For You Gamblers

[Den60]

I just don't get those of you that think the Chargers are taking a significant step back this season. We were 7-9 last season and I think we have improved overall. The OL is improved, we have added an offensive weapon (Woodhead) at the one skill position we have lacked most over the last two years, still a decent wr corps, Green's emergence behind Gates and Phillips, a renewed sense of the running game, an offensive system that is tailored to our beat up qb and perhaps most of all, new energy within the coaching staff. All of this combined with what should be a defense that was trimmed of the fat and if it stays healthy should be at least as good as it was last season. Sure there are some depth issues all over the place and a lot of young blood but I am not sure what you are seeing that makes you think we will be so terrible this year? A 4-5 game swing in losses from last season? You can't base it on the terrible preseason so far...that would be foolish. I think we will play mostly .500 ball the first 12 games and then when we get to Dec. have a shot to push for a wild card if things go our way.

Realistic record: 8-8. With some breaks: 9-7. With the stars aligning: 10-6. If things go against us 6-10 or 7-9. In the NFL, it is the little things that separates 6 wins and 10 wins and we will just have to see how prepared this new coaching staff is.

The o-line is still one of the worst in the league. The success of our running game relies heavily on Mathews staying healthy. We have no depth across the board on defense. So far the special teams looks as bad as 2010. These aren't all the reasons some of us are pessimistic about the season but it is a good start.

[UtahBolt]

The O-line may still be bad, but it is not as bad as last season. The success of ANY running game in the NFL relies heavily on the main back staying healthy. I will give you that the depth is thin, especially in the backfield but it is impossible to make any assumptions about the special teams right now. They are a work in progress and it is just as likely to settle down as it is not. IMO, there are as many areas that we have improved in as there are areas that we have not. If last year's disaster can still produce a 7-9 record...how bad does this team have to be to only win two games?

[TTK]

How in the world are we declaring this o-line to be better or worse at this point?

It's still pre-season.

[UtahBolt]

Hell TTK, you and I playing the left side would make it better than it was last season!

[Steve]

How in the world are we declaring this o-line to be better or worse at this point?

It's still pre-season.

Cause when you were as bad as us, there is no where to go but up!

[Yubaking]

I just don't get those of you that think the Chargers are taking a significant step back this season. We were 7-9 last season and I think we have improved overall. The OL is improved, we have added an offensive weapon (Woodhead) at the one skill position we have lacked most over the last two years, still a decent wr corps, Green's emergence behind Gates and Phillips, a renewed sense of the running game, an offensive system that is tailored to our beat up qb and perhaps most of all, new energy within the coaching staff. All of this combined with what should be a defense that was trimmed of the fat and if it stays healthy should be at least as good as it was last season. Sure there are some depth issues all over the place and a lot of young blood but I am not sure what you are seeing that makes you think we will be so terrible this year? A 4-5 game swing in losses from last season? You can't base it on the terrible preseason so far...that would be foolish. I think we will play mostly .500 ball the first 12 games and then when we get to Dec. have a shot to push for a wild card if things go our way.

Realistic record: 8-8. With some breaks: 9-7. With the stars aligning: 10-6. If things go against us 6-10 or 7-9. In the NFL, it is the little things that separates 6 wins and 10 wins and we will just have to see how prepared this new coaching staff is.

Utah, I appreciate your optimism, but outside of this forum there isn't a single expert analyst that has ranked our team any better than #23 and we have been ranked as low as #29 of 32 NFL teams. I would love for it not to be true, but at some point you have to consider the possibility that the consensus of experts just might be right. They all believe we are worse, not better, overall than we were last year.

The OL has improved some. After all, how could they worse? But we all saw against Chicago that they are still not good at all in pass protection. I do think they are significantly better in run blocking than they were last year.

Unfortunately, this is where Telesco's defensive personnel mismanagement is going to kill us. Yes, there is not much drop off on the starting unit. We will not pressure the QB as well without Phillips and Barnes. Freeney was once a great player, but he is not that player any more. He really struggled in IND's 3-4 as an OLB, recording only 5 sacks. This year, Te'o versus Spikes is only going to be a push because Te'o is more physically gifted, but is learning the game. Wright couldn't beat out Cason or Jammer last year, so he can't be that good. We don't have a good slot defending CB. SS is a concern too. And because Telesco elected not to keep last year's veterans, we have huge drop offs if starters have to leave the game. Wynn's nickname should be "Aunt Jemimah" because he gets pancaked so often. Geathers is a UDFA who has made some plays against third string players, but has also been beat at times by those same third stringers. And who exactly are our pass rush specialists, pass defending LBs (please don't say Te'o is a three down ILB) and secondary reserves?

The point of it all is that we are worse on defense and much worse when subs have to play and they will have to play. What that means is that we will get behind in games. When we get behind in games, we will have to go away from what looks like a solid running game and will have to pass in known passing situations. Our OL will not be able to withstand the pressure and we will surrender sacks, QB fumbles and forced INTs and we will lose.

So while our offense may be a little better, our defense has become much worse. We had a top 10 defense last year. Now, I think we will struggle to be a top 20 defense this year. The offensive ranking will go up from #31, but the offensive unit also will struggle to be within the top 20.

On paper, we are a 4-12 team if you go game by game. Because we have 12 chances to win a game we should on paper lose and only 4 chances to lose a game we should win, I think we will pick a couple of net unexpected wins, giving us 6 for the year. That's a realistic prediction that is in line with the consensus of expert analysts.

[Panama]

Well then, Yubaking, why not put your money where your mouth is and take my bet?

[Yubaking]

Well then, Yubaking, why not put your money where your mouth is and take my bet?

I see that some of you are doing that. You guys go right ahead, but doing bets over the internet on this forum is not something I intend to do at this time.

[sandiego17]

Utah, I appreciate your optimism, but outside of this forum there isn't a single expert analyst that has ranked our team any better than #23 and we have been ranked as low as #29 of 32 NFL teams. I would love for it not to be true, but at some point you have to consider the possibility that the consensus of experts just might be right. They all believe we are worse, not better, overall than we were last year.

Vegas has. The only unbiased expert.

[QSmokey]

I see that some of you are doing that. You guys go right ahead, but doing bets over the internet on this forum is not something I intend to do at this time.

So far as I know, I'm the only one who has taken Panama up on his little bet. Guess I'm the only one who really thinks we're gonna suck.

[UtahBolt]

Vegas has. The only unbiased expert.

EXACTLY! Line sits at 7.5 wins. Vegas is by far the more accurate indicator of what a team is going to do and so far they consider us just about equal to last season...

[oneinchpunch]

EXACTLY! Line sits at 7.5 wins. Vegas is by far the more accurate indicator of what a team is going to do and so far they consider us just about equal to last season...

Vegas also has the Broncos @ 11.5 and with the best odds to win the Super Bowl