Sports
WHAT’S HAPPENED TO MY CHARGERS?
As a lifelong Chargers fan, having several pre-season “experts” pick my team to win the big one, I figured it would be a long, difficult season. But 4 and 7 and looking more like my home town Arizona Cardinals, who would have figured? I’ve hesitated from blaming the team’s struggles on Coach Turner, not wanting to take the easy route and assail the new Coach when things don’t go right. It is pro football after all, a team is made up of lots of parts, and there’s plenty of talent in the league to make consistent winning something few teams figure out. But enough already, where’s Marty-ball when you need it?
After bemoaning Marty’s rather conservative approach, I now find myself yearning for the days where 2nd and short was a freebie down and 3rd and short was automatic. Where’s the run, where’s the grit, where’s the discipline, where’s the fire? Yeah, we lost Michael Turner and one of the league’s best blocking and short yardage backs in Lorenzo Neal. But they didn’t help LT turn a corner for a big pick-up; they didn’t help the short passing game and the dumps LT used to turn into back breakers; and they certainly didn’t help the defense pressure the quarterback. This team has lost its way and doesn’t seem too interested in finding it.
During the Colts’ game, I heard an announcer comment to the effect that the Chargers’ offense didn’t look very enthusiastic. What an understatement! Despite the defense’s overall ineffectiveness, at least they show fire when they make a play. The offense looks dull, uninspired – like they don’t enjoy what they’re doing and aren’t too confident about their plan. This isn’t the way it was supposed to turn out. Turner was the offensive guru, remember? He would open up the offense, use all its weapons and spread the ball, develop Rivers and be a players’ coach. Now, LT can’t get going, the line isn’t giving Rivers much time to throw, and the passing game has made crucial mistakes in key situations on a regular basis. Each time LT has a decent first down carry, he predictably is sent diving into the line to set up a third down passing situation. No one is being fooled guys.
Speaking of defense, if Steve Nash can win an NBA MVP namely by what happens to his team when he DOESN’T PLAY (they fall apart), how many league MVPs should Shawne Merriman have by now? One guy goes down, and suddenly every quarterback in the league can’t wait to play the Bolts? Have some pride fellas and pick up the slack. And coaches, are you defined by 1 player, or can you make adjustments and use the remaining talent you have? Isn’t adversity to be expected in an NFL Season, not the surprise?
Good teams make adjustments, they win with discipline and toughness in the trenches, they have back ups ready to step in when starters are injured (which is always the case). Good teams also manage game clock and take risks based on situations (like going for it on 4thand short with a game on the line instead of hoping for a tie and lots of other breaks as you give the ball to the best quarterback in the league, or like going for 2 when you don’t trust the momentum but can win it at the end of regulation and go home). No guts, no glory guys. I know it’s in there, I just don’t know if Coach Norv can get it out of you. 5 games to go. What’s it going to be?