover a wr, te or rb man up (didn’t anybody else see Charles blow by Ellison like he was standing still, a better offense can take advantage of situations like that). I think that this will hurt us against quality teams.
I like Weddle, he is always around the ball. Ellison has shown promise and could turn into a quality player down the road, but when the are on the field together I think teams will take advantage of us through the air. I realize that the plan is to use Ellison more on run downs but teams do not have to follow the play calling trends that you would like them to.

I hope that I am wrong and the D does play great by the end of the year, looking at it honestly I don’t see it happening.

by JeromeB on Oct 27, 2009 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree for the most part Wonko.

I do think that teams can improve as the season progresses, especially as players with little experience gain it over time.

But I don’t think this team is going to get good enough to earn more than a wild card spot and a first or second round playoff exit.

And in the long run something like that may be detrimental to the team, because it will perpetuate the myth that we’re “close” and only need to tweak the current roster and staff, when in reality our needs go much, much deeper than that, and it will delay any serious restructuring and rebuilding for a couple more years.

We're boned.

by maestro876 on Oct 27, 2009 9:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I could argue that the 2008 Cardinals weren’t good enough to win in the playoffs either. It’s all about matchups and momentum.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John (obviousman) on Oct 27, 2009 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you

but the problem is that everyone who isn’t terrible matches up well with our defense.

Especially after last night, I’m not looking forward to watching McNabb fling passes to DeSean Jackson as our pass-rush vainly tries to get to him.

We're boned.

by maestro876 on Oct 27, 2009 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Their offensive line is terrible

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John (obviousman) on Oct 27, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

True enough

but then we’re back to the whole “unstoppable force vs. immovable object” argument. We won vs. KC, but KC is terrible all around. Philly isn’t.

We're boned.

by maestro876 on Oct 27, 2009 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Oakland game showed me that the Eagles are always really close to being terrible. They lost Peters and their entire game went to hell.

I think we’re screwed against the Eagles though. DeSean Jackson is having an MVP kindof year and we have no way to stop him, especially on kickoff returns.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John (obviousman) on Oct 27, 2009 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup.

And Westbrook will probably be just getting over his concussion. Look out.

We're boned.

by maestro876 on Oct 27, 2009 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And unless we're going to win the Super Bowl

I think making the playoffs would probably hurt the team in the long run, because it will delay the rebuilding and restructuring this team desperately needs.

We're boned.

by maestro876 on Oct 27, 2009 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well this gives me a little bit of hope, which is nice

but my confidence is still almost completely shot

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by LJbumfool on Oct 26, 2009 1:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

very hopeful of him.

not only do we have to win a bunch of games in a row to make the wildcard, winning playoff games on the road and very possibly the cold/snow does not give me a lot of hope. chargers are good, just not great.

i’ll enjoy this 1 week high on a win vs. a garbage team.

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and hypothesis can't define how I be droppin these
mockeries, lyrically perform armed robbery
Flee with the lottery, possibly they spotted me
Battle-scarred shogun, explosion when my pen hits
tremendous, ultra-violet shine blind forensics

by tonik on Oct 26, 2009 5:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs