FringeNC
10-03-2006, 05:27 PM
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=2611280&name=green_jeremy&CMP=ILC-INHEAD
'Marty Ball' still stifling Chargers
posted: Tuesday, October 3, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: San Diego Chargers
The more things change, the more they stay the same. I can't tell you how many people have told me that "Marty Ball," the conservative offensive approach favored by San Diego head coach Marty Schottenheimer, is back because the Chargers have a young first-year starting quarterback in Philip Rivers.
In fact, it doesn't have anything to do with Rivers. This is the same thing Schottenheimer has done everywhere he has coaches, including last season with veteran Drew Brees at the controls.
When you look at a coach's record, you see the wins and losses. In Schottenheimer's case, there should be a third column -- fourth-quarter losses. For this organization and for its fans, that number is way too high.
Last season, when San Diego narrowly missed the playoffs, you could point to two or three games the Chargers could have won but collapsed late and lost.
Schottenheimer simply does not show a killer instinct, and that mentality spreads to the entire football team. In Sunday's loss to the Ravens, there was no reason the Chargers even should have been in position to lose. Rivers came out extremely hot, spreading the ball around and picking apart the Ravens defense. In the first quarter alone he was 8 of 10 for 87 yards and a touchdown.
But then "Marty Ball" kicked in, and Rivers threw only five passes combined in the second and third quarters. At the end of the day he hd thrown only 22 passes. And even that number is a little skewed when you consider that four of his seven fourth-quarter passes came on San Diego's final possession, after the Ravens had taken a 16-13 lead.
It is time for the Chargers to realize that while they do have a great defense, they can't just assume that having a lead in the fourth quarter will guarantee that defense will hold up until the final gun.
You would think this team would have learned its lesson last season. Even though the Chargers are as talented as any team across the board, their inability to close game out is the reason I don't favor them to make much noise in the postseason.
If Coach Schottenheimer does not change his ways soon, we might be sitting around in January saying this 2006 Chargers team is the second-best team in NFL history to not make the playoffs. I think we all remember the last team to carry that moniker -- the 2005 Chargers.
'Marty Ball' still stifling Chargers
posted: Tuesday, October 3, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: San Diego Chargers
The more things change, the more they stay the same. I can't tell you how many people have told me that "Marty Ball," the conservative offensive approach favored by San Diego head coach Marty Schottenheimer, is back because the Chargers have a young first-year starting quarterback in Philip Rivers.
In fact, it doesn't have anything to do with Rivers. This is the same thing Schottenheimer has done everywhere he has coaches, including last season with veteran Drew Brees at the controls.
When you look at a coach's record, you see the wins and losses. In Schottenheimer's case, there should be a third column -- fourth-quarter losses. For this organization and for its fans, that number is way too high.
Last season, when San Diego narrowly missed the playoffs, you could point to two or three games the Chargers could have won but collapsed late and lost.
Schottenheimer simply does not show a killer instinct, and that mentality spreads to the entire football team. In Sunday's loss to the Ravens, there was no reason the Chargers even should have been in position to lose. Rivers came out extremely hot, spreading the ball around and picking apart the Ravens defense. In the first quarter alone he was 8 of 10 for 87 yards and a touchdown.
But then "Marty Ball" kicked in, and Rivers threw only five passes combined in the second and third quarters. At the end of the day he hd thrown only 22 passes. And even that number is a little skewed when you consider that four of his seven fourth-quarter passes came on San Diego's final possession, after the Ravens had taken a 16-13 lead.
It is time for the Chargers to realize that while they do have a great defense, they can't just assume that having a lead in the fourth quarter will guarantee that defense will hold up until the final gun.
You would think this team would have learned its lesson last season. Even though the Chargers are as talented as any team across the board, their inability to close game out is the reason I don't favor them to make much noise in the postseason.
If Coach Schottenheimer does not change his ways soon, we might be sitting around in January saying this 2006 Chargers team is the second-best team in NFL history to not make the playoffs. I think we all remember the last team to carry that moniker -- the 2005 Chargers.