Bosum wrote on Nov 21, 2006 6:32 AM:Jay, Michael, ANYONE!- Can you please cover this story. Did you see Eli's face, body language, and behavior last night? Now compare that to Philip River's sideline style. It's a study in leadership style (or lack thereof). Of course, the broadcasters had to fall all over themselves apologizing on Eli's behalf ("If you want emotion, he is just not going to give it to you"). Every passing game I am more and more proud of the Chargers and Rivers, but seeing what we could have had last night (I am not talking about the score - we have seen plenty of proof that winning has nothing to do with the scoreboard until the clock reads all zeros), I just cracked into a big wide grin. GO BOLTS!

Concerned wrote on Nov 21, 2006 8:31 AM:I think you guys should do a story on how dirty Denver plays. Look at all those injuries! I'm certainly no expert but I'd be willing to bet that a majority of those hits were illegal chop blocks. I'm not looking forward to playing Denver again. I think the press should make it very public, then maybe the NFL refs will keep their eyes open. You know the annoucncers won't.

Zev wrote on Nov 21, 2006 10:29 AM:The Giants drafted the best QB. They just didn't know it. Big Ben was no slouch in his first season, but he crashed in the playofs. Will this happen to Rivers?

Raider Blues wrote on Nov 21, 2006 12:16 PM:Oh great now Lamont Jordan is gone for the season. The Chargers are going to kill us again (7 & counting) I wish we had AJ Smith as our GM, instead of Al Davis

Bosum wrote on Nov 21, 2006 12:18 PM:Totally agree with Concerned. There were terrible, dirty chops all night long. Don't blame Igor for losing it one little bit! The Broncos are just showing how weak they really are. If they have to resort to this style, you know you are desperate. And Zev, you are bang on the money. Philip will need to adjust to the 'next level' of play that you have to get to in post-season play. We just gotta keep our fingers crossed that the Bolts get there with some homefield advantage.

Seeker wrote on Nov 21, 2006 1:23 PM:The Bronco's offensive line play is "legal" according to NFL rules. I believe it's time other teams used those same rules against the Bronco's but with at a whole new level. Take out two or three of their O line and then listen to the screaming. Who can forget the picture of Trevor Price doing a body slam on Brees' shoulder last year? When the broadcast team fails to say something then you know that the NFL approves of it's officiating. Anybody notice the hold on Florence by the wide receiver on 4th & 1....handful of jersey right in front of the ref but no flag.....this isn't a coincidence. It's not a level playing field. Some coaches and their teams get unfair help from the officials.

JDAWG wrote on Nov 21, 2006 2:16 PM:Go Chargers*

Gnarly Charlie wrote on Nov 21, 2006 2:54 PM:I wonder if Denver's dirty offensive line play has anything to do with them not talking to the media. They don't have to answer questions about it and get away with murder.

Tybolts wrote on Nov 21, 2006 3:59 PM:I agree I'm sick of Denver's cheap shot's. Good Job Igor!!! The league protects QB's to the point you can't even tackle them anymore without worrying about a flag. But Denver's small linemen just go for the defenders knee's remember Jamal Williams blowing out his knees a couple years ago, against who else... Denver, on a play just like Igors. They look a lot like the old dirty Raiders!!!

Karma strikes Broncos wrote on Nov 21, 2006 4:10 PM:Karma caught up to the Broncos starting strong safety Ferguson has been put on I.R.

Chop Block wrote on Nov 21, 2006 7:20 PM:Igor, you hould have ripped his helmet off then hit him with a forearm smash! In the meantime save up your anger and make sure Tom Nalen gets taken off the field on a cart in two weeks.

Skate wrote on Nov 21, 2006 7:28 PM:DT Jamal Williams (ankle), DE Jaques Cesaire (ankle) and DE Derreck Robinson (foot) could all miss some practice time. Every DL on San Diego recieved dirty chop blocks, not just Igor - Denver has replaced Oakland as the dirtiest team in the NFL. When will this stop?

Skate wrote on Nov 21, 2006 8:25 PM:spent his first four seasons in the league watching the Denver Broncos offensive line work every day in practice, a teammate on the other side of the ball. He saw the way they perfected their zone-blocking schemes, those dastardly cut-blocks repped over and over again. Fair or not, George Foster has been the poster child for cut-blocking. (Getty Images) Fair or not, George Foster has been the poster child for cut-blocking. (Getty Images) Back then, Hayward didn't have to worry about the perils of the system. He was a teammate, a friend, a player those offensive linemen wanted to avoid cutting. So they practiced on dummies, rarely, if ever, cutting Hayward and his defensive line mates for fear of injury. There was too much risk, too much investment. "There's no way it would have been live," Hayward said. "They had to protect the defensive linemen." Those four years gave Hayward a real understanding of the system, even if he didn't face it in live work. Now as a defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Hayward is more than qualified to talk about that controversial style of line play, a style that is becoming and more prevalent in the NFL. What he has to say isn't very nice. "It's dirty, there's no question about it," Hayward said. "It's a dirty way to play. But they use it because it works. That's why you're seeing more teams use it. It works. That doesn't make it right. The league has tried to do stuff to make it safer, but they haven't done enough. It's a way a guy can get seriously hurt. It's a dirty system." The Broncos have used the zone-blocking system for years, leading a running game that is always among the league's best. It is a system based on smaller, athletic linemen who reach on the front side of the play in zone blocking and then cut on the back side. The idea behind the style is for the back to take a handoff, pick a hole, with the option of cutting it off to the backside of the play where defenders have been chopped down like pine tress at Christmas. In addition to the Broncos, the Atlanta Falcons have used the system the past couple of years, brought to them by line coach Alex Gibbs, who perfected it when he was the line coach in Denver. This season, we have two more teams going to the system. The Houston Texans, now coached by former Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, will employ the style. So will the Green Bay Packers, whose offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski came over from Atlanta, where he served as the team's line coach last season, learning the tricks of the trade from Gibbs. That's four primary zone-blocking, cut-blocking teams, which doesn't make defensive players all that happy. "Last year, I got caught on one and had a sprained ankle and slowed me down the last couple of game," Carolina Panthers defensive end Mike Rucker said. "What's the need for it? There are so many rules out there to protect players. What about us? One of our assets is our knees. This is a system that goes right after those. It's dangerous. It's one thing to slow a guy down, but to go at his knees and ankles. That's too much." By league rules, the blocks are legal in close-in play, the areas extending laterally to where the tackles are positioned and 3 yards on either side of the ball. An offensive player can cut down a defensive player as long as he gets his head in front of the legs above the knee. But getting the head in front doesn't necessarily make the block safe. A flowing defensive lineman can be looking at the ball on the front-side of the play, while getting cut down behind it. That's where injuries can occur.

dennis wrote on Nov 22, 2006 8:21 AM:Congratulations Chargers! Atop the Div and playing exciting football. You have what it takes to go all the way! Just keep your heads on straight and do not dwell on the press clippings. Play football....but please ...don't get so far behind and then have to come back...miracles don't happen every time. ELI who?