I know I said it so many times when LT was on the team, but it’s amazing how much I enjoy watching the Chargers run the ball with authority. Of course, I fell under the spell of Air Coryell as did so many of you. They had Muncie and Brooks, but that wasn’t what kept me interested. However, most teams need to run the ball especially if they hope to win it all some day. Even the Packers in 2012 or the Colts of 2006 utilized the ground game enough to keep opposing defenses honest. 2006 makes us all think about Marlon McCree (I couldn’t believe it when Hayward got off the turf to run back one of his two picks), but if Cam Cameron had called Tomlinson’s number more than six times in the second half of 1/14/07, maybe the Colts don’t get to the Super Bowl that year. Of course, if Wade Phillips hadn’t called off the dogs on the Patriots’ last drive of the first half maybe the second half wouldn’t have gone the way it did. I’ll give Nick Canepa credit for pointing that out at the time. Since then, he’s become a a poor imitation of himself.
Acee wrote a piece today for the U-T that the Chargers win more when Rivers throws less. No shit, the numbers speak for themselves. But if Woodhead hadn’t gone down, would Gordon have even been given the chance to go over 100 yards? It’s crazy to think that he rushed for over 400 yards once in college. I love Woodhead, but my first thought when he went down (and the first thing I Tweeted) was that at least we wouldn’t need to worry about that awful shotgun draw play. Woodhead had a nice run on Sunday, but you know they would kept going back to him more than they needed to. In 2013, Rivers used Woodhead to perfection on 3rd downs. Since then, not so much. I don’t know how much Dexter McCluster has left, but I do know that Gordon looks fantastic. He’s showing patience and simultaneously being decisive. He’s broken a ton of tackles and (knock on wood) protected the ball even though defenses are trying their best to get him to revert back to his rookie mistakes. Maybe that time with Adrian Peterson paid off. Hopefully, Gordon will stay healthier than Peterson this year.
I blame McCoward and Wisenhunt for having to worry that a healthy Woodhead would cause them to go away from Gordon. But that’s what we’re stuck with. As good as the Bolts looked on Sunday, the Jaguars (without Chris Ivory even) have to factor in. After Jacksonville committed a goal-line penalty to give the Chargers 1st from the one, they pulled their same old shit. They had a false start, which used to be Clary’s specialty. Then instead of giving Gordon multiple cracks at the end zone, they tried to pass. Rivers was stripped and if Heyward hadn’t gotten that pick who knows how the game might have gone.
But hey, Heyward looked really good. As I wrote a few weeks ago, Addae can’t stay healthy mostly because he loves to try to knocking every guy out. Won’t see him for a while. Mebane has done a great job anchoring the line and Ingram has played like his best self. Verrett was shutting guys down and Flowers looks much better. He did a total flip on that play he was hurt on. He actually was a big reason the Chargers got the sack, too. Liuget has looked better also. Fortunately, the injuries haven’t been hitting the defense too hard. Bosa is already listed out with a knee, which I’m not sure is different from his tight hamstring. I think it’s just another way of saying he’s not ready to play. Hopefully, he’ll be ready against the Saints and hopefully we won’t need him too much tomorrow.
The Chargers have played well at Indy since 2004. Sure, the Colts are desperate for a win at 0-2, but so should the Chargers. They haven’t won too much on the road and if they are serious about not pulling the shit they did in KC, they need this win. Benjamin, Williams, and whoever the third guy is need to keep it going. I will never trust McCoy not to shrink from the big moment and continue to avoid going for the throat. But maybe this team can win in spite of his idiocy. That’s what they did with Schottenheimer, even though no one remembers it that way.
So enjoy your Sunday, Justice Leaguers. I need to take Aaron to the park before he drives us all insane. Let’s wish the Boss a happy belated and send out good vibes to SD Jeff and my dad.
JIC,
RLW
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