They were able to help their linebackers with drafting Donald Butler out of Washington. The Chargers have developed several linebackers over the past few years and Butler could be the next beneficiary of that. Darrell Stuckley was a steal for them in the fourth round and looks to be able to contribute right away. The Kansas free safety is a playmaker, which is something they haven’t had in their secondary since departed corner Antonio Cromarties rookie year. They added some serious bulk to their d-line, drafting tackle Cam Thomas out of North Carolina who was another steal for the Bolts.

After dealing Charlie Whitehurst to the Seahawks, San Diego was in need of a backup for Rivers. Jonathan Crompton out of Tennessee could fill that roll for them. Tight end was a little thin so they drafted Dedrick Epps out of Miami, who will help fill the void left by Brandon Malumaleuna. The Chargers are a good football team and really only had a few needs. They were able to fill them and add some quality depth at the same time.

Technorati Tags: 2010 NFL Draft, NFL, San Diego Chargers

You can credit the Jets defense, they played a great game. Revis played exceptional and Sanchez played smart as Ryan continues to keep the training wheels on his rookie quarterback. But more credit should be given to the Chargers for losing as the Jets should get for winning.

San Diego had chance after chance to get the upper hand but the kept stubbing their dinks. Turnovers, stupid penalties, missed field goals. You name it, the Chargers screwed it up. This did not look like the team everyone saw during the regular season. Nope. It looked like the same old Chargers playoff team.

Both these teams are as arrogant as you can get. To mix up an old saying, if egos were battleships both these teams would have two ocean fleets. I suppose you have to be confident at this stage of the season, but it’s at a nauseating level with these two clubs.

The Jets were able to back up their swagger, but the Chargers weren’t. Never during the game did San Diego seem like they were really riding any momentum. Every time they got something going they shot themselves in the foot. As a matter of fact, it almost seemed like the Jets caught the Chargers by surprise. Maybe even the Chargers thought they would be able to wipe the floor with the Jets.

Now I know what you’re saying, no way would the Chargers go into a game with that kind of ignorance. No way! Not Philip Rivers, not LT, not Shaun Phillips. Impossible! There is no way the Chargers would fall victim to their own hype.

Peg it however you want, the Chargers weren’t prepared yesterday. Blame it on the coaches, blame it on the players, blame it on both. Good teams don’t beat themselves, but San Diego wasn’t a good team yesterday.

It’s safe to say there will be some major changes to the Chargers in the offseason. There is a chance Norv Turner could be gone, as well as LT, maybe even Shawne Merriman. Something has to change though. There is consistency with this team and it’s not the good kind of consistency. Maybe the biggest thing this team needs is an attitude adjustment. That might just be the best starting point for their offseason.

Technorati Tags: New York Jets, NFL, San Diego Chargers

Earlier in the year people were talking about how the Chargers defense wasn’t what it used to be and that the offense wasn’t the same now that LT has passed his prime. Now San Diego is proving all the experts wrong.

It really should come as no surprise that the Chargers are playing their best football down the stretch. They’ve made it a habit the past couple of years. Unfortunately they always seem to come up a little short in the playoffs.

This year may be different. Philip Rivers is showing everyone that he deserves to be mentioned among the leagues best quarterbacks. And the defense seems to have it’s swag back.

The road to the Super Bowl in the AFC will run through Indianapolis. Something tells me that doesn’t worry San Diego. They’ve beat the Colts the last two years in the playoffs. The way things are going they may do it again this year.

Technorati Tags: NFL, San Diego Chargers

The playcalling yesterday on the Giants second to last possession was questionable, real questionable. New York marched all the way down the field and had a first and goal on the 4 yard line, that’s when things got stupid.

Jacobs takes the ball on first down to the 1 yard line, then Chris Snee gets called for holding. This was followed by an incomplete pass on the first down replay, an inside hand off out of shotgun on second down, and another inside handoff out of shotgun on third down. They wound up settling for a field goal, oh yea, and a loss. San Diego then proceeded to march down the field, with relative ease I might add, and puched it in for 7. Game over. It seemed Coughlin was happy settling for a field goal and relying on his defense to save the day.

Why in the world would you run on second and third down? Out of shotgun? The running back has to gain four yard just to get back to the line of scrimmage. He picked up 5 yards on both carries but still. You give the defense a better chance of reacting to the play. It just seemed dumb at the time. They got San Diego to use two timeouts, but the incomplete pass on first down goes agianst the whole let’s get them to use their timeouts philosophy. Poor playcalling.

So much for leaders stepping up for the Giants. This might not seem like a problem but it’s going to be, if it isn’t already.

Technorati Tags: New York Giants, NFL, San Diego Chargers, Tom Coughlin

Eli Manning was the first pick in the 2004 draft, selected by the San Diego Chargers. This wasn’t good enough for Eli or his dad, they wanted Eli to play in New York. When the Giants picked Philip Rivers with the fourth pick Eli and Archies whining got them a first class ticket to New York and Rivers was sent packing to San Diego.

When asked about the situation yesterday Rivers handled it the right way. “I’ve got my hands full with that defense and what we’re trying to get done offensively. Certainly I think he (Eli) and I being linked in that trade and being in the same draft, it’s fun as a side note, but it’s another game on the schedule.  It’s a big game, but none of those things play any part in the mindset or approach.”

That was very well said by Philip. Now why can’t he conduct himself the same way on the football field as he does in front of the media?

Technorati Tags: Eli Manning, New York Giants, NFL, Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Eli Manning plays good when everyone else around him does, and right now he’s surrounded by inexperience at receiver. He’s not getting a lot of help from his running game either, Brandon Jacobs isn’t living up to the hype he creates for himself.

Antonio Pierce is another guy who can’t live up to his own hype. These guys need leaders to be leaders and the Giants just don’t seem to have any. There is a lot of young talent on that team but the lack of true veteran leadership is showing. It’s time for guys like Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck to step up and be leaders, these are the guys they need to start filling that role.

New York can’t afford to keep sliding, not with the way Dallas and Philadelphia are playing. Coughlin knows this and he’s trying to create a sense of urgency for his players, which is probably what they need. The law of averages says they come out and win against San Diego this week. If they don’t they could be in for a disappointing finish to their season.

Technorati Tags: Antonio Pierce, Eli Manning, Justin Tuck, New York Giants, NFL, Osi Umenyiora, San Diego Chargers, Tom Coughlin