Serious Business: 5/11 Chargers Links

by Richard Wade on May 11, 2010 12:00 AM PDT in San Diego Chargers Daily Links

The Elusive Rating - Pro Football Focus
If any statistic represents the nosedive in play of one of those starters, Ladainian Tomlinson, then it is the 1.9 yards he averaged after contact to tie for the poorest mark in the NFL. Tomlinson's poor showing in just about all of these categories goes to reinforce what the naked eye could see: He was a shell of his former greatness in '09. It will be interesting to see what he can produce in 2010 behind arguably the league's best O-line.

JaMarcus Russell Pre-Draft Hype - Photos - SI.com
With the benefit of hindsight, we look back on what the experts said about LSU's JaMarcus Russell heading into the 2007 NFL Draft. The Oakland Raiders selected Russell with the No. 1 pick only to waive him three years later.'I can't remember being in such awe of a quarterback in my decade of attending combines and pro days. Russell's passing session was the most impressive of all the pro days I've been to. His footwork for such a big quarterback was surprising. He was nimble in his dropbacks, rolling out and throwing on the run. The ball just explodes out of his hands.'-- ESPN's Todd McShay

Big roles possible for new Chargers - Kevin Acee
"There are certain guys you know we’re going to push it and see how far you can get," head coach Norv Turner said. "Those four guys, you know they’re going to get a chance. They’re going to fight and compete to be a part of what we do."

Chargers.com Videos: Ryan Mathews
Ryan Mathews talks to the media about his first day of rookie mini camp.

Shawnbrey McNeal: Leaving Early for the Right Reasons - J.V. Siegel
McNeal put in for a hardship waiver, and the NCAA granted it to him, allowing him to transfer to Southern Methodist, just twenty minutes from his mother who is dealing with diabetes related issues. After playing a season at SMU, his junior season, he left early to try to support his mother. McNeal was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers.

Nate Kaeding mastering the mind games that NFL kickers play - Sean Keeler
"It's more just ways to approach the game and metabolize certain things that happen, adjust how I approach the game and the different challenges," Kaeding explained.

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Interesting (but short) article on Kaeding

It’s good to hear he’s getting help for his problem, and that he fully acknowledges what it is. But then again, he’s been seeing a psychologist for FOUR YEARS! Why hasn’t it stuck? That concerns me.

by Andy (allfield) on May 11, 2010 10:28 AM PDT reply actions

I wanna know if that psychologist is from NYC

Some sort of hypnotic suggestion or something? I need to go back and look at the video tape….

Was Keading flapping his arms like a chicken as he walked off the field in the play off game?

by Trendsearcher on May 11, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions

because you're dealing with mental habits that took a lifetime to form

you can’t just undo them, even after four years. plus we don’t know how many visits within those four years. it could be once a month for all we know.

i also take issue with the idea that kaeding has “a problem.” the way i look at it, he’s human. the playoffs are high stress environments, moreso than regular games. it takes a team to lose, and we shouldn’t make our kicker the one solely responsible for victory. kaeding’s playoff kicking percentage is around 53% (8 for 15, with 3 of those misses in one game). that makes his average slightly below the historical average for successful kicks during the playoffs for the NFL, which is 57%. the bottom line for the chargers is: if the rest of their offense was clicking they wouldn’t have had to send kaeding out 3 times. in addition, if kaeding had any confidence that the offense would be able to do something out there, maybe he wouldn’t have felt like it was all on him—because frankly, it was all on him.

by The Train on May 11, 2010 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, I certainly don't make him the one solely responsible...

…but I do think he has a problem. And by that I mean something that can and will affect him off the football field. Being able to properly disassociate himself and not make himself accountable for the success or failure of an entire football team. It’s a very odd dichotomy for a kicker (as Nate acknowledges in the article): not caring actually makes you more successful. As Nate continues to care too much, he continues to put too much pressure on himself, and thereby fails — often when it matters most. “Man, that’ll mess you up for life,” quoth Donnie Moore. But Nate sounds like he’s in a good place.

by Andy (allfield) on May 11, 2010 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Cool article on Boonah

http://www.nctimes.com/sports/football/professional/nfl/chargers/article_fbf29ac3-4f33-53b9-a81a-f4e2e4eabada.html

I know I’ll be rooting for this guy.

IMO

by Foilhat on May 11, 2010 11:32 AM PDT reply actions

i'm concerned about all this hype about matthews

i would prefer that he gets hype after he does amazing things for us. at this point i’m optimistic about what he’ll be able to do but i think it’s too early to heap all of this on him.

by The Train on May 11, 2010 1:07 PM PDT reply actions

I don't think it's that much hype.

Any time an offensive skill player goes early in the draft to a good team, there’s a certain amount of hype that surrounds him. Most folks think Mathews has the tools to be a good NFL RB, and his going to a team that already has a withering pass offense is going to reinforce that perception. Don’t get too worried about it.

What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of the cheerleaders!

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on May 11, 2010 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions

He was the 12th overrall selection

He is a good looking kid from Cali, who plays possibly the easier position to transfer from college to the pros, and he’s coming to a very good team who traqded way up to get him, and is expected to give him plenty of carries. Of course there’s hype, he will be fine. He doesnt have to have a pro bowl seaon, he could be averge and still be a giant upgrade.

IMO

by Foilhat on May 11, 2010 3:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

He doesn’t have to be the next AP this season. Our starting RB averaged 3.3 YPC last year and we still managed to go 13-3. If Mathews can average 4+ YPC, this offense will be pretty furocious. I just hope he can stay healthy.