CHARGERS: Hochuli's blunder keeps heat off Cottrell, defense

By JAY PARIS - Staff Writer | Friday, September 19, 2008 6:48 PM PDT ∞

Quentin Jammer and the Chargers defense haven't had a lot to be happy about this season. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow - North County Times)

SAN DIEGO ---- The rage this week was shooting e-mails to referee Ed Hochuli.

Chargers fans filled his in-box with messages berating his incorrect call Sunday in Denver that helped keep the Chargers winless.

Defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell wasn't among those firing off missives. If so, Cottrell's would probably read something like this:

Hey Ed:

We all make mistakes, and you made a doozy --- still not sure why you tooted your whistle on what was an obvious fumble.

But in some ways, I have to thank you. Because all the heat you are receiving would likely be headed my way.

All the best and keep doing those pushups.

Ted Cottrell

San Diego Chargers

It's vogue to blame the Chargers' 39-38 loss to the Broncos on Hochuli. But peel away the layer of disappointment and it's striking how poor the Chargers' defense played that day.

Sure it rallied late, but that wasn't good enough to allow Denver quarterback Jay Cutler ---- bad call or no bad call ---- to march 80 yards with the game at stake. And even with that Hochuli gift, the Chargers had two chances to stop the Broncos from their 10 ---- and didn't.

They had another opportunity to deny them the 2-point conversion for the go-ahead score ---- and didn't. Instead, someone joked that instead of utilizing their 3-4 defense the Chargers went to a 3-9 ---- as in the 39 points the Broncos plopped on them. Not to mention getting torched for 486 yards.

That Denver did in the Chargers late was a repeat of the previous week. The Panthers squared up the Chargers and beat them on their last chance as well.

The Chargers are 0-2 in the standings and 2-0 in not stopping offenses with the game hanging in the balance.

"It's the ability to make a play, somebody make a play,'' Cottrell said after the Chargers' Thursday practice.

In both games, the Chargers improved as the game progressed ---- until the last drive. In the opening two quarters of games, the Chargers have allowed 40 points. In the final two, 25.

"We settled in pretty good the second half and just played better," Cottrell said. "The guys are playing hard; there is nothing wrong with their hustle, intensity and all that."

What's wrong is the Chargers aren't in a play-hard conference ---- their league demands wins, not effort.

While the offense and special teams are pitching in, the defense is getting hit ---- hard. The Chargers ranked at or near the bottom in every critical defensive categories.

"Offense put us in a great position ---- they did a great job,'' said safety Clinton Hart, a defensive captain. "Special teams did a great job. Defense, we have to step up. Bottom line, we have to step it up, and we will."

That the Chargers are digging out defensively is a surprise. Cottrell said repeatedly when embarking on the season how this defense was ahead of last year, when the new coaching staff was wearing name tags and trying to get familiar with their fresh charges.

Many expected the Chargers to produce thunder and lightning on the defensive side, straight from the chute.

Then inside linebacker Stephen Cooper, the team's top tackler last year, started his four-game suspension.

Next Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman was dreadful in the opener and opted for season-ending knee surgery.

Then cornerback Antonio Cromartie tried to make good on his goal of 15 interceptions ---- in the first two games. He overplayed receivers, going for the picks instead of solid coverage. He was flagged four times in Denver, when his mile-high emotions trumped his athletic skills.

"We're coming close,'' Cottrell preached. "It's just execution.''

Cottrell remains upbeat the Chargers' defensive worm will turn.

A defense that led the NFL in takeaways last year hasn't displayed those ball-hawking skills. A defense that was known for its fiery pass rush has but two sacks ---- one of the team variety.

"We gotta come up with those picks, or those forced fumbles or sacks ---- things like that. That's what we have to do," Cottrell said. "We all gotta do better, so we're not down to the last thingabob, the last situation ---- don't let it get that close."

Instead, the wobbly Chargers have presented an opening for others.

"It's early," Hart said. "Guys are flying around. We just have to really hone in on technique and doing things that we need to do to help contribute to our first win. We plan on that being Monday night."

Cottrell swears the Chargers have wiped the first two games from their memory in time for Monday's game against the Jets.

"We kinda not even talk about any of that after we came in the other day,'' he said. "We haven't even brought that game up. The quicker we get that game out, the better. And I think the extra day's helped us."

Linebacker Matt Wilhelm seconds the urgency, especially with the Chargers trailing the first-place Broncos by two games in the AFC West.

"Obviously, we understand that we don't have a lot of time to wait for things to turn,'' Wilhelm said. "We really feel this Monday night game's going to propel us.''

If not, bent Chargers fans might be Googling Cottrell's e-mail address.

Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.