BOLT ANALYSIS: PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

It is far beyond the physical now. The Bolts 2012 season has reached the metaphysical...or at very least...the paranormal. Paranormal is a general term (coined ca. 1915–1920^[1][2]) that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation"^[3] or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure.^[  The ability to fail exhibited by the Chargers is amazing and, in the end, can only be described as paranormal. We have often said, here on the sage pages of the ANALYSIS, that we defy any fan of another team to demonstrate more painful and brutalizing methods of losing than our Bolts. That challenge still stands. Yesterday, we saw one that defied logic to an extent only seen since.....well....a few weeks ago against the Broncos.  That 35-unaswered-point comeback by Denver a few weeks ago was Epic. Yesterday’s loss, however, was equally crazy.  While the 35 point give-up to Denver may have been painful, it was over a period of an entire half of football. This one yesterday was one play. One play that, in itself, describes the mystic level our loser-ness has reached.

But first we must set the table. Yesterday’s game was blacked out here in the Southern California region. How many of you cared? How many of you even saw the game? Because we get Direct TV’s Sunday Ticket, we have the Red Zone Channel. And because the Red Zone Channel does not care about blackouts, and because there were only three afternoon games, we got to see the majority of the game. Lucky Us.

For three and a half quarters yesterday, the Chargers played a good game. Their defense held the Ravens to next to nothing with a mix of sure tackling, good pass defense (amazing!) and a decent pass rush that resulted in a handful of sacks. Our depleted offense (more on that later) even drove the ball well a couple of times, with Rivers hitting Denario Alexander for a few good ones, and Malcom Floyd grabbing a TD pass. A 10-0 lead at the half was a good result. Rivers played smart. No turnovers, threw the ball away when he needed to, took sacks when he had no choice. The other shoe did not drop until much later, with the Bolts holding on to a 13-3 4^th quarter lead. Now, before we go any further, the Ravens are fancied as a pretty good team. Even with some major injuries on defense, they have a good record, have beaten some good teams, and seem to play to their strengths. For whatever reason, the Bolts always play the Ravens hard. Last year the Ravens came to Qualcomm red-hot and the Bumbling Bolts killed them...winning easily. It seemed that this year might be the same. It was 13-3 and the Ravens were not moving the ball. But, we are in the land of the other shoe dropping so you knew it would. A long drive and a touchdown made it 13-10 but we fought on, bringing the game and its defining moment just after the two-minute warning.

A penalty, a sack and fumble, and generally very good defense had put the Ravens in a 4^th down and 29 to go from their own 35 yard line.  Just had to stop them from getting 29 yards. They could get 10-15-20 or even 25 and it would have been OK. Just not 29. Well, you know what happened by now. A little flip screen to Ray Rice and you thought, OK, he will get some yards but our linebackers will be back there at about the 20 yard mark waiting for him. Uh, no. Our players were BEHIND the first down marker, except for the ones who “pass rushed” and were out of the play. Ray Rice gained 30 yards on the play. You really cannot draw this stuff up. Even though the ANALYSIS felt the spot was terrible, you cannot script it. The look on Norval’s face said it all. And, being Charger fans, you knew what was next. A drive for a game-tying field goal. Check. Offensive ineptitude in Overtime. Check. Giving up a game winning drive. Check.

I’m not going to talk about player performance, because none of you care anymore. All I have seen in my inbox from any of you lately is a tumbleweed blowing by and a silent, cold wind. I’m also not going to talk about what they can do differently next week. Because I understand that they have a number of new injuries and these are to key players like Donald Butler, Eric Weddle, and others. We have already lost Jared Gaither to season-ending Injured Reserve. Good riddance. I am not sure if they put him on IR because he really can’t play anymore this year, or because they are sick of dealing with him. Regardless, he is a bust and was a terrible decision. With Gaither and fellow starter Tyronne Green out, we had a hideous offensive line and we will have this same line for the rest of the year. Uh Oh. We are going to see a bunch of fill-ins from here on out.

I know now that we are all just focused on losing. Losing now for a better chance of winning later. That is our hope as fans now, although it is a dangerous hope. We are 4-7. I said early in the season it would take a losing record to get rid of Norv. I still think that and I think it is going to take more than just losses to get rid of AJ. We are embarrassing and are being treated as such in the media. I really do believe it will take losses of this caliber to truly blow things up. A tight OT loss to the Ravens gives the Spanos family too much fuel to say “the guys are still playing hard”. A give-up on 4^th and 29 puts it in a different realm. We need to stay in that realm folks...the paranormal realm. It is painful to watch, but as we have discussed, it is tough love, and it is needed.