(If this all appears redundant to what you have heard on T.V. or radio, we apologize. We have purposely avoided any corporate media analysis so as to not taint our outlook. And we apologize for not having any more creative insight than 70-80% of the ‘heads on T.V/radio who are paid to do so.)
If its going to go down, this is what needs to happen:
1. Pressure Brady. duh. Not just any pressure though. The Chargers need to generate pressure up the middle. There is no better quarterback in the game than Tom Brady when it comes to sensing AND adjusting to pressure. If we are choosing our poison, though, we would much rather see Brady having to throw while moving laterally than being able to step-up into the pocket and fire lasers downfield. Lasers….
2. Shorten the game… stay committed to the run game to keep the Pats offense off the field even if the Chargers go down early by a couple of scores. Don't panic. Which leads to…
3. Be creative. Again, this may be the last opportunity for the Chargers to utilize LT and Michael Turner/Darren Sproles in the backfield at the same time. We’ve never understood why this has never happened. Defensive scheming is all about allocation of resources and no one does it better than the Pats. Force the Pats aging linebacker unit to chase both LT AND Turner/Sproles around the yaahd this afternoon. If one dynamic game-changing talent in the backfield is good, we defy anyone to prove to us how two is not better? We beseech ye, then, O football gods for Norv Turner to break with convention and make this happen!
4. Pray for turnovers. Turning to the heavens twice in one post may be asking for too much but lets face it… the Chargers are going to need some breaks. Two red-zone turnovers by the Colts was pretty much the difference in the Charger victory last week and they will need some similar “help” this week as well.
OK. That’s it. Probably the last post for today as we will either be crying in our beer or re-enacting the days of our youth by streaking down Garnet Blvd. as we did 13 yrs. ago when the Chargers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC crown.
Go BOLTS!
If its going to go down, this is what needs to happen:
1. Pressure Brady. duh. Not just any pressure though. The Chargers need to generate pressure up the middle. There is no better quarterback in the game than Tom Brady when it comes to sensing AND adjusting to pressure. If we are choosing our poison, though, we would much rather see Brady having to throw while moving laterally than being able to step-up into the pocket and fire lasers downfield. Lasers….
2. Shorten the game… stay committed to the run game to keep the Pats offense off the field even if the Chargers go down early by a couple of scores. Don't panic. Which leads to…
3. Be creative. Again, this may be the last opportunity for the Chargers to utilize LT and Michael Turner/Darren Sproles in the backfield at the same time. We’ve never understood why this has never happened. Defensive scheming is all about allocation of resources and no one does it better than the Pats. Force the Pats aging linebacker unit to chase both LT AND Turner/Sproles around the yaahd this afternoon. If one dynamic game-changing talent in the backfield is good, we defy anyone to prove to us how two is not better? We beseech ye, then, O football gods for Norv Turner to break with convention and make this happen!
4. Pray for turnovers. Turning to the heavens twice in one post may be asking for too much but lets face it… the Chargers are going to need some breaks. Two red-zone turnovers by the Colts was pretty much the difference in the Charger victory last week and they will need some similar “help” this week as well.
OK. That’s it. Probably the last post for today as we will either be crying in our beer or re-enacting the days of our youth by streaking down Garnet Blvd. as we did 13 yrs. ago when the Chargers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC crown.
Go BOLTS!
Posts
2 comments:
The AFC and NFC championship games are the two NFL games I actually watch each year. Why? Because it's actual football without all the crap surrounding the Super Bowl -- or it was until they started putting in Garth Brooks at halftime a couple years ago. But I can go out for a sandwich. It's also because they play the games outdoors much of the time in really awesome weather -- the way it was meant to be.
But I digress...
Just think of me as the chick in the office who knows absolutely nothing but is going to win the pool anyway. So, my predictions:
New England, big. If only because Junion Seau is the last guy in the league older than me and he deserves one more shot at the title.
The Pack, not as big. Because I hate the Mannings and all they stand for.
- Mongo
Dean,
Nice calls on keys to the game today. Tough day for the Bolts. Most horribly, IMHO, is that the Chargers had a chance to win this, if they had listened to you. When they did pressure Brady, they had some success, but too often they sat back in the the straight cover-two. They were never creative, either. This drives me nuts. Successful coaches will roll the bones occasionally and go with the fake field goal, fake punt, or onside kickoff. BTW, the onside kick success ratio for kicks not in the fourth quarter is "a healthy 64%." What better way to keep Brady off the field than a successful onside kick. Clearly, these Chargers have the on field talent to challenge again next year, but I would prefer to have C. O. Jones or someone like him, rather than Norv Turner as next year's coach.
Post a Comment