Yea, I know...I'm a week late on this one. Been sort of busy with other things, some of which I'll post about when I get the chance.
OK, back on the subject of the Chargers.
Got to some props to the coaching staff. The Chargers special teams looked horrible against the Bears the week before. It really looked like the special teams units got extra attention in practice. Chargers started the game by blocking a punt on the Cardinals first possession. Keenan Allen, who fumbled a punt return against the Bears, got a chance to redeem himself and got a long 44 yard punt return in the 2nd quarter which he almost broke for a TD. Chargers also blocked a field goal in the 2nd quarter. It was like someone had replaced the regular Chargers specials teams with a bunch of guys that actually new what they were doing.
Ryan Mathews and the run blocking looked great again. I know much has been talked about new coach Mike McCoy and how he did wonders for Tim Tebow and revamped the offense to accommodate Peyton Manning so he should be able to get Phillip Rivers back to where he was a few years ago, but I've got to think that the running game is going to be the strength this year. The tackles (King Dunlap and T.J. Fluker) are huge and are better using that size to attack defenders rather then moving their feet to stay in front of pass rushers. McCoy seems to be able to adapt his offense to his players, not just just the QB. Of course, how successful the offense will be in the season still comes down to the players making plays.
Funny thing about the RBs is that I have only seen Danny Woodhead in for a few plays all preseason.
McCoy also likes an uptempo offense and ran the No Huddle in the 2nd drive of the game. This is not the Peyton Manning no huddle...yes Rivers is calling the plays, but they ran the ball just as much as they passed it. The Chargers went 92 yards on 13 plays, resulting in a Mathews TD run. While Rivers managed the drive well, he still didn't look sharp in the passing game. Rivers maybe "thinking to much." To me it looks like things aren't quite automatic for him yet...like he has to think about things instead of just reacting to them. Will he ever get to the point that everything in the offense is instinctive? Only time will tell.
Mathews did cough up the ball on what should have been his 2nd TD. Chargers got lucky and scored anyway on a stupid play by the Cardinals defender who recovered the fumble. Antonio Gates got a hold of his leg as he tried to return the fumble and he tried to lateral it to a teammate. Gates made a heads up play and slapped the ball up in the air before the other player could secure the ball. The ball went right to another Charger who walked into the end zone for the score. For all the good I've seen out of Mathews this season, that was a worrisome thing to see considering Mathews past fumbling history.
Starters only played a half, but looked good overall...finally some discouragement that the Chargers could be watchable this year. Lets not talk playoffs or anything silly like that yet, but he Chargers may play better this season than many are predicting.
The biggest question mark for the Chargers us at wide receiver...a group I thought would surprise people, but injuries have changed that opinion. In what should have been a dress rehearsal for the players starting Week 1, the Chargers had Vincent Brown (who missed last season with an injury) and rookie Keenan Allen starting. Seyi Ajirotutu (who they cut last year and just resigned earlier in the week) played the slot. The projected starting lineup was Danario Alexander (out for the year), Malcom Floyd (out with a leg injury, but projected to start Week1). Eddie Royal is now projected to start Week 1 (missed Arizona game due to leg injury). Not sure who's going to be the slot receiver.
The defense is actually looking pretty good. I was worried about the corners, but free agent pickup Derek Cox (Jaguars) and Shareece Wright (3rd season) have played solid. Free safety Eric Weddle is an annual Pro Bowler. Mike Freeney looks like he's going to be a factor again. He's only recorded one sack, but has been very disruptive. The defensive lineman are stout and Corey Liuget is a star in the making. I would be willing to bet, barring injury, that Liuget finishes 2nd on the team in sacks (quite a feat for a d-lineman in the 3-4). Manti Te'o (I bet you figured I would get to him sooner or later) hasn't played much in the preseason due to a leg injury, but is projected to start Week 1. If Te'o meets expectations and the Charges get OLB Melvin Ingram back (not until next season) this could become a special unit. The problem is depth...as in there isn't any.
Who won the game? Who cares its' preseason....but if you have to know, the Chargers picked up the win 24-7.
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