Six games have been played in the local professional and college football seasons, and as you approach, or have arrived at, the mid-point of the schedule, you pretty much are what your record says.
The Chargers are 2-4 after being physically beat up by the Rams. They stink.
San Diego State is 4-2 after finally beating a Top 25 team and could be 5-1 without Replaygate, and 6-0 if the coaches could keep track of their players. They're good.
USD is 2-5, having not had a bye week, and are mediocre at their own level but over-scheduled.
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A couple of very interesting rankings for SDSU in the national statistics. The Aztecs couldn't have bought a running game since former head coach Chuck Long stepped on campus, but freshman RB Ronnie Hillman is seventh in rushing with 131 yards per game, despite limited carries in the opener. If you haven't seen his 65-yard TD run vs Air Force, go to the Aztecs Website and take a look.
The overall team rushing offense, which spent most of the past few years ranking in the 100s out of 119 or 120 teams, now is 35th nationally. Total offense ranks 16th.
What really gets me excited is to see the Aztecs rank 28th in pass defense and 19th in scoring defense. Even though they're yielding a bunch of yards on the ground, they're not letting opponents into the end zone easily like they used to. A couple of reasons for that. Behind P Brian Stahovich, they are ninth in net punting, and they are on the plus side by three in turnovers, a big reversal from past years. That means no more short field for opposing offenses. It also helps that they are tied for 19th in tackles for loss, meaning defensive coordinator Rocky Long's attacking 3-3-5 scheme is working, and are ninth in their own offense not allowing tackles for loss. That's field position.
Let's try this for the Chargers. Don't punch your computer as you read the following.
LaDainian Tomlinson is sixth in the NFL in rushing yards for the Jets, and Michael Turner is ninth. The highest Charger is Mike Tolbert at 24th. If you go by per-game averages, they rank 9th, 13th and 31st. And its not just that they've carried the ball more. Tomlinson ranks higher in yards per carry and in longest carry.
Antonio Cromartie leads the NFL in passes defended for the Jets and has the same number of interceptions as the leading Charger, Antoine Cason, with two.
Only Chicago's Jay Cutler (23) has been sacked more often the Philip Rivers (18).
Even though Rivers leads the league in passing yards, the highest-ranked Charger in receiving yards is Malcolm Floyd, who is 10th. In terms of receptions, the highest is Antonio Gates, a tight end, at 20th.
The NFL has a system rating the offensive line, long my pet peeve regarding GM AJ Smith, who seems to think the unit is not very important, AND THE CHARGERS RANK 29TH OUT OF THE LEAGUE'S 32 TEAMS (shouting is intentional).
Not much more to say. Let's hope they enjoy the home cooking and continue to win at Qualcomm Stadium, because I don't know if they will win on the road all year.
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