BOLT ANALYSIS: Week 16: IT ENDS WITH A WHIMPER

I thought this was going to be a tough post to write. I really did. I figured I was going to be lamenting how all of a sudden the Chiefs look like World Beaters..and despite the Chargers big finish, they were not gonna catch them. Well, the Bolts made it easy on us. Think of how you Charger fans have felt at the end of each of the past four seasons. Think of how those playoff losses have smarted. Each one cruel and unusual in its own way. Now, think of this year. Ousted from the Playoffs by one of the worst teams in the League in stunning and horrific fashion. This one is much easier to stomach folks….and this column in much easier to write…because this team is not worthy of making you feel bad.  

There is nothing specific to blame. No specific turnover. No specific special teams play. No specific dropped pass. We did all of these things with equal terrible-ness. We let a 3-11 club absolutely manhandle us in a game that mattered. The Bengals were without their starting receivers…not to worry, they had a guy named Caldwell and another guy named Simpson back there. The laughable front 7 of the Bengals completely took apart our line. Again, this game mattered. Despite the Chiefs blowout of the Titans, a win by the Chargers kept us at least with an ounce of hope for the last weekend. And that is what this team came up with? Well, there is not much more you need to know. This team is not fit to be called “good”. There are serious problems from top to bottom. Again, that is why this post is not difficult .We are bad. Our stint as a so called “elite” team has ended. Now, we are “rebuilding” like everyone else who has not made the playoffs. You need look no further than, with 6 minutes left, trailing only by 7 points, with a third and long, we were milling around waiting for a play and the Bengals stepped to the line, snapped the ball, and tossed a 50 yard TD to one of their no names. If there was ever a play and a reaction that summed up this sad season, that was it. We get a stop there and we have a real chance to win. Instead, we were not even ready for a play. Watching Norv mouth the words “what happened?” to nobody in particular and watching Ron Rivera look at his playcard in stunned silence after that play was perfect. Did Ron think he could will that play away by not looking at the field? Pathetic. Anyone considering hiring Rivera as a head coach should watch that tape. Then again, please take him.

In years past, the ANALYSIS would be laboring over what fine tuning needed to be made. Maybe upgrade this position or that…maybe Draft for this type of player or that. At this point in time, after a beatdown loss to the Bengals, the ANALYSIS can simply say that this team is just in shambles. Take your pick:  Is it AJ’s stances on VJ and McNeil that did it, was it the injury to Gates, was it the lack of receivers, the lack of a consistent running game, inability to stop anyone on 3^rd down, horrible special teams. No, I don’t think it was any of those things. They all have a hand in losses, but the number one reason for this team’s fall is the overall culture. It starts with the Spanos family, goes through AJ, and ends with Norv and his staff. There are far less talented teams in the playoffs. But they play hard, without the mental lapses. Yes Charger fans. I blame the culture. San Diego teams are cursed, we all know that. Look at the Padres..giving up Adrian Gonzalez for a bunch of crap. Same thing. There is not a commitment to winning. I feel the same about the Chargers. No accountability, no heart, no spirit. It starts from the Spanos’ and comes on down. Don’t expect that a 9-7 or even an 8-8 finish will lead to any change. AJ will say the same stuff, Norv will have the same bewildered look, Rivera will still stare at the field like he has never seen grass before. It is a sad state folks.

Has our “window closed”? I don’t really buy into that. I mean, look at how teams like the Steelers and Patriots reinvent themselves and come back as good as before. We can rebound, but there needs to be change. We do not have leadership both on the field and off, we do not have toughness on the field. There is no accountability. Without change at the top, I don’t think it is going to happen. We will continue to be a mediocre team..maybe sometimes a little better than that. But the goal we all seek is farther away today than it has been at any point in the past 5 years. That is really a shame.

Perhaps the most difficult thing is that I have no idea what we have on this team anymore. Rivers is a big positive, as is Gates, maybe the Tolbert/Mathews thing works out. Beyond that though, can any of you honestly say there is a single position on this team that is sacred and untouchable? I don’t think so. Perhaps the addition of just a few key players will make a difference, but it seems bigger than that to me.

So, our AFC West dominance comes to an end. The best streak in the history of the San Diego Chargers (as I documented at great length last year) is over. What do we have to show for it? Some good memories, some great games, and a lot of unfulfilled potential. Lets start over folks. From the top.

Can this post end with anything positive you ask? Just this…the ANALYSIS will not stop. It will soldier on, win or lose, it will continue. And that means that Charger football will go on. There is always another day…another game…another season

BOLT ANALYSIS: WEEK 15 SUPPLEMENT -- NO APPENDIX, NO PROBLEM PART 2

The season took yet another distressing turn yesterday. The hoped-for fade of the Chiefs did not materialize. The desired slide of the Jets did not occur. And the potential mis-step of the Ravens was righted. All the teams we needed to blink…did not. That is what good teams do. They win games. They pull them out even when they are not expected to or even when they are not playing well. The Chiefs came in off of a 31-0 defeat where they had less than 75 total yards. Their QB was 11 days removed from surgery on his appendix. Yet, they played hard and controlled the Rams from beginning to end….in St. Louis. This does not bode well. A Rams win all but cemented them as a playoff team…yet, they lost. That is what bad teams do.




The Jets and the Ravens were the teams we could potentially catch for a wildcard, but the Jets righted the ship and played a massive game against the Steelers and the Ravens outlasted the Saints. Both teams will not lose out….that is pretty much assured. Even if they do, we would most likely lose the tiebreaker due to the “strength of schedule” tiebreaker it would come down to. So, cannot consider a Jets or a Ravens collapse real at all.



What are we left with?…..Just that the Chiefs lose. That is about it. They have two at home against teams that are almost certainly not going to be playoff eligible. They are 6-0 at home. They are balanced and playing well with their starting QB back. It does not look good. Even if the Chargers win out…which they should….they are facing long odds that the Chiefs will lose one of these. But….that is why they play the games….



The ANALYSIS will stop the lamenting and hand-wringing now. Hope springs eternal. Teams can lose at any time. I must say if the Chiefs finish 11-5 and go 8-0 at home….they deserve it. Absolutely. We need to take care of our own games, and just hope. Go Tennessee! Pride is always the most important thing to play for, isn’t it?

BOLT ANALYSIS: WEEK 15 -- THE STAGE IS SET

Well, hope this special Friday edition of the ANALYSIS finds you well. The Bolts in the Powder Blues certainly made for a fun Thursday night game. Both teams playing last night needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. It was like Mad Max in Thunderdome...two men enter...one man leaves.  Well, the Chargers left, with their second demolition in a row of an inferior team. This post could really be a carbon copy of the last one. Offense balanced and effective...defense ferocious and tough....and the game out of hand by halftime.

First, the offense. The long throw to VJ on the first drive set the tone. We wanted it more and VJ just overpowered that guy. Man, it is good to have that guy back. More on him later. Philip was awesome...he got protection all night...and despite the absence of Gates and Floyd and the terribly ineffective Legedu, he hit nearly all his throws. The running game was bottled up most of the night..but enough good runs by Mathews, Tolbert, and Sproles to keep it real. Great clutch catches by Randy McMichael and Kelley Washington as well as Sproles. Just a good ol' fashioned butt kicking.

Defensively...again...pretty awesome. Obviously the game turned on the weird series of events with the penalty on the FG...the TD that wasn't...and then the huge play by Siler on 4th and 6 inches. Just awesome. This guy is money on those tight plays. What a deflating situation for the 49ers...who had actually been winning the field position battle at that point. But, that was it. We crushed their heart on that play. 3 points on the board..then 7 points...then nothing. Wow. After that, the D just pinned back their ears and came flying at the QB. The 49ers could do nothing until garbage time at the end. Once again the D kept an opponent to under 200 yards! That is amazing. Garay is becoming big time...what a find. Even Castillo was noticeable. They got production from all over the place. Rock solid.

Must mention that we did have some luck. Which all good teams do and this team has not had much of this year. A TD on a Special Teams runback called back via a penalty. A couple of other plays called back. Challenges overturned. Brutal for SF. If I must come up with a criticism of the Chargers, it is the strange problems we always have with clock management. Two delay of game penalties...two timeouts used in bad situations. What the hell is up with this? We always have problems that I don't see other teams having with this. Other than that, a nearly perfect game.

On to VJ. Well, anyone who watched last night knows that this guy is elite. Huge matchup edge with anyone in the League. What a shame that his arrogance and off-field mistakes put him in doubt. And what a shame that AJ is so stony about everything. Who knows? Is the relationship reparable? Doubt it. But this guy could be the best in the League. What you don't see in the boxscore is how he blocks, how he takes two guys out with him every time he runs a route, how he changes the defense and opens up the middle of the field for other players. The guy is a menace, enjoy him while it lasts.

What is next? The stage is set. We are not in control of our fate. We need KC to drop one and we need to win the last two. We would also need the Jets to lose at least 2 and then win a tiebreaker (not likely). As the ANALYSIS reported a month ago...we must look to the West. We need KC to lose baby. Go Rams. I always loved the Rams. It is maddening to think that this team....outscoring its foes 65-7 the last two games, cannot control anything. However, it is our own fault and we just need to keep playing hard. Read a report today that Gates may be out until the playoffs if they make it. Wow. That is rough. But with games scheduled with the Bengals and Broncos..we have no excuses.  None. Gotta get some help now....just a little help.

BOLT ANALYSIS: WEEK 14 - NO APPENDIX NO PROBLEM

Mid-week…the news broke that hot KC quarterback Matt Cassell had undergone surgery to remove his appendix. Nothing could have been better news for Defensive Coach Ron Rivera. Even though oddsmakers had made the Bolts 7 point favorites with Cassell, he had 19 TDs to 4 interceptions and had been managing an efficient KC team to several big wins in a row. Having Brodie Croyle as the target (0-9 as a starter) simplified Rivera’s job big time. The Bolts defense came out firing and played their best game..in….well….ever. Now, I don’t attribute all of that to Croyle. I think it is quite possible that Tom Brady could have been back there and not much would have gone right for the Chiefs.


Yesterday’s beatdown and shutout was just as maddening as it was enjoyable. How a team gets manhandled one week and then demolishes a better team the following week makes us fans pull our hair out. Every phase of the Charger game plan worked perfectly yesterday. We covered on Special Teams, We held the ball for 40 minutes! We gave up 5 first downs….we allowed ZERO third down conversions….we got 4 sacks…..we defended a ton of passes….it was a pretty thing to watch. And the Chiefs, backup QB or not,  this is not a complete team yet. They are winning games because they try hard, have some good role players, and are very efficient with the football. When you take away their efficiency, it gets ugly. And that is why it is maddening….because we can be this good. Hell, even if we were half this good we would have beat up the Raiders last week. We are back to psychology….why does this team hit the kill switch in some games? We only play like this when our backs are truly up against the wall. And, with 3 games left…they will be for the rest of the season.

Injury news yesterday was a mixed bag…sit Antonio Gates and Legedu….start VJ and Ryan Mathews and Floyd. Gates has been our catalyst….but how nice was it to see #83 out there. Petulant bastard or not…the guy can play. Even though he only had a couple of catches…they were all for first downs and they came on big plays. He even had a bomb taken away from him on a bogus chop block penalty. It sure is good to see him out there with all the injuries. And Floyd played big too….a couple of great TD grabs and some big plays. He is not 100% but he tries hard. The star of the show however was the running game….it did not seem to matter who carried the ball. Floyd, Mathews, and Sproles were all solid and excellent after contact. Pushing the pile forward and getting extra yards. Man, if we can run the ball like that consistently…we will be tough. The running game just sets up Philip so well…he is deadly when the defense cannot tee-off on the pass. And, despite two terrible turnovers by Philip…the fumble was inexcusable…..he had another great game.

Special teams was rock solid. One runback went to the 40 maybe but, if you remember, this team torched us in the season opener on Special Teams. Siler is a monster out there, Gregory just about killed some guy, and a couple others made great plays.

But, the story of the day was of course, the defense. We went through the stats above. I would say the most dominant Charger defense I have ever seen in a game. A total team effort….and the secondary and safeties were never out of position. Just one of those games that makes you realize what focus and intensity can mean. A dumbed-down game plan by the Chiefs helped hugely….but you cannot take away the team play.

All over the field, you could see the difference from last week’s horrible performance. Guys finishing blocks….pummeling guys…high fives….running downhill. Loved Tolbert beating guys up…and how about the nice TD run by Mathews after being hit twice? That run hopefully will get this kid’s confidence going. He sure looks good when he is running strong. All this good play must lead you back to the inevitable question….why the hell does it take a desperate situation for these guys to play like this? Why can they not get up for a game that is not mathematically a must win? We may never know. Coaching? Collective team apathy? I don’t know. Get one of those miserable mistake-filled games back early in the year and we control everything in the AFC West. But…reality is reality…we cannot blink again and we need help.

Looking ahead, we play on Thursday night. So, a short week against a team also desperate to win their below average division. The 49ers killed Seattle yesterday…riding 5 turnovers to victory. Sound familiar? We need to keep the intensity up. But look at our schedule….5-8 San Fran, then 2-11 Cincy, then 3-10 Denver. There are no excuses to not win out. Can you believe that we will be favored in 15 of 16 games this year…many of those by double digits? Yet we are 7-6. Talk about tearing your hair out. But, the ANALYSIS must keep it real. We need help. We need the St. Louis Rams to beat the Chiefs next Sunday…or for the Titans to do it the week after…or for the Raiders to do it in the finale. The Raiders already helped us…dropping their 7th game of the season to the Jags…one week after tearing our heart out. We have received help before…and we need it again. We cannot remove the appendix of every QB we face….but we should be able to be motivated to win. Simply win Boyz…your back is against the wall…that is what you do in this situation.

BOLT ANALYSIS: WEEK 13 - THE BEGINNING OF THE END

I begin this week with a quote, taken from the final comment in last week’s blog of course: “So, we now enter the part of the schedule we have been looking forward to. Three at home. A chance to keep a run going. A chance to take control. It is all in your heads boyz. Stay hungry.”


Those who witnessed yesterday’s debacle see very clearly what happened. All of the optimism that our 4 game winning streak had brought…Gone. The mythical 18-0 December streak? Gone. The domination over the AFC West, and particularly the Raiders, Gone. Our Boyz did the exact thing they could not do….they did not stay hungry and they were not prepared. There was only one team on the field that came to play…and it was not us. The Powder Blue Unis did not help….the first of three home games did not help….it was plain and simple. The Raiders came into our house, in what was essentially a playoff game, and beat the crap out of us.

Now, followers, we spoke last week of psychology. Of how difficult it is to get a team playing on the same page. Yesterday was yet another perfect example of the painful lack of focus that our team has. We had a chance to take control. A win against conference-foe Oakland would have turned all the tiebreakers in our favor. With that, a win next week against the Chiefs would have put is completely in control of the AFC West. Now, although there is still hope, we need help. And it may be very difficult to get it. With the horrible start we had, there was no margin for error. And we blinked and gave it up.

The game began with exactly what we have avoided during our win streak. Two turnovers. A miserable fumble by Sproles after a nice three and out by our D. Touchdown #1. A miserable pass by Philip…for my money the worst pass he has thrown this year…and Touchdown #2. Spotting any team a 14-0 lead is tough. We have done it enough to know. And let me pause for a moment and just stay that Darren Sproles may be the biggest bust of the year in the NFL if you factor in the dollar amounts. He has been beyond bad. Philip was off…his worst game of the year. The offensive line was horrendous. Every man got beat by his opponent. This is a line that has been excellent the past few games. Dielman, Clary, Hardwick, Green, they all got dismantled yesterday. Especially Dielman. For our “best lineman”, he was on roller skates all game long. Pushed back. Philip sacked 4 times, hurried more than 10, knocked down 8 or 9. Brutal. Most of this was because we had zero running game. Tolbert could not get out of the backfield…our receivers could not get open….and we had no time. Don’t let the 4th quarter “comeback” fool you. We had a ton of chances in this game with decent field position. Could not score or move the ball. Raider penalties were all that saved us on several drives.

The defense. Well, just flat outplayed. They had 251 YARDS RUSHING. That is a beatdown folks. A Beatdown. We were blocked out on every play. Oliver, Weddle, and our secondary was knocked back 5 yards every time they tried to make a tackle. That is when they even made contact. These guys are not physical enough. Period. We were beat up. Our D line got pushed around. Perhaps most embarrassing…we got tricked badly on two fakes. One for a TD…and one for a 40 yard pass that ended the game. We were so completely lost on those two plays I felt embarrassed for the guys. Looked like a high school team out there.

But…maybe the most discouraging thing at all. There was no fire. No urgency. And we were seriously, seriously out-coached. The trickery is one thing. But we had two 12 men on the field penalties in a row…and still could not stop them. Their defense stoned us all day long. We could not adjust. We were 13 point favorites and we never figured it out. Now, there is absolute truth to our injury problems. Gates is maybe 50%, Floyd is not right, Legedu looked awful and left with another injury, VJ still nursing his “calf injury”, Sproles got a concussion, Mathews never left the bench. Tolbert has a bad hand. And on and on. These are legit. But what is not legit is that we just blew an opportunity to move forward and take control. We were not ready. We were not prepared for the snap. The Raiders punched us in the face and we just covered up…not prepared to fight back. Norv and Ron Rivera had no game plan…no adjustments…and no answers.

So, where are we now? Well, we still have a chance. Beat KC next week and then hope both KC and Oakland lose one more while we sweep our last three. Is it doable? Of course. Is it likely…well, probably not at this point. But, we will not count the Boyz out until the Math says we need to. Regardless of what it says however, do we deserve to be in the playoffs? No we do not. We have squandered too many games to deserve anything. But, that is not the litmus test for getting in. It is Math. And Math springs eternal.

EDITORS NOTE: GO DUCKS! National Championship Game! Quite an amazing story. For a team that never scares the top 25 in recruiting, a major testament to playing with motivation, playing as a team, and having a game plan. Hmmm…..sounds good to me. Ducks have 4+ weeks to prepare to stop SEC Superfreak and cheater Cam Newton. Should be a fun game.