Noodles wrote on Jan 24, 2008 5:47 AM:I like the hiring as long as this team doesn't bring back the Air Coryell era in terms of play calling.

Sure, the Don Coryell era with the Chargers was entertaining in terms of watching the offense play and no one was more entertaining to watch than Johnny Jefferson, but watching the Charger defense get torn to shreds at the end of the game was no fun at all.

In that era, the offense scored far too quickly and as a result, the opponents offense would wear the Charger defense down due in large part to time of possession being in the opponents favor.

Part of protecting the Charger defense is done by keeping them off the field. The Chargers have to be able to score quickly, but they also have to be able to run down the clock with long time consuming drives.

BoltDan wrote on Jan 24, 2008 8:20 AM:I agree with you Noodles.. except we also need to beef up that secondary some more. IT looks like Florence is gone so that helps right away... Weddle will be an improvement at safety but what about the others??? who will be the nickle corner??? the one who will stop the underneath stuff that the Patsies killed us with. Let's see what the draft will bring because AJ will not delve into the free agency market! He would never do what New England did to become a power house team.

Bobby wrote on Jan 24, 2008 8:42 AM:Fans will never have to worry about Turner turning this team into, air Coryell! Norv knows two plays. Run twice and throw deep.
It will take more than Joiner to get Busted Davis going. In a few years he will be gone just like so many of Smiths high picks,,, Sammy Davis, Kiel and Brees to name a few. There is a reason why Buster was ONLY the #3 WR on his college team? It's a good thing we have Buddy Nix and his staff finding all those great rookie FA's like Dielman, Gates, Osgood, Turner, Parker, Tucker, Harris, Cesaire, Cooper, Flash Gorden, McKinney, Welker and WHO did I miss???
The media and fans give A.J. all the credit but Buddy and his people do all the work!!! When Spanos gave Smith a new contract he told the people of SD he is looking for a way to move this team.

Thomas wrote on Jan 24, 2008 10:32 AM:What is more important is that Norv did not have the confidence of his players to go into the end zone on 4th down, three times. Kicking field goals was reminescent of Marty ball. Meaning that we don't let the players play to win, but rather play to lose, but not by much. Football like in war a General has to have a killing instinct to to take no prisoners and to protect his men. Norv showed that he does not have this trait! This will only repeat in 2008 if there is no change! We have the talent just not the coaching!

Rene wrote on Jan 24, 2008 11:43 AM:I disagree. You have to look at the whole situation. It was 4th and long, not 4th and 1 or 3. There was a lot of time left and if the chargers don't convert then the patriots are almost sure to score again with that field position. Like Kevin Acee of the UT wrote, "at some point you have to put it in your defense's hands"

Jose wrote on Jan 24, 2008 1:22 PM:The view that Chargers must go for FGs on 4th and long (7-10 yards) in big play off games when there appears to be time on the clock is asking for trouble. In the Pats game, there was 9 minutes left and we never got the ball back after we punted. So that line of logic is weak strategy.

The 'sure we got plenty of time to regroup and socre again; let's just get some points on the board' and 'let's let our D get in there and squash their drive', is indeed not playing to win.

It's also great for a team to score quickly and often as long as they can also control the clock with a decent running game. I recall those great Air Coryell days when the Fouts led Bolts offense put points up in a hurry. That was truly a sight to see...quick releases to Winslow, pump fakes short and deep passes to Johnny Jefferson and first down throws to Charlie Joiner in the crunch.

After the brief time on the field our offense got off and then it was up to our exhausted and banged up D try to hold off the opponents who eventually caught up on the score board and won. Those losses really stuck in my memory even to this day...

Anyway, I'm hoping Charlie Joiner's expertise at WRs coach will rub off on an already solid core and help them to find ways to get open and more the ball after catches. Go Bolts

Braxton wrote on Jan 24, 2008 1:37 PM:Bobby, I really don't understand your logic.

Rivers, McNeill, Merriman, Phillips, Cromartie, Weddle, etc..

Good lord, I could go on and on about great draft picks from AJ.

hang in there wrote on Jan 24, 2008 1:44 PM:& next up Bobby..blah blah blah blah & then BoltDan.. blah blah blah blah Don`t fret none fellers AJ is going to get it done. If there is a free agent out there that could put us over the hump AJ will sign him.

PAL52 wrote on Jan 24, 2008 7:51 PM:The Chargers ARE a powerhouse team without going nuts and overspending themselves into instability in the free agent market. They lost the title game by 9 points with a sidelined superstar and injuries everywhere. If you haven't figured out AJ knows how to build a powerhouse team through the draft by now you're just hopeless.

PAL52 wrote on Jan 24, 2008 8:35 PM:Bobby: I did some research so you wouldn't have to. Michael Turner was a draft pick, not a free agent.

AJ's greatest hits from 2003 on:

Wilhelm (starter)
Scifres
Milligan (gone, after Pro Bowl year)
Pinnock
Kiel (ex-starter future ex-con)
Olshansky (starter)
Hardwick (starter)
Olivea (ex-starter)
Phillips (starter)
virtual draft pick Rivers (starter)
Bingham
Turner
Kaeding
Merriman (starter)
Castillo (starter)
Jackson (starter)
Mruczkowski
Cromartie (starter)
Davis
Weddle (future starter)
McNeil (starter)
Florence (ex-starter)
Clary (starter)
Naanee

That's 11 AJ Smith starters, plus the kicker and punter. He dealt or signed five more starters (see below) for 16 regulars and inherited LT, Jammer.

Maybe Buddy Nix deserves a lot more credit than he's getting (Gates, Cooper, tremendous special teams player) but AJ is on a hellacious run. And AJ's the guy getting all the signatures on the dotted lines for all those free agents and walkons. Credit Marty for touting Gates early on too and getting him playing time right away.

And Welker for Hart's a straight-up whiff. I've always wondered who actually made that call to cut Welker. Welker should be a verb, as in ``The Dolphins welkered Chris Chambers to San Diego for a draft pick.''

AJ the trader and FA signer:
Oben (ex-starter, major factor in team's turnaround)
McCardell (ex-starter, see Oben)
McCree (starter)
Chambers (oh, what a starter)
Neal (starter)
Goff (starter)
Hart (starter)

Sam wrote on Jan 24, 2008 10:04 PM:Who do you think ran the scouting department when Butler had his run in Buffalo...oh wait...that would be AJ Smith. Butler brought Aj and Buddy with him. AJ promoted Buddy...Nice job Pal52. Now please Bobby do something else.

D.R. wrote on Jan 25, 2008 12:07 AM:Hello?

That is exactly like something that old Coach Joe Gibbs would say and the game has certainly passed him by. Old thinking, if I may... a bit Republicanesque.

Those days it was Boss Hog's weak will to bring discipline to the team. They were never athletically inferior to many teams but each player let down when he needed to be the man. Who remembers Boss Hog getting fired up and saying, "Not on my watch!

Never happened.

How bout this one?

Punch them in the face for a quick touchdown. Defense starts the game with 4th quarter intensity going absolutely balls out and at 17-0 after the first quarter a lot of these other NFL teams will give up. What, maybe 8 or so teams are mentally tough?

I say "Devour them all" and shoot for 19-0 next year.

It is a silly game, why not be all you can be?

I saw the 1963 AFC championship game and have asked the Football Gods that before I go to the big "Sky Box" in the sky... I want to see the Chargers win the Super Bowl.

"In A.J. Smith we trust."

Boltgal #43 wrote on Jan 25, 2008 9:29 PM:Come on Dean, Welcome Charlie Back!!!
I guess that silver spoon was so big
you couldn't see what a Generous, responsible, winning human being looks
like when daddy bought the team, after the years of being "RIGHT" we see a
shift back to what works now that ernie
& exiles trained the competition. this
will help the bad JUJU but more needs
to be done, whether you move or not,
Daddy should of sent you to buffalo
to prove your self then you would of
known what to do instead of changing
management like underwear the last 20+
years? You should Love your Team 1st
then go home and count your billion
beans, enough bolt tail surfing "win
the big one this year"!