Silver Linings

[Duck of Death]

So sure, the outlook appears bleak. But it isn’t a complete wash yet. Find some help (much like Guyton & TBilly were off-the-street finds) & hang in there until Bosa gets back. Love him or hate him, the team is stuck with Lombardi. Only thing to do is cross our fingers that he adapts. He did some good things last year, so it’s highly possible he’ll catch a late groove this year as well. So all that said, here are some silver linings:

- (Repeating from another thread) Last year, the Bolts (aka Jags of last year) crushed the Bengals in their own house 41-22 - and it really should’ve been worse. Bengals fans were calling for heads after that game. That was a week 13 game, after which NOBODY thought they’d be true contenders.

- Herb is still healthy enough to throw darts. He will get better - really, is there any doubt of this?

- KA appears to be back. He will make a HUGE difference.

- Running game really couldn’t get any worse. No where to go but up from here (ok maybe a stretch for a silver lining).

- After a rough start, SJD finally showing some signs of life.

- Palmer finally showed with a decent game.

- Most the rookies haven’t played, but at some point they will have no choice to see what they’ve got. I am anxious to see how they perform. Spiller & Salyer, especially.

- When JC returns (and he will return), they will be better.

- When Parham returns, they will be better.

[ChargersPowderBlue]

People were thinking that this year's team is the most talented team since the 14-2 team in 2006. I think this team is much better than the last 3 seasons, and can still do good stuff despite all these injuries. I believe in Staley even though it looks hard right now.

[21&500]

Thanks Duck
needed this.

[Bolt4Knob]

Thanks Duck
needed this.

Its Wednesday hope springs eternal

good points made Duck
Tampa beats the Chefs; Raiders beat the Broncos - could be four 2-2 teams

[Velo]

I was going to post this in the Chargers season thread, but this is the perfect thread for it.

The last two times the Chargers made the playoffs - in 2013 & 2018 - they started 1-2. In 2018 they ended up winning 12 games and would've won the division if not for being upended at home in week 16 by the Ravens, QB'd by the rookie Lamar Jackson, who they beat two weeks later in the playoffs in Balt.

So Bolt Up! The party's just getting started.

[Kellyb72601]

Most good teams go thru a "the sky is falling" portion of the season. It's the NFL and humbles everyone. Last season over a 3 week span KC got blown out 38-20 by Buffalo and 27-3 by Tennessee. 2 blowout losses in 3 weeks. Buffalo at one point last season lost 3 out of 4 games including a 41-15 blowout loss to the Colts. The Bengals got blown out 41-22 by us and 41-16 by the Browns. Lots of strange things can occur early on in the season, mainly due to coaching & scheming, but as teams progress throughout the season and opposing coaching staffs accumulate more tape the tendency is for talent to win out. A couple of examples:

In week 1 KC blew out Arizona by 30 and went up and down the field at will as Arizona kept blitzing. The last 2 weeks KCs offense has been shut down by us and Mahomes should have thrown 5 interceptions in that game. Last week Indy totally shut them down. The chiefs no longer have the talent to stretch the field and opposing defenses no longer fear them.

Last season the Browns started offensively like gangbusters scoring 30+ points a game for about the first 6 weeks running & throwing the ball. But eventually defenses figured out Mayfield couldn't throw the ball and by the end of the season they were lucky to score 10 pts a game as defenses piled in to stop their run game.

The main reason we lost to Jacksonville was unlucky turnovers & scheme. We turned the ball over in our own red zone on back to back possessions with a tip for an Int and a sack fumble. Most weeks turning the ball over twice in your own red zone will get you beat more often than not. Jacksonville also played offensively like a college team with tons of quick and horizontal game. Their defense is pretty solid but their offense won't find much success doing that moving forward.

[Kellyb72601]

This team has issues but still has tons of talent and should prove solid on both sides of the ball moving forward. Lets look at what we have to work with: Offensively they still have a road grading center & right guard, a field stretching tight end, the best route running WR in the NFL, & one of the best outside deep threats in the NFL in Mike Williams. That's enough to field an effective offense. They need to get the power & lead draw run game working behind Linsley & Zion. To help the pass protection they can run more 12 and 22 personnel (2 tight ends) and use play action and bootlegs and use more quick game out of shotgun. Pittsburgh nearly made the playoffs a couple of years ago doing this with Duck Hodges at QB.

Defensively, with Joseph-Day & Austin Johnson they have the personnel up front to stop the run, they still have one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, they have the best safety in the NFL, and when JC Jackson is back a secondary that can play man coverage probably better than any secondary in the NFL. At linebacker Kenneth Murray looks like a totally different player and if he fulfills his potential linebacker also turns into a strength.

Expectations should still be high moving forward IMO.

[bartman83642]

It does look tough but there is a long way to go in the season and things can get better. Thanks for the reminder of this.

[jamrock]

This team has issues but still has tons of talent and should prove solid on both sides of the ball moving forward. Lets look at what we have to work with: Offensively they still have a road grading center & right guard, a field stretching tight end, the best route running WR in the NFL, & one of the best outside deep threats in the NFL in Mike Williams. That's enough to field an effective offense. They need to get the power & lead draw run game working behind Linsley & Zion. To help the pass protection they can run more 12 and 22 personnel (2 tight ends) and use play action and bootlegs and use more quick game out of shotgun. Pittsburgh nearly made the playoffs a couple of years ago doing this with Duck Hodges at QB.

Defensively, with Joseph-Day & Austin Johnson they have the personnel up front to stop the run, they still have one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, they have the best safety in the NFL, and when JC Jackson is back a secondary that can play man coverage probably better than any secondary in the NFL. At linebacker Kenneth Murray looks like a totally different player and if he fulfills his potential linebacker also turns into a strength.

Expectations should still be high moving forward IMO.

Amen.

[Boltx]

If Salyer can fill in admirably at LT and Linsley doesn't miss too many more games...the OL might actually be in OK shape.

I'm more worried about the Bosa injury because we have literally nobody to replace him.

[chargeroo]

Nice thread Duck! We can all use a lift right now - thank you.

[NoMoreChillies]

My Man

love this