Chargers win a tough fight against the Raiders

Chargers found themselves in a real dog fight in the Black Hole. But they came away winners in spite of the tough fight. Now the Chargers will face the Ravens and I think they have another tough fight in front of them at the Q. Again I think the Chargers will come out the winners in a close one. I'm predicting:

Chargers should win 24 to Ravens 20

Will Gordon replace Cromartie this year?

I think it is quite possible that Gordon will replace Cromartie as a starting CB this year. After watching fan fest and witnessing Gordon's outstanding and consistent defensive array of talants, it looks as if Gordon is going to be a starter. While Cromartie is extremely talented but lacks focus and takes plays off. Giving opponents wide open deep pass plays for TD's, like when VJ beat Cromartie down the sideline for an easy TD at Fan Fest. There was no reason for it but lazyness by Cromartie to allow VJ to beat him like that and Merriman gave Cromartie a verbal lesson that he will not be allowed to take plays off. Merriman wants a Super Bowl and so does the rest of the team, taking plays off, like Cromartie likes to do, will only work to find himself on the bench.



CHARGERS NOTES: Gordon's chief concern is making more plays

SAN DIEGO ---- Cletis Gordon made a pair of interceptions that didn't matter
much. The fourth-year defensive back picked off two passes during Saturday
morning's practice, making excellent reads and breaks on both.

Despite having a good day, Gordon wasn't ready to pat himself on the back. He knows that it takes an entire training camp to make a real impression on the coaches who determine playing time. But in the first few weeks, Gordon has put his best foot
forward.

He's consistently making plays and forcing coaches to include him
in key packages. It's an uphill climb for Gordon, who has Quentin Jammer,
Antonio Cromartie and Antoine Cason ahead of him on the depth chart.
"I'm not really concerned about how and exactly where I fit in with the other guys,"
Gordon said. "I'm only worried about how I'm doing and how I can progress as a
football player."

Gordon has grown in each of the last three seasons and
could well be playing himself into more playing time.
"That's obviously the goal," Gordon said. "I'm gaining confidence and am comfortable with what we're doing right now. I've made some plays, but I have to remain consistent throughout camp."

Chargers should try for Home Field Advantage in the Playoffs

I believe the Chargers should try for enough wins this season to land home field advantage throughout the playoffs if they want to go to the Super Bowl. It is a huge advantage to play at home especially in the winter months. I know the teams can win on the road in the playoffs but it is really a big advantage to play at home. Below is the feelings of John Clayton on the subject:

Q: The San Diego Chargers are approaching what seems to me like the final trip to the proving grounds for our great city of San Diego. Can they finally break
through the AFC barriers that they have been plagued by in the past
(Patriots, Colts,
Steelers)?

From Matt in Poway, Calif.

A: The Chargers can break through,
but the key for them is stockpiling
wins during the regular season. They
need home-field advantage. You see how the
AFC is going. The Patriots have
the edge on the Chargers. At times, the Colts
seemingly had the edge on the
Patriots. Classic battles result when the
Steelers, Colts, Chargers,
Patriots, Ravens and Titans are involved. The key is
getting the home field
for the playoff matchups. If the Chargers can win 12
games, and the Patriots
win 10 or 11 because of their tough schedule, the
Chargers have a chance
because they get New England at home. The AFC has the
elite of the elite.
Although home-field advantage doesn't always work, it's a
great
ally.

AJ Smith wants a fast Start to the Season

AJ is looking for the Chargers to start fast this year and keep ahead of the standings in wins all the way to the Super Bowl, he does not want the players reading their own press clippings and believing they can win the easy way. The games will have to actually be played and the players will have to actually win it all on the field, where the other teams want to win too, and they are all Pro Football Players. I believe the Chargers players have finally matured and realize this year is theirs only if they earn it, press clippings mean nothing before the games actually played.

"It's, 'We're the Chargers!' " said Smith, sitting in his office overlooking the
sprawling practice fields. "It's, 'Well, we could have won the game against
Carolina, last second. Well, [referee Ed] Hochuli took the other game away.
We're the Chargers. Everything's going to be fine.'

"Hey, boys, you're 4-8."

"We'd like to start off this year with the mind-set of, let's have a decent
beginning here," he said. "Let's not put our backs against the wall and create
this awful situation where you're fighting for your life to get in. If we're a
playoff-caliber team, let's prove it in a normal fashion."

"From what I'm hearing nationally and from what people are telling me," he
said, "people are still picking us to go to the Super Bowl, and some people are
even going to pick us to win the Super Bowl. Television guys that will be making
predictions later on have already made up their mind and told me."After last
year, I thought we'd be so far under the radar that we wouldn't have to worry
about any of that. I was wrong."

AJ Smith Knocks HBO's "Hard Knocks"

AJ Smith doesn't mind letting everyone know his when it comes to TV and HBO's Hard Knocks:

Speaking of Smith, he got a great answer from Chargers GM A.J. Smith on
the topic of HBO's “Hard Knocks” show. A.J. Smith declined a bid by NFL Films to
do the show from Chargers training camp a few years ago. He called the show
“entertaining” but told Darren Smith (no relation) he couldn't “possibly
comprehend” having a camera crew present while the team prepared for a season.

“I think it's a distraction, I think it's fake, I think it's phony, I think
it's put on,” he said. “I think it's basically a motion picture, and anyone that
wants to be in the motion-picture business or enjoy that stuff, they buy into
it, they enjoy it. The fake phone-call conversations, the fake tryout
. . . the whole thing is a joke.”

The new season of “Hard Knocks,” starring the Bengals, debuts Aug. 12 on HBO. Just in case A.J. wants to set his
TiVo.

Chargers Preseason Schedule:

Preseason important dates:

Sat., Aug. 15: First exhibition game: Chargers vs. Seattle, 7 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium
Sat., Aug. 22: Chargers at Arizona, 7 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 29: Chargers at Atlanta 5 p.m. PDT
Tue., Sept. 1: Roster reduced to 75 players
Fri., Sept. 4: Chargers vs. San Francisco, 7 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium
Sat., Sept. 5: Roster reduced to 53 players
Mon., Sept. 14: Season opener at Oakland, 7:15 p.m.

The times and dates of the Qualcomm Charger Practices

The Chargers will host three public practices during camp, all of which will take place at Qualcomm Stadium:

-- Aug. 5: 7:00 p.m.-9:20 p.m.

-- Aug. 8: FanFest 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; players sign autographs for kids and practice in front of the fans.

-- Aug. 12: 7:00 p.m.-9:20 p.m.

Four Draft Picks sign

Chargers agree to contracts with four draft picks
Casey Pearce
Posted Jul 25, 2009

Third-round pick Louis Vasquez and fourth-round picks Vaughn Martin, Tyronne
Green and Gartrell Johnson have all come to terms on four-year contracts, the
Chargers announced Saturday.
Vasquez, who according to Head Coach Norv
Turner will compete for a starting job at right guard during training camp, was
the 78th overall selection in April’s draft.
The Chargers drafted the
6-4, 327-pound Martin with the 113th overall choice. Green (133rd overall pick)
spent time at guard and center this spring. Johnson, chosen with the 134th
overall selection, impressed coaches with his downhill running style.
Saturday’s contract announcements leave just three Chargers draft picks
unsigned. First-round selection linebacker Larry English, safety Kevin Ellison (sixth) and wide receiver Demetrius Byrd (seventh) have yet to agree to
contracts.
Fifth-round selection Brandon Hughes signed his
rookie contract in June. Rookies and select veterans will be on the field
Monday morning for the first training camp practice. The entire squad will
be on the field together for the first time on Friday, July 31. Also, the
Chargers announced Saturday that linebacker Anthony Felder will re-join the team
and be at Monday’s practice. Felder, an undrafted free agent from
Cal-Berkeley, spent the spring with the Chargers but was released in June.

The Chargers signed former Florida RB Kestahn Moore

Kestahn Moore signed:

The Chargers signed former Florida RB Kestahn Moore on Friday, July 24.
Moore is an undrafted rookie who spent time with the Denver Broncos earlier this
offseason. Used mostly as a backup during his time with the Gators, Moore
finished his four-year college career with 235 carries for 1,281 yards (5.45
ypc) and 13 touchdowns.
He takes the roster spot of former Syracuse RB
Curtis Brinkley, who was placed on the "Reserve -- Non-Football Injury" list on
Friday as he recovers after being shot in his hometown of Philadelphia on July
10.

Ht: 5-10 Wt: 207 Position: RB Date of Birth:
04/13/1987 Experience: R High School: Mansfield Summit HS(Arlington,
TX) College: Florida

CAMP CALENDAR

CAMP CALENDAR:

July 26: Rookies and select veterans report.
July 27: Rookies and select veterans work out.
July 30: Balance of the squad reports.
July 31: First full squad workout.
Aug. 5: Practice at Qualcomm Stadium.
Aug. 8: Practice at Qualcomm Stadium.
Aug. 12: Practice at Qualcomm Stadium

Anger Reigns for Raider Fans

The Chargers continue to Reign over the Raiders and it's just great fun to read what the Raider fans are writing about having to face playing the Chargers twice each year, at least it is fun to read if you are a real Charger fan. Below is another great article from a Raider fan discussing what it might take for the Raiders to defeat the Chargers. Push the title link below for the whole article:

Anger Reigns as Another Sweep Possibly Looms for the Oakland Raiders

I don't care what strategy you use, if the Indianapolis Colts can't beat the Chargers when they lose the turnover battle, the Raiders probably can't beat the Chargers without actually winning the turnover battle.

Going negative sixteen in the turnover battle over the last five years is the primary reason for the Raiders futility against the Bolts.

Marty Schottenheimer stressed two things when he was the head coach of the Chargers. DO NOT turn the ball over and score touchdowns rather than field goals in your opponents red zone.

If the Raiders want to ever compete with the current Chargers squad, they'll have to find a way to make the Chargers beat themselves. That will be a monumental task with the way the Raiders are currently drafting.

Speed guys? How much faster than the 4.3 running Antonio Cromartie can any guy they draft be? Can a 5'9" corner running 4.25 forty seriously out-leap or out-muscle 6'5" 240lbs Vincent Jackson (who runs a 4.4)? Can your speed rusher get by two time Pro Bowl LT Marcus McNeil consistently to rush Philip Rivers into a mistake?

Where are the tough S.O.B.s that the Raiders need to deal with linebackers Stephen Cooper, Shawne Merriman, and Shaun Phillips (and now Larry English). Can anyone frustrate LaDainian Tomlinson, push around Antonio Gates, or single block Jamal Williams?

They don't need more speed, they need more toughness - or better yet both if possible.

The Chargers have dominated the Raiders for 11 Straight Victories

The Chargers have ruled the game over the hapless Raiders for the last 11 games and they should continue that domination for the foreseeable future. Below is a quote from a Raider fan that wraps up the domination. I found it quite enjoyable to read as a Charger fan, I hope you do too: Here is the link:

The numbers are ugly and I suggest viewing them on an empty stomach. The Chargers have 11 straight victories over the Raiders. During that streak, LaDanian Tomlinson has out rushed the Oakland Raiders by himself with a sum of 1395 yards to 798. The Raiders have held LT below 100 yards 4 times out of the 11 meetings and have kept him out of the end zone just twice. Over the course of the streak, the Bolts have only started two quarterbacks (Drew Brees and Philip Rivers) while the Raiders have trotted out five different starters including Rich Gannon, Kerry Collins, Aaron Brooks, Daunte Culepper and JaMarcus Russell.[U] Rivers has never lost to the Raiders; his record is currently 6-0[/U]. Al Davis has employed six head coaches while the Chargers have had just two, one of which was Norv Turner who jumped ship leaving Oakland for San Diego in an attempt to become the new Mike Shanahan.

Michael Mitchell, you’d better have Tomlinson’s face on your dart board.

Personally, I haven’t been able to bear attending these games any longer. The last Raider/Charger affair I saw in person was back in 2005. LT had a game right out of fantasy football geek’s wet dream as he ran for a touchdown, caught one and even threw for one. The pain was unbearable and I knew that I was at my breaking point. Getting heckled by bandwagon fans is as dumbfounding as being called a douche bag by Tony Romo.

The Chargers have beaten the Raiders in every way possible. They’ve blown us out. Made epic comebacks like those twenty five 4th quarter points they hung on the scoreboard just this past season. They’ve even had help from the zebras. Remember that horrific “illegal forward pass” call in 2006 that resurrected the ghosts of the “tuck rule”?

The Chargers OTA's and Mandatory Minicamp

May 1-3 (rookie and mandatory minicamp); May 18-21, June 1-3, June 9-11, June 15-18 (OTAs)

2009 Chargers Free Agent Signings

Chargers add 18 free agent signings

Samuel Allen, T, Grand Valley State

Darry Beckwith, LB, Louisiana State

Curtis Brinkley, RB, Syracuse

Greg Carr, WR, Florida State

Jeremy Childs, WR, Boise State

Anthony Felder, LB, California

Dan Gay, T, Baylor

James Holt, LB, Kansas

Rashaad Jackson, NT, Clemson

Charles Martin, WR, West Texas A&M

Ryan McDonald, C, Illinois

Ben Muth, G, Stanford

Wopamo Osaisai, CB, Stanford

William Rentmeester, FB, Wisconsin

Rodgeriqus Smith, WR, Auburn

Kory Sperry, TE, Colorado State

Claude Spillman, S, Marshall

Jerimiah Wurzbacher, TE, North Dakota State

The 2009 Chargers Outstanding Draft

First Round: Larry English DE/OLB Northern Illinois

Third Round: Louis Vasquez OG Texas Tech

Fourth Round (1): Vaughn Martin DT Western University (Ontario)

Fourth Round (2): Tyronne Green OG/C Auburn

Fourth Round (3): Gartrell Johnson RB Colorado State

Fifth Round Brandon Hughes CB Oregon State

Sixth Round Kevin Ellison S/OLB USC

Seventh Round Demetrius Byrd WR LSU

This is my dream draft for the Chargers.

1st round - Jarron Gilbert, DE, San Jose St.--- A trade down nets a second round choice and the Chargers choose Jarron Gilbert DT/DE with their lower first round choice. The Chargers will start Gilbert at DE replacing Igor in the first game, and with Gilbert and Merriman the opposing Olines will have real trouble double teaming both. (I think AJ Smith can pull off a trade with the Patriots, and get the Chargers second round choice right back. The Patriots will likely want to trade up if possible and they have already said so, because they feel they have two many choices, so why not trade up.)

2nd round- Patrick Chung, SS, Oregon---- The Chargers got their SS with their choice in the second round from the trade down. (This choice from the trade down with the Patriots landing the Chargers own second round choice right back. AJ Smith traded down our first for the Patriots but also gave the Patriots Osgood, after all the Patriots have another UDFA the Chargers found at WR in Welker and looked how that turned out for the Patriots. So the Patriots were more than pleased to make the trade.)

3rd round- Andre Brown RB, NCS---Philip Rivers has been pushing for AJ Smith to draft Andre Brown from NCS, and Rivers gets his RB.

4th round - Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly--- One of the biggest most imposing WR's in the draft.

4th round- Fenuki Tupou, OT, Oregon--- Tupou is the left Tackle that helped his team lead the Pac Ten in offense.

4th round - Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State.--- Levitre is a steal in the 4th round and too good to pass up.

5th round - Kaluka Maiava, OLB, USC--- Undersized, but a great player. AJ Smith loves LBers and finds Maiava still available in the fifth round.

6th round-Johnny Knox, WR, Abiline Christian. Blazing speed and natural hands, also returns kicks and punts.

7th round -Vaugn Martin, DT, University of Western Onterio, Canada. AJ Smith can't pass up a chance to land a true prospect that could be the Nose Tackle the Chargers have been looking for to eventually replace Jamal Williams. AJ Smith gets his sleeper pick.

My latest Mock Draft for the Chargers

An interesting note is that the Chargers have met with all of these players listed below in this latest mock:

1st round - Jarron Gilbert, DT, San Jose St.
3rd round - Andre Brown RB, NCS
3rd round -Joel Bell, OT Furman
4th round - Kaluka Maiava, OLB, USC
5th round - Tyronne Green, OG, Auburn
5th round - Mike Thomas, WR , Arizona (from Drayton Florence)
6th round - Darcel McBath, Safety, Texas Tech
7th round - Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly

Charger Players off season Surgeries

These are the players that had off season surgeries and their approximate recovery time.

– OT Marcus McNeill, neck, 5 months recovery time

– DE Jacques Cesaire, shoulder, 4-6 weeks

– FB Jacob Hester, knee, 4-6 weeks

– OL Scott Mruczkowski, shoulders, 4-6 weeks

– WR Kassim Osgood, wrist, 4-6 weeks

– P Mike Scifres, knee, 4-6 weeks

– QB Charlie Whitehurst, shoulder, 4-6 weeks

– LB Matt Wilhelm, shoulder, 4-6 weeks

– NT Jamal Williams, knee/shoulder, 4-6 weeks

My Early Mock Draft for the Chargers 2009

1st round - Knowshon Moreno. RB. Georgia
3rd round - William Beatty, OT, Connecticut
3rd round - Darry Beckwith, ILB, L.S.U.
4th round - Kaluka Maiava, OLB, USC
5th round - Tyronne Green, OG, Auburn
5th round - Mike Thomas, WR , Arizona (from Drayton Florence)
6th round - Darcel McBath, Safety, Texas Tech
7th round - Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly

For a good draft site click this link.

Wild Card Playoffs: Bolts tame the Colts

The Chargers tamed the Wild Colts in a playoff thriller that went to Over Time. Darrin Sproles and Mike Scifres were both outstanding to lead the Chargers. Now the Chargers will head to Pittsburg in the Divisional round of the Playoffs.

The Chargers feel they have just started on the road to where they want to go: From Chargers.com

Sproles’ 22-yard score capped an emotional comeback that saw the Chargers erase a fourth-quarter deficit and pull out a 23-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

“We’re not at the top of the mountain,” Rivers said. “This is just another step of where we’re trying to go, certainly one we’re going to enjoy, but we’ve got our goals set high. We know our opponents are going to be tough, whoever they are next week.”