Chargers at Chiefs - Halloween edition

My husband and I were watching Scream last night and I had a scary realization.  The victims in scary movies act like the Chargers have been playing.  They hit the bad guy, then bad guy falls down and they run away screaming. This is a bad idea for surviving in a scary movie and on the football field.  Time to break down how to get away from a homicidal maniac and win a football game.

Use your tools - In the scary movie the bad guy always has a weapon.  Get your own weapon and use it.  We have a whole shelf of weapons available:  Gates - very painful when used correctly, Jackson - having him makes the opponent think twice, Mathews - use often and swiftly, Rivers - can be used from far away, go long!


Watch the clock -  Clocks are notoriously bad omens in horror movies and in Charger games.  I wonder if someone on the team recently got a clock?  Perhaps it was built by a 15th century French necromancer and it's evil?  Okay, out of Amityville and back to Arrowhead, the Chargers need to manage the clock for the entire game.  No relaxing for 60 football minutes, period.

Be smart - Obviously, the killer is typically not the sharpest stick in the pile.  Outsmart them and you win.  Same with football.  If Rivers can go four quarters without handing over the ball we are pretty much golden.  It's not as if our play calling is what's going to outsmart the Chiefs.  The Chargers probably have the easiest team to design a defensive strategy around thanks to Turners predictive play calling.  So, turnovers are not an option.
Know your assailant - Rivers had zero touchdowns and two interceptions in the 20-17 win over Kansas City.  While not pretty, that win started the Chargers on a three-game run.  The Chiefs have issues when they play the Chargers, they are looking for revenge since their loss to the Chargers was their Chiefs third straigh.  Not how they wanted to start their spree, I mean season.  They also know that no team has started 0-3 and won its next four games since Pittsburgh in 2000.

Finish it - This is probably the most important.  When you hit the bad guy, or, let's say, get a lead in points you keep hitting.  Don't let them get up - ever.  The Chiefs have killed three in a row, it's not time to be their fourth victim.  Persistence, momentum and wits, that's how we get out alive!


Can't wait for Monday! 

ChargerGirl Cindi

Rivers - Trick or Treat

With this Monday's game at Kansas City landing on Halloween I have to wonder are Rivers and the Chargers going to show up?  For the Chargers, the trick is going to be not letting up when we get the lead and the treat will be when they dominate with the win.


Rivers passer rating is the worst it has been at 82.3.  If you look at his history, Rivers passer ratings after six games in his other four seasons: 100.7 last season, 96.1 in 2009, 109.4 in ’08 and 96.3 in ‘06 makes the 82.3 scary.  Rivers career passer rating as a starter coming into the 2011 season: 97.5, better than anyone ever through the first 80 starts of a career. His passer rating from 2008 through ’10: 103.8, was the best in the NFL.  The key to the win on Monday is Rivers coming out strong and staying that way for a full 60 football minutes.


There have been speculations as to fatigue, injury or just plain old apathy.  Rivers just yesterday said “Am I playing my best ball right now? Absolutely not,”  “What I’m saying is I feel weird (talking about it). We’re 4-2. We’re just battling through it. All I’m saying is, I could be playing like this and we could be 1-5. It’d be ugly. So that’s the positive — we haven’t really put it all together, and hey look, we look up and we’re 4-2.”

I disagree Philip, it is ugly.  Going into Monday adjustments need to be made on both sides of the ball and that Rivers and the Chargers are not just "battling through it".   Dominate and give Chargers fans the treat we deserve.

ChargerGirl Cindi

Week 7 - Chargers WTH?

I am beginning to sound like a broken record.  I think I use the words "discipline" "time management" and "conservative" in a negative manner every week after the Chargers play.  This week is not an exception.  I am so tired of the anemic play calling, lack of understanding of the boundaries of the play clock and the complete absence of leadership coming from the sideline.  What in the heck is happening with the Chargers?  Well, that seems like it would have been a better headline. 

Rivers - I do not know what is going on with him, but he is under performing in every possible way.  Is he hurt?  Tired of getting hit?  Or just so pissed off at the coaches that he has given up?  179 yards, really?  That's typically a halfs worth.  More interceptions than TD's?  WTF?   Rivers has me way beyond concern and on the verge of panic.  I had a couple Ryan Leaf flashbacks on Sunday.  Being afraid when the Chargers QB throws the ball is not an option.

Manusky -  I have no words to express how pissed off I am at your defense.  13 penalties for 95 yards?  I was actually hopeful after the Denver game that we were reeling these guys in, what happened?  I agree that the officiating was not stellar, but letting your players spout off about it is a leadership deficiency on your part.  


It's time for a clear team leader to step up and get this team together.  Come on Chargers, you got this!


ChargerGirl Cindi

Top 5 reasons Chargers will beat Jets.

I'm looking at the numbers and the only one I do not like is our matchup record.  The Jets lead 4-2.  That said, here is why after Sunday's game they will only lead by one.

5.  Mark Sanchez.  Ranked at number 20 with a 82.3 passer rating he will be intimidated by Rivers and his general awesomeness.  I am feeling our first pic/six of the season.

4.  Third down conversions.  Well, no point in sugar coating it.  The Jets are ranked 32nd.  Chargers offense is going to be getting tired running up and down the field scoring.

3.  Rest.  Chargers are coming off a bye week and are well rested.  The Jets played in MNF and had a short week.

2.  Rexy vs. Norv - They are both pissed off, but Norv is the one being attacked.  Norv is upset and I suspect he is going to throw in some less conservative plays just to shut Rex up.

1.  LT vs Mathews - I love LT, but he is not a Charger anymore.  Mathews is our guy.   Their ball handling numbers are pretty close, except one.  TD's.  Mathews has 3, LT 0.

Let's go Bolts!
ChargerGirl Cindi
ps.  I did not list Gates return as a reason because I don't want to jinx it.  :)

Gates in for Sunday?

Antonio Gates was able to practice with the team Monday with the hope of being ready for Sunday's game at the Jets.  When asked about his injury after practice he said the scar tissue that surrounds the plantar fasciitis could "pop" at any time.  Knowing that, he said "you hope that you don't tear the scar tissue".  He says in a controlled environment like practice, he feels good.  Listening to him talk about it, he is 100% committed to getting healed physically.  Coming to practice is giving him the mental confidence he needs to perform on the field.  He will be back on the field for practice on Wednesday.


So, he is going to practice this week and he said it will be a game day decision.  I am putting him in for FF right now.


ChargerGirl Cindi

Bye Week Options, Raiders or Redskins?

Not only do the Chargers have a bye week, but so do the Broncos and Chiefs.  While three quarters of our division is resting, we still have the Raider game.  Unfortunately for us, the Raiders are playing the Browns.  To make matters worse, they are playing in Oakland.  So, the odds of the 2-2 Browns pulling off a win here are pretty slim.  The only thing that will make this game interesting is the fact that the Browns have yet to meet an opponent as ruthless as the Raiders so there should be some interesting unsportsmanlike penalties and maybe a few ejections from the game.

If you are not feeling up to this game I think an exciting match up today will be the Eagles at Redskins.  The number one Redskins and the last place Eagles have very similar numbers on offense, so this should turn out to be a nail biter.  Or, the Redskins will just cook the Eagles for dinner.

Common week 7!

ChargerGirl Cindi

Coaches Guide for week 7 - Chargers at Jets

I think I have recovered enough from week five and my mini heart attack to have a little chat with the coaches on what they need to work on during the bye.  I feel it's my obligation since it's obvious Norv isn't doing it.  On that note, let's start with him.

Norv - I would like to suggest you get a dictionary.  Look up words like "dominate", "pressure" and "conservative".  You need to start doing the first two, dominate the game as though there were two hours left on the clock and stop getting conservative with a 'game over' attitude until the clock actually does say 0:0:0.  Your inability to understand any sort of time management is our biggest issue going forward.  GET A WATCH!  So, "dominate" good, "conservative" bad.

Hal - Your guys are doing better on the line, but the penalties are stacking up.  I would love to see a week without someone jumping off early.  Maybe you could try some good old fashioned threatening.  You jump offside, you do not get lunch.  That should get their attention.  It just seems like they should know the snap count going in, right?  Have you had all of their hearing checked?

Rich - I realize the ball is being kicked into the end zone more often, but that doesn't mean you can't run it back for a TD.  I remember when we lead the league in kick returns for yardage and TD's.  Wouldn't it be nice to do that again?  Oh, and tell the guys to stop running the fuck backwards!  I'm not sure if they know the backwards yards do not count.  I know you are new, but a dominant special teams performance is what gets you into the playoffs.

John P.  - Dude, your guys need to be intercepting the ball.  Practice the pic/six.  I would love to see the defense looking like it did when we had Cromartie.  If they can't catch it, practice the crush and fumble.  See film of Seau and Harrison for tips on this technique if you haven't already.  The defense is doing ok, but it just looks like they are out there trying not to get into trouble.  Dominate, don't dilly dally.

Recap - Time management and points by offense, defense and special teams.  Let's go!

ChargerGirl Cindi