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Relax Ravens' Fans: Chargers' Receivers Are Unique

After yesterday's thrilling 31-26 victory by the Baltimore Ravens over the San Diego Chargers, so many Ravens fans were lamenting the way that Chargers QB Philip Rivers threw all over the field to his receivers time and time again for huge gains. San Diego basically accepted that they weren't going to run the ball against us so they abandoned the run game and took to the air in a big way, with Rivers throwing for a personal best and probably a Ravens worst 436 yards.

However, don't fall prey to reading way too much into that performance by the Ravens pass defense.

(More on 'Relax Ravens' Fans...' after the 'Jump')

Star-divide

The San Diego Chargers boast a very talented lineup on the offensive side of the ball. Injured running back LaDainian Tomlinson sat this one out but I doubt the outcome would have been any different if he had played, as his replacement, Darren Sproles had a monster game with 124 receiving yards and 128 return yards, including that 81 yards catch and run past a sleeping Ravens defense early in the first quarter (Ed Reed, what were you doing with that angle on the play!?).

Sproles and Michael Bennett got almost nothing on the ground, as the Ravens rush defense held their opponents' leading rusher to 20 yards for the second straight game, extending their streak of not allowing a 100 yard rusher to 37 straight games. However, give San Diego credit for realizing this at an early point of the game and going to those long passes which they completed with success. At the same time, we Ravens fans want to thank Chargers coach Norv Turner for momentarily forgetting about their poor success running the ball and placing the entire game's outcome on a Sproles run up the middle that All-World Ray Lewis blew up in the backfield for the game deciding play.

Now to put most of the Ravens fans at ease for the remainder of the season, here's why you can rest easier. The Chargers group of receivers are the most unique bunch in the NFL, boasting four guys 6'4" in height or taller. Between the 6'4" TE Antonio Gates, who is way too big for a safety to cover and way too fast for a linebacker, and 6'5" Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd, the Ravens were sorely outmatched in the size and muscle departments. How many times did it seem like we had their receivers covered, only to see them go up and come down with the ball? It was amazing that they didn't attempt a fade pass on the last few plays of the game ending drive into our Red Zone!

There is no other team in the league with that set of receivers, built like the Chargers guys. The combination of size and speed make them an extremely difficult matchup, one the Ravens will not see the rest of the season. Of course, if we meet again in the post season, hopefully it will be in Baltimore and the home field advantage in January will give us the big advantage. At the same time, San Diego had won 20 of their past 24 home games before yesterday, and we had to go and spoil that nice run!

So don't fret too much, Ravens' fans, as we held the Chargers to 0-5 for scoring TD's in our Red Zone. The 'bend-but-don't-break' mentality worked when our backs were to the wall. Ray Lewis proved why he is the smartest and the best linebacker to ever play the game and shut up the doubters who say he is old and slow. The Baltimore Ravens are 2-0, in first place in the AFC North and head home to M&T Bank Stadium next Sunday to face the hated and now 0-2 Cleveland Browns. Things are looking pretty good from where we stand. So relax, Ravens' fans and enjoy the win!

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Comments

Display:

Bruce.

I sometimes think we share a brain man, thank you for saying that. I honestly wasnt buying into how big their wideouts were, you kept warning us, but I was not sold. Okay, its safe to say I am indeed sold, the Chargers wideouts are huge! And luckily for us, we dont see them again! Lets go beat up on the Browns and let our secondary get their swag. I cant believe our offense won a big game for us, beating KC was one thing, they were solid but far from legit, San Diego was a great victory for Joe Flacco and company.

Ray Lewis = GOAT, and JJ has had 2 very solid, above average games. Im liking it.

Scott Hines

by shines on Sep 21, 2009 10:23 AM EDT reply actions  

Totall there w/ you!

Cleveland’s abysmal team on both sides might get pushed all over the field and we could be looking at a shutout, dare I say?

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Sep 21, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions  

Could see them again

Lets hope we either fix our secondary or dont see the Chargers in the playoffs cause I don’t want to get torched like that again in any playoff game when it really matters.

by ShaneOmacDaddy on Sep 21, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'll take the win

How many times in the past have offenses moved the ball on us in the air like that and our offense could not counteract? Pretty rare to see us win two straight games where we have allowed 24 and 26 points.

But I think we all know that this defense has not turned it on yet. And I think the league should be aware of that fear what we can do. This offense looks to be one of the best and most efficient in the league. A couple of the ESPN commentators said on the Kelly Washington TD that they have never seen a play like that before. I think that says alot about Cam and where this offense is going.

Keep an eye on us NFL, its going to get dangerous when we are playing. And to all the haters out there who said Flacco is not a reason we win games like they did last year, I dare you to have those words come out your mouth again. I dare you! That is 2 for Joe right there b*tches.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 21, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions  

"Wahhh, we need better receivers, wahhh!"

So what’s that noise, I hear? …oh..nothing, just silence.

See I told you that our receivers didn’t need to be great, just good enough. K-Wash’s first TD catch in YEARS! Good enough works for Flacco and so it works for me and should for you as well.

That is, until off season, when we GRAB San Diego’s Vincent Jackson, who is a FA – that man is a beast!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Sep 21, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yea, I would love to have Jackson. He is a perfect AFC North WR.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 21, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed. I like Jackson even more (less as an opponent) after yesterday.

He’d be a perfect fit with the Ravens, but I don’t see them letting him go.

by BAL_Hawk on Sep 21, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

not actually a FA, because of the uncapped year… plus when this team wins it’s first playoff game it won’t be allowed to grab Free Agents.

by math_geek on Sep 21, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

plus when this team wins it’s first playoff game it won’t be allowed to grab Free Agents.

What do you mean? Playoff teams won’t be allowed to sign free agents in an uncapped year?

by BAL_Hawk on Sep 21, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

Only if we let go of a FA of equal monetary value.

Can you think of any FAs going off for big money deals for the Ravens this year?

Me neither

by math_geek on Sep 21, 2009 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yea, Gaither.

Last year of his contract and hired Drew Rosenhaus as his agent. Gaither will want to show everyone that he should not have been a supplemental draft pick and deserves big time money. Some team will give him huge bucks, then we move Oher to LT.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 21, 2009 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

And Ozzie finds us a gem via free agency.

To plug in at right tackle, something similar to the Matt Birk signing. Except this works out better because Oher is going to be a great football player, not a good player, a great player. We plug in an experienced right tackle who serves as either an upgrade from a rookie Mike Oher, or a spitting image, no dropoff, guaranteed.

Drew Rosenhaus will get Gaither the big bucks, we bring in a top wideout, and probably get a compensatory pick or 2 from the loss of gaither. Thats what we like to call a win-win-win.

Scott Hines

by shines on Sep 21, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

We are going to probably get 3 compensatory picks this year for the losses of Leonhard, Scott and Brown. That is really exciting.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 21, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

Need to draft one of the following...

Dez Bryant (trade up)
Julio Jones (trade up)
Michael Crabtree (If reenters draft)
Jermaine Gresham (If healthy)

Add a big corner to that and we will be ready to repeat.

by DT711 on Sep 22, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions  

Be great

But I would keep dreaming. Ozzie trading up for a WR? Doubt it. Never been his style. We will most likely just draft LB Brandon Spikes or LeRon’s brother out of Alabama, the LB.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 22, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

Ozzie is going for a record next year and putting 14 LB on the team.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 22, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

Chill man

Your thinly veiled shots at Oz are not funny anymore. Maybe the first time, but not the 100th. We all get it that Oz finds value in LB’s, and is reluctant to give up picks in order to trade up. Oz knows how to build a team and if he feels there is a WR who will put us over the edge he will pick him if it makes sense. He was planning to trade up to draft Pettigrew if he fell past the Lions, and there was a good chance he would have taken a WR if Oher had not slipped. Can’t argue with that decision.

by DT711 on Sep 22, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

“Wahhh, we need better corners, wahhh!”

Fixed it for you.

by math_geek on Sep 21, 2009 12:40 PM EDT reply actions  

No tears from me

I’ll take ours over the course of the season and they will be fine as long as we don’t have to face SD again, but we still won. “Wahhh, we put up 400+ passing yards on the Ravens and still lost! Wahhh!!!”

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Sep 21, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

Great that we won.

This game just showed us we can hang with some of the best teams in the league even after they throw for 436 on us, but it also shows that while we are a good team, there is still room for improvement. Make no mistake about it, our secondary needs work. I love the win, but like I said, secondary needs work and hopefully within the next few weeks they can get a little bit sharper cause Tom Brady and Moss will tear us apart as well if we dont sharpen up. If we can get to 14-0 and just rest the last 2 weeks…ill take that lol.

by ShaneOmacDaddy on Sep 21, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

Bruce, followed you here from BFTB

Charger fan here with a soft spot for the Ravens (live in VA and have a friend with Ravens tix, so I’ve been to many games). The take of many of the Chargers faithful is we lost a hard fought game to one of the best teams in the NFL. Your secondary got torched, but games are based on points, not yards. Rivers had what, 4 yards passing in the red zone? We were undermanned on the lines, but at full strength would have more than had our hands full.

We knew our only chance was to use our big receivers to our advantage, and we did. It wasn’t enough.

Hats off to you, Ravens. Hope to see you in the Post Season!

No “Wahhh!” here.

As far as The Play goes, doesn’t matter what we called, Mr. Lewis did his homework, and even if it was to be a pass from that formation, he’d have blown it up. Best ILB ever, and nobody is better prepared for an opponent.

by Hoot1969 on Sep 22, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

Thanks and

welcome to The Beatdown! Great game, great win and that tough Chargers passing attack will give a lot of teams fits for the rest of the season.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Sep 22, 2009 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

Thanks for the Welcome!

…and thanks Bruce for your insights into the Ravens for Bolts From The Blue!

I think the Chargers D needs some seasoning, but will be ready when we meet again (not if, but when).

by Hoot1969 on Sep 22, 2009 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

Thats a tough House!

Last time we went there, we lost. we won 14 of our remaining 15 games that year, so I know how hard it is to win in B’More.

I wore my #56 Merriman jersey. Section 138. Favorite quote from the Ravens faithful – “if you had to wear a Chargers jersey, at least you picked the right one”. UMD fan, I’m sure!

by Hoot1969 on Sep 23, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’m not too worried about our corners either. I’ve read quotes from both guys after the game. They knew that they blew it and that they can play better. They will struggle against big receivers, but the schemes and coverages will get better as the season progresses.

I’ll take a defense like the Ravens, that gives up 400 yards passing but stands strong against the run and in the red zone, over a defense like the Packers, that has great ball-hawking corners but can’t hold up in the red zone versus the Bengals. Which statistic is more important to you?

I’m not say that we shouldn’t improve our secondary. Of course we should. I’m just saying that we’ll win many more games as the league’s best rushing and red zone defense than we would as the league’s best passing defense. Obviously, having both would be nice.

by BAL_Hawk on Sep 21, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

Same here

They stopped the Chargers in the red zone, and that’s whats most important. Clearly their communication needs to improve, and they will get beaten sometimes by bigger WR’s, but lets be real…. QB’s have been putting up big yardage totals on the Ravens for years. A lot has to do with the fact that we often are out in front, and that other teams cannot run the ball on us, so they throw to catch up. Our guys will get better and we will probably draft a big CB like Sean Smith in the draft. No team is perfect.

by DT711 on Sep 21, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

To clarify

A similar player to Sean Smith, as I know he was drafted by MIA in the 3rd rd last year. My above statement was unclear.

by DT711 on Sep 21, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

I would have loved to get Sean Smith. Buy not over Webb. Still would have been nice to have a biggggg body like his to line up against SD yesterday.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 21, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

We've always been "soft" between the 20's

and tough with our backs to the wall in the Red Zone. We’ll continue to get tougher as the field gets shorter for the other team, with less field to work with we get better. That’s why teams try to go long on us because the know they’re not going to get much in long drives against a top defense like ours.

Also, does anybody realize that the Bengals were just one messed up long pass play away from being tied with us at 2-0!? If they beat Pittsburgh at Cincy next week, which they very well could do, they’ll be 2-1 and looking like a Cinderella team!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Sep 21, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

Just stopping by...

To say good win yesterday, 2-0 is pretty nice, and a division lead is sweet, albeit in week 2 (bitter Steelers fan coming through, my apologies).

Quick story, I’m sure you’ve covered it, but here goes:

House full of football fans, enjoying the Sunday Ticket, and believe it or not, not a single Ravens fan in the house. Two Steelers fans, 1 Redskins fan, 1 Vikings fan, 1 Giants fan, 1 Cowboys fan. We’re watching your game on one TV, and just before San Diego’s fourth down play, all other broadcasts switch to your game. 4 TV’s, one game on all of them. The ball is snapped, and Ray Lewis sprints right through that O-Line and takes Sproles out. I mean took him out, that little man had no idea what was coming for him.
  The whole house stands up at once, half amazed, half excited (no one like the Chargers, mostly because of Rivers). My one friend says “Ray Lewis… still in his prime, as if its his third year in the league.” Everyone agreed. He is still a bad man, and the read on Rivers’ snap was beautiful. Ray Ray at his best.

Congrats on the great start, though the D was not up to the level I expected as a Steelers fan, so I’m sure it was a subpar effort as far as your concerned aswell. The best part is there is 14 more games to perfect our craft before the real battle begins. Best of luck, and see you all November 29th. Should be a great game, I expect nothing less of the best rivalry in football.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Sep 21, 2009 2:23 PM EDT reply actions  

You the man NY!

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 21, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

Dude!

Youre the 2nd consecutive cool Pittsburgh fan to come in here since last night. (The other one was the guy with the Ravens fan wife.) But thanks man! And dont sweat that game yesterday, like you said, 14 more weeks! Including 2 against each other.

Scott Hines

by shines on Sep 21, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'll expect to give up 26 points to a top notch QB/WR tandem

over a crybaby QB with no receivers and lose by missing two crucial FG’s which probably would have won the game had he made them. Ouch, missing Troy yet?

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Sep 21, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

Like you wouldn't believe man...

That’s my dude out there! (No doulble meaning) He’s the catalyst of our defense. As you guys well know, defenses can be made and lost with one play. When that play goes your way, your defense follows. When that play goes the other way, so does the defense… even the great ones. Well, Troy is the guy who has a knack of always making that play. Without him, we are not the same team. We need him, whether the rest of our fans will admit it (to the outsiders like yourselves) or not. That said, I want him 100% before he is on the field again, and if that means holding out an extra week or two, so be it… it’s time to take our medicine on that one.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Sep 21, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

Thank you shines...

Believe it or not, we’re all pretty cool, for the most part. Like any group you have your rabble rousers. We’re no different. Most fans don’t let their guard down around rival fans, and let them in. Almost a natural tribal distrust type thing. I don’t get it. We all enjoy the game of football, we just enjoy different kinds. It’s unfortunate, because our particular brands are so close, if we weren’t in the same division, we’d probably love watching eachother’s teams. Secretly, a lot of us actually do enjoy watching eachother’s team, some go as far as to use the respect word, even if it’s not aloud for the class to hear. I’ve got no problem saying it, I respect the hell out of the Ravens. If it weren’t for your constant nipping of our heals (and vice versa when need be, no disrespect), the lull of playing the Browns and Bengals for the last decade would of softened us up, at least a little. “Iron sharpens iron.” No doubt about it.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Sep 21, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

Oh yea Im with you 100%

I actually watch every Steeler game when the Ravens arent playing, and you guys get all my commercial time. Its like watching the Ravens play in a different jersey, minus a few obvious things. But I know what youre saying, I guess we get annoyed here so badly by some fans because a Steeler fan here feels the need to make it known and be the loudest since he is usually out-numbered. The same way opposing fans act in Pittsburgh, it just so happens that you guys are our rival, and its a beautiful rivalry. But good stuff man.

Scott Hines

by shines on Sep 21, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

Congratulations on your tough win

I have for several weeks saying that the Ravens – not the Steelers – will win the division. The Steelers are good but with an effective O you guys climbed to the top. You deserve to be there and the Ravens – Steelers games will be very exciting for us Bengal fans to watch.

The Bengals are better and will continue to improve. We would be real contenders in other divisions but alas we have to get by two of the NFL’s best teams to make any noise and that is not an easy task. I will however tell you guys the same thing that I told the GB fans on their site. If you play hard and don’t think of us as the Bungles while expecting to win you probably come out on top – BUT – if you take a win for granted we can beat you. We have a pretty good WR corps here in Cincy too and a pretty good QB as well once he gets into rhythm after missing so many games between last year and the PS.

  Our D isn’t at your level yet but we are closer than we have ever been. Just watch us. We will get better every game and the earlier you play us the easier your task is. I would not be surprised if we go 6-2 the 2nd half. But alsa noe of that matters if we don’t at least split with you and Pittsburg. That will be a tall order. I expect one win out of the 4 games is not out of the question but two is dependant on how much better we can get by the time we play you the 2nd time. Play us hard. We are not the same old Bengals. You will see.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Sep 21, 2009 3:49 PM EDT reply actions  

Dude, you guys are definitely not a team to overlook. There is some serious talent in cinci and I think alot of people are overlooking your defense. It is young and fast and that is a very good team that you beat in GB. Then anytime you have Carson, you will usually be in the whole game. Beat Pitt when you play them in like 2 weeks.

 I agree that they are not that great either. Ben is not THAT good that he is going to keep winning games with the support of 60 yards rushing each time. They will perrish quickly, losing to the lions in a few weeks and organizing a mass suicide. That will be the day.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 21, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

That last line made my day!

Scott Hines

by shines on Sep 21, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

Cincy was just one bad play

away from being 2-0 if Brandon Stokley didn’t go to the house on the last play of the first game!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Sep 21, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

It's gut-check time for Cincy.

Pittsburgh is going to come out with a fire lit under them, after a huge dissappointing loss. Cinci better come ready to play.

Scott Hines

by shines on Sep 21, 2009 4:38 PM EDT reply actions  

A lot to talk about on replies and a little on the post

With a healthy Palmer and Ocho not being his usual @$s self you have a good team, I think you actually lost the better WR in TJ. Not taking away from Chad abilities but like TO I think too often he is a cancer who can stop younger players from staying focused on their job. If these things stay out of play Cincy is just one wrong move by even the best teams of winning the game.

We can never put the Steelers down because even on bad years Pitt and Baltimore is always something to watch, but for the next few weeks at least they are missing the heart of their D.

As far as our CB/DB it was game 2, coverage will be tighter as the year goes on, scheme will be developed from this game and if we meet again in post season I think it will be a different game.

Our WRs are better than most give credit and Washington is doing what I thought he would. He is better than most people think and has been hidden in the shadows of the best WRs in the game. Now he will get his playtime and he is going to be someone to watch. The chemistry of the WRs and TEs we have along with the backfield and QB is just proving everyone except the Raven’s office was wrong about our WRs.

The other thing I have been tired of reading was how Heap had such an off season last year. He was blocking by design most plays last year, and doing so when he wasn’t Flacco didn’t look for or see him often when he was out for passes. Heap had a great season last year, he just had a different role than we were used to seeing him in. Wish someon would tell NFL.com/NFL Network to learn the game before they speak about it. Just remember this year, two games to TDs. He is a complete TE when he is healthy and fe if any other TEs in the game right now can say that…

by Asmodeus1971 on Sep 21, 2009 5:41 PM EDT reply actions  

Not too sure about that TJ comment

He has done almost nothing up in Seatlle w/o 85 to take defenses away from him.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Sep 22, 2009 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions  

In his defense

He has not been 100% healthy. Give TJ a few more weeks before we judge.

by DT711 on Sep 22, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions  

Was heathy Sunday

and did nothing. Now his QBis injured. Would’ve been a great addition here though. Now he gets to star in obscurity!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Sep 22, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions  

The FInal Drive...

Can someone explain to me the last Ravens kickoff in the 4th quarter that was flagged for going out of bounds resulting in the Chargers getting the ball on the 40 yard line.To begin the ball never landed out of bounds,Sproles caught the ball standing out of bounds and should have been flagged, because he could not be the first player to touch the ball because he never re-established himself on the field of play.The sideline has no rule for breaking the plane.The call nearly cost the Ravens the game,but Norv Truner decided to run when that hadn’t worked all game instead of throwing it up for grabs to one of the chargers big receivers.

by thomlord on Sep 21, 2009 7:33 PM EDT reply actions  

The way I understand it, if the return man catches the ball with one or both feet out of bounds it is the same as the kicker kicking it out (spotted at 40)…

It looked to me like Sproles did not know the rule and that is why he tried not to step out..he unknowingly did the right thing..

by adh on Sep 21, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions  

Apparently, he was standing out of bounds...

..when he caught the ball, therefore it is the same as the ball landing OOB. If he had caught it in bounds and THEN stepped out, then the ball would have been spotted at the three yard line. Would have been a HUGE mistake!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Sep 22, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah

that’s my point. He did not realize he was already out of bounds…If you watch the tape his foot is clearly out, but he looks as if he is trying reverse his momentum. I guarantee he had no intention of actually catching the ball out of bounds on purpose.

by adh on Sep 22, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions  

You are right

He clearly got bailed out and made the smart play by mistake. It would have ruled if he would have caught it in bounds and either stepped out, or returned it for a small gain.

by DT711 on Sep 22, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions  

They Need to Change that Rule

Shoot, if I was the ST Coord., I would just tell my KO returner that if they directionally kick to one side or the other, put one foot out of bounds and catch the ball… -instant great field position.

by vlad755 on Sep 23, 2009 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

Thats what many good returners do
Shoot, if I was the ST Coord., I would just tell my KO returner that if they directionally kick to one side or the other, put one foot out of bounds and catch the ball

Sproles just happened to do it by accident.

by DT711 on Sep 24, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

Tip-toe

Yeah, that was pretty funny watching Sproles try not to tip over the line… Kind of like what MaLoR looks like during a field sobriety test…

:)

by vlad755 on Sep 24, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

+1

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 25, 2009 5:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

The Chargers WR's do raise some interesting thoughts...

1. I think that it is obvious that we need at least one big physical corner. Chris McCallister used to be that guy for us and it was a role we missed on Sunday. I would have loved to have Sean Smith but will settle for Trevard Lindely this year.

2. Let’s appreciate the fact that Phillip Rivers is one of the top three quarterbacks in the AFC. His numbers last year were historically good and I think the past game proved that those stats were not a fluke. The Ravens don’t have to hang their heads too much about how he picked about their secondary.

3. The Chargers present an interesting receiving corps. I can’t think of a single other team that has size all across the board the way the Chargers do…. Given Phillip Rivers recent success with those pass catchers, it is something that Newsome may want to consider as he reloads Baltimore’s WR’s. Going bigger in size would be something that seems like it would be a good weapon against physical AFC North defenses.

3. Vincent Jackson is a restricted free agent next season, but San Diego has a bevy of other free agents to worry about too. To wit: Marcus McNeil, Shawn Merriman, Darren Sproles, Malcolm Floyd and Chris Chambers. You have to figure AJ Smith isn’t going to be able to keep all of those players and you know he’s going to have to commit a lot of money to keep his left tackle so Vincent could be one that falls to us. I’d live with it.

by ello on Sep 21, 2009 8:53 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

VJ may be available

depending on his season. He had another run-in with the law, with a DUI charge, and SD’s GM AJ Smith is growing weary of these transgressions by his players. He may be available, but I think the more likely guy for my Chargers to part with will be Merriman. Chambers won’t be back next year (if he’d caught a few of the balls that hit his hands Sunday maybe the outcome is different). If Jackson has the season I think he will, he may force the Chargers to keep him.

by Hoot1969 on Sep 22, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

Uh Oh DUI charge.

So much for Ozzie getting him.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 22, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

was his 2nd... he's on Probation

If the Chargers let him go, the Ravens probably won’t touch him. You can have Chambers, though!

by Hoot1969 on Sep 22, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

Hit the nail right on the head

It wasn’t like Rivers was threding the needle on every throw he made. All he did was send his 6’5 monsters down the field and played jump ball with our CB. Give me three 6’4+ recievers and i bet i could put up 300+ yards. I wanna see how our corners hold ip against WR like Reggie Wayne, Homles, or Moss. These are the guys who we will be facing most likely in the playoffs.

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on Sep 22, 2009 12:59 AM EDT reply actions  

Not to take anything away from Brady/Moss' huge year

a couple of years ago but while Moss made a bunch of spectacular catches, a lot of Brady’s TD passes to him were not great throws, just thrown up for the big guy to grab away from smaller DB’s. Look for that against us but their other receivers are not matchup problems for us. Welker will slide across the middle but our speedy guys will have to prove they can play him face up and not give him the space to get underneath while Ed provides backside coverage for whomever’s covering Moss.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Sep 22, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions  

I Guarantee

That Brady and Moss will be looking at the Ravens – Chargers film and will be licking their chops. Agreed that Moss is not as strong as the SD WR corp, but he can still play “head and shoulders” above our munchkin DB’s (cue the “Lollipop Guild” song from “Wizard of Oz”).

by vlad755 on Sep 23, 2009 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

And Moss.

Isn’t even close to the strength SD’s wideout possessed. We can expect our corners to be much more physical with Moss.

Scott Hines

by shines on Sep 22, 2009 12:51 PM EDT via mobile reply actions  

And Moss is their biggest guy

other than Ben Watson, who looked real good against Buffalo. However, we stopped them once so we can do it again. Besides, Brady’s o-line is not as good, neither is their running game and neither is Brady the same Brady as in the past. Plus their defense is missing a lit (Seymour, Bruschi, Mayo “the wop”).

(“Officer & a Gentleman” refernce above)

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Sep 22, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

our db’s looked like rudolphs attacking the snow monster

by raven on Sep 22, 2009 11:53 PM EDT reply actions  

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