Team unlucky or just unable to finish (Unclutch)?

by TJBOLT on Oct 14, 2010 1:07 PM PDT

The more I see the 2010 chargers the more I'm convinced this is a mentally soft unclutch team, a few bad things can be atributed to bad luck (3 fumbles recovered by Raiders that go forward). But there is two much evidence this team is mentally soft.

Special Teams: 32 ranked on return defense, I guess Kassim was worth the money, and the loss of Binn is devastating, I guess the lack of speed in the current snapper is truly significant. 3 return for TD in 5 games is deplorable.

Turnovers in the red zone: too many too count, too many to be a fluke. Didn't Norv get heat a few years ago, that avoiding turnovers in the red zone was even more important that scoring TD's, so what gives Norv??.

Drives to tie or win the game: As great as Philip has been, zero points in the 3 key drives of the season to tie or win the game, elite QB's score on most those situations.

Lack of clutch plays on Defense: In 2 of the 3 losses zero turnovers, against the raiders had a 9 point lead, couldn't stop that offense. Where was the 9 sack pass rush!?. Championship defenses put that game away, and get a stop or turnover.

The 2009 chargers were 2-3 and bounced back, so a part of me is hopeful, but this team seems to be that bully that as soon as someone punches back he's broken mentally. What your take guys?

This FanPost was written by a member of the Bolts From The Blue community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bolts From The Blue editors or SB Nation.

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I say "no".

There’s been reliable research in baseball that clutch hitting doesn’t exist. “Clutch” hitters are really just good hitters, and “unclutch” hitters are really just bad hitters.

Now, baseball isn’t football. But, until you show me evidence that human beings perform badly under pressure wearing shoulder pads but not baseball caps, I’d be more inclined to believe your statement.

“32 ranked in return defense”: Certainly true, but what does this have to do with being “clutch”, meaning performing in games that are close and late? This refers to the team’s coverage performance at all times, not in clutch situations.

Turnovers in red zone: The NFL average in giveaways so far is a little over 8, and the Chargers are above that with 13. We both know that Rivers is not this team’s problem. The fumbles are distributed widely with Tolbert having 2, many others all having one. While fumbles are bad, fumble recovery is nearly entirely based on luck. We’re losing most of ours and that can only be helped by not fumbling in the first place, sure…but if the luck evened out a bit and we recovered some more of ours, you wonldn’t be saying this.

“Drives to win or tie the game” Rivers is 0 for 3, you say? Well, call me old fashioned, but EVERY drive matters, not just ones at the end of the game. So he had a bad result on the few that were paid attention to, but the team leads the league in total first downs…what more do you want?

" Where was the 9 sack pass rush!?. " I really hope you don’t expect to have that happen every game. It’s not going to. We’re not going to be playing the incompetent offensive lines that allow that every game.

Will the team bounce back? I’m sure it will. The special teams is the only flaw in this team so far…and it’s not been bad, but it’s been historically bad. Unheard-of bad. That means that it’s not going to stay that way; some regression towards the mean is going to happen. I don’t expect the Chargers’ ST to be good, and average seems like a lofty goal. But “slightly below average” is what I expect it to be, and that should be okay with the other two phases of the game going so well.

by I8EtoDunbar on Oct 14, 2010 3:04 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Fair or not, Rivers doesn't get credit according to his stats

And a massive part, is the lack of titles, and now 3 drives to decide 3 games 0 points. Life is more than stats, its rising in key moments.

The special teams, and being clutch is making that part of the game irrelevant, if this team can make it wash versus their opponent. The talent on offense and defense is sufficient to beat almost any team.

The number 1 defense in the league couldn’t stop the raiders offense in the 4th quarter, fair or not that happened.

The optimistic view is that this team will break this bad streak, and this has been bad luck and they have made pushes in the past, and they click the button and get on a streak. I’m life long charger fan, and I hope so. Its just too much bad mojo, to blame on bad luck. There has be to a point where you admit this team is its record, and they are worse than their stats indicate.

by TJBOLT on Oct 14, 2010 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Is it?

And a massive part, is the lack of titles, and now 3 drives to decide 3 games 0 points. Life is more than stats, its rising in key moments.

What makes one moment any more important than another? Why is a touchdown at the end of the game worth more than a touchdown at the beginning? And do you think the early 90s Buffalo Bills teams were bad teams, despite regularly making the Super Bowl?

The number 1 defense in the league couldn’t stop the raiders offense in the 4th quarter, fair or not that happened.

The best QB in the world is going to miss his pass one time in four. The best stockbroker in the world is going to have a bad day where he loses money. Pocket aces doesn’t always win in poker. If you want to jump to conclusions, have fun. But remember, that they’re jumped to, and not backed up by anything concrete.

Its just too much bad mojo, to blame on bad luck.

(blinking at that statement…and can’t think of anything to say)

I certainly agree that something is wrong with the way the Chargers play football, and that it can be done better. But I am quite sure that “unclutch” is not the explanation; the turth will have a rational one. Personally, my guess is that the coaching staff neglected special teams practice in the preseason, and are grossly paying for it with specialists like David Binn out.

There has be to a point where you admit this team is its record, and they are worse than their stats indicate.

Of course: It’s at the end of Week 17 or the playoff run, not at Week 5.

by I8EtoDunbar on Oct 14, 2010 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Hope you are right, and this is just a bleep on the screen

Perception and reality is always an argument, fair or not a lot football experts consider Bradshaw a superior player to Marino, that’s the unreasonable weight super bowls have. Fair or not, chargers had Rivers in a position to tie or win 3 games, didn’t score. Is it unfair, sure.

Losing a game where you outgain your opponent by more than 150 yards, is a statistical anomaly, and you can argue it happens. It has happened 3 times in 5 games, it has happened with enough regularity, it just can’t be explained by bad luck.

My opinion, and hopefully the chargers get on their normal week 6 run, and we can forget about the negativity. Do I think this team is really talented, and should be a super bowl contender yes, do I think they will have the number 1 seed in the conference and have record in line with their talent no I don’t. They have dug themselves a hole, and weird things can happen and this team might miss the playoffs. Hoping for the best, not liking what I am seeing.

by TJBOLT on Oct 14, 2010 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions

You're right, it's not all explainable by luck.

Most of it is explainable by special teams.

My name is Guybrush Threepwood, and I'm a mighty pirate.
"How appropriate! You fight like a cow!"
Faceless slider-tossing goofs FTW.

by Zach (maestro876) on Oct 15, 2010 7:44 AM PDT up reply actions

I do not believe that it is the Chargers problem

but in all sports, and walks of life, there are some people who do perform worse under pressure.

by JeromeB on Oct 14, 2010 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Those people tend not to make it to the pros.

Bolts from the Blue // "It is what it is." - A.J. Smith
Bloody Elbow // "Richard is a jewel." - Kid Nate

by Richard Wade on Oct 16, 2010 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions

You might be surprised

There are some very talented people who still have a little trouble when the big time pressure is on. Those people might not last a long time in the pros, but a fantastic player with a lot of potential will still make it.

by JeromeB on Oct 17, 2010 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I8EtoGreenfield

Your from my old stompin grounds brother

by RWTChargerfan on Oct 15, 2010 8:24 PM PDT up reply actions

It's definitely a conundrum that seems to follow the team...

…which makes it easy to blame the head coach. But then you look at what those teams of the past few years were able to accomplish after thir first five games, and suddenly the HC is back to looking like a borderline genius.

The bottom line is that the team seems to lack a focus and “discipline” (whatever that means and however you instill it) in the early part of the season — yet seems to overcome it or “warm up” as the season goes on.

Perhaps we kill ourselves (if ever so slightly inside) by getting caught up in the minutiae of the daily grind, rather than focus on the big picture. The fact is, Norv’s legacy as a Charger Head Coach is a good one, and history will shine a bright light on his accomplishments. But in the meantime, some of us want to stuff him in a bag.

by Andy (allfield) on Oct 14, 2010 3:09 PM PDT reply actions

Norv partly to blame, plenty of blame to go around

I have always looked at Norv, as a coach who basically handles the offense and passes the defense to Ron Rivera, and the special teams to Crosby. This has worked in the past, more times to count, so this is not a criticism its a way of working.

So basically if you look at your coach as offensive coordinator, he is doing his job. Not scoring on those 3 key drives on the road, has to fall somewhat on his lap. Stats are nice, but W’s and L’s in the Newspaper is the evaluation.

To the point Crosby deserves blame, injuries to Binn and English, suspension of Gregory, letting Kassim go, defense not making a play in Oakland, more to name. Its just to many strange things happening to just atribute to bad luck for my taste. And as Parcells said “You are your record”.

by TJBOLT on Oct 14, 2010 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions

right.

but why are “unlucky” and “unclutch” our only options? how bout “undisciplined” or “unmotivated” or “uncoachable” or just plain shitty?

by BORTZ on Oct 14, 2010 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions

hahahahaha

You’re probably right

by TJBOLT on Oct 14, 2010 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions

How do you know that all Turner does is offense?

Have they ever come out and said how much Turner has to do with the other aspects of the team? This is just a conclusion most people jump to because of his reputation. They don’t really know that it’s true.

Asking Rivers to continually somehow move the team ~70 yards with a minute or so left in the game to score a TD and 2 point conversion is just too much. For ANY quarterback. The reality is those other top quarterbacks like Manning and Brady and Brees usually don’t have to do that because their team is usually playing from ahead. Rivers has been asked to do it every other game. That’s too much. The game shouldn’t be on his shoulders every single time to pull off a miracle. The defense and (mostly) special teams have to step up and not allow the other team to take a lead right when Rivers ties it or goes ahead.

My name is Guybrush Threepwood, and I'm a mighty pirate.
"How appropriate! You fight like a cow!"
Faceless slider-tossing goofs FTW.

by Zach (maestro876) on Oct 15, 2010 7:50 AM PDT up reply actions