Chargers New GM and Coach, First Thoughts

So the Chargers have finally shed themselves of AJ Smith and Norv Turner to the delight of many Charger fans, me included.  Of course there is always the fear that the team may get someone worse but for the Chargers getting "worse" was more than likely if they continued with those two bozos.

So who do the Chargers get to replace them...a couple of "new" guys to the mix.  GM Tom Telesco and coach Mike McCoy.  I really don't know too much about either one of them so they will get the benefit of the doubt from me until I see more of what they do to the team.  I will say that I am a little apprehensive about Mike McCoy who was the offensive coordinator for the Broncos.  I typically don't like coaches that were once a coordinator on a team that had some success ... and the Chargers should know that much of the "success" the Broncos have had is because they play in one of the easiest, softest divisions in the NFL for the past couple seasons...the AFC West.

I will say that I would rather start with two guys that haven't already been in the NFL and have failed with the likes of Norv Turner, Wade Phillips, Josh McDaniels, Ken Whisenhunt, etc.  I think having a "fresh face, fresh approach" around the Chargers in both these positions is already a positive change.  Hope can hopefully reenter the locker room and the players return to playing with a purpose...something that Norv Turner could not get the Chargers to do.

So with that, my final statement on these hirings is that I will reserve judgement until further notice.

21st Century Children - I'm Staying Home

It was 3 and half years ago when I had an entry detailing some of the observations I had about the children of today and had some general observations about the differences between them and my experience as a child.  Well, on New Year's eve it hit me as my wife mentioned to my 15 year old daughter, who was sitting on the chair stalking us as she does most days, that when she was 15 she was totally doing something different than what my daughter was.  That's when it hit me... I am going to put my daughter's teen age life up against my own.  I am not going to judge either because we both chose the path we did...I just shake my head at the path she chose.  The best way, that I could think of, was to try and recall what I was doing on particular events at her age and then compare them to what she is doing.  I was certainly not the most popular kid but I also wasn't a complete loser either...like most, probably somewhere in the middle...just like I think she would be as well....

So for this first installment of "21st Century Children" I thought the idea that spurred it all should be the starting "event' and that is my daughter, a 15 year old sophomore in high school.  For New Year's Eve she sat at home in a chair while her parents watched Dick Clark's Rocking New Year's Eve.  Probably did some facebooking and texting as well to add to her new year's excitement.

When I was 15 and it was New Year's Eve I remember what I was doing.  I, like her, did not have a license or car of my own yet...but I knew someone else that did (as does she).  Even without a car, staying home was rarely even considered, especially on a party night like New Year's Eve.  We ended up at the (old) Holiday Inn in Bismarck which has been a haven for New Year's parties for many years and every minor within 50 miles would be there.  By this time (age wise) we knew people that had rooms but it didn't matter.  By midnight the Holiday Inn was packed wall-to-wall top to bottom with people, with many if not most of us being minors.  I didn't get arrested, didn't hurt anyone...had some beer and a fun time.

After telling my daughter that story the first words out of her mouth were "What did your parents think of that?" I smiled and said "They never knew about it and still probably don't."  She kind of laughed but also got this devious look on her face and I knew right then that she totally plans on telling my mother about that evening...that's what my daughter would rather do...tell on people and be a narc...that's a good time in her world.  The funny thing is, is that event happened almost 30 years ago...I think my mother no longer gives a shit at something I did when I was 15 and back then, if you weren't arrested and got home alive...everything was good.

So there you go, my first "event" of comparison...my teenage daughter versus my own teenage experience...

Chargers Win And Then Fire Turner, Smith, Season Wrap Up

Yes, the San Diego Chargers did their best once again to end the season on a "high" note and did so again this year by beating the Oakland Raiders in the final, meaningless game of the season and finish the year at 7-9.  And the 7-9 record is actually an inflated record, imo.  The Chargers did not beat any team in the playoffs this season or any team with a winning record.  The Chargers did post two of the most humiliating, embarrassing losses in franchise history...the game against Denver when the Chargers were up 24-0 at halftime and go on to lose by double digits and the biggest choke of them all...4th down and 29 yards to go against Baltimore.  Just stop Ray Rice from running 29 yards down the field and the Chargers would win against the Ravens but failed to do that and go on to lose.  There were other loses for the Chargers, most in the fourth quarter, that for "good" teams would be gut wrenching but under head coach Norv Turner those loses are taken as "business as usual" for the Chargers.

The Chargers' owner, Dean Spanos, finally fired Norv Turner and GM AJ Smith...something he should have done 2 years ago, but instead decided to save some money and stick with these losers for this past season and the outcome was exactly about what I expected.  Sure 7-9 is a game or two more than I thought they would win but let's put this into perspective...the Chargers won 3 out of their last four games, all four games were against non-playoff contenders.  The Steelers, Jets and Raiders are all teams that have "packed it in" and the one team that beat the Chargers, at home was Carolina and they just didn't beat the Chargers, they DESTROYED them.  Sure the stat sheet says the Chargers are 7-9 but in reality their season ended after 12 games and are 4-8, the last four games were equal to the preseason.  Then let's look at the "quality" of their four real wins, when the Chargers were playing when it mattered...2 against Kansas City, the worst team in the league, 1 against Oakland close to the worst team in the league and 1 win against Tennessee...again, another team that is towards the bottom of the league.

I am really upset about how this season went?  No I am not....I was prepared, just like I was last season.  For anyone that read my preseason predictions, it should be no surprise how this season transpired.  The only "curveballs" the Chargers threw my way this season were the epic second half collapses this team went through.  It seemed as if the team would play well in the first half but then wouldn't show up at all in the second half.  If anyone was going to point a finger at poor coaching, I think that says it right there.  Other teams (and their coaches) were able to make adjustments during the game...the Chargers, not so much so.

So now the Chargers are in the process of interviewing a new GM and then will likely turn their focus towards a new coach.  I don't think the Chargers are in that bad of shape...with the exception of their offensive line...and other coaches have gone to a team and made an immediate impact, so why couldn't it be with the Chargers?  Kansas City appears to be hiring Andy Reid and most "pundits" think that will greatly improve that franchise that has been down for many years now.  The Broncos breezed through the AFC West and unless the Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders do something to improve, the Broncos will continue to benefit from their ineptness.

Norv Turner: Winning When It Doesn't Matter

In typical San Diego Charger fashion, under head coach Norv Turner, the Chargers win...almost looking impressive doing it, against a team that cares less than the Chargers do.  That's the inspiration Norv Turner does bring to the table.  When your team is eliminated and the games no longer, he can somehow inspire these players who, seemingly, haven't cared about winning a football game in some time to finally pull together and win a game.  The Chargers last two wins have been on the road against teams that normally beat the Chargers when they come to their house...the Steelers and the Jets.  But the Jets are in total disarray with a multi-quarterback drama and that has trickled down throughout the team as a whole where no one on the Jets really seemed to take much interest in beating the lowly Chargers.

As I have said in the past, I don't really "cheer" for the Chargers to lose and am glad they are at least showing some pride.  But let's be honest here...winning the final two games is just dropping the Chargers further down the draft board...not that the draft is that big of a guarantee of future success either.  The point is really, that like previous two years, under Turner, and now this year, the Chargers seem to "finish strong" ... albeit meaningless.

This is just one more reason that there should not be even in full second of time elapsed from the conclusion of this weekend's game against the Raiders, regardless of the outcome, and word should ring out that Norv Turner is FIRED.  Any additional time only makes me more apprehensive.  In fact to help the play-by-play guy, he should have something similar to his prepared: "And the final from Qualcomm is Oakland 15, San Diego 38 and I've just been told that Norv Turner has been fired..."

Chargers Completely Give Up

Not really much to say about the Chargers and this last week's game against the Carolina Panthers because the Chargers didn't show up.

It's fairly clear that for some reason the team decided the road game against Pittsburgh would be their "last effort" because the team barely even went through the motions this past weekend as the Carolina Panthers, a team that if you look at their record you would think the Chargers at home would have at least a chance against, but no, the Chargers are coached by a man who they have quit on 3 years ago.

Ryan Mathews, got hurt and is likely out for the season.  No surprise, that has been the report every year since he joined the league...a fine replacement for LaDainian Tomlinson...not.  Mathews, I am fairly certain, won't have a 100 yard game this season nor a rush of longer than...oh, just guessing... 20 yards...and of course not 1,000 yards.

Rivers, on pace to lead the league in turnovers as he continues to turn the ball over...this past game his choice of turnover to treat everyone to...the fumble... he treated us all with multiple fumbles as he was getting sacked within seconds of getting the snap.  Thanks offensive line and Phil for your less then even caring effort...it would have been easier just to leave the ball on the ground so the Panthers could pick it up rather than actually pretend to snap the ball and block...

Does anything more need to be said about how awful Norv Turner is?  Offensive genius?  The Charger defense, which I have ZERO faith in and is horrible in its own right, has been the better squad for the Chargers...the offense is a complete joke and laughable in almost every regard... no run game, no pass game, no big plays... 3 and out...that's the Charger offense.  And all against the Carolina Panthers.

At least the Jets will have something to smile about for Christmas because even though they suck too, the Chargers will most likely put forth below  minimum effort in this weekend's game and the Jets should be able to rebound from their disgraceful Monday night loss.  Heck, they'll probably give Tebow the start and then you'll really get some "buzz" because he'll look like an all-pro, all-star and not have to do much of anything other than not turn the ball over...Rivers, the veteran QB for the Chargers will show him how to do that and probably multiple times!

Jesus God do the Chargers suck.

ESPN: Lazy Documentary

As most know I try and avoid ESPN as much as possible, but being a sports fan there are times when ESPN lures me into their web and I usually regret it.  This is just another example of that.

I have had people tell me how wonderful ESPN's 30 for 30 series is and I have occasionally watched one but it wasn't until I watched the Bo Jackson episode that I noticed that the "analysts" raving about Bo Jackson and commenting on his past were all ESPN employees.  That just goes to show you how lazy ESPN has gotten..."Let's do a show on Joe Montana...send the intern up the third floor and get all the tv personalities to come down and talk about Joe Montana, then we'll just throw some highlights together, dramatic music and bam...new show."

But here's the funny part...that during that Bo Jackson episode their "analysts" were never labeled as an ESPN employee!  It's like they knew they would get spotted on their laziness because Mike Greenberg was a "Radio Host", Marcellius Wiley "Former NFL Player", Chuck Klosterman "Author".... and all of them are actually all ESPN employees.

ESPN is horrible and this is just another example of how they are ruining sports. 

Chargers Beat Steelers, Meaningless Late Season Wins

The San Diego Chargers went into Pittsburgh, a place they have never won in the regular season, and beat the Steelers...handedly.  This is something the Chargers haven't done to a team with a winning record at all this season and surprised most everyone.  But of course does this victory do the team any good?  Well, other than giving some of the players some confidence, it really doesn't.  It also began to send panic amongst the Charger fan base that it could be the beginning of the "retaining" of Norv Turner.  If the Chargers somehow win their remaining games against some of the worst teams in the NFL (Carolina, NY Jets & Oakland) they would inch to .500 and fans begin to worry that Dean Spanos will employ the same logic he did last season when he said he would fire Turner if the team didn't make the playoffs and then went on to not do so because of a "solid finish" to the season...which could be replicated this season.  If that should happen, I would have to think that a revolt amongst the fan base would then happen.  I essentially wrote off the past two seasons and if the unthinkable should happen again, Turner is retained as head coach, next season is already over before it began...again. 

I am not a fan to "cheer" for my favorite team to lose to improve their draft pick or for much of any other reason...but if I have to "cheer" for the Chargers to lose just to get rid of Norv Turner, I am seriously considering doing that.

Chargers Have Given Up...Duh

There really aren't many Charger fans that were even remotely surprised by the latest Charger loss.  Sure, it was another 4th quarter collapse that "good" teams would be gnashing their teeth over and contemplating what minor adjustments need to be made that would have turned that loss into a win. But not the 2012 San Diego Chargers.  I think the Bronco 24-0 debacle is what broke the will of this team and the 4th and 29 play of last week showed that this team has truly given up.

Sure, the Chargers will go through the motions of showing up to appear as if they are playing football, but it is quite clear that they don't care about winning or even trying.  Phillip Rivers continues to look like one of the most hapless and worthless quarterbacks in the league as he turns the ball over twice in the last five minutes...which the Chargers had a 3 point lead at that point.  Bengals go onto win in a very dull, lack luster game.

Is it all Rivers fault?  No.  It's a total team effort on sucking but it does start in the trenches and it is has been well noted that the Chargers front five is worthless.  Rivers has but a micro second upon the snap to get rid of the ball, flee or get flattened.  The Chargers are one of only a few teams that have yet to have a 100 yard rusher...not because they don't have someone that can rush, just that they don't have anyone to block for him.

The Chargers have all but packed it in for this season and so I am close to doing the same.  I was watching the game this past Sunday but was having more fun playing pool and hanging with my pals then watching the Chargers stink it up again.

Pittsburgh is next up on the docket for the Chargers and the Steelers could just as likely treat the game as a practice because if one thing is certain, the Chargers have no interest in winning any more football games this year and with it being in Pittsburgh, it will be a beat down.

Chargers Post Another Epic Choke; Chargers Stink

In what has become a theme of the 2012 season, the San Diego Chargers found an epic way to lose another football game.  Like blowing a 24 point lead and losing by double digits isn't epic enough way to lose and be the laughingstock of the NFL, the Chargers continue to find ways to display their full suckitude.

All the Charger defense had to do was to stop the Baltimore Ravens from converting on a fourth and 29 and the game would be over.  And fourth and 29 you would think a team would try a deep pass or something down the field...not the Ravens for they know how deficient the Chargers are...they simply dump the ball off to Ray Rice who then proceeds to make the Charger defense look like an episode from the three stooges...as Charger defenders collide into each other and glance off of Ray Rice which thus leads to the Ravens to tying the game.  Sure the game goes to overtime and the Chargers had a chance to save some face...but like much of this year the Chargers stop scoring in the second half and going into the fourth quarter up by 10 points couldn't even muster another field goal to either put the game away or win it in overtime.  The Chargers were able to make 2 first downs on their first possession in ot but didn't cross midfield and went three and out on their next.  The Ravens, meanwhile, seemed to know they controlled the game.  After failing to convert on many third downs throughout the game the Ravens found new life in the latter stages of the game and converted on many third downs and on 3 and 10 in overtime, they completed a 31 yard pass that set up the game winning field goal.

There is little doubt in my mind that the Chargers have now descended into being one of the two worst teams in the NFL.  The Chiefs maybe the only team lower than the Chargers, because Jacksonville seems to be playing better these days.

And here we are Monday morning...and so far no sign or hint that Norv Turner is going to get canned anytime soon even after the embarrassment that is becoming the 2012 season.  I, like many other Charger fans, are simply stunned that Turner continues to be the head coach despite the mind-numbing way this team loses under him.  There is little hope in Chargerland and even a 6-10 season has become "hopeful", something that some other Charger fans were certain to rip into me when I made that assessment prior to the season starting...funny thing is, really can't find too many of those Charger fans anymore.

Rivers Continues To Suck, So Do The Chargers; All But Eliminated

The Chargers showed off why they are one of the worst teams in the NFL by losing to the Broncos for the second time this season yesterday...mainly because of Rivers but another special teams gaffe and the game was never in doubt despite the final score.

Sure, the Chargers jumped out to a 7-0 lead after intercepting Manning and running it in, but that would be the only time the Chargers were even remotely in this game.  The Charger defense was not to blame for this lose...they actually held the Broncos and Peyton Manning down for most of the game...but you have Phillip Rivers throwing interceptions and fumbling the ball, like he has for the past two seasons and a team really can't overcome the obstacles he continues to put up for the team.  The Charger offense was completely inept yesterday with maybe only a couple of first downs during the game, the rest were during garbage time when the Broncos had most of their B squad in.

Most Charger fans have begun to put their "wish list" of coaches together, but I doubt the Spanos family is going to spring for anyone good.  Heck, they are too cheap to can Norv even now...after seeing how this team has sucked this entire season they are still satisfied with "status quo"...it's a complete embarrassment, if you ask me.

What sucks for the Chargers is that they might eek out another win or two which would drop them in the draft but not gain them even a sniff at the playoffs this year.  So unless the Dean Spanos does something out of character, I think a cheap head coach and a mid round draft pick are what is in store for us Charger fans next season...but at least it's more hopeful than the past 3 seasons...

Chargers Lose, Rivers Continues To Stink

The San Diego Chargers traveled to Tampa Bay to try and get a rare east coast win under Norv Turner but the Chargers and, more specifically, Phillip Rivers continue to stink.

Right when you thought Rivers would be snapping out of a "funk" that has had him making poor decisions and turning the ball over...as he had 3 touchdowns and over 200 yards in passing against the Bucs as the Chargers had a 21-17 lead...but then Rivers and the Chargers quickly converted themselves into the team we have seen for the past 3 seasons.  A team that turns the ball over, the defense can't stop the other team and even more distressing these days is the fact that Phillip Rivers just plain stinks.  With the lead and the Chargers inside the 30 of Tampa Bay, Rivers throws a pick six and the Chargers wouldn't see the lead again.

The Chargers scored a measly three points in the second half and end up losing 34-24.  That's a 17-4 run to close out the game. 

Is there really anything left to say?  There doesn't need to be any more examples to anyone to see that he is a bad coach and is getting out coached in EVERY GAME!  After halftime the Chargers are thoroughly trounced by any capable team (sorry KC you are horrible!) and even if the Chargers have the lead at halftime, no lead is safe with them...and really even if the Chargers had any lead going into the 4th quarter, they would be more likely to lose than win because their defense is so paper thin it is pathetic.  Even with the Chargers unable to mount any offense in the second half the defense had it's chances to simply stop Tampa Bay from driving the entire length of the field...but couldn't do that.

Norv Turner is horrible.  Phillip Rivers is awful. And the Charger defense is bad.  I think that about sums up this season and I don't see much hope on the horizon...Denver won't let the Chargers go up by 24 next week and are going to totally put the boots to this Charger team...it will be over by halftime and Peyton Manning will be doing interviews from the sideline halfway through the third quarter...probably won't have much to do other than watch the defense return Rivers' interceptions.

Chargers At The Half Way Point

The San Diego Chargers have finished their 8th game this past weekend marking the halfway point of their 16 game regular season campaign and sit at 4 and 4.  On "paper" a 4-4 record isn't bad and teams have been worse off at this point and still rallied to win a championship.  But what's different about the Chargers 4-4 record is that they haven't even played very many good teams...in fact, with the only exception being Atlanta and Denver, games the Chargers lost both of, the Chargers haven't even played anyone with a winning record.  Add to that, the Chargers lost to teams that had 1 or no wins on the season (New Orleans and Cleveland).  And then sprinkle in embarrassing nationally televised losses in which the Chargers had double digit leads at halftime only to get totally destroyed in the second half by New Orleans and Denver.  Then what you have is a pretty lousy 4 and 4 team.

So what are some of the problems?  Here's what I've seen so far...

Phillip Rivers stinks.  He started stinking last season and it is only compounding into a bigger problem this year.  It's been noted that he hasn't led the Chargers to a fourth quarter comeback since 2008.  If the Chargers do not have the lead in the fourth quarter, which is typically the case, they can not mount any sort of late game offense to come from behind to win the game.

No Big Plays.  Watching other NFL teams, it seems as if other teams are able to have big plays on a somewhat regular basis.  A runningback that rips off a 60+ yard run.  A deep 80 yard bomb that opens the field up.  The Chargers are very "contained" in their offense.  They seem to take the 10, 15, 20 yard plays the defense give them but because there is no big play, the offense has more time to make mistakes on long drives and the Chargers do just that.  Whether it be penalties or turnovers, it seems the more plays the Chargers run the more likely they are going to screw up. 

Poor Defense. Some Charger fans are able to point out some positives on the Chargers defense and I'll say that Eric Weddle is probably the best the Chargers have on defense...but after that, I am not sure there is a "good" player on defense for the Chargers right now.  The secondary is a complete joke.  Quentin Jammer is obviously a little too old and lost a step and Cason and Gilchrist are just plain bad.  I don't mind the way Atari Bigby delivers big hits and seems pretty active for a safety, but I've also seen him miss some tackles, but still is serviceable.  The defensive line and linebackers all essentially get run over and chase the ball on most plays.  Sure, there is the occasional sack and the stats would seem to point that the Chargers have a decent rush defense, but that is because teams have chosen to pass on the Chargers rather than run.  When teams' have wanted to "ice" the game against the Chargers, they are able to run at will and do so.

Norv Turner. The Chargers are exactly what Norv Turner has coached them to be.  Look to last season and the season prior when the talent had departed from San Diego, the Chargers are a stumbling, bumbling embarrassment on the field.

Is There Hope? The short answer is no.  The only hope I would have for this Charger team is if Norv Turner is fired right now and a new head coach is brought in from the outside.  The current coaching staff has all been around Norv Turner and see how a loser runs a team...this team needs to be shaken up and a new attitude...a new winning attitude needs to brought in for anything positive to happen this season.  But everyone knows that Dean Spanos is too cheap to first fire Norv before the season is over (to get his money's worth) and second, Dean Spanos is too cheap to hire a competent coach in the first place...how do you think the Chargers ended up with the losingest head coach in NFL history?  I truly don't think the players on the Chargers are really as bad as they seem to play and even with a new head coach they may not be in the elite of the NFL but the hope is they at least return to being competitive, something more than one coach has accomplished in short order.

Chiefs Are Awful, Lose To Chargers

It's too bad the Chargers have already played the horrible Chiefs twice this season already because having those two wins so early in the season put the Chargers at .500 at 4 and 4.

Beating the Chiefs really proves nothing and like the first match up, the Chiefs really beat themselves more than the Chargers did.  The Chiefs fumbled and bumbled the 4th quarter away and the Chargers simply had to not follow suit.  But with the assistance of two defensive scores, the Charger offense didn't really have many opportunities to squander their lead.

But Phillip Rivers continues his poor decision making...at the end of the first half when the Chargers were up 10-3 and right on the doorstep to score before the half, Rivers forces a throw and gets picked off.  Instead of settling for 3, Rivers makes sure the Chargers got zero.

The Chargers are also fairly anemic on offense, despite the 31-13 score.  After scoring a touchdown in the first quarter, their only touchdown in the past 9 quarters, it took them until the fourth quarter for the offense to finally find the end zone again...against the Chiefs.

No, beating the Chiefs only gave Norv Turner a week to breathe a sigh of relief.  Now the Chargers are set to go to Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay is not that bad a team and certainly not as crappy as the Chiefs.  The Chargers still haven't beaten anyone with a winning record or even a team that anyone would consider even "respectable" so the Chargers haven't proved anything other than they aren't THE worst team in the NFL...the Chiefs and Jaguars might be contending for that crown right now.

Chargers Nearing Bottom, Lose To Browns

The Chargers continue to reveal how awful they really are.  They lose to the (previously) one win Cleveland Browns on a windy, rainy day.  The Chargers were unable to score even a touchdown and settled for two field goals to lose 7-6 in a mostly boring contest between two teams whose defenses aren't really that good but the offense, for both teams, is fairly inept.

The mood in Chargerland is finally one of acceptance that this Charger team is crap.  I had that feeling before the season started but seeing the fanfare from the "super fans" I almost felt guilty in my perception and public outcry that this team was garbage.  But now, the "super fans" have either completely disappeared from the discussion about the Chargers - because they are the ones who continually state that the off season was a good one, that Meachum, Royal and Gaither would be the difference makers and this team would regain it's 2006 (14-2) form and be a factor in the NFL.  No, that is not the case...Meachum hasn't done dick and even dropped what would have been a long touchdown pass on Sunday.  Royal has usually been sidelined with injury and a non-factor this season.  And left tackle Gaither played this last Sunday but will likely be hurt shortly as that seems to be his trend.

Now, most Charger fans are looking ahead to the end of the season and the hopes that Norv Turner will get fired, but I hate to be the bearer of bad news again...remember last season?  Remember when we were told that Norv Turner would be fired last season and then he wasn't?  If there is anything we know and that is Dean Spanos doesn't care about winning or this football team.  He only cares about money.  So if there is a way he can save a buck and keep Turner, I think he will.  Of course it won't take a rocket scientist to do the math and Dean will see the numbers too...that is, no one will be going to the games anymore because the team stinks and that may eventually force his hand to fire Turner...and who knows, if the losing skid goes for a while, maybe it will happen sooner rather than later.

With the loss to Cleveland, there is one thing that is abundantly clear about this Charger team right now...they are a bad team that is capable of losing to any team.  As my previous post mentioned prior to the Cleveland game, where some Charger fans saw the Browns, Chiefs and Buccaneers as three almost guaranteed wins,   think the Chargers will be lucky to win Thursday night against the Chiefs - but won't guarantee it, and come out of this three game "guaranteed wins" with a 1-2 record.  After that, the Chargers schedule gets pretty brutal and they will be lucky to get to 6-10...they do have Carolina, Jets and Raiders left to play...but I think they will be lucky to win 1 out of those three games...the rest of their opponents will have little problem with this Charger team. 

Does It Mean Anything If The Chargers Beat The Browns?

The San Diego Chargers, fresh off two of humiliating losses, where they held double digit leads and end up losing, going away, both games.  Where Monday night's loss wasn't just losing a 24 point lead, it was the revelation that the Chargers are exactly who we thought they were...again...and that is bad.

So now they travel to play the Cleveland Browns after having a week off to stew in the cauldron that fans have ignited a bonfire under.  But will the Chargers actually accomplish anything this weekend?  The short answer is no and no matter the outcome, the Chargers are still losers...it is just a matter to what degree.

If the Chargers beat the Browns, which I don't think anyone is penciling in as a guarantee, it should be expected...heck the Chargers were once the best lousy team in the NFL and now hover above just being a bad team...which the Browns are.  So if the Chargers lose this game, and depending on how bad they look, the Chargers will certainly move themselves into being one of the worst teams in the NFL this season.

So the Chargers are in a "no win" game this weekend...but clearly, they would rather have the win and let the fans and media continue to see them as epic chokers or lose and let everyone know that the descent to the bottom of the league is complete.

Last Night's Loss Shakes Chargerland

I knew last night's epic choke and loss against the Broncos was huge, but I didn't think it would rattle many of the "all is fine" Charger fans.  Heck the Chargers are still tied for the lead in the AFC West, they have a bye and when the left tackle that has played almost 2 games is back, it will be full steam ahead to the Super Bowl.

But not after this loss.  After this loss there is more than one "homer" that has finally taken the step off the bandwagon and joined the "dark side" with many of us other Chargers...where I have essentially been for the past 3 seasons.  The other "homers" have simply disappeared.  They can no longer stick up for Norv Turner or AJ Smith and be taken seriously.  Last season was suppose to free the Chargers of those miserable louses and instead we just get another season of the same courtesy the owner, Dean Spanos...thanks again.  Norv Turner should have been fired last season and this is what the Chargers get for not doing so...a humiliating, prime time, Monday Night Football debacle.  As I was driving to work and listening to the sports talk radio - note, not from San Diego - and during the "casual conversation" regarding the game one person said "You almost come to expect San Diego to self implode because they do it so often." and that is why the Chargers get no respect...nor do they deserve any.

I thought the Chargers were at least a pretty good lousy team, now I think they are just a lousy team trending to becoming a bad team.  Unfortunately, I wish I could say this is coming as a surprise to me but this blog is evidence I am fully aware of how awful this team is now and has been.

Chargers Post Epic Choke Against Denver

As I am writing this, there is 2:00 left in the game... The Chargers are down by 11 points, 35-24.

The Chargers, like last week, jump out to a nice first half lead and then totally fold up the tent and call it a game and this week was in even a bigger epic fashion than last week...

After owning the first half, picking off Peyton Manning and ruining ESPN's pre-planned Peyton Manning lovefest, going up 24-0, then Phillip Rivers, literally, hands the ball to the Broncos in the form of 2 pick sixes and a fumble recovery for a td as well as an additional interception.  I've stuck up for Rivers for a long time but I can no longer do so.  Last year, I had hoped, was just an aberration, but Rivers seems to be getting worse and worse every game.  It is almost painful to watch how predictable he has become with throwing interceptions and bad passes.

The second half, the Broncos had no fear of the Chargers and the Chargers had no interest in trying anymore.  They were completely and thoroughly embarrassed on national television, something that is standard operating procedure under Norv Turner's tenure as coach of the Chargers.

The good news is that the Chargers won't lose next week because it is their bye week...the bad news is that ESPN and every other sports outlet is going to be slobbering over Peyton Manning's cock for the next week...but he didn't win this game...Phillip Rivers lost this game for the Chargers...plan and simple.

The Chargers were in first place going into this game and I suspect that will be the last time they will sniff "contention" for the rest of this season.

Norv Turner can not out coach anyone, it has been proven time and time again.

Is the season over?  No and those with hope will still have it.  Unfortunately, this season is going just about as well as I thought it would...

BTW, the game is over, and Rivers ends the game with SIX turnovers.  Tirico is already trying to get Gruden off of Manning's cock so he can get his turn...

DISGUSTING is all I can say.

Saints Score 17 Unanswered To Beat Chargers

The Chargers are still, exactly who we think they are...not good.

This past weekend's game was against the winless New Orleans Saints and most of the people I talked with, most agreed the Saints would likely win the game.  I wasn't shocked because the word on the Chargers is very well known by now...they are the best of the lousy teams in the NFL and people aren't willing to put the Saints in the lousy category yet, even despite their defense being horrendous.  Well, as any team on the skids needs to feel better about a season that isn't going so well so far is a visit from the Chargers.

How'd the Chargers fare then? Who, if you listen to the Charger homers, have this high powered unstoppable offense led by offensive guru/mastermind and head coach Norv Turner.  Chargers super offense was 4-12 on third downs.  And then on the other side of the ball, the Chargers have this revamped defense that is going to shut down opposing teams, or at the very least, keep the game close...the Saints were able to go deep on the pathetic Chargers secondary at their leisure.

Charger homers are crying about the officiating, but that happens every week.  If the Chargers would have won there would have been barely anything said about the officials because in Charger land where everything is always great (tomorrow) the only reason the Chargers lost was because of a bad call...which is complete bullshit. 

The Chargers offense can easily be stopped by even the worst defense...as we just witnessed and the Charger defense is exactly like it was last year...worthless.  The defense is unable to stop any quality team when it really matters.

The Chargers host the Broncos this week on Monday Night Football.  ESPN and specifically Jon Gruden can't wait to slobber all over Manning.  I don't think the Broncos are all that good either, but I've lost a lot of faith in Rivers' decision making and there is nothing I have seen from this year's Charger team that is leading me to believe that they will be a factor in the postseason...but there is still plenty of season left and they certainly have plenty of room to improve...the question is, can they and will they improve?  Norv Turner has the track record to show that they probably won't.
 

Static-X - 9/22/12 - Fargo, ND

Last week I went to the Static-X show in Fargo and it rocked!

I have finally got the pictures uploaded after trying a variety of "new" methods to get them onto the internet.  Anyways this show does have a tale to tell before the show even started...

It's Friday, September 21st and I'm just hanging out at home.  One of my buddies calls me at about 6:30 to (drunkenly) say he is at Hooters and I should come down for a beer.  (Note: I do not regularly frequent Hooters but now that I have a friend that does, I do so on occasion but is not by my choice).  I say "Sure" and as a matter of fact, I need to swing by and pick up my free Static-X tickets from my friend so I don't have to worry about that the next day.  So I stop by and grab my tickets and head on down to Hooters, I barely sit down when my friend says, "Hey, isn't that Wayne Static over there?" One look and there is no doubt about it, there is Wayne Static and his wife eating at Hooters.  After they were done eating they were nice enough to take some pictures with me and my friends and also autograph my tickets.  It was pretty cool to say the least.

Now onto the show...which rocked!  Static-X came out and played mostly their older stuff and tore it up.  They started out with Wisconsin Death Trip and that got the place going right off the bat.  Some other personal favorites that they played was "He's A Loser", "Bled For Days" and for their encore, Wayne asked the crowd what we wanted to hear and because I had declared that I would be yelling (and hearing) one of my favorite songs that it would get played, "Love Dump", it was at that time me and my friends started the "Love Dump" chant and within seconds Wayne and the band broke into it.

I've seen Static-X a few times and they are always a good show.  This particular time the drummer was completely insane... more than once I was watching him and his crazy antics during almost every song...it was both good and hilarious at the same time as he had this jet powered fan blowing up so his long hair was flying about and he would frequently be standing up and on his drum stool pounding on cymbals or drums...whatever the song required...it was pretty crazy!

Anyways, this post has a few of the pics I took from that evening, if you want to see more, including myself with Wayne, his wife and my friends click here.
 

Chiefs Have 6 Turnovers, Chargers Win

The Chargers took advantage of a sloppy Kansas City Chiefs team that turned the ball over 6 times including a pick 6.  As long as the Chargers didn't self implode, like the Chiefs were doing, they were going to win this game.

Phillip Rivers continues to play fairly erratic.  Threw a pretty poor interception and there were times his throws were off the mark.  He had a wide open Meachum and underthrew him...if it would have been on target, in stride, would have been an easy touchdown.  He still is able to manage the game and be fairly efficient, but I think he may have issues going deep accurately which would help defenses defend against this team.

Jackie Battle started at runningback in front of Ryan Mathews, who fumbled last week and with his past history of being a back with ball control issues it looks like he will be playing in select situations for a while.  Battle did a fine job, running and catching the ball out of the backfield.  The run game, though, seemed to bog down in the second half, when the Chiefs knew it was coming.  If the Chargers are going to be able to play with the lead, they are going to have to be able to effectively run the ball in the second half, something they struggled with in this game.

Special teams for the Chargers was decent.  Nate Kaeding hurt himself on Friday and the Chargers got Nick Novak and he filled in nicely.  The Chargers even recovered an onside kick in the second half, not sure why Norv wanted to really pour it on, but he certainly had little mercy for the Chiefs yesterday.

Next up the Chargers travel to New Orleans and play on Sunday Night Football and it will be an interesting game...if you looked at the records, the Chargers are 3-1 and the Saints are 0-4, one would think the Chargers are the clear favorite.  The Saints will be desperate for a win and the season is still young.  As I've said many times before, the first 6 games of the NFL season are relatively meaningless...sure you don't want to be 0-6, but teams don't begin to "rise to the top" until the second half of the season and your season is not lost if you can get to 4-4 at the 8 game mark. 

With the Chiefs win, that's 2 road games I didn't think the Chargers would win.  If they beat the Saints that would make it 3 and I won't complain...but I am still waiting to see if this Charger team can beat a playoff caliber team.  The Saints, at this point, are clearly not at the same level they have been the past couple of years and that may be just the break the Chargers need to pull out the win.