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Chargers stopped by Lewis and Co. |
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Written by Sebastian Soto on Monday, 21 September 2009 22:52
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 One play has rarely summed up a game like the 4th down stand that won the game for the Baltimore Ravens in San Diego. With the game on the line, the Chargers handed off to Darren Sproles on a 4th and 2 run up the middle from the Raven 15 yard line. Mr Sproles barely had time to look up before hitting a brick wall named Ray Lewis, the end result a 5 yard loss. The Ravens would kneel and win the game 31-26 on the very next play .
The moral of the story is that a running game that features a 185 pound running back will not win a game against a battle hardened defense like that of the Baltimore Ravens. I am not knocking the play of Darren Sproles, he a very explosive player and excellent at catching balls out of the backfield, as evidenced by his 81 yard TD grab in the first quarter. However, he is not a guy that you can throw at a tough defense and expect to pick up a first down. The Chargers tried it with the game on the line and failed. On a day when Phillip Rivers set a career mark for passing yards (426), the running game barely mustered 50 yards. But the loss cannot be solely placed on the running game. The Bolts failed to score a TD in 5 tries inside the redzone. Instead of cashing in 7 each time, they had to settle for field goals and the game losing turnover on downs. Simply put, 53 rushing yards and 4 redzone field goals will not win you the game.
The game might have had a different outcome had coach Norv Turner not kicked a field goal on 3rd down with 10 seconds left to play in the first half. The decision made the game 21-16 for the Ravens but drew many boos from the home crowd. The ball was on the 6 yard line and most 6 yard passes do not take 10 seconds to execute, thus leaving the Chargers plenty of time to kick the field goal on fourth down on an eventual incomplete pass. Nevertheless, there is nothing certain in football and coach Turner's conservative call was not the determining factor in the loss.
San Diego needs to get its wounded back (LT, Vasquez, Hardwick) for week 3 if it has any hope of improving its running game and relieving Phillips of all the responsibility of winning games. The next two games ( vs Miami and at Pittsburgh) feature more solid defenses.
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Chargers-Ravens Preview: LT Out |
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Written by Sebastian Soto on Saturday, 19 September 2009 14:28
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Star running back Ladanian Tomlinson has been ruled out of the home opener versus the Ravens this Sunday. This will be only the second time in LT's illustrious career that he misses a regular season game. The Chargers will also be without starting center Nick Hardwick and possibly right guard Louis Vasquez. In other words the offense picked a horrible time to not be at full strength as the Ravens are renown for their tough defense and smash mouth style. This could be the difference maker in a game that is shaping into one of the more attractive games of the early season, a battle of 2 playoff caliber teams in most people's mind.
I expect this to be a low scoring affair dominated by the defenses. The Ravens might have run wild and free against the Chiefs, so would most high school teams for that matter, but I don't expect the same offensive output this week at San Diego. The recipes for success will be ball control, winning the turnover battle and hitting the big play. In a close and hard fought game, a big play or two could make the difference. Without LT, the Chargers running game will most likely stall when thrown at the Raven front seven. One cannot expect the minute Sproles to run through the Ravens so third string RB Michael Bennett will be counted on heavily in this one. The fate of the Chargers will most likely rest on the arm of Phillip Rivers and his receivers. TE Antonio Gates has had success in the past against the Ravens and he will lead the receiving core. A strong performance by the Charger aerial attack might win them the contest.
My crystal ball does not favour the home team on this one, not because I think the Ravens are a far superior team, but because they enter the game in better shape, both physically and emotionally, and the Chargers are yet to put together a series of good games together (dating to last year and preseason) and will be without their star running back. FINAL SCORE: Chargers 13 Ravens 17
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A Changing Of The Guard in San Diego? |
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Written by Sebastian Soto on Thursday, 17 September 2009 12:21
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With yet another injury to Ladanian Tomlinson in week 1, one cannot help but wonder if the all pro RB is making the proverbial "last round" for the Chargers. Tomlinson is in a protective boot for his bum ankle and has yet to practice this week, he will be a game-time decision on Sunday. He has hit the dreaded age of 30, the supposed moment when NFL RBs go from being studs to duds. To make matters worse, undersized back up Darren Sproles, who was "franchise tagged" this offseason, keeps making big plays for the team when needed. Are we seeing the beginning of a changing of the guard in San Diego?
Conventional wisdom would brush off such an idea, after all LT was just resigned in the off-season to an extension and has the confidence of the coaching staff and teammates. Who can forget the MVP season, the records, and the jaw dropping highlights, which not long ago had him in a class by himself as the NFL's most dangerous player. The ankle injury does not appear season, or even long term, threatening at this point. He has personally stated it is "not even comparable" to the pain of last year's groin and toe injuries. It wouldn't be surprising if the boot was just precautionary and he actually played on Sunday against the Ravens.
However, it would be wise if the coaching staff began limiting LT's touches from here on out and I expect that to be exactly what Norv Turner does. Sproles has earned his shot at an increased workload, but he is still only 5'6 185 pounds, not exactly the ideal size for any football player, let alone the feature RB, so it would be insane to expect him to wear down defenses and run effectively in the trenches. However, it would be understandable for LT to come off on passing situations for Sproles more often than not and for Sproles to take a couple full series each game. It all makes sense for the Chargers. This will be the modus operandi for the Charger backfield from here on out and this won't come as a great surprise to Charger fans. The days of Tomlinson getting 25+ touches a game is over, sorry for anyone who was counting on him to win their fantasy pool.
I think most people still agree that LT has enough juice in him for a couple more good seasons and certainly enough for this year and the playoff run. If the Chargers truly think that 2009 is their best chance at winning it all, then they will need a healthy and rested Tomlinson in December and January. He remains after all their most accomplished player.
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Bolts Win With Late Night Rally |
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Written by Sebastian Soto on Tuesday, 15 September 2009 18:34
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It wasn't pretty and it wasn't easy, but the Chargers got the W in Oakland despite a lackluster performance. QB Phillip Rivers orchestrated a last ditch effort to save the game in Oakland. A 9 play, 89 yard drive in 2:16 minutes, resulted in the go ahead touchdown by back up RB Darren Sproles with a mere 18 seconds left to play, the final score: San Diego 24 Oakland 20.
Oakland had taken the lead minutes earlier thanks to a 57 yds touchdown pass from Jamarcus Russell to rookie WR Louis Murphy. It was Oakland's fourth lead of the game and seemed to be the definite end to a well played game. It looked like the 11 game losing streak to the Bolts had finally ended before the frenzied Raider nation at Oakland Coliseum, but it was not to be. Rivers got on the field and showcased the abilities that lead the front office to give him a 93 million dollar extension in the preseason, namely the 3 Cs; he was calm, cool, and collected. Rivers completed 6 of 7 passes to 4 different receivers for 79 yards in the game winning drive with time running out.
The turning point of the game was quite possibly the last drive before halftime. Russell hit Murphy for a TD score with under a minute left in the half. The play was reviewed and eventually overturned on the basis that Murphy lost possession as he hit the ground, a questionable reversal. The result was that Oakland settled for 3pts and kicked off with 40 seconds left to play in the half. Darren Sproles returned the kick to the Oakland 41 and set up a tying field goal as the half expired. What could have easily been a 14-7 lead for Oakland ended up being a 10 all tie.
The victory, which was much harder than expected, puts the Chargers in a tie with Denver at 1-0 in the AFC West.
The bad news from the game might be more important than the win itself. L.T. had a below average night and went down with an ankle injury. The extent of the injury is unknown right now, but it has been reported that he won't practice wednesday and will be a game time decision on Sunday. Any prolonged absence by the star running back would be a huge blow to the offense. In addition, the Chargers lost 2 offensive linemen last night. Nick Hardwick and Louis Vasquez both went down in the third quarter and losing them for an extended period of time would put added pressure on an already mediocre offensive line.
The Chargers go back home now with little time to lick their wounds and get healthy. A tough hard hitting Ravens team is coming to town in what could be a battle of two playoff caliber teams in week 2.
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