Some ridiculously premature conclusions about the Chargers' season based on week 1

by carlosatthetoe on Sep 12, 2011 11:06 PM PDT

In case you guys didn't know, the San Diego Chargers did a number on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday when the team embarrassed them 24-17.

Now, winning by one touchdown against a team that no one has pegged for the playoffs seems a little shoddy; I don't blame you for saying it's a bit of an exaggeration. Bare with me.

Instead, let's break it down through your narrator's eyes, OK?

The San Diego Chargers' rush defense is not just "deceivingly good" anymore. Last year, it was kind of hard to see how the Chargers had an awesome defense against the run. Though the team ranked fourth in the league in ground yards allowed, we all know they allowed far too many game-breaking plays that frustrated to no end. This game, though? Not at all. Though Adrian Peterson looked like he merely didn't get enough touches on paper, he had little rhythm when he took his carries. The Chargers' linebackers plugged and shot gaps well and tackled like absolute champs. Peterson's a big guy, so you know he's going to be a pain to bring to the ground. This run defense isn't just "deceivingly good" anymore. Now, this defense against the run might be "elite."
The Chargers' offense is still unstoppable, even if they look like garbage. It was a hell of a sight to see Philip Rivers not able to connect effectively with his targets. Whether Vincent Jackson wasn't running the right routes or Rivers simply threw an errant pass, it wasn't something we are used to seeing.

That's not the Chargers' fault, entirely. The Minnesota Vikings were constantly throwing heavy pass rushes against the Chargers' offensive line. On every down, the Vikings' goal was simple -- get into the back-field and rely on the corners and safeties to be able to cover the Bolts' receivers one-on-one and negate Rivers' impact. And while that worked for the first half, the Chargers adjusted terrifyingly well and Rivers became content with constant dump-offs. The beneficiaries? Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews. Speaking of which ...
The Chargers' running backs are awesome, but in the passing game. As expected, neither Mike Tolbert nor Ryan Mathews had great games when they were handed the ball -- they only combined for 80 yards off of 24 carries (which they split). But on screens and check-downs? The two were absolutely terrific.

Both caught 12 passes for 131 yards, and though Tolbert hauled in nine of those passes (and averaged a fair six yards per catch), Mathews averaged over 24 yards per catch. Regardless, both used their respective strengths to further the Chargers' attack -- while Tolbert bounced off defenders and stumbled his way for extra yards, Mathews was elusive as hell and ran between the tackles fluidly.

Don't get hyped up on the Chargers' rushing attack -- just get hyped up on the players who are in the back-field.
The Chargers have fixed their special teams. It's a little hard to buy this one if you watched the opening kickoff -- Percy Harvin ran for a touchdown to start the game and our blood pressure shot up. But after that, the Chargers' special teams mess seemingly disappeared; the Vikings didn't get any huge yardage on returns and when it looked like a returner would shift his way towards the sidelines and into open field, a defender was normally there to stop the run in its tracks.

Good on ya, Chargers' special teams.

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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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By the next off-season

Mathews will be the new Jamaal Charles.

As for the TD in the kickoff… I can only say Percy Harvin is too good. Did you see how he made 2-3 cuts, how he changed the side of the field the return was going on? A so-so special team just can’t cover that

by Lightning Hobo on Sep 13, 2011 8:41 AM PDT reply actions

Charles is quicker

and smaller, not as strong or physical.
Ryan Mathews could be like a slightly smaller Adrian Peterson if you wanted to make a comparison.

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 Sep 13, 2011 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions

how long was it before LT came into form?

i think we should give ryan some time to really find his stride in the league

canadas marriage is like their money, or military, no one takes it seriously

by bot on Sep 13, 2011 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Year 2, 2002.

2001: 339 rushes for 1,236 (3.6), 10 TD, 59 receptions for 367 (6.2), 8 fumbles.
2002: 372 rushes for 1,683 (4.5), 14 TD ,79 receptions for 489 (6.2 ) and 1 TD, 3 fumbles.

An autumn Sunday,
Perched in front of the big screen,
Beer in white knuckles.

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Sep 13, 2011 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't mind drinking the Kool-Aid now and then...

… I just choose to sip it a little slower. Thanks though, Carlos. Someone needs to chug it before it gets warm from sitting out in the hot sun.

by Andy (allfield) on Sep 13, 2011 10:15 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs

I'll do it.

http://blog.thepigeontoe.com/ because I'm never shameless

by carlosatthetoe on Sep 14, 2011 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree on all your points.

1) This is a playoff team, no doubt about it.
2) The Vikings are underrated. Not good, but not as bad as a lot of people seem to think.
3) The schedule is a murderer’s row: Baltimore, New England, New York, Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit… not only that, but Miami, Jacksonville, Buffalo, Oakland and Denver won’t be as bad as everybody seems to think.

An autumn Sunday,
Perched in front of the big screen,
Beer in white knuckles.

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Sep 13, 2011 10:52 AM PDT reply actions

Well, Denver will.

Yakety Sax: Making divisional matchups hilarious since 1963.
Gaslamp Ball: SMELLS LIKE PROSPECTS IN HERE

by StrangeBroP25 on Sep 13, 2011 3:27 PM PDT up reply actions

At least for one week

we can say that another team has worse special teams than the Chargers: Seattle. The Seahawks scored a fourth quarter TD to close within two points of SF, then gave up two special teams TDs within a minute of their own score to totally squander any chance they had. Epic.

Are Marlon McCree and Antonio Cromartie the same person? Just askin'.

by QLFixBoy on Sep 13, 2011 1:30 PM PDT reply actions

Karma's a bitch

by Alex Bourque on Sep 13, 2011 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Thank God

And how ironic — the ’Hawks were the legit first time to expose our special teams last year, too.

http://blog.thepigeontoe.com/ because I'm never shameless

by carlosatthetoe on Sep 14, 2011 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Rivers had an off day

The pressure was really getting to him in the first half. The second half was better, but it might have had a lot to do with the fact that he wasn’t trying to force the ball down the field. I saw some improvement in the run game. I think the biggest thing was that a MLB (Spikes) had the most tackles, as opposed to the SS, as has been the case recently. A solid run defense shouldn’t allow RBs to get into the second level so often.
I think our run offense is actually improved. Although we didn’t have huge numbers, I was happy to see holes for our RBs to run through. I think Minnesota’s LBs did a great job in run support and they made a lot of tackles. But it was nice to see our RBs at least get past the line of scrimmage frequently. Some games last year, we couldn’t move the defensive line at all.

by SDreal on Sep 13, 2011 2:30 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Think any teams with better defenses

than the Vikings will try to bring the heat? Keep that dump off game dusted off; I have a feeling we’ll need it often.

Are Marlon McCree and Antonio Cromartie the same person? Just askin'.

by QLFixBoy on Sep 14, 2011 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions

Absolutely

The Vikings’ defense, I think, is already really awesome. But yeah, teams know that their best chance of negating the Bolts’ offense is negating Rivers. That dump-off will keep working… for now.

http://blog.thepigeontoe.com/ because I'm never shameless

by carlosatthetoe on Sep 14, 2011 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions

The case for always deferring on the opening kickoff

Obviously the first kickoff of the season was a disaster. But always opting to kick the ball off to start the game is a sound strategy. Getting the ball to start the second half is a huge advantage.

Your team is going to have to play defense. Why not make a statement with a 3 and out to start the game? Worst case scenario: the opponent scores a touchdown. You still get the ball to start the second half.

Ideal scenario: your team has a late drive in the second quarter, scores and get the ball back instead of having to kick off.

No downside to this at all. Nothing but benefits. I’m suprised more teams dont use this strategy.

by Mike Sullivan on Sep 13, 2011 3:40 PM PDT reply actions

guess for this team

It doesn’t make a difference because they don’t seem to wake up until they are losing anyways so we might as well get it over with early. But for most the thought process is that the momentum from scoring first can set a good tone for the rest of the game and put the other team in an early hole. We talk about getting ahead first and keeping the lead; taking the opening kickoff gives us a much better chance at that

by padres8 on Sep 14, 2011 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions

I just had to check

Using last season as a very isolated example, it appears you may have something there. Last season, the Chargers kicked off to start a game 5 times. They won 4 of those. They received to start a game 11 times; their record was 5-6 in games where they received the opening kickoff.

Even more interesting, in the 4 games they won when kicking off to start the game, they scored on their opening drive of the third quarter twice. Another time, they missed a field goal, and the fourth time, they turned the ball over after entering the opponent’s red zone. So all four times, they took the second half kickoff and drove the ball deep into opposing territory.

Are Marlon McCree and Antonio Cromartie the same person? Just askin'.

by QLFixBoy on Sep 14, 2011 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions

This is so true

The Chargers’ offense is still unstoppable, even if they look like garbage.

Winning

by Foilhat on Sep 13, 2011 7:18 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Run game will improve as well

I thought Ryan Matthews ran more confidently especially while finishing runs, and Tolbert does the max with what he has to work with. It comes down to getting them in the right situations – like the draw that sprung Matthews, or the dives and counters that give Tolbert space to get rolling and bash somebody at the second level. The patient passing game shows they can beat you a lot of different ways

by mctrashhole on Sep 13, 2011 7:28 PM PDT reply actions