Off to a 4-2 start to the season the san diego chargers have looked good over the first third of the season. The question is will they be able to parlay that into their first playoff appearance since the inception of maddenfinest? The defense has looked good and the offense is playing "martyball" as coach schottenheimer likes to call it and the nice blend of complimentary football should help this team develop into a perrenial contender. Phillip Rivers is having a great season so far in what could be could be his final season as a charger and final season in the league. Rivers was non committal when pressed on the issue and the team has yet to renew his contract. One has to belive with strong showing this season rivers COULD be back for one more "ride". More as the season progresses......
Week 2 started with a bang as the new look Denver Broncos took on the much improved on paper San Diego Chargers. Several key off season acquisitions had both teams with superbowl title hopes.
The chargers acquired some talent at outside linebackers via free agency in the form of Koa misi and through trading picking up unrated LB Ty Powell from buffalo and developmental LB Trevardo Williams from Houston. Other key off season pickups for SD were safety Jose Gumbs and cornerbacks Chris Greenwood and veteran Carlos Rogers both who have paid immediate divends in the turnover column. Top Draft choice tailback Margarito "galvatron" Galvin is exactly the type of back coach Marty Schottenheimer covets and is hoping will propel this franchise to the next level. 15th overall pick Pierre Emert flashed the kind of speed and playmaking that had the chargers sweet on him on after the combine on specal teams but was taking a more developing role as he builds a trust with QB Phillip Rivers.Veteran Lagarrete Blount was brought in to show Galvin the ropes and they responded well in camp and pre-season forming a tight bond. With emerging superstars Keenan Allen and Ladarius Green and a victory week 1 vs the always tough Chiefs this could be a team to watch.
On the other side of the ball in Denver several questionable moves punctuated their wild off season including acquiring Colin Kapernick, Patrick Willis, and Bobby Wagner. The one move this columnist will touch on is the head scratching move of putting All-Pro superstar outside linebacker Von Miller at defensive end. To be honest nothing that happens in Denver surprises anyone much anymore these days we are next expecting tmags mom to join the league and trade him Richard Sherman then promptly quit ala "his boy Vaner" while he claims the move to be an "insignifigant detail". Whatever this columnists personal feelings on Denver 1 thing that cannot be denied is the talent on the roster, despite a seemngly ineptitude for the obvious details of the game Denver won handily week 1 over the defending champ Oakland Raiders. Denver it seems took a page out of the legendary Al Davis's book. It doesnt matter how u got the players Denver. #justwin:)
The Game- Was not even remotely competitive as Denver got beat down at home. Predictable playcalling amatuer qb control and a hurry up offense that made no sense ensured that Denver, no matter the immense talent disparity on the rosters would go nowhere this day. 3 Turnovers by Colin Krappernicks marred his game as the Charger defense bore down on him all day. Of course the coach running a hurry up offense after tackles behind the line of scrimmage and getting sacked couldnt have helped him much.Newcomer Koa misi had 7 tackles 3 Tackles for a loss including 1 sack and Lawrence Timmons had 6 solo collisions. Patrick Willis and Bobby Wagner looked a little lost in their roles as they were adjusting to a new system and wagner a new position. Von Miller was blanked on the stat sheet(go figure) till late in garbage time where he recorded his 1st tackle of the day with 3 mins left in the 4th q drawing a sarcastic cheer from the sparse crowd that remained. Denver looked like a team that had superbowl talent but on this day they looked lost. San Diego on the other hand proved they can compete with the best teams in the league as top draft pick Margarito Galvin bowled his way to 113 yds and 2 Tds on the ground. Dynamic QB Phillip Rivers showed he still had a little left in the tank as he carved up Denvers mediocre secondary going 11 for 15 with 3 TD tosses including 2 to super sophmore Keenan Allen en route to 154.6 passer rating.
Conclusion- This game proved the AFC wild west could be a shootout this season as 4 talented teams vye for top position with each capable of winning on any given sunday. Questions have to be raised tho, questions about the legitimacy of Denvers roster and as the league continues to look into the ugly allegations of collusion thaat forced Denver Owners good friend"VANER" to step down from the 49ers top office position and the one question everyone is really wondering...were Denver and San Fran more than good friends?