Bolts from the Blue

SBNation, home of Gaslampball, has just introduced its new Charger blog, Bolts from the Blue!!! I recommend going there from now on for all your Chargers needs. Thanks and have a nice day!!

FIRE TED COTRELL

Last Season, the Carolina Panthers were 29th out of 32 teams in total offense at 284.9 Y/game. Today they gained 388 Yards.

Last Season, they averaged 114 Y/game on the ground. Today they gained 142 yards, not to mention 4.9 yards per carry.

Last season they ranked 29 out of 32 teams in passing y/game with 170.9. Today they gained 246 yards in the air.

Last season, they were tied for 26 out 32 scoring only 16.7 points a game. Today they scored 26.

We have probably the most talent in the NFL, yet we have the worst Defensive Coordinator money can buy. Maybe the fact he was fired from that same position from three previous teams was a clue. FIRE TED COTRELL.

Heartbreaker

In one sense the Chargers deserved to lose that game.

But in another they didn’t. They made some good half time adjustments (not running on every first down). The offense showed a ton of heart in the fourth quarter, especially Gates…he’s got to be killing himself.

Give Jake credit, he made one hell of a pass when he needed to…our defense had everyone covered. I just wish they played better D in the first half. And it would have been nice if the O could have had something rolling to give the D some time to catch their breath.

This lose really hurts but I’m taking a few positives from today. It keeps our team in check, Brady might be out for the year, and now the Bolts won’t have to worry about all that pressure that goes with never losing.

Chargers vs. Panthers Open Thread

I can’t believe today is finally here. I don’t know about you, but today feels like Christmas. Maybe even better than Christmas.

Chargers face off against some team called the Panthers. Panthers have really fell off the radar since their Super Bowl appearance several years ago. For the past few years Carolina has had only one bright spot… star WR Steve Smith. Good thing for the Bolts Smith is serving a suspension for anger management problems.

I’m looking forward to see just how “battered up” this Charger team really is, especially Gates and Merriman. Today will be a great indicator of how the rest of the season could play out.
Speaking of injuries, even though Carolina has a decent defense, I have no doubt LT is 100% and will continue his opening day tradition of scoring about 8 touchdowns!

2008 Season Preview

Tomorrow night the defending SB Champion Giants get this 2008 season started. Too bad for NY; they don’t stand a chance of repeating. Look for your very own San Diego Super Chargers to win SB 43. And very quickly here’s why…

Sure I’ve said it before and I’ll probably being saying it again next year, but the Chargers are the team with the best chance to win it all. Obviously it’s going to come down to three teams in the AFC: Bolts, Colts and Patriots. Make that two, the Colts along with the Steelers and Jags represent the second tier of the AFC. In the most simple of breakdowns the Chargers have depth and the Patriots are a bunch of geriatrics. Not even injuries can keep our team down.

Look for the Bolts to face off against Dallas. I know everyone like Dallas and I like them too. The Packers and Giants aren’t that good, and last year they were just plain lucky. If it’s not Dallas, I’d expect the Seahawks to play the victim on February 1st.

Who is excited football is finally back?! Who needs a punch in the jock just to control the exhilaration and anticipation of being part of football immortality? This is f*ckin’ it! This is our time!

THE ROAD TO TAMPA STARTS NOW!

Merriman Is Going To Play!

But for how many games? As long as nobody goes for his knee (yeah, right) Shawne should be a force to be reckoned with once again this season.
I find it amusing that Merriman sees 4 other doctors, hoping one of them will say his knee is just fine. Of course they don't.
Doctors?! Lights Out don't need no stinkin' doctors!

Chargers vs. Seahawks Open Thread

If you HAD to watch one preseason game this year, this is the one to watch. The starters (minus LT of course) look to go into the third quarter.
Seattle is a good team, so this will be a nice test. This should be a preview of things to come. Perhaps even a Super Bowl preview???

Merriman's Damn Knee

Merriman says he tore his PCL. For a couple weeks now everybody has been speculating what's wrong with his knee. Now that word comes out it's his PCL, I'm worried.
The PCL is on the outside of the knee and helps stabilize the upper and lower leg from sliding back and forward. I don't think it's as serious as an ACL tear (from personal experience) but it's right up there.
Obviously playing Linebacker without a knee is a lot harder than playing QB ala Rivers, so who knows what is going to happen.
I'm very worried, but optimistic they can jimmy that thing together, give him some state-of-the-art knee brace and shoot him up with a ton of drugs. But long term that's probably not the best idea.
The Chargers could also just keep him on light duty, a few plays here and there, and let him lose against the Pats.

LT has a dream

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80a2cf95

My favorite part of this interview is when he talks about his "dream". I'm hoping LT is some sort of psychic.

Preseason Week 2 Wrap-up, Axion wants to know "wat happen".

Not much actually. We lost to a crappy team playing its first string agaisnt our 2nd 3rd and 4th strings. 7-6. 14 of 22 starters didn't play one snap and the 8 who did play only stayed in the game for maybe one drive. Actually there is a lot of positives to take out of this game.

#1 Lots of good in-game experiance for the new guys and the backups. Cason had another interception as well as Cletis Gordon. Cason looked like Cro on his return. Jacob Hester had another great night.

#2 Learning our weaknesses. Even though #99 IGOR was the only starting DT on the field, we learned we need to focus on run defense. I saw a lot of missed tackles and poor blocking.

#3 Keading and Scifers were awesome. Keading continues to kick the ball well and Scifers is a punting beast. He punted out of his own end zone and they started on thier own 25. Awesome.

#4 Mostly importantly the starters didn't have to risk injury and got more time to prepare for the Panthers. Sproles did get hurt, but it appears to be just a bruise and he should be fine.