Lions at Chargers (+1.5) Pregame Discussion (Wk 10)

[dmac_bolt]

25.1 vs. 25 points per game...they are pretty much tied...a bit inaccurate to say the Bolts score more points than the Lions...

his point was more that the Lion's greater total yardage is not significant because they can't score in the redzone, than that we score so much more than they do.

But there is no such thing as "bit inaccurate". accuracy is binary, it is or it is not. in his case, it actually is. you can argue the difference is not significant, we'd all agree. you just can't argue its inaccurate.

[Duck of Death]

The loss of Lindsley has hurt...his vet experience, calling out coverages, etc...The Clapper is a TT Coupon-Clipped FA...can he improve? Maybe...but in the meantime, I think we need to shore this weak link up...and Pip, despite signing that fat deal, still having issues...

Something isn’t right - even Slater has been struggling and we all know he’s legit. Linsley also wasn’t himself before going on IR (but maybe that’s why he went on IR). It’s just a bit baffling that the entire line would be struggling so much. Is it the OC, position coaches, what?

[CanadianBoltFan]

Is there a difference between saying you want to see it and saying the Chargers aren't good, won't win against any good team, etc.? I see alot more of the latter than the former being posted - it sure seems like its more than "i want to see it". Never mind the relevance of that oft-stated post to begin with.

Did you look at who Detroit beat this year? I did, intuitively it seemed they have had an easy schedule I did a 30 sec search, this site popped up. According to this schmoe, Chargers is 10th toughs, Lions 21st

http://powerrankingsguru.com/nfl/str...f-schedule.php

Cant have it both ways, pat the Chargers on the pack for 2 wins and getting to 4-4 and then downplay who the Lions have beaten. So to make it fair lets just say this is the NFL, there are no easy games. Having said that the Lions are 6-2, Chargers are 4-4.

What I also so personally believe is that our offense has to step up and find another gear, more moving the ball, less stalling on drives, if they want to hang with the Lions. They might have to put some real drives together.

I am hopeful about this game, but far from confident about it. That comes from being let down too many times in big games against good teams. Chargers are a team with so so much to prove.

[21&500]

Something isn’t right - even Slater has been struggling and we all know he’s legit. Linsley also wasn’t himself before going on IR (but maybe that’s why he went on IR). It’s just a bit baffling that the entire line would be struggling so much. Is it the OC, position coaches, what?

Slater is dealing with an ankle injury, at least was and from the looks of it, still is.

[Critty]

Something isn’t right - even Slater has been struggling and we all know he’s legit. Linsley also wasn’t himself before going on IR (but maybe that’s why he went on IR). It’s just a bit baffling that the entire line would be struggling so much. Is it the OC, position coaches, what?

Kellen Moore 8 games in.
Slater off injury and playing hurt.
The guards switch sides form last year.
Back up Center between the young guards who switch sides.
Pipkins avg at best and playing hurt.

There are a lot of excuses/reasons. They won't make any.
They are going to work and play football on Sunday.

[Velo]

The Lions have the best record of any opponent the Chargers have played this year except the Chiefs. It's the first of four teams with winning records remaining on the sched. (All of these four games are at SoFi.) IMO the Lions this Sun is not a must-win game, but it is a must play well game. While most everybody here focuses on what is wrong with the Chargers, what is going well for the Chargers is overlooked. And here are some things that are going well.

TURNOVERS. The Chargers' offense doesn't turn the ball over very often. But the Chargers' defense forces a lot of takeaways. They are tied for 4th in overall takeaways (15) with the Bengals and are also tied with them for lead the league in turnover ratio with +9.

RED ZONE EFFICIENCY. The Chargers are middle of the pack in offensive yards gained, averaging 341 per game. But they are 8th in scoring, averaging 25.1 per game. I'm repeating what I posted above, but it is noteworthy. The Chargers are 2nd only to the Dolphins in red zone efficiency, the number of times the Chargers score a TD when they get inside the red zone. As I also stated above, this is Kellen Moore's biggest impact. The Chargers' red zone efficiency has increased greatly this season compared to last (while it has decreased significantly in Dallas).

SACKS. Tuli is a DROY candidate. And if he continues the upward trend he's been on lately, he will win it. Tuli, Mack and Bosa are a force. I think the chances are very good the Chargers will lead the league in sacks this season, they are just a hair behind the league leader (Ravens) right now. I thing the best is yet to come in this department for the Chargers.

PLAYMAKERS. This team has playmakers, on both sides of the ball. I've already mentioned Tuli. But Alohi Gilman is also a playmaker. He's a ball-hawking enforcer, turnover-maker. We've complained about low-IQ players. But Alohi is a high IQ player, that is why he is successful, and I think we are going to see more play-making from him as this season progresses, if he can stay on the field. (Gilman is a free agent next season; maybe Derwin will volunteer to take a pay cut so they can keep him.) Keenan Allen is a playmaker WR. The other two offensive players that stand out to me - Austin Ekeler and Donald Parham - do so they are or are becoming red zone beasts.

I'm not purposely ignoring the problems and deficiencies this team has. But those get talked about ad-nauseum on this forum. I wanted to make a list of the things this team does well as it enters the 2nd half of the season against the Lions, because there are quite a few.

[Velo]

I totally agree that defense is killer, shuts down everyone. I just think some account should be taken that we played a team with a QB that should not be in the NFL before too many attaboys are handed out

The Chargers won by three touchdowns. The offense didn't make any mistakes. The defense was suffocating and got 8 sacks. Can't you just enjoy the win without agonizing about everything that wasn't perfect?

[Velo]

The inconsistency with which roughing the passer is called, or not called, is causing the league office to react, and the bottom line is,

“When in doubt about a roughness call or potentially dangerous tactic against the quarterback, the Referee should always call roughing the passer.”

Which means the Chargers are probably going to get some roughing the passer calls against them this weekend, since they get to the QB more often than most teams in the league.

And speaking of inconsistency, when the Jets' John Franklin-Myers slammed Herbert to the turf on MNF, it should've been roughing the passer. I've seen roughing called for much less than that. Derwin has gotten flagged twice this season for less flagrant fouls.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nfl-posts-barrage-of-messages-about-roughing-the-passer

[dmac_bolt]

Cant have it both ways, pat the Chargers on the pack for 2 wins and getting to 4-4 and then downplay who the Lions have beaten. So to make it fair lets just say this is the NFL, there are no easy games. Having said that the Lions are 6-2, Chargers are 4-4.

What I also so personally believe is that our offense has to step up and find another gear, more moving the ball, less stalling on drives, if they want to hang with the Lions. They might have to put some real drives together.

I am hopeful about this game, but far from confident about it. That comes from being let down too many times in big games against good teams. Chargers are a team with so so much to prove.

no, you can't have it both ways. I know you're not confident, its ok. you care very much about the Chargers, we all take in things differently. I don't feel let down but that doesn't mean I don't also care - I just process differently.

I think they are both good teams and it will be a good game. I don't believe Lion's 6-2 record proves they are a better team as I look into details. They play tough aggressive ball and are definitely one of the most-improved teams of the year but they haven't been tested yet and they don't scare me.

Neither team is a slam dunk lock to win, each team has to come out and play. There are no easy games in the NFL - 100% agree. Or should we say, nobody can accurately predict an easy game in advance with any precision. After the fact its easy see the occasional easy game but they are the few and not the many.

Naturally I think MY CHARGERS will win. why not. And the Lions will need to step it up to hang with the Chargers, they have more stalling red zone drives than the Chargers do. Not sure why you think the Chargers need to step it up to keep pace with a team that has scored less points than they have - i guess its just about that disappointment thing. I get it

[dmac_bolt]

The inconsistency with which roughing the passer is called, or not called, is causing the league office to react, and the bottom line is,

“When in doubt about a roughness call or potentially dangerous tactic against the quarterback, the Referee should always call roughing the passer.”

Which means the Chargers are probably going to get some roughing the passer calls against them this weekend, since they get to the QB more often than most teams in the league.

And speaking of inconsistency, when the Jets' John Franklin-Myers slammed Herbert to the turf on MNF, it should've been roughing the passer. I've seen roughing called for much less than that. Derwin has gotten flagged twice this season for less flagrant fouls.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profoo...ing-the-passer

its gotten comical and absurd this year. they are just ridiculous. your example is found in another 6 games every week and the offended fans post the clips endlessly before the teams get done with their post-game meal. League is also out of control on post-game fines for things that were never flagged and look like absolutely nothing.

i don't get it.

[NoMoreChillies]

The Lions have the best record of any opponent the Chargers have played this year except the Chiefs. It's the first of four teams with winning records remaining on the sched. (All of these four games are at SoFi.) IMO the Lions this Sun is not a must-win game, but it is a must play well game. While most everybody here focuses on what is wrong with the Chargers, what is going well for the Chargers is overlooked. And here are some things that are going well.

TURNOVERS. The Chargers' offense doesn't turn the ball over very often. But the Chargers' defense forces a lot of takeaways. They are tied for 4th in overall takeaways (15) with the Bengals and are also tied with them for lead the league in turnover ratio with +9.

RED ZONE EFFICIENCY. The Chargers are middle of the pack in offensive yards gained, averaging 341 per game. But they are 8th in scoring, averaging 25.1 per game. I'm repeating what I posted above, but it is noteworthy. The Chargers are 2nd only to the Dolphins in red zone efficiency, the number of times the Chargers score a TD when they get inside the red zone. As I also stated above, this is Kellen Moore's biggest impact. The Chargers' red zone efficiency has increased greatly this season compared to last (while it has decreased significantly in Dallas).

SACKS. Tuli is a DROY candidate. And if he continues the upward trend he's been on lately, he will win it. Tuli, Mack and Bosa are a force. I think the chances are very good the Chargers will lead the league in sacks this season, they are just a hair behind the league leader (Ravens) right now. I thing the best is yet to come in this department for the Chargers.

PLAYMAKERS. This team has playmakers, on both sides of the ball. I've already mentioned Tuli. But Alohi Gilman is also a playmaker. He's a ball-hawking enforcer, turnover-maker. We've complained about low-IQ players. But Alohi is a high IQ player, that is why he is successful, and I think we are going to see more play-making from him as this season progresses, if he can stay on the field. (Gilman is a free agent next season; maybe Derwin will volunteer to take a pay cut so they can keep him.) Keenan Allen is a playmaker WR. The other two offensive players that stand out to me - Austin Ekeler and Donald Parham - do so they are or are becoming red zone beasts.

I'm not purposely ignoring the problems and deficiencies this team has. But those get talked about ad-nauseum on this forum. I wanted to make a list of the things this team does well as it enters the 2nd half of the season against the Lions, because there are quite a few.

I'll add Vato playing press man and Zont playing zone. Its working well. Staley defense starting to shine and will lead us to the playoffs

[dmac_bolt]

I'll add Vato playing press man and Zont playing zone. Its working well. Staley defense starting to shine and will lead us to the playoffs

NOW we're talkin! lets fucking go!