Game Preview: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers, Chargers on Defense

by John Gennaro on Sep 23, 2011 9:54 AM PDT in San Diego Chargers Game Previews

The San Diego Chargers defense really couldn't ask for a better start to the season in terms of matchups.

In Week 1, they got to face a should-be-retired Donovan McNabb and a not-quite-healthy-yet Visanthe Shiancoe. The end result was McNabb completing less than 50% of his passes for 39 total passing yards, completing just 1 pass for 2 yards in the second half of that game.

In Week 2, with their confidence high, the Bolts and Greg Manusky got a measuring stick to see how good or bad the passing defense really was. Final verdict? There are still some holes to fill, which Tom Brady stated loudly to the tune of 423 passing yards, 3 passing TDs and a completion percentage of 77.5%. With an hour's worth of tape to look at to try and right the ship, the Chargers get to head back to the minor leagues in terms of opposing QBs.

For those unfamiliar with the QB Rating stat, it's somewhat flawed. However, what it is a good metric of is if a QB is able to consistently make plays through the air without making mistakes.

JaMarcus Russell is the poster-child of bad QBs of late, and in his last season he completed less than 50% of his passes (for a 5.2 yards per attempt average) and threw 3 TDs against 11 Interceptions. That equaled out to a QB rating of 50 even. If we view Tom Brady as the poster-child of good QBs, at least in terms of making plays without making mistakes, and look at his 2010 MVP campaign.....he completed over 65% of his passes and finished with 36 passing TDs and a 7.9 yards per attempt against just 4 Interceptions. He finished with a QB rating of 111 even. Got it?

The worst 3 QBs in the NFL, that have started games thus far, in terms of QB rating are as follows: Luke McCown (30.6), Matt Cassel (50.4) and Donovan McNabb (71.3). So, as bad as McNabb was against the Chargers (which amounts to half of his season thusfar), he is still having a better year than Matt Cassel. Matt Cassel is only having a better season than McCown, who was just benched for a rookie QB. There could be some potential here.

So why the drop-off in performance from the Chiefs from 2010 to 2011? Well, lots of reasons. Number one, Cassel is now playing without his starting TE (Tony Moeaki) and star RB (Jamaal Charles). Number two, Charlie Weis (who was largely credited with the turnaround of the Chiefs offense last season) is now busy calling plays for the Florida Gators and has been replaced by some mixture of Todd Haley and Bill Muir that isn't working. Number three, even last season this was an offense that was meant more for not making mistakes than for coming from behind. Now, with their defense struggling mightily, they're often being asked to do just that.

It's not too risky to assume that Matt Cassel will have similar results against the Chargers that Donovan McNabb had, but then again.....this is a team that used to be the best in the league at making JaMarcus Russell look like a decent QB. There could be issues.

Here's the numbers. The San Diego Chargers defense is.....

17th in the league for yards allowed per game.
26th in the league for yards allow per play.
22nd in the league for points allowed per game.
30th in the league for 3rd down conversion percentage against.
28th in the league in terms of penalties against.
19th in the league in terms of sacks with 4.0.
19th in the league in terms of interceptions with 1.
last in the league in terms of forced fumbles with 0.

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Comments

Welcome back, John

While you were gone, some guy hacked your password and posted some crazy ass stuff.

It's NEVER a shrimp on the barbie. It's not even a shrimp.

by The Land Of Real Beer on Sep 23, 2011 10:08 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Manusky?

I know last years defensive stats were skewed by lousey special teams, but is the problem with this years defense Manusky? I thought the D did as pretty good job against the vikings. But, looked pretty bad against the pats. Of course, you also have to add the norv factor. As you stated about the pats game, certain plays were working while others weren’t, but norv kept calling plays that weren’t working.

by irishlad on Sep 23, 2011 10:26 AM PDT reply actions

The Pats make a lot of defenses look bad

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Sep 23, 2011 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Does

San Diego cover the -14.5 spread?
I am thinking about staying away from SD this week on my bets and going big on Baltimore -4 over the Rams. Thoughts?

by Mikeswc on Sep 23, 2011 10:31 AM PDT reply actions

in the second Chief v. Charger game last year in SD, we beat them 31-0, and that was a better chiefs team.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Sep 23, 2011 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions

Nobody ever covers a 14.5 spread

I mean, it probably happens, but there’s no real incentive for them to win by 15 instead of 14…..so they’ll play prevent defense and all that garbage and screw you.

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Sep 23, 2011 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions

And teams coming off back-to-back 28-plus-point losses almost always cover in the next game!

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

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Sep 23, 2011 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions

I think it's a sucker spread

because they could beat it if they were let off the chain (and not foot shooting), but you’re guessing the mind set of a coach who gets two scores in front.

In other news there was just a Rugby World Cup game tonight where the Aussies had a – 62.5 spread vs USA. The score was 67-5. That’s pretty accurate line setting.

It's NEVER a shrimp on the barbie. It's not even a shrimp.

by The Land Of Real Beer on Sep 23, 2011 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions

What is this Rugby thing of which you speak?

Are there really Americans who play Rugby?

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

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Sep 23, 2011 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Seems so.

15 tourists they hypnotised into thinking they were doing something else. I’m not really following it. Rugby Union is about the least popular footy code around my neck of the woods.

You are getting your revenge though. Apparently one of your satellites has gone tits up and is going to fall on us tonight.

Again.

It's NEVER a shrimp on the barbie. It's not even a shrimp.

by The Land Of Real Beer on Sep 23, 2011 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Relax

What’s the worst that could happen? Smash some brush in the outback? Punk a wallaby? Skylab didn’t kill anybody, and it was way bigger than this measly satellite.

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

by QLFixBoy on Sep 23, 2011 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions

We gave you Paul Hogan in retaliation for that.

This is our big chance to unload someone else. Maybe those damn Wiggles.

It's NEVER a shrimp on the barbie. It's not even a shrimp.

by The Land Of Real Beer on Sep 23, 2011 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Chargers 38 Chiefs 2

After a failed Chiefs 4th and goal, Tolbert stumbles in the end zone for a safety.

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 23, 2011 11:44 AM PDT reply actions

I hope so

"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

by njg425 on Sep 23, 2011 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Chargers should have no problem steam rolling in this game

The only problem is the Chargers hurting themsleves. We have played 2 games so far and have gone into the half trailing. I hate this trend about the Chargers, if anything, I would be the Chargers in the 2nd half. Like I said, we should be able to roll and there are trends that support the Chargers winning big, but no trend can help the Chargers from beating themselves.

by BOLTUREYE on Sep 23, 2011 12:02 PM PDT reply actions

Who's risking their Survivor chances on the Bolts this week!?

THIS GUY

by Orz on Sep 23, 2011 12:04 PM PDT reply actions

You have 14 more weeks in which to jinx us.

Why now?

It's NEVER a shrimp on the barbie. It's not even a shrimp.

by The Land Of Real Beer on Sep 23, 2011 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Hehe 56% of all yahoo survivor players are picking the Chargers this week. The next highest is pitt at 14%, then a bunch a 5%'ers

We are screwed.

by Orz on Sep 23, 2011 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I can't talk, I got overly cute with Cleveland in Week 1.

I was like Kramer in that Master of My Domain thing. “I’m out!”

It's NEVER a shrimp on the barbie. It's not even a shrimp.

by The Land Of Real Beer on Sep 23, 2011 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions

The Chiefs screwed me in Week 1.

I hope they lose all 16. Which could happen as bad as they’ve been against Buffalo and Detroit. Buffalo was the only gimme on the schedule.

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

by QLFixBoy on Sep 23, 2011 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm your huckleberry

Aside from a KO return for 6 by McCluster, I don’t see much to worry over.

If the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will!!

Robert Hunter

by Buck Melanoma on Sep 24, 2011 3:23 AM PDT up reply actions

What happened to Liuget?

and why is he listed as doubtful? Also, cue the Bob Sanders can’t stay healthy lines… Oh and M80 too.

by BFDC on Sep 23, 2011 1:38 PM PDT reply actions

KC sucks

My belief is that they sucked last year but got by on a legit running game, and a lot of (schedule) luck. Watching them a little bit this year, Cassel certainly sucks but I also noticed that his receivers were not getting separation. I am not really good at diagnosing team issues, but this stood out to me. So, in conclusion, I think Cassel and his receivers suck real bad. That said, I won’t freak out if we do not win by 40. Unfortunately I think we go conservative, put up 30ish points, then sit back on prevent and let McCluster or somebody score on us a couple of times.

by chaplinesque on Sep 24, 2011 8:39 AM PDT reply actions