BOLT ANALYSIS - WEEK 16

One punt.. That's it. After that punt on the first series, the only time the Charger offense gave the ball back to the Titans was on a kneel down at the end of the game. Merry Christmas ANALYSIS followers....this team was just an absolute machine yesterday. The offense was just crazy...every player got the ball and they all did something with it. You know the names...the entire offense got involved, and it was wonderful to watch. First round bye secured....a nice couple of weeks to fine tune lies ahead. From 2-3 to 12-3 with the next game academic. 


Briefly, I must acknowledge several components of the offense. I could go on and on about Jackson, Rivers, Gates, Sproles, Tolbert, etc. but that is too obvious. I would like to talk about two things today: balance..and the line. The different looks and play calls we saw yesterday were fantastic. The runs set up the passes and the passes set up the runs. Sometimes, it all works, and this was one of those days. Even after penalties (calling back a 52 yd touchdown comes to mind) they just came back and hit first downs with no sweat. Third down conversions effortlessly. Balance baby. It is a great thing to have. The other thing that must be mentioned is the return to the lineup of Nick Hardwick. After week 1 against the Raiders he was carted off. They never put him on Injured Reserve because they thought this was possible. For him to return to Center after all these weeks off after a serious injury, and for the line to not miss a beat, is amazing, They switched guys around late in the game...same result. Great blocking. What has happened with this line....rookies...guys out of position...guys stepping up,,,is just sweet. 


On defense, we really did not need to bend but not break. Each time they moved the ball a little bit, we either stopped them or Vince Young gave us the ball on a turnover. Killing momentum. Chris Johnson is a great Back. So smooth and fast... but he cannot beat you if he is down by 4 touchdowns..and I am not aftraid of Vince Young. The guys looked well coached, in position, and in control. Even on some of those long runs, they really had it covered...it was just the intense speed of Johnson that got him clear. This team is just playing with huge confidence. And when the offense holds the ball like that (uh..40 minutes to 20 minutes) it just don't matter folks. 


So, now what do we do? There is always that fine line between resting guys, keeping sharp, keeping momentum, not going soft, etc, etc. There are always those who will say..."well, it would be nice to get a loss into these guys to make sure they are focused and know their limits". Although I  understand this, you cannot dial up losses or wind these guys up like a toy. If they are playing at a high level, you just hope you can reset, refocus, and bring it again. I am not afraid of the bye week...nor am I afraid of the meaningless game against Washington next week. I think this team is as focused and confident as it has ever been. They have faced teams desperate for a win in their own house: Dallas and Tennessee. And they have faced emotional teams going for broke: Cincy. They beat them all. I said after the Browns win, "If these guys can turn it on and off depending on who they are playing I am a very happy fan". Well, I think we are there folks. There is no need to worry about the bye, or fret about who we are playing. There will be time for that later. Now, lets get these guys as healthy as possible, realize we are playing at least one home playoff game, be happy we will only have a max of 2 playoff games before a chance at the big one. This is no different than what was said in the ANALYSIS early on when they had just beat the Chiefs to go to 3-3. You only line up against one team at a time. Just beat that team. 


A great season thus far and a great Holiday treat. Have a Happy New Year, secure in the knowledge that there will be games in January and maybe, just maybe, BEYOND. 

BOLT ANALYSIS - WEEK 15

First thing’s first: The Chargers are AFC West Champions and, as a result, have clinched a spot in the playoffs. Their 4^th consecutive AFC West title and 5^th in six years! I have said it before…but when we were 2-3, most of us looked at our upcoming schedule and were left hoping for a wildcard spot. Now…we are going in the front door.

Nine straight wins…17-0 in December…late heroics…this season is beginning to take on mythic qualities. Yesterday’s win was nearly a carbon copy of previous wins against Dallas, the Giants, and the Eagles. Get the ball into Rivers’ hand last…make sure we have the last possession…and if this team is within a score...they will get there. Since when have we had such confidence in a Charger team? Answer: Never.

Here is an excerpt from last week’s ANALYIS (because it is always cool to quote yourself):

Look, lets be real, they gave up LONG drives and lots of yards….but no big plays. That is the recipe people. That is how this Charger team will need to beat good teams. Keep the play in front of you, make tackles, and don’t give up touchdowns. The ANALYSIS identified this recipe early and it is obvious that this is the game plan.

Uh….once again, this is the way it played out. The Bengals came in following the tragedy surrounding Chris Henry…and played an inspired game. Their passing game had been horrible in past weeks…yet, like all teams, they found the answers against a soft Charger defense. Carson Palmer was unmolested most of the day…threw for over 300 yards, and it was a darn good thing he did not get the ball back late in this game. Although we bottled up their good back Benson most of the game, the Bengals still got some big plays from Ochocinco and some of their other receivers. Once again, the Chargers made a no name tight end look awesome, giving some guy named Foschi 7 catches for a bunch of yards. Once again…we gave up way too many 3^rd down conversions…some of them very long ones. Once again, no pressure on the QB all game long. Sigh….

But, what we did do (despite the long bomb to Ocho) is keep the play in front of us and force them into long drives. Recipe, baby. The Chargers lately are like going to Juanita’s taco shop; you look at the menu…you think about getting something new and exotic, but at the end of the day, you get the Carne Asada. Why not? It is always good and it always works.

I read an article that said outside of Rivers, Jackson, and Gates…the Chargers are an average team. I tend to agree. But, that is enough right now. If Gates is not having a big day…Jackson is. And Floyd and Sproles just always seem to come up big. Touch for touch…I would take these guys over any number 3 or 4 receiver out there. We are spreading the ball around and it is just great to watch. LT looked solid…in fact, I thought he should have got more touches.

The final score was 27-24, but lets be real…we had this game salted and let it go. Early in the 4^th quarter, we were up by 11…had made a big stop…and had the ball and all the momentum. That interception off of Gates’ hands was brutal. Gave the Bengals life…and a short field. For them to tie us up was rough…after a 97 yard drive….but, you need to put the bullet in Phillip’s head. 54 seconds is plenty of time for this offense. There is just no panic in this team. Even with a 10 second runoff due to the injury to Mruckowski, we still made three big plays to get in range.

And Nate Kaeding. Give it up. That kick would have been good from 62 yards. Nate has the highest percentage of field goals made IN NFL HISTORY. This never gets mentioned. He is remembered for last second misses against the Jets and the Patriots in the playoffs early in his career. But this guy is money…and what a massive confidence builder for the team to know you have a guy like this on the sideline. He says in his post game quote that he is “motivated by fear of failure” and “still has problems with his head”. Wow….best percentage ever and he admits that? Awesome.

So, be proud today ANALYSIS FOLLOWERS! Be very proud. This team has overcome a lot. Injuries all year long (maybe more yesterday?) and some tough games. They have won the West…if they win one out of their last two they get a bye in the first round and a #2 seeding in the playoffs. They play on Christmas day next. Don’t be surprised if Norv rests some guys given the short week and the travel to a tough place to play. Remember…Norv is “managing” the team…and for my money he has done a great job. The Titans are hot….playing well…and they have the best running back in the League. This is a tough game. Incredibly, the Bolts don’t necessarily need to win this game. If they win their final game at home against the Redskins, they lock up the bye regardless of what happens this week. Any of us would have not thought that possible early on. The question we must now ask…at any point during this nine game winning streak, have we played our absolute best? Have we played a truly complete game? I still believe we have not….and that is a good feeling.

Happy Holidays!

BOLT ANALYSIS - WEEK 14

Now that was a good win.

The Chargers continue their crazy late-season form…extending an 8-0 streak this season and an unbelievable 16-0 December streak with an impressive and convincing win against Dallas. Looking at the stats, this game was close…pretty much even in terms of yards, first downs, time of possession, and overall plays. What impressed me however, was how COMFORTABLE the Chargers looked. This is a team that is just playing very confidently right now…on both sides of the ball. I am not going to get overly gushy….but watching moronic Jerry Jones flip his pen in disgust at the end of the game just punctuated what the Chargers have and Dallas does not…..confidence and belief. As Charger fans, we are used to holding our breath at the end and hoping for some good luck. No longer.

Let’s review. The ANALYSIS has been a bit repetitive as of late. I acknowledge this and know that you all rely on razor sharp observation and witty commentary. I have consistently provided this, but the formula for these Charger wins remains remarkably consistent…so there is not a lot of variability in recent Analyses. On offense…an accurate, mistake-free passing game filled with big first down throws and downfield chunks of yardage. A running game that is doing just enough…keeping defenses honest and the clock moving. An offensive line that has become wonderful at pass blocking yet still needs a lot of work in run blocking. On defense…a secondary that has improved exponentially and a rotation on the defensive line and linebacker corps that keeps guys fresh and firing deep into the 4^th quarter. This defense is not going to scare anyone….and I mean anyone….but they keep their team in it, they never stop, and they play their best late in the game when it counts. That is a formula that can work.

The offense never had a three and out in this game. They moved the ball every time they had it. These long drives and clock killing exploits are awesome. I don’t know what Norv has been putting in his cereal but these game plans have totally changed. This is a fun, varied offense that really keeps people guessing. Everyone on this team can catch the ball..and when you see big catches by Kris Wilson, Tolbert, Naanee, and Floyd…you know the big guys like V Jackson and Gates are probably going to catch a few too. Just awesome to watch. As we have said each of the last 5 or 6 weeks…Rivers is totally in command. One bad throw in this game…his first INT in 5 games. He knew it…everyone knew it, and he came back and fired away afterward…not letting it bother him. Now that is a quarterback.

LT…while once again bottled up and ineffectual most of the game…got going late and had some awesome 4^th quarter runs. I still worry about us going deep into the playoffs without a real running game, but we are doing enough..and LT is running hard again, which is great to see. I cannot praise our makeshift O-line enough. Dallas has a great rush and we completely held it in check. Just one coverage sack all day long despite playing with two rookies on the right side of the line and a back up Center? Amazing.

The Defense. Well, that goal line stand was epic. They used to bring Brandon Siler in only on short yardage situations. You wonder why? Siler and the rest of the defense (props also to Tim Dobbins) just buried Dallas on 4 straight rushes. Awesome. And this was after Dallas had run through them for 15 plays on a massive drive. That…plus the missed field goal put the doubt back in Romo and company’s heads…and they went to halftime with lots of missed opportunities staring them in the face. All game, the defense was strong. Look, lets be real, they gave up LONG drives and lots of yards….but no big plays. That is the recipe people. That is how this Charger team will need to beat good teams. Keep the play in front of you, make tackles, and don’t give up touchdowns. The ANALYSIS identified this recipe early and it is obvious that this is the game plan. When I look at some of these plays and see jerseys with names like Siler, Oliver, Gregory, Scott, and Ellison making plays…you have to be pumped as a fan. These are guys that were supposed to have a small role (or no role at all) this year, and they are playing huge. With Merriman at half speed and no Weddle or Jamal…again, I’m repeating myself…but this is impressive.

So..10-3. Coming home to face Cincy in what could very well be the battle for the number 2 seed and a first round bye in the playoffs. If they beat Cincy, I just don’t see them dropping out of that ranking. Amazing. For all of us who thought that it would be a struggle just to make a wildcard after the successive beat downs by Pitt and Denver….I guess the motto is never give up on these guys. They keep getting better. Confidence and belief…this team keeps taking each game as it comes, staying focused and doing what they need to do. The headlines all talk about how Dallas is self-destructing…Dallas lost it…Dallas having a bad December. The ticker on ESPN even said “Rivers bails out Chargers as Bolts slip past Dallas”. Huh?…we trailed once in the game and that was 3-0. Fine with me though, other teams don’t want to play us. Let’s just keep earning respect.

BOLT ANALYSIS -WEEK 13

Down to the Final Four ya’ll. Four games left in this season of contradictions and craziness. I hope…I really hope…that this Charger team is good enough to actually win a game geared down like they were yesterday and come back strong against the good teams they will be facing. If this team is good enough to “just do enough to win”…then I am a very happy fan. It could not have gone better for Norv’s crew yesterday for three quarters. Playing without Merriman, Castillo, and Weddle on defense relegated our team to that ever-popular “bend but don’t break” style of play. The first three series’ by the Browns were ridiculous…that team moved the ball effortlessly. Touchdown on the first drive after 6 minute drive…Field Goal on drive two after a lucky stop and a dropped pass…and then AFTER A 9 MINUTE crusher of a drive…Brady Quinn holds the ball too long and fumbles to the Chargers. That sums up the season for those guys. A 66 yard TD pass from Phillip to bowling ball fullback Tolbert and we had the lead, despite being completely rolled by the Browns for three drives. A halftime score of 13-7 was lucky.

OK. OK. So the third quarter was complete domination. The Chargers took over and asserted their dominance on both sides of the ball. Ending the quarter 27-7 was nice. And Norv could not stop grinning on the sideline. His players were safe…the lead was safe…all was good in the world. Until the end of the game that is. Look, I know we had a huge lead but giving up 16 points in the last quarter, big conversions, and an onside kick to this team is troubling. For the Browns to be down by one score at the end of the game is awful…and if they had made that 2 point conversion (and got the ball back as they did). They would have had the ball with a chance to tie. This has happened to us before (read: both Raider games) and we won…but I don’t like the message it sends. Again…we got the “W” and we have an awesome 7 game winning streak going, but you just wish we had that dagger in the heart..that silver bullet to bury these teams. Am I asking for too much or being unrealistic?

Let’s talk about our offense. Rivers to Gates. What the hell? How good are these guys together? If Norv had not been so desperate to get LT over Jim Brown’s record in this game…and let Phillip keep throwing…who knows what the score would have been or how many catches Gates would have had. Let me say this…when Gates is healthy he just cannot be covered. Period. One guy…two guys…he just cannot be covered. An amazing game by him. The passing game was flawless…great protection, great schemes, varied play calls. We had short and long passes, screens, even a halfback throw from Naanee. A great game plan by Norv. Phillip has 373 yards, no interceptions. Like a well oiled machine right now. Despite LT passing Jim Brown (nice moment with his salute by the way) the running game was pretty poor all day long. Keep in mind…this is the worst team in the league. They have had so many injuries on defense they are playing a bunch or practice squad guys. LT seemed to be at half-speed all day, just going through the motions. Again, our line seems to have really gelled at pass protection, but run blocking does not seem to be improving. I am no expert…is it LT or the line? Or both? Who knows, but this running game needs to complement our incredible passing game if we are to succeed.

The defense…well, not so hot. Playing without the three starters and holding a big lead into the 4^th quarter makes it tough to criticize. So I won’t. Brady Quinn had no pressure all day…although that was really by design (remember to bend guys, but don’t break). We had two sacks but they were the result of guys being blocked way upfield and then coming back to Quinn who held the ball for too long.

Let me just say that I hope we can really turn it on and off because we have some big ones coming up. Dallas….Cincy….Tennessee…and Washington. That is our final 4. With massive losses by New England and Pittsburgh yesterday, we have a chance to lock in on a #2 seed and a first round by. We control that..although I hope our guys are not counting playoff seedings yet. Over-confidence is something that has grabbed this team before. If we cannot turn it back on after our geared-down win, we have some tough matchups coming and Denver lurks in the rearview mirror. What kind of team are we? A seven game winning streak is great in the NFL…even if it has included wins against Kansas City twice, the Raiders, and the Browns. You gotta beat who you line up against right? We are 9-3…none of us would have said that was possible after being 2-3 a few months ago. Keep it going boys. Gear it back up again.

BONUS COVERAGE: The OREGON DUCKS heading to the Rose Bowl with one of the most incredible turnarounds in recent memory. Losing their opening game on National TV to Boise State (plus the infamous punch by LaGarrette Blount). Losing their top three senior performers for most or all of the season…they still win the Pac 10, and will go to the Rose Bowl favored. Crazy.