Preseason Wrapping Up - Chargers Hurting

Even though many of the starters for the San Diego Chargers either didn't play at all or saw limited action in last week's preseason game against the Vikings, the Chargers continue to have a roster full of injured players.  One bright spot is that their starting running back, Ryan Mathews, is doing running drills during practice.  The downside to that, is the sooner Mathews gets into the lineup the sooner he will be hurt.  It's too bad for him and the Chargers...

Today's big news from Charger camp is that the Chargers have 6 cornerbacks and 4 of them are hurt.  What I find funny is that out of the 6, none of them are very good...sure Jammer is still fairly solid but he has clearly lost a step, the rest of the bunch just plain stink.  Cason was burned by the Vikings more than once and if he is a starter, I think other teams will prey on him with delight.

The other big news is that Jared Gaither,  supposed starting left tackle for the Chargers, will have another MRI and may not play in week one.  If you are tuned into the homers of Chargerland, this is devastating news.  The Chargers offensive line is pretty weak as is, and now this...it doesn't paint a pretty picture right now for the Chargers offense.

Oh, and the replacement refs...if the preseason is any indication as to how well or poorly they will be in the regular season it doesn't bode well.  I did watch a bit of the Chargers-Vikings game and there were 2 CLEAR fumbles...in regular time, that the refs in both instances called incorrectly.  Norv Turner, in a rarity, made 2 successful coach challenges, but the plays should have never resorted to a challenge because it seemed very clear, cut and dry, that the ball was fumbled and recovered by the Chargers...

Chargers have one more preseason game against the 49'ers.  Rivers and others didn't play in the last game so it will be interesting to see if they see some action in this last game or if it will just be scrubs for the entire duration.

Homer Charger Fans Have Excuses In Hand And Ready

The preseason is barely half over and if a person read the San Diego Chargers injury list, you'd think it was the midseason.  It is littered with names that are suppose to be "impact" players this season for the San Diego Chargers.  So the blind homers in Chargerland, that predicted a 12-4 (or better) season next year are already getting their excuse sheet filled out.  We lost because our fourth best receiver is out until October.  We lost because our runningback was out until week 4.  We lost because our offensive line is hurt.  We lost because, we lost because, we lost because....yet, other teams that WIN despite their 4th best receiver being hurt or their runningback is dead or they have no offensive line is not a valid comparison when comparing them to the Chargers.

So, making my forecast for next year's Charger team is really taking all these blind homers for what they say.  Prior to the preseason, the Chargers had an elite running game...with the loss of Ryan Mathews the Chargers (apparently) have no running game.  The Chargers had an elite passing attack but because they lost Vincent Brown, their receiving corps are decimated...this despite him likely being a #4 receiver for the Chargers.  And their re-signed, backup left tackle, Jared Gaither, hasn't played a down in the preseason meaning the offensive line is of no effect.

Yet, those in Chargerland figure the Bolts will easily take double digit wins next season...I still contend that it will be double digit losses and using their own logic against them....

Preseason Game 2 - Chargers vs Cowboys

The Chargers had their second preseason game this past weekend and continue to be unimpressive.  Yes, score watchers will quickly point out that the Chargers won the game ... but that was only because of the second half and the play of the scrubs...so yeah, maybe the Charger scrubs are better than the Cowboy scrubs, I'll give those in Chargerland that.

But let's take a look at what all the kool-aid drinking Charger fans have put their stock into next season and how that panned out...

Phillip Rivers looks bad...in last season form.  This could be because he has no one to throw the ball too because the Chargers "star" free agent pickup, Robert Meachum, has done nothing so far this preseason.  While on the topic of wide receivers - and I contend the Chargers don't have any worthy wide receivers - is that a young "stud" receiver, Vimcent Brown, broke his ankle and is out at least 2 months if not longer.  In Chargerland there was debate as to how "awesome" a season Brown was going to have by some.  Also on the offensive side of the ball, re-signed LT Jared Gaither has yet to practice or play and he is suppose to be a key link to securing the Chargers offensive line.

As far as defense goes...I think it was acceptable.  I don't put much stock in the Cowboys offense and for the first half, when it matters, the only scores Dallas got were due partly to the turnovers.

So this preseason game did bring back flashes from last season...Rivers turning the ball over and the Chargers, for the most part, being ineffective on the offensive side of the ball until they were well behind.  As we know, I don't put much stock in the preseason but I certainly don't find any reason to change my sentiment for the upcoming season, that being less than hopeful for an above .500 year.  I continue to go to the Chargerland message board(s) and read all the hope and promise these fans have... I just don't see what they are seeing because they still see Super Bowl Champions as the only outcome this next season.

Chargers Preseaon Underway

Well, Chargerland (the land with delusional Charger fans) continues to prep for the upcoming Super Bowl parade that the San Diego Chargers will earn after this season.  This despite a minor set back in the starting runningback for the Chargers, Ryan Mathews, who broke his clavicle in the very first preseason game.  I'm not saying I am "right" as of right now, but I did mention how the only thing I knew about Mathews, to this point as a Charger, is that he gets hurt and fumbles and until he does something different I wasn't about to assume that the Chargers running game was going to be much improved from the last 2 seasons with Mathews fumbling and missing playing time with injuries.  Those in Chargerland had the Chargers run game being vastly improved with many stating that THIS year was going to be Mathews break out season....just like last season was suppose to be.

I continue to have low expectations for the Chargers this season...I continue to think 6-10, which is laughed at and ridiculed in Chargerland.  In Chargerland no one has dared to predict less than 10 wins next season...I am a Charger fan, yes, but also a realist.  I hope I am proven wrong and all any of us can do is wait and see...but even in Chargerland the Mathews injury did send a ripple of concern through the masses...but not to worry... Ronnie Brown is just as good, if not better, than any other runningback in the NFL - quote straight from Chargerland and that is why they think 10-6 is more than plausible in their world. 

Chargers play their second preseason game Saturday night against the Cowboys.  I've said it over and over and over again...that is, preseason doesn't matter.  We all know there are players that could and don't even play a single second of the preseason yet, they are able to compete at the highest level.  This is blatantly illustrated by the preseason itself when teams won't even play most of their starters at any point.  The point of preseason was to get your team ready for the regular season, I think with the season as long as it is, the preseason is just obsolete now.  Football junkies will likely say otherwise, but they are just so addicted to the game that they likely complain that replays of each team's scrimmages aren't readily available for them to watch.

I've been on vacation and the season is starting up so I hope to get some more posts up regarding the Chargers as the season continues.  My pal Darrick and I have a podcast in which we talk about the NFL in almost every episode and if you want to check that out, head over to the Drunken Logic Podcast and check that out.