Fan Maybe wrote on Oct 2, 2007 5:07 AM:The LT / Rivers relationship is quickly going to the dogs. 2 weeks in a roll Rivers has thrown a ball to LT when he still had his back turned. Yo, Rivers, are you trying to make LT look bad? Are you trying to discredit him? That's the way it is beginning to look to this Fan. News Flash to Rivers, pay attention, LT is the leader, heart and sole of this team. You better figure out how to get along with him or things for you will just get worst and worst.-

Bob wrote on Oct 2, 2007 5:54 AM:I think that when you hire a loosing coach, you have not improved the team. There certainly were better coaches out there if the Chargers had to get rid of Marty. I think A J Smith needs to take a deep breath and hope that the players can save his and Norv's jobs, because they are tettering on the edge, and the Spanos's had better be seeing that.-

Andrew wrote on Oct 2, 2007 8:56 AM:Fan Maybe: all balls are thrown with the receivers backs still to the QB in those kind of timing routes out in the flat. By the time LT turns his head and the ball should already be there.-

Flee wrote on Oct 2, 2007 9:06 AM:There are 3 types of people in this world of ours: 1) Those who make things happen, 2) those who let things happen, 3) those who wonder "WHAT HAPPENED"!! The Spanos's wonder "WHAT HAPPENED" management acumen created this mess 3 years ago when the communication problems was on the front pages first showed it ugly head!!!!!-

JAMES wrote on Oct 2, 2007 10:11 AM:Andrew...thank you for stating the obvious...but it's already been admitted by Rivers and Turner that Rivers was at fault! RIVERS MUST GET HIS HEAD OUT IF THEY ARE GOING TO GET OUT OF THE HOLE!-

Joe wrote on Oct 2, 2007 10:36 AM:In football there is one primary leader and that is the QUARTERBACK. Rivers will be here long after LT retires. LT is a spectacular running back and undoubtedly a future hall of famer but that does not change the fact that the quarterback is the General on the football field. When I played football for the University of Florida Gators if you said one word in the huddle while the quarterback was talking you would be running laps until you dropped. Part of the problem is the Chargers' philosophy to run our entire offense around LT. That in itself makes us, by definition, essentially one-dimensional. It is time for LT to stop counting how many "touches" he gets and the Chargers to diversify their attack (end arounds, 2 backs with Burner Turner & LT etc.) which will in turn open up more running lanes for LT. Fake to LT and pass on 1st down more. Get Legadu Nanee involved and put Burner Turner in earlier (yes he had a terrible fumble but I can't remember the last time he ever fumbled) or even Pinnock to beat up the defense. Bring Sproles (a la Ronnie Harmon) in as a scatback in ther 3rd and 4th quarters for a quick burst with the defense tired. Bottom line the play calling needs to be not only better but much more creative. Try a shovel pass and draws which disrupt the defense's timing and slows down the pass rush. Pump fake to one side and throw back to the other side like Brady did to us. Try using the no huddle to establish a rhythm like the Pats did so effectively to us. How about a reverse on a kickoff? Bottom line is GET MAD and quit pushing and shoving like Pop Warner kids and start driving your head into the ball carrier's stomach and wrapping up and tackling like men. Go Chargers!

JAMES wrote on Oct 2, 2007 11:14 AM:Come on Joe...LT is not counting his touches...the media is...they point it out to him and then he recalls it...LT is a team player...he just wants to win probably more than anyone else in this league...all your suggestions are interesting but the fact is Rivers is playing poorly and that's all there is to it...If this were the Bears and Grossman, Rivers would be benched...he's pretty close to Grossman like turnovers in terms of numbers...Rivers is a good player...he'll get it together!

Joe wrote on Oct 2, 2007 12:20 PM:I agree Rivers is playing poorly and the following are my reasons: Poor protection especially from "alligator arms Olivia" (we should have kept "long arms" Lekekerker and put him at right tackle) who was beat like a drum and allowed Rivers to get hit while in the throwing motion numerous times which caused at least one interception. Both he and McNiel are not handling speed rushers and need to work a lot on their FOOT movement. Receivers are not getting separation (we really miss Parker who is the best we have at that) and when they do, they DROP a perfectly thrown 50 yard touchdown pass (hello V. Jackson). These kind of drops due to "GETTING DISTRACTED" (talk about an unprofessional, lame and contrived exuse) destroy a quarterback's confidence in a receiver. Where is Legadu Nanee (tall, fast, strong and good at getting yards after the catch)who I think would help and why not play 6' 5" Floyd more time and who has played well when in games-heck, why not even give Osgood a shot as a reward for his superb special teams play. As I mentioned in my previous post today, no draws, shovel passes or reverses to slow down the pass rush. Here is a point which may not have been considered: while Norv is supposed to be a good quarterback coach, because he is saddled with being the Head Coach he does not have the quality time to help with Philip's development. Philip does need to look off of his primary receiver much better as well as sell a play fake MUCH better. He and the receivers are all very young and so there are going to be some growing pains. While I know we are talking college here now but did you know that Philip was the MVP of ALL FIVE Bowl games in which he played. That is incredible! So the talent is there he just needs the O line to be solid, better and more diverse play calling and for the receivers to get better separation and CATCH the ball. Let't kick butt in Denver and start turning this YUGO back into the Ferari. Go Chargers!

Zack wrote on Oct 2, 2007 12:27 PM:If Michael Turner is going to continue to be a mere after thought in this Charger offense, then the Chargers ought to see if they can trade Turner to Tampa. Tampa is in desperate need of a running back, and I would think trading Turner now would be far better than letting him go as a free agent at the end of the season for a third round compensatory pick. I don't know Tampa's roster very well, but if they have any excess veteran leadership type players at either the (speedy) wide receiver or secondary positions, then the Chargers ought to consider persueing the trade.

Fan in PA wrote on Oct 2, 2007 12:44 PM:Joe, you make a good point, there is no imagination to the coaching schemes. Norv and Ted, get your heads out of the box and into the game! As an observer, it appears the oppositiion seems to know what we are going to do before we do it. That and some sloppy play, which again doesn't bode well for the coaching staff. Hey, I think Bill Cowher is available.

Joe wrote on Oct 2, 2007 1:14 PM:Thanks for the kudos Fan in PA. What you are talking about are called "tendencies". For instance, when you have a 2 tight end set and LoNeal in the backfield with LT you can almost bet it will be a run by LT. The TRICK in being creative is to many times do just the opposite such as fake to LT and throw a nice curl pattern for about 13 yards. Wouldn't it be ironic if the Chargers came to master the slant pattern themselves and used it to gain some victories to the playoffs? It was one of the most effective plays in the original "genius" Walsh between Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. Another point I did not mention that would be of GEAT help is to begin to AUDIBLE out of bad calls and into better plays like the master himself Peyton Manning. That can turn an LT stuff at the line against an 8 man in the box defense into a quick flanker screen 20 yard gain. I have been one of ArrogantJ Smith's and Norval's biggest critics however I also try to provide suggestions gleaned from my 9 years of competitive and organized football which I think could be helpful. THIS is the week to turn it around or it could be a loooooog and very disappoiting season to say the least. C'mon Chargers, START EARNING your HUGE paychecks!-

SD extended wrote on Oct 2, 2007 2:20 PM:It was clear for every fan who experienced the bad luck of facing Norv Turner coaching his team, the chargers were gonna have a lot of problems. Simply put, Norv ain't NFL head coaching material. You can blame the players, etc. But the only visible change was the head, and it has gone very wrong at the moment. Sure they can rebound, but also Cincy, Miami, the jets do. And maybe it's not only Turner, all SD org has been cocky. They offended the football gods by losing to New England in such way. I still remember Marlon Mcree saying he would do it again... So they deserve what they are going through.

Roy wrote on Oct 3, 2007 6:18 PM:James we will be 1-5 after the Raider game. There is little chance of beating Denver in Denver. What are we? 4-24. The Raiders are also vastly improved on offense because they hired new offensive line coaches who know what they are doing and now all of a sudden they can run and the quarterback has something not seen in Raiderville in years...protection. I was looking forward to going to the Raider game with three Raider fans so that I could ridicule them but I think it will be smarter to just do what the Chargers should do...shut up!