Chargers report card

By: Jay Paris - Staff Writer | Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:02 PM PDT ∞

Quarterbacks A - Philip Rivers was spectacular, packing his first 300-yard passing game into the overhead bin for the trip home. The 49ers kept loading up against the run and River kept unloading completions, courtesy of his funky delivery and dead-eye aim. One day, Rivers will struggle. But this wasn't that day as he seven different Chargers were on the business end of his passes; he completed at least five balls to four different Bolts.

Running backs A

With apologies to Abraham Lincoln, LaDainian Tomlinson stole a page from Honest Abe's book: four scores and ---- No lie, Tomlinson's per carry average of 3.4 yards isn't up to his standards; same goes for falling 29 yards short of the century mark. But four TDs is something, and that sky walker routine he pulled off on one of them was the talk of the locker room. Don't overlook Tomlinson's seven catches for 64 yards.

Receivers A

Antonio Gates got single coverage on LB T. J. Slaughter and the result was predictable: a 57-yard TD reception. Eric Parker tied Tomlinson for game-high honors with seven catches, and the steady Parker had team-high 88 yards. Vincent Jackson found the end zone on a nice 33-yard grab when leaping above rookie Marcus Hudson. Keenan McCardell, after two quiet weeks, made noise with six catches for 65 yards.

Offensive line A

Rivers' passes were delivered on time because he had time. His big day wasn't a result of forcing attempts into small areas and his receivers making great catches. Instead, the line was giving him the pass protection to go through his reads and pick the most open pass-catcher. Rivers took the blame for not getting ball out when sacked in the end zone for the safety. A red flag here, though, with RT Shane Olivea going out with a sprained knee and LT Marcus McNeill having a date today with an X-ray machine on his recently broken right hand.

Defensive line: B

Luis Castillo, the Dancing Bear, didn't move all that much when cradling his INT. But he did get his big mitts on it. Jamal Williams' name didn't make the stat sheet, but he was up to his old tricks tying up blockers inside. Igor Olshansky had a tackle and a quarterback hit in his homecoming.

Linebackers: B

Shaun Phillips had two sacks and acted like a bowler flinging the ball which each one ---- look out Earl Anthony. His deflection also resulted in Castillo's INT. Shawne Merriman had some knock out hits while collecting seven tackles, a sack and three QB hits. Donnie Edwards, in the final game before Tuesday's trading deadline, had five tackles.

Secondary: C

The pass defense took a couple on the chin, with Smith throwing for 214 yards and two TDs. Drayton Florence got beat for one score, although his seven tackles tied Merriman for the team-high. Terrence Kiel had a dumb penalty for nailing Frank Gore out of bounds. Marlon McCree had five tackles, a sack and a QB hit. Quentin Jammer was the culprit in coverage on the other Niners score.

Special Teams B

Nate Kaeding continues his hot pace, nailing field goals from 24 and 44 yards. Mike Scifres didn't need to shower after the game, what with his first effort coming with four minutes left it the third quarter, Michael Turner fumbled two kickoffs, which might have Marty Schottenheimer looking in Antonio Cromartie's direction. Coverage units were fine, save a 27-yard kickoff return by Maurice Hicks.

Coaching A

Never let anyone tell you Schottenheimer's ears don't work. Since grasping a 13-7 halftime lead in Baltimore as if it was the winning lottery numbers, he has taken to the air with vengeance ---- must have been the media complaining about his conservative ways which turned the tide. Schottenheimer was down with Rivers' 39 attempts and the result was another defense being snookered into stopping the run while getting stomped by the pass. Defense had another first-half, head-scratching performance; coordinator Wade Phillips worked his halftime magic to get it right.

---- Jay Paris