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Chargers' offensive starters look sharp
By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | ∞
GLENDALE, Ariz. ---- The dust and rust is now off the Chargers' starting players.
The team's core players ---- save for running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who didn't suit up ---- played into the middle of the third quarter on Saturday night for what will easily be their most extensive action of the four-game exhibition slate.
The Chargers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 33-31 on Nate Kaeding's 37-yard field goal with 2 seconds left. But just as important as the result before 64,216 at University of Phoenix Stadium was the production of the first-team offense.
Quarterback Philip Rivers was particularly efficient during 2 1/2 quarters of action, completing 20-of-29 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Vincent Jackson caught both touchdown passes and had 92 yards on four receptions.
Overall, the Chargers (2-1 in the preseason) had 506 total yards, 400 of them passing, while controlling the ball for nearly 16 more minutes than the Cardinals.
"Overall it was good," Rivers said. "We had over 500 yards total offense, and any time you do that, you're moving the ball. The impressive thing was the drives we sustained. We had a lot of long drives. Obviously, you like a big play now and then. But we'll take those long drives."
The Chargers rolled up 265 yards of total offense in the first half and began the second half with an 11-play, 80-yard drive. Rivers hit Jackson for 29 yards on the second play of the drive and then teamed up with Jackson again for a 6-yard scoring pass to give the Chargers a 24-17 lead with 8:08 left in the quarter.
The Chargers first-team defensive unit came back on the field for just one play. Defensive end Luis Castillo sacked Arizona backup quarterback Kurt Warner, forcing and falling on a fumble to give the Chargers the ball on the Arizona 12.
Billy Volek replaced Rivers at that point, but failed to get the ball into the end zone as the Chargers settled for a 25-yard field goal by Kaeding.
Arizona (0-3) rallied against the Chargers' reserves and took a 31-30 lead with 1:06 remaining when third-string quarterback Shane Boyd tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Matt Trannon.
The Chargers made a frantic push up the field, and Volek connected with receiver Kassim Osgood on a 23-yard pass in which Osgood got out of bounds at the Arizona 19 with 6 seconds to play. Then Kaeding, relishing a pressure situation in a contest that is actually meaningless, booted the decisive kick.
"It's as much a mental game for me at this point as it is physical," Kaeding said. "You have to really practice the mental side of preparing for a kick like that and just go out and knock it through."
The Chargers close the exhibition season against San Francisco on Thursday, a game in which the starters are expected to see less action with the regular season set to open 10 days later.
Defensively, the Chargers had trouble with the Cardinals' potent passing attack, allowing 308 yards through the air. Arizona's Matt Leinart was 10-of-16 for 196 yards and one touchdown while playing just the first half.
A pair of breakdowns bothered coach Norv Turner ---- including a first-quarter play in which Anquan Boldin scored on an 80-yard pass from Leinart. Boldin got behind cornerback Quentin Jammer, and strong safety Clinton Hart was nowhere in sight to help.
Turner also was upset with another first-quarter play in which Leinart scrambled out of trouble to find Bryant Johnson on a 41-yard pass that set up another Cardinals touchdown.
"We had a busted coverage and we had a scramble," Turner said. "It's something that we'll address, and a lot of it is guys trying to do more than they need to. We just got to get to where we're disciplined enough to play the coverage called and we can eliminate those plays."
Turner also was upset that the Chargers lost two fumbles.
Darren Sproles continued his fine preseason with a 19-yard touchdown run. Rivers said he initially audibilized out of the play to a pass before coming back to it. The decision was wise as the 5-foot-6 Sproles used impressive footwork to sidestep Cardinals safety Terrence Holt at the 10 en route to the score with 1:33 left in the opening quarter.
Chargers notes
RB Michael Turner suffered a high ankle sprain in the second quarter and didn't return. Š WR Craig Davis had four wisdom teeth pulled Thursday and didn't accompany the team to Arizona. ... LB Marques Harris (shoulder), DE Igor Olshansky (groin), G Erik Robertson (ankle) and LBs Anthony Waters (knee) and Matt Wilhelm (calf) all missed the game with injuries. Š Free-agent LB Nick Roach recovered a fumble on an Arizona kickoff return. Earlier this preseason, Roach forced a fumble on a Seattle return.
Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com. Comment at sports.nctimes.com.
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chappy wrote on Aug 26, 2007 6:17 AM:" Legedu Naanee is gonna suprise alot of people this year. Everyones talking about davis and rightfully so, but Naanee is gonna prove he was the steal of the draft and maybe even be this years Marques Colston if he gets the chance. He was honarable mention all-state his sophomore year in high school at WR before making the switch to QB before his junior year. He didnt make the switch to receiver tell his junior year at Boise State. If he would of played WR beginning his freshman year at Boise State he would of been a first day pick and maybe even a first round pick. Great hands, quick feet, great size (6-2 230), has a 40" vertical, used to play QB in college so hes really smart and a natural leader, and a humble guy that just plays football. He can beat out Davis and Floyd for the other starting spot if they dont stay healthy. This guy is the real deal and this proves yet again that AJ Smith is the best GM in the NFL when it comes to evaluating talent and finding gems in the later rounds. "
Bobby wrote on Aug 26, 2007 8:44 AM:Fun game, reminds me of the days of air coryell. Last one with the ball wins! I do not see how Sproles does not make the team? More so I don't get how Jammer does. By my count he gave up 126 yrd's and a TD and that was just the first quarter! Another 26 the first play of the next? He has looked sad all preseason. I said before he looks as if he lost a step, I think he has now lost it all together. Never been a big Jammer fan like Acee anyway
Joe wrote on Aug 26, 2007 10:38 AM:The weakest link on the Chargers is definitely their sorry coverage and ball skills by "Toast" Jammer, "Where am I supposed to be" Cromartie and "Head butt/hands of stone" Florence. Again the safetys are out of position. Hopefully once we institute our blitz packages it will help the secondary which has for years been the weakness of the Chargers and still is. If they're not selling cough syrup they're getting torched. It's a good thing our offense is so good or the secondary would have lost us this game and we would be lucky to go 8-8.
Ask wrote on Aug 26, 2007 1:38 PM:It was PRESEASON and against the CARDINALS. If that is enough to place a bet, LOL, that is sorry.
James wrote on Aug 26, 2007 2:44 PM:Offense is getting it's timing down...Rivers is smart, accurate, decisive, and has an uncanny pocket awareness...HE WILL BE THE NEXT "ONE"...Sproles is this year's Devin Hester...write it down...if you haven't played before you don't know how hard it is to tackled short, thick guys...let alone someone as fast, strong and quick as Sproles is...After this year Sproles will be as sought after as Turner for different skills.... Easy on the DB's...They are not making physical mistakes...they are making mental ones that can be fixed...trying to be over-aggressive...that being said THEY BETTER STOP MAKING THEM...You've seen maybe 1/10 of the Chargers Defensive package...They still stop the run cold...I think they may have sent 5 rushers twice last night...and Merriman has been dropping back into coverage on almost every passing play...They'll be fine...Remember what Brady told Bruschi after the Charger game last year..."That was the toughest one yet Ted..." The db's picked off three passes...should have had five...penalties and turnovers kept giving the Pats chances...give Brady chance after chance and eventually he's going to burn you...When Cottrell releases the "UNLEASH HELL PACKAGE" you're going to see the db's jumping routes and picking off passes...
Roy wrote on Aug 26, 2007 9:35 PM:At this point there is little worry about the offense. The defense through all the preseason games should make everyone worry. This is not over aggressiveness. It is blown coverages with too many people in the secondary getting exposed. The achilles heel for my predicted debacle is evident. I expect alot of high scoring games and to see leads get blown. Still 10 6 at best but more than likely 9 7.
Matt wrote on Aug 26, 2007 10:29 PM:ROY, if you think the Bolts are going to be 9-7 this season, you are as retarded as your post. 11-5 or 12-4 easily, we are better than every team in our division. This is the year they put it all together. SUPER "BOWLT"
Mike wrote on Aug 27, 2007 9:55 AM: I am worried about the DB's well the defence period, as mentioned before the defence does not look the same as it did last year and also before mentioned I think they are playing a different game then we will durring the season, either to not let teams see the real D or trying to get the DB more practice. last year the quarterback had nowhere near as much time to pick a target. we are not seeing the rush that we where sending last year and that will make a huge difference. how many times did we send Merriman to cover last year? and how many times have we seen him these last 3 games. the whole line backer core have been more in coverage then blitzing. I really do think it is to give them more practice in an area that alot of us feal is the weak spot of our team.
Steve wrote on Aug 27, 2007 10:01 AM:Most of the "problems" with Jammer is poor Safety play and no pass rush due the pre-season defensive game plans. Weddle will help alot once he is starting.
John wrote on Aug 27, 2007 10:36 AM:Corner is probably the hardest position to play other then QB in the NFL. I mean at least Rivers has a good ol to protect him. AJ being as sheisty as he is would not have given Jammer an extension if he didn't watch tapes and see how good Jammer is. NOt to say that Jammer doesn't mess up from time to time but the way you guys make him out to be shows you what you know about coverage. Go to a live game and watch the safeties and corners instead of just watching the TV where the cameras show you only action, then you'll see who's to blame.
Larry wrote on Aug 27, 2007 1:20 PM:Actually Mike Sullivan made the wrong call. Jammer had the outside guy, Florence let Boldin go right by, no safety came over and Jammer was left to cover two guys and went to chase. Drayton had a terrible game, and Mcree was been invisible.
Jimbo wrote on Aug 27, 2007 3:24 PM:Rivers is overrated. He just has a great OL protecting him. Chargers once again did not address the pass defense in the offseason...thank god for LT, maybe we can just keep the other team off the field.
JAMES wrote on Aug 27, 2007 3:51 PM:EVERYONE STOP ENABLING ROY...JUST IGNORE HIS IGNORANCE...HE'S NOT EVEN HERE...ROY WHO?
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