Wednesday Afternoon QB

The Chargers are 2-3…AGAIN!  Just like last year fans are understandably freaking out and calling for the firing of various members of the coaching staff and a few players.  And like last year, Norv is remaining calm and his players are expecting to go on a run any game now.

But can they really do it again?

Last year, the Chargers played like chumps until they fought back to a 5-5 record and then went on an 8-game winning streak (including the post-season).  Four of their final six regular season games were against horrible opponents.  The team was also very healthy until the post-season.  It’s quite likely that the Chargers would have been in the Super Bowl had LT, Philip Rivers, Nick Hardwick, and Antonio Gates been healthy, as New England did not have anything close to a spectacular game against the Chargers in the AFC Championship game, but there’s nothing you can do about that now.

So now, as the Chargers sit at 2-3, are they really in as good of a position to again make a run to the playoffs?  Let’s break it down:

Negative:  Four of their next five opponents are true playoff contenders.  The Patriots, Bills, Saints, and Steelers all have tough offenses or defenses or both, and most have experienced veteran players who know how to win.

Positive:  Each one of those teams has experienced serious injuries to at least one key player, suffering a similar fate as this Chargers team.

Negative:  Three of the final six games come against playoff contenders.

Positive:  Of those teams, the Colts and Broncos have shown definite weaknesses.

Negative:  The Chargers have played most of 2008 as individuals who find it more important to pose for the cameras then to dominate for 4-quarters.  And what’s most disappointing, the coaching staff seems to be ok with that.

Positive:  This team has shown what they can do when playing as a unit, and when coached to their strengths, as shown in the NY Jets game and the last half of the Broncos game.

Negative:  The coaching staff seems to be mirroring the start of the 2007 season, with predictable and mundane play-calling on both sides of the ball.

Positive:  The coaches have shown the capacity to make changes to their offensive and defensive game plans and to better prepare throughout the season.

Negative:  The Chargers lost to three teams with true deficiencies on either one side or both sides of the ball.  The players have played poorly more often than not.

Positive:  The Chargers have the most talent…on paper (yawn).

That’s a simple break down that captures the good and the bad…but until they prove it on the field, I think you would agree that the only thing that has been proven this season is the bad.  Norv Turner and Ted Cottrell’s reputations as soft coaches with no leadership skills will continue to haunt them until their team turns it around…if they turn it around.  Once again we wait for a leader to rise up and pull this team together.  Last year that man was LaDainian Tomlinson.  This year…I just don’t know.  As the disappointments mount, the rumors of poor discipline, misbehavior, and in-fighting seems to build.  And you can only dig a hole so deep before you can’t possibly dig yourself out of it.  The next five games are not the ideal way to fix the problems that ail them, but that’s life.  Either they man up- I’m talking about the coaches and players- or they will likely be writing off this season. 

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Click here for my previous post, Final: Dolphins 17, Chargers 10