BOLT ANALYSIS: WEEK 6 -- CIRCLING THE DRAIN

Inspiration and motivation. That is today’s topic on this dreary, rainy Monday morning in Southern Cal. Yesterday’s performance began the slow, inexorable walk down the seven stages of grief. We have already been through anger and denial…I think the next, and last, stop now is acceptance. We stink. We are not a good team right now. We can talk about injuries, we can talk about loss of veteran players, we can talk about guys playing new positions…but all that is not worth talking about. We are just bad right now and, to me, it starts at the top. Last week I ranted about “something dramatic needing to happen”. Fire someone…change things up...do something. Well, the Chargers did cut one Special Teams player.. CJ “Strike Three” Spillman is looking for a new job now. But that is it. Real dramatic, right? Special Teams Coach Crosby still has a job and so to…does Norv Turner. As the ANALYSIS used to say often….it is the players that make the plays…not the coaches. Well, I believe that mantra is dead. There is something more elusive that this group of Chargers cannot manufacture on their own…inspiration and motivation….and we have none of it.



Yesterday’s opponent is the perfect case study of what inspiration and motivation can do. The St. Louis Rams…2-14 last year, came into this game off of a 44-6 LOSS TO THE DETROIT LIONS! In that game, they lost their best wide receiver and offensive leader Mark Clayton. They came into the game with only one “name” player on either side of the ball, Running Back Steven Jackson. They were playing the Leagues “#1 Offense” in the Chargers. But a funny thing happened on the field. This team, with a rookie quarterback and young no name players all over the place, came out and played hard. They played inspired, they played motivated. They came out with a Game Plan (if you don’t know what that is…I don’t blame you…the Chargers don’t either). Their Coach put together a system of blitzes and unique rushing packages that put pressure on our QB. Our line acted like they had never seen anyone rush before. They put together a smart, efficient, but safe offensive package that moved the ball in the first half and completely befuddled our sad-sack players. And they did not make mistakes. That, followers, is coaching. That is providing inspiration, that is providing motivation. And they won the game.


On the other side of the Ball, all of our coaching staff stands with the same stunned look the entire game. Norv Turner, Ron Rivera, Steve Crosby. The team came out needing to win, and was so woefully unprepared that they went four straight punts to start the game. They were so poorly prepared, they had to call a timeout in the first series. They were so poorly prepared, they gave up 3 or 4 sacks in the first quarter. A team takes on the persona of its coaches, and this team is as spiritless and boring as its coaching staff. In each of our previous three losses, you could point a finger at special teams and turnovers as the culprit. But, for those watching closely, the 4th quarter of the Raider game saw a different problem arise. That soft, clueless, leaderless defense raised its ugly head. When the Raiders, led by the fantastic Jason Campbell, drove for two 4th quarter scores to win the game (After we had taken a 9 point lead) that dreaded feeling began to creep in again. We cannot blame this on Special Teams only….this is systemic now. And, to be beaten down and outplayed by the Rams. Well, this season is on the brink of getting out of control. There were no adjustments made…there was no answer….we gave up seven sacks. And many other hurries and dropped passes. Now, sure, we were down many of our targets. Legadu was out, Floyd hurt a hamstring, and the wonderful security blanket Antonio Gates left with a potentially serious foot injury. That is bad. Very bad…and yes it had an impact on the game. But, the Rams rebounded without their best receiver. Why can’t we?


Now, I am going to get dramatic for a moment so bear with me. These issues appear to go beyond coaching to me. I think it starts at the top with AJ Smith and the Spanos family. The “culture” of the Chargers is becoming a laughingstock. AJ’s rough stance with player’s contracts takes on a hollow and silly tone when you see the team play like this. The “my way or the highway” approach will look pretty awful if we finish 5-11. I think we need to start thinking about this team in a new vein. It is really a new beginning. The players that made the Chargers of the last 5-6 years are mostly gone. With the purging of Merriman, the inevitable departure of VJ, and the often chronicled exodus of LT, Cro, Jamal, and many others…..this is a new team. Starting from scratch after this season with a new GM and a new head coach? How about it? Why not? Bring in some youth and exuberance…bring in some spirit and some fire. You have made your bed with all new players…let’s lie in it. Wipe the slate clean on this period in Charger history and move on. We have a core of good players…just not a great team….maybe the right coach and GM get us there? Let’s ponder for a moment what would happen if we do finish 5-11. Would we need to fire Norv? Would we need to let AJ go? Would something happen? Or would the Spanos family simply say “don’t be silly”…and keep on keeping on. Hmmmmm…..


OK..OK….those of you long term readers must have thought some different blogger is ghost writing today’s ANALYSIS. Much like Norv, the ANALYSIS attempts to maintain an even keel. Now for the “reality” part of the post. The Chargers are 2-4. The AFC West is dismal. The Broncos and Raiders are 2-4 each….with the Raiders who just scored 35 points against us…managing only 9 against the previously winless 49ers. The Chiefs lead the division at 3-2. Sadly, one can certainly envision another 8-8 winner of the AFC West. Why can’t that be us? Answer…of course it can. We can still win the west. I bet you most people who you asked would still say that we will win the West. But, to do that, we need inspiration. Where is that going to come from? I see no leadership anywhere on the field. I think Philip is trying…but he is pressing and his offensive line is not helping. To win some games, we will need motivation. Where is that going to come from? The same defense that needed one stop on a 3rd and 6 and gave up 10 on a straight ahead running play to lose the game? I think not. I don’t see it. This season feels different to me.


Next week we have the Patriots at home. They are good. Then we have Tennessee. They are good. Then we have Houston. They are good too. We have blown the best early season schedule in the last 5 years by losing to bad teams. At this point however, it does not matter who the opponent is. Without some inspiration…our season is over. Optimists among us will say…”hey, we are 2-0 at home and our next two are at home”. Well, all I can say is black ‘em out ‘cuz this thing could get ugly.