5 Good Things: Miami Dolphins at SD Chargers
by John Gennaro on Oct 3, 2011 2:23 PM PDT
in San Diego Chargers Team Analysis
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Larry English
TWO SACKS! Larry English had 2/3rds of the Chargers total number of sacks on the day, y'all, and he did it against one of the better Left Tackles in the league in Jake Long.
On Saturday, I criticized Larry for having a terrible game against the Chiefs and basically not living up to the spot where he was drafted. I felt a little weird about it, knowing that the coaches had been talking about Larry still recovering from surgery and not being all the way caught up, but I went for it anyway. On Sunday, Larry put up the stats of a #16 overall pick and gave hope that maybe he can be that impact pass-rusher with a healthy foot.
Ryan Mathews
A certain local morning sports radio show cracked wise this morning about A.J. Smith being real good at drafting 3rd rounders, but not so great with those 1st rounders. I'm thinking today wasn't the best time for them to be making that joke. Not with Ryan Mathews, Philip Rivers and Larry English playing maybe the most important parts to a Chargers victory yesterday. Here's the point I'm trying to make: The local morning sports radio show is terrible. Monkeys could do better.
Now, on to Mathews. Just when the Chargers are without arguably their most important offensive weapon (Antonio Gates), Ryan Mathews develops into the players that the Chargers always hoped he would be. Two consecutive games of being the definitive #1 RB, the work horse that he was labeled as when the Bolts drafted him, and two consecutive games of 149 yards. That's an impressive feat, not just the yardage but the exact same yardage in both games. Roughly 150 yards per game and 3 TDs for every 4 games and Bam Bam will be in the MVP conversation.
Nick Novak
NICK FREAKING NOVAK. I was so afraid of this guy when the Chargers picked him up, but he's been nothing short of stellar. The anti-Nate Kaeding fans shouldn't get too excited just yet, there's a lot of season left and zero proof that Novak will handle clutch situations any better than Nate Dogg. Still, 4-for-4 on FGs (with the longest being 48 yards) is damn impressive and makes the Chargers offense that much more potent.
Vincent Jackson
I pointed out on Saturday's High Boltage Radio that Jackson had a big game the last time he faced the Dolphins secondary. I was right, even though I was going off my fault memory. In 2009 against the Dolphins, VJax caught the ball 5 times for 120 yards. This time, he caught fewer passes (3) for almost as many yards (108) but added a TD. The man is, quite simply, impossible to cover. He's having a Pro Bowl year both on and off the field, and I think the Chargers front office has noticed.
Marcus Gilchrist
I still haven't seen his play in the end zone (but I've heard about it) or his interception, but I feel like it has to be more impressive than Eric Weddle's (let's face it, Eric's two picks this year have been thrown right at him).
Those things aside, Gilchrist was given a big stage against a good group of WRs to prove that he was ready to contribute for this Bolts team. He took that opportunity and shined by creating a turnover — which the defense was struggling to do — tied for the lead in tackles on defense, which seems nearly impossible for a CB, and lead the team in defended passes. What the box score tells me is that the Dolphins' offensive gameplan was to attack Gilchrist, and he shut that plan down.
I always say this: Championship teams need contributions from rookies and backups in very big ways over the course of the season. If 4 weeks from now we're still talking about the Dolphins game as the one where Larry English and Marcus Gilchrist came to life, this team could go very far. It could have an identity on defense.
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anti-Nate Kaeding fans shouldn’t get too excited just yet
too late…
by Stephen (shaynes41) on Oct 3, 2011 2:46 PM PDT reply actions
English's first sack
was a thing of beauty. Started with a bit of a bull rush to the outside shoulder, and brought it back underneath and ended up right in the QB’s face. Merriman-2007-esque
by Stephen (shaynes41) on Oct 3, 2011 2:48 PM PDT reply actions
yeah i was thinking the same thing
he needs to just use that power rush like young merriman did. screw all the speed moves, just bully your guy; and soon the qb will be practically on your lap
Winning
I was anti Novak when they signed him
and once again he proves me wrong. He has been a factor in both wins since they signed him. If he continues at this pace maybe he will be legitimate competition for Nate next season.
Trying not to get too excited about English just yet
But it would be fantastic if he could finally develop into what AJ (and only AJ) thought he could be. Not only do we need help with the pass rush, we need someone who can provide run support on that end.
So far, it looks like Gilchrist is working out. I wonder if he takes Cason’s job by the end the season? That would be something.
If English turns it around
The only bad AJ pick would be Buster Davis, right?
Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.
Yep.
Bolts from the Blue // "I eat cereal out of a giant novelty wine glass because it makes me feel fancy." - Britney Wade
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan
The play of chance and probability within which the creative spirit is free to roam. -von Clausewitz 'On Football'
by Brian (DaBolts) on Oct 3, 2011 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
AJ might get a 1/2 mulligan for this pick
That Chargers’ draft was in a little disarray after Butler’s death.
This idea that only A.J. Smith thought English could be an effective pass rusher is false.
Bolts from the Blue // "I eat cereal out of a giant novelty wine glass because it makes me feel fancy." - Britney Wade
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan
I'll take Higgins.
Bolts from the Blue // "I eat cereal out of a giant novelty wine glass because it makes me feel fancy." - Britney Wade
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan
Yep.
Higgins, and it’s not close — especially if you’re comparing him with Smith. Smith is beyond annoying. (See Cake or Death’s comment below — not the “I agree” posting title, but everything he expresses after that. Smith is quite a good interviewer; otherwise he talks in circles, repeats himself constantly, and rarely has any insight to share beyond what the most superficial of fans could observe. Seems like a nice enough guy, but he is completely unable to host a show on his own; as a foil to “Philly Billy” he was passable. I’d rather hear his producer more, and often wish he’d shut up…. That usually happens within 1-5 minutes of listening to him, in which I case change the station to Chris & Ben.)
I agree
but that’s not saying much. Darren Smith drives me crazy sometimes. It takes him forever to get to the point. He constantly dithers as if he doesn’t know how to fill up all that radio time they’ve given him.
"The biggest thing..." - Norv Turner
by Cake or Death on Oct 3, 2011 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Misc.
Mea culpa for doubting on Nick; he was terrific and showed range to boot. I loved when Soprano iced him, he booted anyway, then hit the next one too.
The 7 minute, 13 play fourth quarter drive. This was not a finesse drive, it left the Dolphins down two scores with about four minutes left on the clock. Then when the Chargers intercept they run it three straight to kill the rest of the clock. That was not a finesse finish, they just took the game at that point, in my opinion. Weddle picks another one, and then they run it right down their throats for the finish. It was a very different style, reminded me of ’06.
The other thing I loved was Bush vs. Spikes, one-on-one in the open field. Spikes just holds his ground, doesn’t bite on anything and takes him down.
The play of chance and probability within which the creative spirit is free to roam. -von Clausewitz 'On Football'
Spikes just holds his ground, doesn’t bite on anything and takes him down.
I have noticed him doing this a couple times now. He almost waits for the RB, and uses the sideline. Vets like this know on third down nobody cares if you stuff the RB for a 2 yard loss. Its all about guaranteeing their punt team comes on the field, whether you give up a few yards means almost nothing. That kind of patience comes with understanding the game not just playing it
Winning
Weddle should have actually had a second pick
But Gilchrist got a dpi on the play
"I promise you, we’re going to build a dictating, dominating, attacking defense. I’ve said it a million times. It’s not a slight on our offense, but we’re not going to win any world championship until we have that." - A.J. Smith
also...
the reason Weddle has made these picks is he is putting himself in position to make them. we are witnessing a young man making the step up from a “very good” to “one of the best in the league” right before our eyes!
"i'm not inclined to resign to maturity"...PSYCH theme
by $#%@ eli and his daddy on Oct 3, 2011 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
people complaining about his ints
who cares, this guy was known to be mr stone hands. if he catches anything thats a huge improvement
Winning
Really??
Stone hands?? Not sure where that rap came from. He played on offense at Utah and was the holder for Field Goals. I doubt they would entrust someone with “stone hands” for those duties.
by Andy (allfield) on Oct 3, 2011 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions
last year yes that was the perception
i least thats what i thought. you could debate that i guess.
Winning
His hands are fine. He's not a pick-machine because he's not a freaky athlete.
The guys who get all the picks are the guys who can do things QBs or WRs don’t think can be done. Weddle gets picks by getting to the right place at the right time, but intercepting the pass is only rarely his main objective.
An autumn Sunday,
Perched in front of the big screen,
Beer in white knuckles.
by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Oct 4, 2011 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Well
He dropped a mess of picks last year, whether you want to call that stone hands or whatever. This year he is hanging on to them, it moves him from being a good safety into a great one.
The play of chance and probability within which the creative spirit is free to roam. -von Clausewitz 'On Football'
by Brian (DaBolts) on Oct 5, 2011 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Last year he was in position for a bunch of picks that he dropped.
The perception though perhaps flawed was well earned.
Bolts from the Blue // "I eat cereal out of a giant novelty wine glass because it makes me feel fancy." - Britney Wade
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan
Loved the way the young bucks played..
Props tp Gilchrist, Mathews, V. Brown, Butler and English. Great job. Butler is turning into a stud.
by BOLTUREYE on Oct 3, 2011 4:46 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
In this weeks "Chargers DVR" I expect a lot of clips
I’m looking at you Orz.
Two sheep, one profile
"9 out of 10 Americans believe that out of 10 people, 1 American will always disagree with the other 9" -Colin
Seconded
Particularly English’s sack
#feelinacertaintypeofway
Motion passed
Better appease the masses Orz!
6/10/2010 - Tra Thomas signs with the Chargers
8/21/2010 - Tra Thomas retires.
That was fast.
I think you can criticize Weddle's pick in this game
but against the Chiefs while it was thrown right to him, he was on a blitz and recognized a screen, and dropped right into the path of the screen. While it may have been a bad throw and landed in his lap, he put himself in the path of the ball with his great football IQ.
Although, I have a hard time criticizing any pick that Weddle makes nowadays because of how many he dropped in the past…regardless of if they are thrown right at him, he has always put himself in great position to make the play, and now he’s making the plays. Can’t really criticize that. The team needed a guy to create turnovers, and he’s doing it so far…oh yeah, and both of them sealed a victory in the 4th quarter.
I was watching the Weddle KC pick yesterday on youtube for the first time
Although the throw was right at him, the pick didn’t seem as easy as the internet commentary implied. Cassel was at close range, and the ball kind of surprised him. It all happened so fast, I was a little amazed that he didn’t drop the INT.
Nope
Just the blackouts, hopefully the last one this season.
The play of chance and probability within which the creative spirit is free to roam. -von Clausewitz 'On Football'
by Brian (DaBolts) on Oct 4, 2011 7:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Just the blackouts, so maybe.
Bolts from the Blue // "I eat cereal out of a giant novelty wine glass because it makes me feel fancy." - Britney Wade
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan
I saw
a dude watching Chargers game with circles on the player going in motion…is there a specific program to use for that? that was yesterday after the game. It would be cool to watch analyzed games, more like what coaches see and little things from footwork to technique that we don’t or maybe I should say I don’t know about.
I would add one more thing to the "good things" list:
The sequence of play calls with 5 passes on 1st and 10. The offense looked unstopple on the sequence, and had Miami completely off balance. Loved to see the variation on our usually predictable 1st down run.
North Texas REALLY needs a Rubio's franchise.
But then the title of the article wouldn't make sense.
6/10/2010 - Tra Thomas signs with the Chargers
8/21/2010 - Tra Thomas retires.
That was fast.
Aren't you a local morning sports radio show host?
lolz
Anyway, Gilchrist played well, but I’d give him a bolt only for performing well in his first start. A better QB would’ve had a TD pass to Marshall (Moore underthrew it by 2 yards) and GIlchrist was thrice out of position in coverage. I do love how he plays. He really is physical and sometimes I forgot Jammer wasn’t playing. He very well could have Jammer’s starting spot in 2013. (assuming he moves to safety or retires)
Dielman on Rivers: "I've tried to get him to say s--- or f--- and all he'll ever do is say, 'Golly gee, I can't do that."
by Superduperboltman on Oct 4, 2011 8:26 AM PDT reply actions
THE INVISIBLE MAN HAS ARRIVED! GO ENGLISH!
The peanut gallery has spoken!!!
"Chargers are going to lose to the Broncos"
Are we gonna get one of those this week?
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