2nd Half against SD

[SportinOne]

Coming out of the break against San Diego i thought that our entire team looked pretty sluggish. Even Cutler just looked like he was not interested in being there. Maybe it was a result of expending so much emotional and physical energy in the first half. Maybe it was the fact that our play calling was awful and they just weren't excited about it. Did anyone else notice this? I know i know, we're all focused on New Orleans now, but it's something i want to come back to because it's got me a little worried.

[backup qb]

I think you are searching for something that's not there.

[Smiling Assassin27]

Energy, execution, and results were definitely down. I wonder if they figured they had the game won already. Of course, if our defense makes even ONE stop, things might have been different.

[boltaneer]

The Chargers played a very soft zone for the entire first half. But I noticed that Teddy finally started calling more aggressive coverages at the start of the second half. They slowly reverted back to the soft coverage in the fourth quarter.

I guarantee though he'll come out in the first half in the Jets game with the soft coverage crap again and Favre will pick apart the defense. He's a slow learner or something.

[Houshyamama]

I had the feeling as even as a fan. The game felt over after the second quarter, almost like they took the foot off the gas. It is a young team, they'll get it.

[Rock Chalk]

The Chargers played a very soft zone for the entire first half. But I noticed that Teddy finally started calling more aggressive coverages at the start of the second half. They slowly reverted back to the soft coverage in the fourth quarter.

I guarantee though he'll come out in the first half in the Jets game with the soft coverage crap again and Favre will pick apart the defense. He's a slow learner or something.

Wow, you played aggressive coverages for the 3 passes we threw in the whole 3rd quarter.

No, what happened is we threw two bad passes in the first drive and on the second drive abandoned a perfectly good running game that was eating your team up for 4 yards a pop to throw a quick out that was well read by your defender.

The difference in coverage had nothing to do with it, if there was a difference in coverage. Cutler made two bad throws on the first drive and on the second drive it was just a bad play call.

[Hamrob]

I think we made a bad mistake and took our foot off their throats. For some reason we have often times down shifted way too early to try and control the ball and coast to the finish. The last time we went balls out to the finish with attack style offense were the days of 97-98!

Even Cutler in his presser said they tried to change it up a bit.

Simple fact...when you get on top of a good team...you have to continue to apply the pressure...because if they get some momentum...you're in big trouble...having changed your approach.

Best way for us to win games this year...is to attack continuously!

[boltaneer]

Wow, you played aggressive coverages for the 3 passes we threw in the whole 3rd quarter.

No, what happened is we threw two bad passes in the first drive and on the second drive abandoned a perfectly good running game that was eating your team up for 4 yards a pop to throw a quick out that was well read by your defender.

The difference in coverage had nothing to do with it, if there was a difference in coverage. Cutler made two bad throws on the first drive and on the second drive it was just a bad play call.

My point is that the aggressiveness of the coverage did change.

Maybe the passes were just bad. Maybe the corners were able to disrupt the receivers enough to throw the timing of the play off. It's anyone guess. I'm guessing it had an effect. The corners didn't touch the receivers at all in the first half until after they caught the ball.

Sitting back in soft zones all day isn't going to get the job done. Maybe if you have one hell of a pass rush but that's something San Diego doesn't have right now.

[DarkHorse30]

My point is that the aggressiveness of the coverage did change.

Maybe the passes were just bad. Maybe the corners were able to disrupt the receivers enough to throw the timing of the play off. It's anyone guess. I'm guessing it had an effect. The corners didn't touch the receivers at all in the first half until after they caught the ball.

Sitting back in soft zones all day isn't going to get the job done. Maybe if you have one hell of a pass rush but that's something San Diego doesn't have right now.

Is your pass rush deficiency tied directly to Merriman only? That's a HUGE falloff for losing one guy.

[Bronx33]

Is your pass rush deficiency tied directly to Merriman only? That's a HUGE falloff for losing one guy.


Ya i tend to agree sure the QB pressure was lacking but it's not an excuse for every defensive play the O simply owned the chugger D, would merrimans presents had made a difference? very little if you ask me the O was pick up most everything.

[boltaneer]

Is your pass rush deficiency tied directly to Merriman only? That's a HUGE falloff for losing one guy.

I think it is. IMO, Ted Cottrell is not very creative with his blitzes and he depends on his talent to get the pressure. That's not a bad thing but he needs to make adjustments and get more creative, especially in a 3-4 defense when his main guy goes down.

He actually did bring some "exotic" blitzes last week but with the corners that far off, it was an easy read for Cutler to hit a quick pass.

Cottrell likes to play the bend but don't break defense. That's always been his M.O. But the loss of Merriman just makes it more difficult to not break. He needs to take a few more chances IMO.

[400HZ]

Is your pass rush deficiency tied directly to Merriman only? That's a HUGE falloff for losing one guy.

Maybe, but we had the same problem early on last year.