Chargers Pre Week 3

West coast travels continue as Chargers prep for an hour flight to San Jose for their third pre season game at the new home of the Niners. NFC team number three of four in the pre for San Diego. Not a happy visits in Seattle for the Bolts, however possibly a learning tool if applied. Off to NorCal to possible sod issues and a dangerously upset miners in the bay as they host their second home game of the season after a smashing in their home opener. Chargers will face three of these teams again in the season as schedule puts the AFC West vs. the NFC West the 2014 NFL schedule.

BeastMode... Jr??? @RobT_33 gives Marcus Gilchrist a 10-yard stiff-arm: http://t.co/VLfITdrMSh #SDvsSEA pic.twitter.com/HtUbJL4kn0
— NFL (@nfl) August 16, 2014

#SDvsSEA  Quick hits on annihilation

Chargers greeted by 67,615 of the #12thman at Century Link last Friday and were unable to stop the SB48 champs. Hawks were unstoppable; Seattle never even punted, not once, but not surprising when you saw the final score, 41-14 SEA. Run Bolts run, wasn't a variable with 78 total rushing yards, but can't stop the run was, as SD allowed 4 rushing TD's by the Hawks QB's, Russell Wilson with 2 alone, Terrell Pryor was only 1/4 in the air, but second in rushing to Robert Turbin and his 81 yards with 59 including a 44 yard rushing TD, plus B.J. Daniels also ran one in. San Diego gave up 243 rushing yards and 160 in the air while donning a 6.6 per carry average. Penalties???? 7 for 51 yards add 6 punts to that and its not going to turn out well for anyone.   Highlights of the game for the Blue and Gold, Kellen Clemens was 14/21 with 149 yards and took a lot of hits and got right back up, definitely showed his toughness.  Phillip Rivers was 2/4 with only one possession for 20 yards. Yes, Chargers didn't play their starters for long versus the Seahawks duration, however I don't think it would have mattered. It reminded me of USC Football when Pete was at the helm, I almost started doing the V is for Victory Trojan fingers automatically, you see I was reared a Trojan in the John McKay/ Robinson era, a running back on the boys team because of Ricky Bell, Charles White and Marcus Allen. I'm also not a specific fan of teams, but players or personal, so this was a challenging game for me. With that said, more positives for the Chargers. If they can learn this truly valuable lesson and I do believe they have the right guides to help make that happen, this is a special locker room, a family, both on and off the field. I think this will bring them closer and also allow some passion to shine forth.   This team in the past does grow closer and stronger through adversity.  

Levi's doesn't just have its name on stadium, there's a 49ers collection http://t.co/JSCypNo8vQ (H/T @samcmlaird) pic.twitter.com/p7tW480qEM
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) August 21, 2014

#SDvsSF

Off to Santa Clara, yes Santa Clara the home of the new Levi's Stadium. Raving reviews have been pouring on this beautiful new $1.2 billion home of the San Francisco 49ers, even some custom jeans, but with a little glitch in the $1.4 M grass. After an hour of open to the public practice on Wednesday, Coach Harbaugh took his team off the field to their regular practice field due to players slipping. Thursday re-sodding commenced with some reports that turf was also being replaced, per KTVU’s news. Kick off for the (1-1) San Diego Chargers vs.(0-2) San Francisco 49ers kicks off as scheduled at 1PM PST.

Wednesday the team said, "We have determined the appropriate measures necessary to have the field ready for Sunday and look forward to hosting the San Diego Chargers."

Turf is the least of these two opponents worries, game 3 of the pre is a big one, first cuts will happen August 26 (prior to 4 PM EST, clubs must reduce their rosters to 75 players). Both teams come into the game after some humiliation, and yes I know there just exhibition games but they have to be productive. Both coming into wk 3 with their tales between their legs, the Niners come in with one field goal between their first two games, an average of 1.5 pts per game. Opened up their brand new stadium, which is not in San Francisco (actually 5 minutes away from San Jose Airport) they were decimated and now perhaps a little tarnished, I know it’s the pre, but come on, they have allowed 57 points in 2 games.

Needless to say this is going to be a good one! Most of your starters will play at least the first half, if not more. This is the 42nd preseason game between the franchises, the Niners edge over the Bolts with 22-20 record, the last three games have belonged to San Fran as well. Expect this game to have a lot of passion, a solid game at least the first half of play and I beg more as players will be fighting to earn their spots on at least the first cuts. Expect SF to run the ball something they clearly saw SD struggle with, actually the hardship was prevalent in both their games, only that versus Dallas they were able to contain in the red zone. Both teams will be playing with much needed passion and chips on their shoulders to prove to themselves primarily and the rest of the league that they will be a force to reckon with, that and I think to get the bad tastes out of their mouths.

Watch for Rivers to play at least the first half and I'm anxious to see if Matthews plays or if there was a fumble discrepancy, penalties and to see the adjustments of the D, while I know Woodhead will always impress.  I too am excited to watch the players on the cusp fight to keep the dream alive!

Kick off Sunday!

18 more days till Chargers KO the 2014 season in AZ!

Cheers till next week!

Desiree

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KC @ SD on THURSDAY NIGHT; MORE THAN YOU CAN VISUALLY SEE

This team has dealt with adversity

Ground Hog Day - yes, sure feels like it, but they know adversity, at least they did last year and not all the players are gone- so lets just say... yes

Many free agents, Ronnie brown is the player that stood out on Sunday 85 rec (& leader) 102 all purpose yards.

Yes the sky feels like its falling

And things have changed 

Urgency,  passion, vets stepping up,  but this is familiar to last year, too!

ADVERSITY!

http://soundcloud.com/thedesireeshow/chargers-on-adversity

The hails to #firenorv #dethroneAJ and speculation with #rivers- 

just sit down for ONE minute.

1. Short week

2. Norv has best report with River (obvious side note;  Rivers not quite right, with so much pressure an uncertainty on the line, he's scarred and hurried even when he's got time) 

3. Whitehurst is no replacement, would rather see LSU Lee (but he's gone, was released from the practice squad on the final cut)

4. Norv is also OFF coord- you can't mess with that now regardless of how u feel on a short week.

Blackout an almost given - The gods stepped in on monday and voided the inevitable blackout with the lowly Chiefs struggling tickets at 50%, to sell a once sold out stadium, and with no luck. 

AN Up and arms San Diego community who hasn't stopped ranting who have been threatening picketing, of all the above referenced.

JUST TAKE A BREATH!  and yes, Im worried too, how can you not be, but I do know that this team struggled tremendously last season as well and somehow the locker room didn't cave in and their were no fights….so have a lil hope.  Yes this is not the same team and you can blame all possibilities, there are no answers only solutions to come that can amend this state.  

I remember almost too vividly this horrible INT in the endzone on game day vs KC a big loss at Qualcomm.  First time I've been at any game and heard fans BOOING,  screaming FIRE NORV and chanting MARTY.   I'll just say Chiefs always tweak me out, I was on the field, and awed.

I'm also worried about the National televised game ratio as of late, however, I'm in both mode, fan and friend, so I'm not sure which way to wear my jersey or not put it on, inside out? on my bag? I'm right there with you.

But if they loose, what happens??

Rattle to make changes?

Is Kevin Acee correct in assuming that Norv would be fired??

Ok again, hold your horses………..

hold on!!

If things fall more apart, and the Chargers are 3-5 when you wake up from a hangover tomorrow…..there technically not out of it. Its only week 9.

But lets just say, ( and I hope I'm wrong)  but……..

didn't you realize that its AJ Smith?  Are you that naive??  

NO POWERFULL HEAD COACH, a passion filled verbal coach with a record for winning playoffs, locker rooms and superbowls IS NOT COMING TO SAN DIEGO WITH AJ AT HELM, I've said it for years,  any one of your probable or possible or wishful coaches isn't going to lay down for AJ.  

Do you really want your team to loose???

DON'T YOU NEED TO TRY AND LOOK FOR THE POSITIVES??  

That is for your own sanity??

Good Luck SD!  Rooting for you boys!

Its about 15% full now, wondering how this will look on TV.
HOPE THAT THE OLD SAYING "IF MISERY LOVES COMPANY" ISN'T APPLICABLE TONIGHT!

It's Not What IF, It's What is..........

LOOKIN AT THE TIE BREAKER SCENARIO

Last Monday, after the Chargers lost in Detroit,
I started looking at the record.  Even more closely, wondering.....
How they could be out of it, even for a tie breaker?

I came up with a new and possible story line.

If Chargers beat Oakland
and Kansas City beat Denver
All 3 would be tied at 8-8
The division would be tied at 3-3
and in the conference
the Chargers would be be the winning team at 7-5,
while Broncos and Chiefs would be at 6-6........

HOWEVER, the NFL tie breaking rule is as such
per NFL.com  http://www.nfl.com/standings/tiebreakingprocedures

Three or More Clubs

(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format).

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

Which still doesn't make any sense to me.  I wish I could call Roger Godell and ask, why.....?

Regardless....It is what it IS!!

One of the reporters at Charger Park yesterday asked Norv, if he agreed with the tie breaking method the NFL has.   He replied, "he hadn't taking a lot of thought in it and best deal is obviously not to be in a tie breaker."