The loss of Merriman affected the defense much more than expected. With him out some other players were really exposed as not being as good as they looked. Matt Wilhelm at MLB has been awful, Clinton Hart at safety has played poorly and the defensive line just has not performed this year. It didn’t help that Stephen Cooper was out four games on suspension for ephedra at the start of the season. Ted Cottrell really didn’t adjust his scheme to Merriman’s absence; and teams that had the ball at the end of the game within one score could always move the ball and chew the clock. Tight ends in particular really eat this defense up; I’m not looking forward to seeing Clark this Sunday. Lastly the defense hasn’t been ball hawking the way they did last year. On the season they are at -5 for turnovers; last year they ended up at +24.

LT has been off this year, but the offense has done well even so. Part of the reason LT is down is that we have often been playing from behind and have to put the ball up; but also the offensive line has not played up to par. The last few games the defense has looked somewhat better, but now Rivers, who had been playing great, has had several very costly turnovers. Probably most importantly the team hasn’t been able to play 60 minutes, they come out flat and then often come back in the second half. It’s nice to see they never give up, but you just can’t get away with that in the NFL.

Chris Chambers was battling with an ankle sprain, but played in Pittsburgh. We are sort of hanging fire on some folks that went down in Pittsburgh. Luis Castillo our DE went down with a groin injury and isn’t expected to practice, he may be able to play Sunday according to the last I saw. His replacement Jacques Cesaire also went down with a knee injury, but it looks like just a bruise.

Cromartie has been battling with a hip injury much of the season and he also went down at the end of the Steeler game as well. Given his history with Peyton I would think he would do everything he can to get in this game. It has to be said that he has had a very disappointing season thus far, with just two interceptions, but has also given up some big plays. Steve Gregory, a backup safety is coming off a neck stinger, but I would expect him to practice and play on Sunday. Buster Davis, our number one pick from 2007 is out with a perpetual groin injury; but the Chargers are stacked at receiver this year so it hasn’t affected the team very much.

There are some that still would like to see Norv go as well; but he has completely opened up the offense. Phillip Rivers is spreading the ball around and the offense was putting up yards and points even with Gates and LT well below their usual productivity. Largely fans were angry about the defense and now that Norv has gotten to pick his own defensive controller there is a sense that he is on the line.

Any time the team under performs expectations you have to look at the head coach, but Norv has some good will from taking the Bolts to the Championship game last year. A lot is riding on these last games of the season for Norv; if the Chargers are flat; you just have to lay some of that on the coach. We have three home games and three tough games with the Colts, Tampa and Atlanta. If the team continues to falter it will make for an interesting off season. Norv was really working with AJ’s DC before, now he has exactly who he wants; I would give him next season to get sorted before looking to a new coach. The overall fan population will be wanting his head if we don’t finish strong.

I don’t see a path to the wild card spot, there are too many teams up on us both in wins and the tiebreakers. Fortunately we play in a pretty bad division; Denver has played well the last few weeks but I still think their defense is suspect. If we go into the final game one game behind, I like our chances, but we need help from Denver.

Is the Colts game a must win? If it is then I’m sorry :)

It is; and you may very well be. :-)

six months ago; but at Mile HIgh Report, some Broncos fans complained that folks in the upper seats at SD gave them considerable grief; if no violence. I believe there is more friction at Raiders and Broncos games. Personally I have never seen anything more than good-natured smack talk and would expect it would be fine.

He has broken some huge gainers this season. You always have the sense he can go all the way on any play. He has done so well in the backup role, he may go FA on us next season to get more playing time with another team; that will be a sad day. The only down side has been he doesn’t run well up the middle, he is a back that you really need to get ‘in space’ to be at the top of his game. Turner was able to pound in near the end of the game when the defense might already be tired; you don’t have that with Sproles. Also while he hasn’t missed many games, Sproles has also been prone to injury, he has struggled with an ankle injury about half the season. At 5’6" and 180 lbs he just does tend to get beat up a little more; but he is pure fun to watch when he gets going down field.

and this ain’t them. Cowher is a great coach, but Norv has earned some patience with the Chargers first playoff victories since ’95. Say what you will about the Charger players; they manned up in the Colts back yard and took it to them in last years playoffs.

If Cowher had the fire in his belly to coach, he would be doing it. There are plenty of teams that would love to have him. Since that isn’t the case; I can’t see handing the job to someone who isn’t going to be investing everything in it. I see many of the Chargers problems, not all, but many, stemming from bad personnel decisions. I doubt most fans would agree with me; but I would stick with Turner.

He brought the club back from the depths. In the end he just wasn’t the right coach if you wanted to go anywhere in the playoffs. That 14-2 season ended in a one and done playoff. And it wasn’t just the playoff loss, but the manner he lost it. He lost his composure and so did his team. He went for a fourth and eleven play instead of taking a field goal with one of the games most accurate kickers against the Patriots. And there were just foolish errors, like Drayton Florence head butting after a defensive stop had been made; McCree’s decision not to just bat his pick down; Shane Olivea made a crucial penalty as well. This was a terrific team during the regular season, but they were a train wreck in the playoffs. I think when the head guy is losing his composure that runs through the team.

But beyond that Marty really angled to get himself fired. He and AJ never got along; he had wanted to bring his brother in as DC and got told no. He was going to bring him in anyway. By getting fired Marty got to collect on his contract, but in doing it that way he left the team in a deep hole; the Chargers likely would have promoted either Cameron or Wade Phillips, but they had both been hired away. While I respect what he accomplished with the team, I was disgusted with the way he left; I would never want to see him back as coach.

very accurate, I’m an OC resident as well.

Absolutely correct and spot on.

as a chargers fan im sorry to hear that you had a bad experience at the Q. As much as it pains me to say it, our fans can get pretty obnoxious (from an opposing fans POV). You have to understand that SD has yet to win a championship in any of the major sports (the only “large” city in America not to do so, how about that curse!?) so our fans get very passionate at the possibility of a Superbowl season. I would strongly disagree that you will see a flood of Indy jerseys at the Q, you will stand out. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for PETCO park, as it is often riddled with opposing fans who have lived and enjoyed our fine city for years, but never assimilated cough “you” cough. The Q is quite the opposite though, just be ready to receive some good-natured trash talk, as well as crap from a few drunk idiots who you will just have to ignore (lets be real, there are plenty of them no matter what stadium you visit.)

The current Chargers team is one of SD’s few bright spots in a long history of disappointment. Due to recent success, there have been a lot of bandwagoners (the same can be said for the colts i believe), but the core local fanbase is one of the more hardcore in the NFL. It is quite common to see visible bolt tattoos on most of the game going populace. Lets be honest, it takes a diehard fan to stick with a team that is historically terrible, and has yet to win anything of value.

As far as the stadium issue, i suggest you read up on SF and OAK’s problems. Their stadium issues are a bit more dire than SDs. I think you would see OAK to LA or SF to San Antonio before you would see the chargers leave.

Its sad to hear that you want the Chargers to move. I think the Chargers in SD is much better for the NFL then ANOTHER team in Texas. Seriously, you live in SD and get to see INDY play here on occasion. You get to enjoy 78 degree weather in November in an outside stadium. Don’t let your recent failures against my team make you bitter. The loss of an original AFL and 50 year old franchise is bad for football.

I was amazed by how much; his absence really exposed some players that were just not as good without him. Shaun Phillips our other outside linebacker has been much less effective without Merriman driving the action to his side. We haven’t been getting heat on the quarterback; and that has allowed pretty average quarterbacks to pick apart our secondary; though I still think Jammer and Cromartie are good corners. Safety Clinton Hart and inside linebacker Matt Wilhelm have also been much less effective this year; it’s amazing how much can get covered up by a standout player.

One matchup I’m going to watch is how well Jammer can cover Reggie Wayne. Jammer is a great corner; Wayne is an amazing receiver; that should be a battle. Also the Chargers have had trouble all season with Tight Ends; how well, and who we cover Clark with could be key to the game. S. Phillips is our best rushing OLB, but is also the best in coverage. Our Safety Clinton Hart, as I mentioned, has been torched by a number of TE’s this year. With average QBs looking good against us, I’m more than a little worried what Peyton might do with no Merriman to pester him.

On the other side of the ball; Gates, Floyd and Jackson all run about 6’5"; it should be interesting if any of them get matched up on Tim Jennings where they would have a big height advantage. Also I want to see how well the Bolts offensive line run blocks against your defensive line; if they can move people I think LT could have a big game and also limit the amount of time that Peyton gets the ball; a consummation devoutly to be wished. Finally I’m going to be watching for how well Sproles does in the return game; obviously he had a huge game last year in the regular season but Indy also came in all banged up.