So rarely do sportswriters get a chance to discuss the end of a season and have so little to say. The Chargers season ended with a 21-12 loss to New England in the AFC Championship game, ending the year with a record of 13-6.
Behind a gutty performance by hurting QB Philip Rivers, the Bolts drove for four field goals, but without LaDainian Tomlinson against a great defense, they were unable to punch the ball in for a TD. The game was not decided until late in the fourth quarter. The Patriots are 18-0, were healthy, at home and in their weather.
The better team won. The Chargers had a fine year. We're happy.
By advancing past the wildcard and divisional rounds of the playoffs, the Chargers bettered their performance of last year, survived a rocky adjustment to a new coaching staff and either developed or signed receiving help with Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers. Darren Sproles showed he could be a solid backup running back with Michael Turner likely to leave. Stephen Cooper was a find at middle linebacker. The secondary improved. Mike Scifres is turning out to be the best punter of our time.
So if it's not all good, it's pretty darn good.
Now, to the offseason. The game, and some of the previous losses, showed that the Chargers' biggest needs -- maybe their only needs -- are:
1. Upgrades over Mike Goff at right guard and at right tackle over Jeromey Clary and Shane Olivea. Maybe a rookie and a free agent combo?
2. Good teams, and one bad one, ran on the Chargers this year. The Bolts might have had a chance vs the Patriots if they'd been able to stop Lawrence Maroney in the fourth quarter. His ability to cut back against the grain was fatal. Somebody, DT, DE or LB has to get better.
To expand on number two a little bit, the thinking here is that the sun is setting on the wonderful era of Jamal Williams at nose tackle. No question, he's been the best at his position this decade. But he was hurt a lot this year and is no longer a spring chicken. Ryon Bingham is adequate as a fill-in, but adequate does not get teams to the Super Bowl.
A blocker to open the running game and a tackler to close it. That might advance the Bolts still one more game next year.
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I also have little to say about San Diego State's 70-43 basketball victory over Wyoming Saturday, where the Aztecs scored the first 19 points of the "contest." The Cowboys couldn't hit the side of a barn in the first half, partly because the Aztecs played a stifling defense. We knew SDSU was a good team, but now you have Lorrenzo Wade assuming a leadership role, Ryan Amoroso re-acclimating to major college basketball following his transfer year, and Kyle Spain finding his shooting touch. Looked good early, now looking better.
Just how good the Aztecs can be will be answered this week when they travel to preseason conference favorite BYU and then host a UNLV squad that is suddenly making noise.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Monty Python Scripts Chargers, Aztecs Wins
In the comedy film "Monty Python's Holy Grail" there's a scene in which a game but outclassed swordsman loses a duel, along with four of his favorite limbs. Each time a body part goes flying off him, he says something like "Just a flesh wound!"
The victories posted this weekend by the Chargers, in their thrilling 28-24 playoff win at Indianapolis, and the San Diego State basketball squad's 72-67 conquest of New Mexico at The Pit are akin to the silly knight winning.
The Bolts? Just dethrone the defending Super Bowl champions with QB Philip Rivers, RB LaDainian Tomlinson and TE Antonio Gates on the sidelines nursing injuries. The fourth quarter game-winning drive was accomplished with the likes of Billy Volek, Michael Turner and Legedu Naanee.
The Aztecs? At a place where the Lobos have been nearly unbeatable, even in some recent down years -- and at 14-2 this did not appear to be a bad season at all -- they were without starting F Tim Shelton and, more importantly, G Richie Williams.
While the Chargers were merely trying to win their eighth in a row, the Aztecs were trying to overcome their Wednesday night upset at the hands of lightly regarded Northern Colorado. Now, the end of a wonderful weekend of sport here in America's Finest City, the Bolts get to prepare for an AFC Championship Game at New England. The Aztecs are off to a 2-0 start in the Mountain West Conference. Even USD won it's opening game in the West Coast Conference.
If I'm writing something similar next weekend, oh let's not get to far ahead!
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Props to Stephen Cooper, the linebacker in his first year as a starter in the Chargers defense. He had 16 tackles in the game and perhaps saved the win by making like Dennis Gibson -- if you don't know, ask an elder -- to knock down a Peyton Manning pass just in front of the end zone. He's become a keeper, no question.
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The best thing about the Chargers win is it takes fans out of the realm of just being relieved to get this far. Now it's time for pure fun. Win or lose, we get a shot at New England in the title game. It's all you can ask for.
If Manning had brought the Colts back for a late victory, this would have been a long off-season. Recriminations against the secondary for allowing so many opposing receivers to get free, tear wallowing over injuries, hatred toward officials for bad calls.
And the big stuff, of course. The Chargers changed coaching staffs in order to get past this round of the playoffs, so what difference did it make. Maybe Donnie Edwards would have made a difference.
Now, none of that. The Chargers did get past this round, with Norv, without Donnie. Nothing but fun from here on out.
The victories posted this weekend by the Chargers, in their thrilling 28-24 playoff win at Indianapolis, and the San Diego State basketball squad's 72-67 conquest of New Mexico at The Pit are akin to the silly knight winning.
The Bolts? Just dethrone the defending Super Bowl champions with QB Philip Rivers, RB LaDainian Tomlinson and TE Antonio Gates on the sidelines nursing injuries. The fourth quarter game-winning drive was accomplished with the likes of Billy Volek, Michael Turner and Legedu Naanee.
The Aztecs? At a place where the Lobos have been nearly unbeatable, even in some recent down years -- and at 14-2 this did not appear to be a bad season at all -- they were without starting F Tim Shelton and, more importantly, G Richie Williams.
While the Chargers were merely trying to win their eighth in a row, the Aztecs were trying to overcome their Wednesday night upset at the hands of lightly regarded Northern Colorado. Now, the end of a wonderful weekend of sport here in America's Finest City, the Bolts get to prepare for an AFC Championship Game at New England. The Aztecs are off to a 2-0 start in the Mountain West Conference. Even USD won it's opening game in the West Coast Conference.
If I'm writing something similar next weekend, oh let's not get to far ahead!
---
Props to Stephen Cooper, the linebacker in his first year as a starter in the Chargers defense. He had 16 tackles in the game and perhaps saved the win by making like Dennis Gibson -- if you don't know, ask an elder -- to knock down a Peyton Manning pass just in front of the end zone. He's become a keeper, no question.
---
The best thing about the Chargers win is it takes fans out of the realm of just being relieved to get this far. Now it's time for pure fun. Win or lose, we get a shot at New England in the title game. It's all you can ask for.
If Manning had brought the Colts back for a late victory, this would have been a long off-season. Recriminations against the secondary for allowing so many opposing receivers to get free, tear wallowing over injuries, hatred toward officials for bad calls.
And the big stuff, of course. The Chargers changed coaching staffs in order to get past this round of the playoffs, so what difference did it make. Maybe Donnie Edwards would have made a difference.
Now, none of that. The Chargers did get past this round, with Norv, without Donnie. Nothing but fun from here on out.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Chargers Dodge Bullet, Norv Dances
The Chargers took Tennessee's best shot but emerged Sunday with their first playoff victory since beating Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship in January 1995, sending the normally detached head coach Norv Turner into a sideline victory jig. The 17-6 victory puts the Bolts in the second round of the NFL playoffs in one week at Indianapolis.
The Titans, a pretty good but not great team, were able to run on the Bolts defense and stymie the offense -- for a half. The good news, something that San Diego fans have really wanted to see since the beginning of the season, was an ability by the coaches and players to adjust to what was happening on the field and eventually take over the game. That happened.
Also good news: the game was put in the hands of sometimes maligned QB Philip Rivers and what had been a rather ordinary batch of wide receivers and they came through with flying colors. Rivers hit Vincent Jackson with a 25-yard TD pass to give the Bolts their first lead, and later hit Chris Chambers for 39 yards on a 3rd & 10 play that led to the final score. Earlier in the year, games placed in their hands were usually lost. The same for last year's playoff debacle with the Patriots. This time was different, which could mean a positive carryover to next week.
The bad news: the game said little about how good the Chargers really are. The Titans really dominated the first half, but just didn't have enough playmakers to capitalize on their work, instead settling for a lone field goal in each of the first two quarters.
In a crucial stretch of the second quarter, which might have kept the Chargers in the game, they recovered a Chris Brown fumble deep in their own territory and then held the Titans to 3-and-out on two straight possessions. That the Titans eventually drove for that second FG was almost insignificant, because that still left the Bolts down by less than a touchdown.
In the regular season matchup with the Colts, the Chargers won 23-21 behind an unprecedented six interceptions thrown by Peyton Manning. That won't happen again. The Colts will have had two weeks to prepare for their matchup, and they'll be ready. Not only did Manning toss all those picks, but Adam Veniteri missed two short FGs. That won't happen again, either. Plus, after the Chargers broke out to a big lead, the Colts dominated the second half of the game and appeared to be the better team.
On the other hand, the Chargers have had success against the Colts at home and in the dome, and will certainly not be intimidated by facing the defending Super Bowl champions.
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I'm one of those not overly sold on the Patriots, despite their 16-0 record. Very good team. Not unbeatable. The way Jacksonville is going right now, they would appear to have what it takes to go into Foxboro in bad weather and come out with a victory.
If that happens, and the Chargers beat the Colts, then the AFC Championship Game would be held at Qualcomm Stadium. Not probable. But not beyond the realm of imagination.
The Titans, a pretty good but not great team, were able to run on the Bolts defense and stymie the offense -- for a half. The good news, something that San Diego fans have really wanted to see since the beginning of the season, was an ability by the coaches and players to adjust to what was happening on the field and eventually take over the game. That happened.
Also good news: the game was put in the hands of sometimes maligned QB Philip Rivers and what had been a rather ordinary batch of wide receivers and they came through with flying colors. Rivers hit Vincent Jackson with a 25-yard TD pass to give the Bolts their first lead, and later hit Chris Chambers for 39 yards on a 3rd & 10 play that led to the final score. Earlier in the year, games placed in their hands were usually lost. The same for last year's playoff debacle with the Patriots. This time was different, which could mean a positive carryover to next week.
The bad news: the game said little about how good the Chargers really are. The Titans really dominated the first half, but just didn't have enough playmakers to capitalize on their work, instead settling for a lone field goal in each of the first two quarters.
In a crucial stretch of the second quarter, which might have kept the Chargers in the game, they recovered a Chris Brown fumble deep in their own territory and then held the Titans to 3-and-out on two straight possessions. That the Titans eventually drove for that second FG was almost insignificant, because that still left the Bolts down by less than a touchdown.
In the regular season matchup with the Colts, the Chargers won 23-21 behind an unprecedented six interceptions thrown by Peyton Manning. That won't happen again. The Colts will have had two weeks to prepare for their matchup, and they'll be ready. Not only did Manning toss all those picks, but Adam Veniteri missed two short FGs. That won't happen again, either. Plus, after the Chargers broke out to a big lead, the Colts dominated the second half of the game and appeared to be the better team.
On the other hand, the Chargers have had success against the Colts at home and in the dome, and will certainly not be intimidated by facing the defending Super Bowl champions.
---
I'm one of those not overly sold on the Patriots, despite their 16-0 record. Very good team. Not unbeatable. The way Jacksonville is going right now, they would appear to have what it takes to go into Foxboro in bad weather and come out with a victory.
If that happens, and the Chargers beat the Colts, then the AFC Championship Game would be held at Qualcomm Stadium. Not probable. But not beyond the realm of imagination.
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