It is a long season. Thankfully, that is true. These are the words that Charger management has lived by over the past several years as this team continues to be an early-season disappointment. Last night’s prime time beatdown was just the latest in a seemingly endless series of “we are just not that good” moments. But..the BOLT ANALYSIS prides itself on not giving in to overreaction, hyperbole, and doomsday tactics. This was one game out of 16….had the Chargers won it would still count as only one game. With all ANALYSIS however…we must look at HOW this game was lost. If there was ever something called a “good” loss…this was not it.
The Steelers came into this game hungry…sure…the World Champs with a record of 1-2 and having lost two games late to seemingly inferior teams. You know they were going to be motivated. However, the fact remains that they were down a couple of their best players with Polamalu out and Willie Parker hurt. Their starting running back was a guy who was benched the week before because he was confused on the playbook. The line had not been protecting Ben and the defense was having trouble making sacks. So, forget the 0-13 San Diego record at Heinz field. We had a chance to take advantage of these facts.
It took me the first 6 plays to realize we were not going to. That first drive was a humiliation. Not one single player on our defense was prepared or physically able to withstand their Pittsburgh counterpart. Completely blown off the ball on the line, the corners not wanting contact, missed assignments, bad tackling. And that was just the first drive. It continued. An 11 play 75 yard drive….a 90+ yard drive. Just like that, halftime came down 21-0 and we had run only a handful of plays. It did not get better in the 3rd quarter. The biggest slap was Pittsburgh going for it on 4th and an inch from their own 30 yard line. No respect. Then again, everyone in the free world knew Big Ben was going on a sneak. No problem. First down. Beatdown continues. Late in the game of course, the Chargers..as they always seem to…made it interesting. Gates was just great. Rivers started hitting downfield passes. A strange and lucky fumble return for a TD..an onside kick that worked. Suddenly, with 4:21 left to play we were down one score with a red hot offense. JUST MAKE ONE STOP. You saw Phillip yelling at the Defense…you saw LT yelling at them…but all you saw from Cooper, Merriman and Company was blank stares. They did not want to go out there. They were beaten. Even Cris Collinsworth, calling the game, said “have some heart here…just make one stop”. No truer words ever spoken. But…not a chance. The Steelers effortlessly went down the field. Killed 4 minutes when it mattered most and kicked a long field goal to put the game out of reach.
Afterwards…the quotes began: “we were not doing our job”, “they really took it to us”, “it was not our night”, “we did not execute”. Same old tired stuff. Some stats:
- LT 7 rushes for 15 yards… 15! Suddenly, Sproles is no longer part of the game plan? LT looked like he was trying…which is good…but the O line is dismal.
- Steelers 32 first downs, 8-12 on 3rd down, 500 total yards (165 by their backup running back). Big Ben was 26-33. Wow.
- Time of possession: 40:20 to 19:40.
And some sad, but true, observations:
Our “stars” are not stars: Merriman has never been the same since he has been off steroids. Now, I know he is coming back from a major injury…I know he is playing hurt. But watching him helplessly flail against the Pitt line is just very sad. And Cromartie, I am afraid, is a fraud. I have tried to avoid this…giving him the benefit of the doubt after being allegedly hurt last year. But this uber-athelete is just that: a great athlete. He may not get beat on many deep balls because of his speed. But his football sense is average at best. Penalties in key situations….weak and half-hearted tackling…and beaten on simple moves consistently. The guy is just not that good.
Our coaches cannot (or do not) adapt. Without Polamalu playing center field…we had one mismatch: downfield passing. Yet, we did not open it up and play sandlot football until we were down 28-0. That was our only chance…and the coaches just keep trying for a “balance of plays” that are not there. I mean 8 rushes in the whole game tells you what you need to know about our offensive line’s ability to block. But…lets just try and get the ball downfield. It is all we have. And we did it late….but too late.
Don’t let the final score or the late TDs fool you. This was a crusher. We got dismantled by this team. Once again proving we are not ready for prime time. But…we will not overreact or bring out the hearse. As the ANALYSIS said last week, our offense can keep us in games, however lopsided. We just have grave issues on defense. And now, we are looking up at the incredible 4-0 Denver Broncos. What? Two games out already?. Here we go again. The bye week might help…get some guys healthy. We come back on primetime again against Denver in two weeks. That game will have massive meaning for us. That is the first of 3 against our AFC West foes. Really…all three are must-win games. It is a long season…and now we will need every bit of it.
Well, J is right, they don't adapt. My biggest complaint is play calling. Any team can blow a game. Throw in a clunker...totally lose it. But, its those other games that are lost by one score...or last minute dramatics by an opponent that kill. And play calling has been a big factor in those losses - games we could have won if we were smart. In my opinion, Norv and company are designing schemes and calling plays for the team they have on paper and not the team they have on the field. As soon as they realize we don't have a running game right now (we don't have the blocking) and that Jackson and others are hard to defend, maybe we could stop wasting the first two quarters running sproles up the middle and digging out of a one, two or even three score hole.
ReplyDeleteOther than that... :)
We in the Charger nation suffer from masochism: "A willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences." We also suffer from undying hope in the face of despair. How many of us watching the game yesterday had this thought process or verbalized the following: OK, we're down four touchdowns, all we have to do is get a couple stops, maybe a defensive touchdown, Sproles return, Rivers deep plays, onsides kick and we're right back in it!"
ReplyDeleteAnd guess what, that almost happened. Except for the part about getting a couple stops. This team, like most Chager teams, looks to be just good enough to give you hope...but then dash it in the end in heartbreaking fashion. There will always be hope because the offense has shown that it can score lots of points in a hurry, but the defense has shown a complete inability to stop any offense. Shore up the D and we have a chance to win lots of games. Maybe we can trade for a nose tackle or safety. Buster Davis doesnt seem to fit in our plans.
I have to agree with Jason about some of our "stars." Looking at the stats, they are very ordinary. Maybe some new stars will emerge this year. Vincent Jackson. Nate Kaeding. Mike Scifres. Darren Sproles. Sorry, cant think of anyone on defense, maybe Cooper. Antonio Gates can have another great year, Rivers seems assured to. I have to think that this is LT's last year. Merriman is a non-factor. I recall during the game that Collinsworth was trying to give Merriman some props, but it looked to me on the play he was looking at that it was really Larry English. Oh well.
So now a week off to think about undefeated Denver and how to win the AFC West. I actually think that they will bounce back and soundly beat the Broncos. Then the Chiefs and the Raiders...a chance to build some confidence and a winning record.
since the analysis started several years ago, i have become a psuedo chargers fan. this turns out to be a good place to be with last nights game as a shining example. tuned in expecting a good battle with a strong chance of an SD upset. Very disappointing, but as a pseudo fan, I can shake my head from a distance.
ReplyDeleteas my son would say in his 4th grade slang "the chargers got pwned". (its actually a very useful word). total domination. at least for the first 3 quarters. PIT has to be a little embarrased themselves that they allowed chargers to make a game of it at the end.
i agree with the play calling. amazingly frustrating (even as an outsider)to watch run play after ineffective run play when you know the firepower that can come out of their passing game. if you are going to be conservative, about a few more short drop passes to sproles or maybe even LT to shake him loose.
i never weighed in on predictions at season's start. i was wavering between 10-6 and 11-5 based on the ability of this team to always make an opponent feel that they are in the game, but torn between how they should do. after week 1, i settled on 10-6 despite a win against Oakland. there was proof that winnable games were going to get away.
this week was a winnable game, but it would have taken a strong acheivement, so i am sticking with 10-6. they will continue to frustrate and continue to win, and keep this pseudo fan interested. (or at least the blog will).
Shall I dare give my comment on the esteemed "analysis"?........
ReplyDeleteI almost stopped watching the game during the 3rd quarter. I didn't but could have easily come up with a good excuse like "HOney, the boys need some fresh air...gotta go for a walk...", "Honey, the boys haven't eaten their lunch"..."gotta go wash bottles", and the list goes on and on. But I didn't. I continued to watch with my loyal, but frustrated, husband. As we started catching up I began to feel the hope mounting in our house....(Even the boys seemed excited;)
But as everyone else has mentioned, the STUPID play calling of Norv lost another game in the end! That and the HORRIBLE defense! I'm sorry but I still can't stand NOrv and despite all of the talent this team has, HE is keeping us from that ring that you all have been dreaming of for years!! (I hope I am proven wrong....)
Welcome to Rebeca. Astute analysis, and yes, the pain of hope is something we all share. Norv-hating is a common thread and although I have always been the last to the Norv bashing party, I am afraid I am joining that group. ADAPT AND ADJUST. Let us hope that these two weeks off allow us to do this.
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