chiefsfan1963
10-03-2006, 08:03 PM
Check it out:
http://wwwww.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20061003-9999-1s3chargers.html
Chargers players among those griping about play-calling
By Kevin Acee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 3, 2006
K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune
Flanked by Dick Lewis, Chargers security head, and a police escort, coach Marty Schottenheimer walks off the field after loss.
Martyball – or is it now Camball? – has returned.
No one is happy.
Only Keenan McCardell is really saying so publicly, which should endear him to the thousands of Chargers fans who are beside themselves over Sunday's 16-13 loss in Baltimore and too many like it under Marty Schottenheimer.
But be certain about this: Not a soul at Chargers Park is pleased.
Says he ....
* Canepa: Resolute coach sticks by guns . . . and by runs
The conservative look
The uniforms may change, but Marty Schottenheimer doesn't. Three constants: 1) He wins games. 2) He loses playoff games. 3) He gets criticized far and wide for being too conservative. Some of his previous critics:
Cleveland Browns
1984-88
44-27 (2-4 in playoffs)
“When pitted against equally strong teams, Schottenheimer invariably coaches out of fear of losing.”
Gerald Strine,
Dallas Morning News, 1992
Kansas City Chiefs
1989-98
101-58-1 (3-7 in playoffs)
“The measured advance toward the playoffs is Schottenheimer's signature. So, too, is the trap door that eventually ruins the march.”
Bud Shaw,
Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1994
Washington Redskins
2001
8-8 (no playoffs)
“(Tony) Dungy adopted Schottenheimer's conservative offensive philosophy. That philosophy got Marty run out of Cleveland and Kansas City. It looks like that philosophy won't last more than a season in Washington.”
Jason Whitlock,
Kansas City Star, 2002
Many players, including McCardell, pointed out there are 13 games to play, which might be precisely the point.
Three games into a season that was supposed to be different, there is concern it might be the same old same-old. And that, as LaDainian Tomlinson said Sunday, has gotten old.
Team President Dean Spanos, whose decision it ultimately is to keep or dispatch Schottenheimer, isn't talking because “it's too early” to officially address his head coach's status.
General Manager A.J. Smith, whose issues with the head coach are well-chronicled, is making vague statements that are certainly not ringing endorsements, but neither are they ultimatums.
“Coach Schottenheimer is the head coach of the 2006 Chargers,” Smith said in response to a question about whether he was concerned about Schottenheimer's conservative coaching style. “At the end of this season we will review everything, as we always do ... He was hired to do a job, and that job is to coach the team in the manner that he deems proper.”
Spanos is on record saying he expects his team to go deep into the playoffs.
To make the playoffs – where, by the way, Schottenheimer's struggles are epic – most everyone acknowledges a team must win close games en route. Since 2004, Schottenheimer's record in games decided by seven or fewer points is 8-9.
Smith was asked if there might be a coaching change before the end of the season should the Chargers continue to lose close games.
“I don't anticipate any changes,” he said. “We are under way for '06. But if we do decide to make a change, we'll let you know. Making a coaching change during the season is not at the top of my list now. The 2007 college draft is.”
As for Schottenheimer, he and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron might be the only guys in the building not to entirely trust quarterback Philip Rivers.
Asked yesterday whether he lacked confidence in Rivers, Schottenheimer balked.
“I have complete trust in him,” said the coach, who approved a sequence of play calls that had Rivers throw just once in the third quarter Sunday.
However, Schottenheimer was asked later if Drew Brees were still the quarterback would Sunday's play-calling have been different and would he have been willing to take more risks?
“I think that is a fair assessment,” he replied. “We're not asking Philip to do all the things we asked a five-year veteran to do.”
Among the red-state leanings by Schottenheimer was the fact the Chargers ran five of the nine times they had third-and-4 or longer. Schottenheimer attributed most of the play-calling decisions to poor field position.
But field position did not explain the time the Chargers ran on third-and-6 from the Ravens' 24. It also did not explain the time they started at their 40 and ran three straight plays before punting. Running three straight times after having first-and-20 at the 20 was a little curious as well. So, too, was there reason to question the fourth-quarter decisions to run from the Ravens' 41 on first down and again from the 35 on second-and-20.
What is especially perplexing is why the usually innovative Cameron would be so docile. Schottenheimer sets the tone for the play-calling, but Cameron calls the plays. And the head coach, who does not permit the media to speak to his assistants, said that on Sunday he interceded just once.
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Schottenheimer pointed out idiosyncrasies in the Ravens defense that made the Chargers think some of their runs might pop for more yards. But they didn't.
After the game, Ravens linebacker Bart Scott said this to the Baltimore Sun: “I'm glad (Schottenheimer) stuck with his game plan, because that Rivers kid could play.”
While Schottenheimer said yesterday that Antonio Gates did need “more opportunities,” it is also debatable whether Schottenheimer and Cameron even remembered their All-Pro tight end or McCardell, who owns one of the surest pair of hands in football.
McCardell, a veteran who does not spout off accidentally, had his streak of 104 games with a reception end Sunday. Not only did he not catch a ball, he had none thrown to him.
“I'm a little (ticked off) right now,” McCardell said. “ . . . It's different when you get no balls than when you get no attempts, no play calls. You can only do what you can control.”
Oh yes, this is one fuming 2-1 team. It is not anarchy. It is a calm, simmering sort of anger. But it is palpable. People are flummoxed and hoping the present course of action is halted immediately.
Gates has just 10 receptions in three games, his lowest total in a three-game span since 2004. He also has gone two games without a touchdown reception.
“Yes, I want to do things offensively,” Gates said. “But I look at the mirror first.”
Rivers, too, takes some blame. He knows he missed Vincent Jackson for an almost-certain touchdown in the fourth quarter. His first intercepted pass of the season set up the Ravens' first touchdown in the first quarter.
“With what's been called to this point we should still be 3-0,” Rivers said. “That said, I feel confident we can throw it more and still do what we need to win. Any quarterback loves more opportunities to throw. But the ones I've got, I've still got to make.”
But Rivers played fine on Sunday. He was 9-for-14 in the first half, 4-for-8 in the second. He missed badly on, maybe, four passes.
He played it cool when told of Schottenheimer's comments about how things would have been different if a veteran QB had been under center. But he was clearly crestfallen and then a little angry.
“My hope is there isn't a lack of confidence or trust,” he said.
What Schottenheimer does absolutely trust is his defense, still ranked atop the NFL in yards allowed. His job might not be secure. But because of a unit that has allowed just 184 yards a game, Schottenheimer is secure in how he's doing his job.
“I assure you the better defense we have, the more you'll see of, quote, Martyball,” Schottenheimer said. “It's resurrected itself a little bit. I can't walk out of a game in which we only threw the ball one time in the third quarter and say it isn't back.”
http://wwwww.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20061003-9999-1s3chargers.html
Chargers players among those griping about play-calling
By Kevin Acee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 3, 2006
K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune
Flanked by Dick Lewis, Chargers security head, and a police escort, coach Marty Schottenheimer walks off the field after loss.
Martyball – or is it now Camball? – has returned.
No one is happy.
Only Keenan McCardell is really saying so publicly, which should endear him to the thousands of Chargers fans who are beside themselves over Sunday's 16-13 loss in Baltimore and too many like it under Marty Schottenheimer.
But be certain about this: Not a soul at Chargers Park is pleased.
Says he ....
* Canepa: Resolute coach sticks by guns . . . and by runs
The conservative look
The uniforms may change, but Marty Schottenheimer doesn't. Three constants: 1) He wins games. 2) He loses playoff games. 3) He gets criticized far and wide for being too conservative. Some of his previous critics:
Cleveland Browns
1984-88
44-27 (2-4 in playoffs)
“When pitted against equally strong teams, Schottenheimer invariably coaches out of fear of losing.”
Gerald Strine,
Dallas Morning News, 1992
Kansas City Chiefs
1989-98
101-58-1 (3-7 in playoffs)
“The measured advance toward the playoffs is Schottenheimer's signature. So, too, is the trap door that eventually ruins the march.”
Bud Shaw,
Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1994
Washington Redskins
2001
8-8 (no playoffs)
“(Tony) Dungy adopted Schottenheimer's conservative offensive philosophy. That philosophy got Marty run out of Cleveland and Kansas City. It looks like that philosophy won't last more than a season in Washington.”
Jason Whitlock,
Kansas City Star, 2002
Many players, including McCardell, pointed out there are 13 games to play, which might be precisely the point.
Three games into a season that was supposed to be different, there is concern it might be the same old same-old. And that, as LaDainian Tomlinson said Sunday, has gotten old.
Team President Dean Spanos, whose decision it ultimately is to keep or dispatch Schottenheimer, isn't talking because “it's too early” to officially address his head coach's status.
General Manager A.J. Smith, whose issues with the head coach are well-chronicled, is making vague statements that are certainly not ringing endorsements, but neither are they ultimatums.
“Coach Schottenheimer is the head coach of the 2006 Chargers,” Smith said in response to a question about whether he was concerned about Schottenheimer's conservative coaching style. “At the end of this season we will review everything, as we always do ... He was hired to do a job, and that job is to coach the team in the manner that he deems proper.”
Spanos is on record saying he expects his team to go deep into the playoffs.
To make the playoffs – where, by the way, Schottenheimer's struggles are epic – most everyone acknowledges a team must win close games en route. Since 2004, Schottenheimer's record in games decided by seven or fewer points is 8-9.
Smith was asked if there might be a coaching change before the end of the season should the Chargers continue to lose close games.
“I don't anticipate any changes,” he said. “We are under way for '06. But if we do decide to make a change, we'll let you know. Making a coaching change during the season is not at the top of my list now. The 2007 college draft is.”
As for Schottenheimer, he and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron might be the only guys in the building not to entirely trust quarterback Philip Rivers.
Asked yesterday whether he lacked confidence in Rivers, Schottenheimer balked.
“I have complete trust in him,” said the coach, who approved a sequence of play calls that had Rivers throw just once in the third quarter Sunday.
However, Schottenheimer was asked later if Drew Brees were still the quarterback would Sunday's play-calling have been different and would he have been willing to take more risks?
“I think that is a fair assessment,” he replied. “We're not asking Philip to do all the things we asked a five-year veteran to do.”
Among the red-state leanings by Schottenheimer was the fact the Chargers ran five of the nine times they had third-and-4 or longer. Schottenheimer attributed most of the play-calling decisions to poor field position.
But field position did not explain the time the Chargers ran on third-and-6 from the Ravens' 24. It also did not explain the time they started at their 40 and ran three straight plays before punting. Running three straight times after having first-and-20 at the 20 was a little curious as well. So, too, was there reason to question the fourth-quarter decisions to run from the Ravens' 41 on first down and again from the 35 on second-and-20.
What is especially perplexing is why the usually innovative Cameron would be so docile. Schottenheimer sets the tone for the play-calling, but Cameron calls the plays. And the head coach, who does not permit the media to speak to his assistants, said that on Sunday he interceded just once.
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Schottenheimer pointed out idiosyncrasies in the Ravens defense that made the Chargers think some of their runs might pop for more yards. But they didn't.
After the game, Ravens linebacker Bart Scott said this to the Baltimore Sun: “I'm glad (Schottenheimer) stuck with his game plan, because that Rivers kid could play.”
While Schottenheimer said yesterday that Antonio Gates did need “more opportunities,” it is also debatable whether Schottenheimer and Cameron even remembered their All-Pro tight end or McCardell, who owns one of the surest pair of hands in football.
McCardell, a veteran who does not spout off accidentally, had his streak of 104 games with a reception end Sunday. Not only did he not catch a ball, he had none thrown to him.
“I'm a little (ticked off) right now,” McCardell said. “ . . . It's different when you get no balls than when you get no attempts, no play calls. You can only do what you can control.”
Oh yes, this is one fuming 2-1 team. It is not anarchy. It is a calm, simmering sort of anger. But it is palpable. People are flummoxed and hoping the present course of action is halted immediately.
Gates has just 10 receptions in three games, his lowest total in a three-game span since 2004. He also has gone two games without a touchdown reception.
“Yes, I want to do things offensively,” Gates said. “But I look at the mirror first.”
Rivers, too, takes some blame. He knows he missed Vincent Jackson for an almost-certain touchdown in the fourth quarter. His first intercepted pass of the season set up the Ravens' first touchdown in the first quarter.
“With what's been called to this point we should still be 3-0,” Rivers said. “That said, I feel confident we can throw it more and still do what we need to win. Any quarterback loves more opportunities to throw. But the ones I've got, I've still got to make.”
But Rivers played fine on Sunday. He was 9-for-14 in the first half, 4-for-8 in the second. He missed badly on, maybe, four passes.
He played it cool when told of Schottenheimer's comments about how things would have been different if a veteran QB had been under center. But he was clearly crestfallen and then a little angry.
“My hope is there isn't a lack of confidence or trust,” he said.
What Schottenheimer does absolutely trust is his defense, still ranked atop the NFL in yards allowed. His job might not be secure. But because of a unit that has allowed just 184 yards a game, Schottenheimer is secure in how he's doing his job.
“I assure you the better defense we have, the more you'll see of, quote, Martyball,” Schottenheimer said. “It's resurrected itself a little bit. I can't walk out of a game in which we only threw the ball one time in the third quarter and say it isn't back.”