Its 3 fold:
1) The age old axiom fits this team to a T. Run and stop the run. We have given up an average of 198 yards on the ground in the past 3 games and gained an average of 69 yards in the past 3 games. We STILL managed to win 3, but you are NOT going to win many games that way, PERIOD!!!!!
2) We needed a little over a half a season to develop our short and probably long term solution at QB, JP Losman. If our TEAM was good enough to win despite a young QB, we may have won more. But our TEAM forced us to try to win on JP's arm toom many times this year. No one should have assumed that our team could go to the playoffs with a young QB, little running game, and no ability to stop the run. After the break, JP has been the MAIN reason that we have won the past 2 and almost won this one. He had a better day overall than Rivers. Rivers had 3 fumbles, 2 of which the Chargers recovered, 1 was a gimme due to the refs.
3) We are missing enough talent overall to be a playoff team. We have 2 of the crop pieces on O, a QB, and a WR. Our stud RB STILL doesnt play here yet! McGahee has been as lackluster as it gets. Our D is missing some pieces mostly on the lines. Our o-line is still missing pieces as well. Our other WR's are marginal. Our TE's have been a negative not a positive.
Heres what we DO have:
1) A starting caliper QB who can win some games for you, he was forced too all year long and has proven as of late that he can be trusted to do so. Hes not the problem on this team and as earned the starting job until he stinks up the field and gets benched. He will be our starter next year and beyond most likely. This issue is OVER now, haters will hate but its over!
2) A stud WR
3) A young solid starter with stud potential at LT
4) A stud CB in Clemen ts who needs to be resigned, its a priority now!
5) A stud DE in Schobel
6) A stud punter
7) Good looking youngsters in Whitner, Simpson, Crowell, McGee, Williams
8) Solid players who could be upgraded without heartache at LG, C, RG, RT, #2 WR (Peerless), A Train, Parrish as a returner.
9) Vets who coulkd either be kept or upgraded but only if we get a true upgrade in Fletcher, TKO, Lindell
10) A coaching staff that can motivate and play good sound ball. They need to be more adaptive during the game. They need to go back to kindergarten as far as challenges go. But they have the heart, they stuck with the right guy at QB and showed faith. They remained positive throughout. They maintained a TEAM attitude and prevented finger pointing. They have room to improve for sure, but some major problems are non-problems with this squad.
So, my fixes for this team have been changing every week but its now CRYSTAL clear. We need to have a solid run game and stop the run. That means EITHER improving or stopping the run comes first and foremost. Heres my fix:
FA:
1) Eric Steinbach, maybe move Gandy again to RG, hes played solid enough after the break to be a marginalk starter at G. Sign Eric, start him at his natural LG spot and move Gandy to RG.
2) Draft a RB EARLY. It aint McGahee folks, its now crystal clear. We needed him to earn his pay today and he failed miserably, the 3rd and 3 screen where he danced and didnt get the first was an example. Our friggin QB got as many yards as Willis. Whens the last 100 yard game by Willis? WEEK 3!!! I swear the guy has handles on his ankles and shoestrings, he goes down ALOT by worthless tackles. We need a stud RB, let Willis take his song and dance and Rosendouche right on out of here, he has NEVER proven to be a solid stud RB here! Marshawn Lych in the 1st or Michael Bush in the 2nd would be a nice step. Upgrade him early in the draft!
3) Look long and hard at mid round OT's, C's, and G's. We dont need to spend a 1st rounder on them, we should be in the 12-16 range and there arent any RT's worth it, only LT's and we are all filled up there.
4) Look at younger vet type journeyman at OT to replace Pennington if necessary.
5) Draft another DT in day one. Lets let Tim Anderson take a hike. Getting McCargo back will help. Corey Simon in FA might be a nice add too.
6) Id look at LB's like Briggs, Cato June, or Adalius Thomas in FA. Crowell is solid, TKO hasnt rebounded but doesnt exactly suck either, and Fletch is a FA. Id like to keep Fletch, but I bet we have at least 1 new starter at LB, so lets look at one of these guys.
So there it is. Replace McGahee, add some proven and unproven talent along the lines, and possibly a new proven LB.
The darkhorse position is #2 WR. Peerless has made a few big plays as of late and the braintrust may keep him, buit can we pass up a player like Ted Ginn Jr? Dwayne Jarrett? Paul Williams in the 3rd? We just may take a guy day one.
Run and stop the run. Build around JP. Spend your money. Makes waves on draft day. Get-er-done and we will be a playoff contender next year!
1) The age old axiom fits this team to a T. Run and stop the run. We have given up an average of 198 yards on the ground in the past 3 games and gained an average of 69 yards in the past 3 games. We STILL managed to win 3, but you are NOT going to win many games that way, PERIOD!!!!!
2) We needed a little over a half a season to develop our short and probably long term solution at QB, JP Losman. If our TEAM was good enough to win despite a young QB, we may have won more. But our TEAM forced us to try to win on JP's arm toom many times this year. No one should have assumed that our team could go to the playoffs with a young QB, little running game, and no ability to stop the run. After the break, JP has been the MAIN reason that we have won the past 2 and almost won this one. He had a better day overall than Rivers. Rivers had 3 fumbles, 2 of which the Chargers recovered, 1 was a gimme due to the refs.
3) We are missing enough talent overall to be a playoff team. We have 2 of the crop pieces on O, a QB, and a WR. Our stud RB STILL doesnt play here yet! McGahee has been as lackluster as it gets. Our D is missing some pieces mostly on the lines. Our o-line is still missing pieces as well. Our other WR's are marginal. Our TE's have been a negative not a positive.
Heres what we DO have:
1) A starting caliper QB who can win some games for you, he was forced too all year long and has proven as of late that he can be trusted to do so. Hes not the problem on this team and as earned the starting job until he stinks up the field and gets benched. He will be our starter next year and beyond most likely. This issue is OVER now, haters will hate but its over!
2) A stud WR
3) A young solid starter with stud potential at LT
4) A stud CB in Clemen ts who needs to be resigned, its a priority now!
5) A stud DE in Schobel
6) A stud punter
7) Good looking youngsters in Whitner, Simpson, Crowell, McGee, Williams
8) Solid players who could be upgraded without heartache at LG, C, RG, RT, #2 WR (Peerless), A Train, Parrish as a returner.
9) Vets who coulkd either be kept or upgraded but only if we get a true upgrade in Fletcher, TKO, Lindell
10) A coaching staff that can motivate and play good sound ball. They need to be more adaptive during the game. They need to go back to kindergarten as far as challenges go. But they have the heart, they stuck with the right guy at QB and showed faith. They remained positive throughout. They maintained a TEAM attitude and prevented finger pointing. They have room to improve for sure, but some major problems are non-problems with this squad.
So, my fixes for this team have been changing every week but its now CRYSTAL clear. We need to have a solid run game and stop the run. That means EITHER improving or stopping the run comes first and foremost. Heres my fix:
FA:
1) Eric Steinbach, maybe move Gandy again to RG, hes played solid enough after the break to be a marginalk starter at G. Sign Eric, start him at his natural LG spot and move Gandy to RG.
2) Draft a RB EARLY. It aint McGahee folks, its now crystal clear. We needed him to earn his pay today and he failed miserably, the 3rd and 3 screen where he danced and didnt get the first was an example. Our friggin QB got as many yards as Willis. Whens the last 100 yard game by Willis? WEEK 3!!! I swear the guy has handles on his ankles and shoestrings, he goes down ALOT by worthless tackles. We need a stud RB, let Willis take his song and dance and Rosendouche right on out of here, he has NEVER proven to be a solid stud RB here! Marshawn Lych in the 1st or Michael Bush in the 2nd would be a nice step. Upgrade him early in the draft!
3) Look long and hard at mid round OT's, C's, and G's. We dont need to spend a 1st rounder on them, we should be in the 12-16 range and there arent any RT's worth it, only LT's and we are all filled up there.
4) Look at younger vet type journeyman at OT to replace Pennington if necessary.
5) Draft another DT in day one. Lets let Tim Anderson take a hike. Getting McCargo back will help. Corey Simon in FA might be a nice add too.
6) Id look at LB's like Briggs, Cato June, or Adalius Thomas in FA. Crowell is solid, TKO hasnt rebounded but doesnt exactly suck either, and Fletch is a FA. Id like to keep Fletch, but I bet we have at least 1 new starter at LB, so lets look at one of these guys.
So there it is. Replace McGahee, add some proven and unproven talent along the lines, and possibly a new proven LB.
The darkhorse position is #2 WR. Peerless has made a few big plays as of late and the braintrust may keep him, buit can we pass up a player like Ted Ginn Jr? Dwayne Jarrett? Paul Williams in the 3rd? We just may take a guy day one.
Run and stop the run. Build around JP. Spend your money. Makes waves on draft day. Get-er-done and we will be a playoff contender next year!
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