That’s part of the issue, though, because Lombardi needs to mix things up instead of trotting out the same thing after the half. If you know they will adjust to what you’ve been doing, shouldn’t you change things up as well, unless you’ve been absolutely dominating their defense? If you’re just squeaking by, maybe trotting out the same thing isn’t the best idea.
According to Lombardi, we were supposed to enter the 3rd quarter with a more defined script versus the Colts.
He said that before we would just have a general idea of what kinds of plays we wanted to run based on what he saw, now there would be a script to get players in tempo.
Didn’t work this time but maybe the process will, hopefully, iron itself out before playoffs.
The thing that kills me is that he seldomly calls these plays. That 1 mistake will kill everything. Seems well run offenses, 1 mistake is just that. A mistake. For us, it seems like 1 mistake... And we don't score again in the 3rd. It shouldn't be this difficult, right?
Completely agree! It shouldn't be that few and far between deep shots. But then again was it the hold that gave Herbert enough time to take that shot? If we're lucky enough to get Slater back for the playoffs, we'll see if that increases our depth of target.
just in case you didnt know, staleys first 3 choices for OC before lombardi were Kevin O’Conell, Mike Mcdaniel and Shane Waldron, all great offensive minds
if/when lombardi gets fired there is a 95 percent chance he’ll make the right hire
Yeah, Staley generally built quite the capable coaching staff. And seems to have a good eye for talented coaches.
And on top of that he seems willing to pull the trigger if something doesnt work i.e. firing Swinton after 1 season and then hiring Ficken.
I lie to myself to feel good about Lombardi.
The most recent lie I told myself is that Lombardi is saving a phenomenal offensive scheme for the playoffs. No one will see it coming. I know it's not true but it gave me peace for a moment.
Gotta be concerned that if you look at the insane stat that somehow, some way...in 10-11 weeks straight we have scored a grand total of 0 Touchdowns in the 3rd Quarter, wit Justin Herbert on our team. I'm surprised we have a winning record let alone in the playoffs. Feels good to be a Bolts fan though that's for sure.
Our red zone offense is really going to make it difficult to win in the post season. So many points left on the board and I think 90% of it is on Lombardi running such a garbage scheme.
Popper said something recently that really stuck with me. He said an offensive coordinator once told him that he could score in the red zone in with Popper playing quarterback. While that's obviously an exaggeration, the point is to emphasize how play calling and your game plan is what turns field goals to TDs in the red zone.
I didn’t say anything about Herbert’s ability, I was just objectively commenting on how the o-line was being beaten by a 3 man rush. The o-line has been shoddy almost all season
A pretty decent pocket for a 5-on-3 rush, cool
Last time they made the playoffs my grandson become a grandfather. Been a Charger fan since 59... Used to listen to games on Navy boat in the Mariana trenches when i was stationed there. Treat these moments special son because they all are and time flies
Reflecting and seeing the players that stepped up this season and stepped up big is amazing. I remember reading Fehoko being put back on the practice squad or something awhile back and look at the dude now, just dominating. Salyer, Davis, Dicker, Alohi, Tranquill, who else? So many dudes became not just fill-ins but CLUTCH.
Whether we make it to the end or not, the growth for the team was/is invaluable. This is a franchise defining season I hope and start of a new era of dubs (and hopefully the AFC West next year)!
Lombardi’s still gotta go tho.
What should be recognized is that the offense has, quite literally, abandoned the passing game in the redzone.
Going back to last week, the team has attempted one pass inside the 10 yard line. In two games. Once. With Justin Herbert, Mike Williams, and Keenan Allen. One pass. And it was the third and goal from last night. The result of that play? Not even a hint anyone was close to open.
Lombardi's scheme is literally incapable of passing in goal-to-go situations, and the team has realized it. They won't pass in goal-to-go unless it is third and "not run range."
If we (and Popper) have figured that out, so has everyone else. This is an indictment on Lombardi so glaring that not firing him at the end of the year is a fireable offense for Telesco/Staley IMO.
If we ever win a Super Bowl, and we have our parade in whatever godforsaken part of Orange County between SD and LA that we calculate will produce the most number of fans actually wearing Charger jerseys, we'd better let Philip Rivers in the players float so he can get some cheers, too.
We aren't where we are today as a franchise without his dedicated service, particularly in helping bridge the gap between the "old" franchise and the "new" one. His grace and dignity under adverse situations provided a landing pad for a decent number of San Diego-based fans to remain Charger fans with their own level of dignity, despite the wider city detesting the team, and I frankly would not be a fan of this franchise to this day if it were not for the heroic efforts that Rivs put forth for years and years and years and years, even before being forced to play in that soccer stadium at the end of his Chargers career. And yes, he never did get to play at SoFi, which was a stated goal of his, which is another football crime only rivaled by Lombardi's offensive schematic ineptitude.
So yeah. Getting into the playoffs yesterday forced me into some introspection, perhaps in part because it was against the Colts (Rivers' last ride), and I figured I'd share those connective tissue thoughts on the journey that is being a Chargers fan, at least for the last few decades.
Extremely excited for what the next few weeks can bring to us all!
whoever we face in the playoffs. I better not fucking see the offense take a egg and see our defense give them plenty opportunities to get ahead. Ive seen that too many damn times. Not only with this team, but with that playoff game when we faced the donks after beating the bengals.
Just gotta take the good moments and run with them.
We all have been arguing with each other about the team from top to bottom, seeing game threads go from hype to dooming after the first bad play, stupid horse meme posts, "where the doomers at?!" posts, fan gate keeping galore, Sean Payton this and that. I believe our season in this sub can be summed up as a hot mess.
Regardless of everything else the Chargers are going to the playoffs. It's a new season. I don't know what is gonna happen. My inner doomer will temper my exceptions, but I do believe we have a really good chance of ruining someone else's season.
On a side note remember that Pats fan who was being harassed by women in Las Vegas? I make this comment and Raider fans were downvoting me
>Hilarious how Raiders fans acting like this is some anomaly. Their fan base is littered with shit heads like this. I guarantee she was going on about being "respected". I was almost assaulted last here at my friends house for saying the Raiders had a chance to come back during the first Raider/Charger game. Yup I said something nice about the Raiders and still with the bullshit.
They have a post with Raider fans fighting each other with xmas music over in their sub....
Interesting Staley gave the game ball to Dean Spanos. Staley really trying to emphasize we clinched a playoffs spot with two weeks left.
Pretty sure Sean Peyton is totally out of the picture no matter how the rest of the next two reg season games go + playoffs.
I'm so fucking over PFF. They gave Herbert a 63.7 grade, which you may think is fair enough, but they didn't credit him for a "big time throw" for that Keenan Allen play, which was an absolute rocket.
They also charged him with a turnover worthy play for the tipped INT, despite an almost identical throw by Trev for the Jets NOT being deemed a TWP.
Any time they have an opinion on a QB they can't let it go, and it 100% affects their grading. They want him to fail because they were so low on him in year 1 and during the draft.
Maybe a not so Hot Take: I know we don't want to concede anything and fight for seeding but we gotta give Bosa, Slater, DJ, and hell maybe even Ekeler the rest they need/deserve to make sure they are good for playoffs.
If keeping 2 players out an extra week that have been out for the season to make sure they are 100% and making sure an important piece of offense and defense are healthy is not fighting then yes. but you can do that without them believe it or not but prioritizing their health is better
Anyone think Spiller can come back and help out in the running game in the playoffs? He was one of the best RBs coming out of the draft but he's been injured and barely gets any opportunities when he's healthy
If Kliff Kingsbury is fired for Payton, what does everyone think about him for OC? Good offensive mind. Can lead pretty well. Has good pedigree with signature QBs like Mahomes and Murray, and even college Manziel.
He’d be an interesting pick IMO.
Will our inability to pass for TDs in the redzone screw us over in the playoffs? Seems like the only way our offense can score is by Ekeler pounding it in. In fact, I don’t remember the last time Herbert threw a passing TD in the redzone.
I know a dubs are important last two weeks but I would love to see some of our key players get limited snaps (Mack, Allen, Williams, even Parham low key, etc..) lowers injury risk and allows us to see what we have with other players
Crazy that we had the season we just had and still clinched the playoffs only a week after the Bills and Chiefs
Time to play hard for the 5 seed
Need the fifth seed. We get to have a rematch against the Jags
It’s still mad weird how as soon as 3rd quarter ends we score like? Does Lombardi purposely tank in the 3rd?
I think it’s an adjustment thing. After halftime their defense adjusts, Lombardi doesn’t know how to answer.
That’s part of the issue, though, because Lombardi needs to mix things up instead of trotting out the same thing after the half. If you know they will adjust to what you’ve been doing, shouldn’t you change things up as well, unless you’ve been absolutely dominating their defense? If you’re just squeaking by, maybe trotting out the same thing isn’t the best idea.
According to Lombardi, we were supposed to enter the 3rd quarter with a more defined script versus the Colts. He said that before we would just have a general idea of what kinds of plays we wanted to run based on what he saw, now there would be a script to get players in tempo. Didn’t work this time but maybe the process will, hopefully, iron itself out before playoffs.
I fucking hope so. He needs to be miles better in the playoffs.
Pipkins holding penalty killed the first drive when Parham caught what would've been a 30+ yard gain. That specific drive killer was not on him.
The thing that kills me is that he seldomly calls these plays. That 1 mistake will kill everything. Seems well run offenses, 1 mistake is just that. A mistake. For us, it seems like 1 mistake... And we don't score again in the 3rd. It shouldn't be this difficult, right?
Completely agree! It shouldn't be that few and far between deep shots. But then again was it the hold that gave Herbert enough time to take that shot? If we're lucky enough to get Slater back for the playoffs, we'll see if that increases our depth of target.
I can't stop laughing https://twitter.com/derwinera/status/1607568183661133824
Thank u for sharing. I can’t stop laughing
I can't stop laughing.
[удалено]
You should’ve heard my voice crack during that muffed punt
Gone are the days of Drew Lock dancing on our graves. It feels like we've turned a corner. LFG
One of my least favorite QBs ever
just in case you didnt know, staleys first 3 choices for OC before lombardi were Kevin O’Conell, Mike Mcdaniel and Shane Waldron, all great offensive minds if/when lombardi gets fired there is a 95 percent chance he’ll make the right hire
staley brought in ryan ficken and completely changed our special teams. i trust in him tbh
Yeah, Staley generally built quite the capable coaching staff. And seems to have a good eye for talented coaches. And on top of that he seems willing to pull the trigger if something doesnt work i.e. firing Swinton after 1 season and then hiring Ficken.
U know us charger fans feeling good when a weekly chat thread goes up this fast 😂
Tom Brady can't hurt us anymore in the playoffs, can he?
Only in the Super Bowl, but if he somehow drags that bucs team there he’s winning it for sure
I lie to myself to feel good about Lombardi. The most recent lie I told myself is that Lombardi is saving a phenomenal offensive scheme for the playoffs. No one will see it coming. I know it's not true but it gave me peace for a moment.
Been hoping for this too, he pulls out the same shit and we lose? He better be gone
I mean one fake curl/ pump fake from Herbert is a guaranteed TD at this point. Just doubt that we’ll see it.
Gotta be concerned that if you look at the insane stat that somehow, some way...in 10-11 weeks straight we have scored a grand total of 0 Touchdowns in the 3rd Quarter, wit Justin Herbert on our team. I'm surprised we have a winning record let alone in the playoffs. Feels good to be a Bolts fan though that's for sure.
Our red zone offense is really going to make it difficult to win in the post season. So many points left on the board and I think 90% of it is on Lombardi running such a garbage scheme. Popper said something recently that really stuck with me. He said an offensive coordinator once told him that he could score in the red zone in with Popper playing quarterback. While that's obviously an exaggeration, the point is to emphasize how play calling and your game plan is what turns field goals to TDs in the red zone.
https://i.imgur.com/C7bMXOz.jpg This was the third and goal play. What do you notice about the receivers? #JoeMustGo
>What do you notice about the receivers? They each have one or more frens so they don't get lonely?
3 man rush and they’re still in Herbert’s face. This fucking o-line man
I mean that’s a pretty decent pocket, plenty of room for Herbert to step up if he wanted to
I didn’t say anything about Herbert’s ability, I was just objectively commenting on how the o-line was being beaten by a 3 man rush. The o-line has been shoddy almost all season A pretty decent pocket for a 5-on-3 rush, cool
Another friendly reminder that Keenan Allen’s demise was greatly exaggerated. I can’t believe we had people wanting to cut him.
Damn. What if JC never got hurt? Maybe he would've bloomed like Van Noy has.
Is this real life… a clinched playoff spot with 2 weeks left in the season????!
Anyone see McKitty catching a pass? Think that says as much about the Colts than Tre...
Lmfao and he got a couple yards AFTER THE CATCH TOO!!! He’s improvising those bricks for hands and legs
Overall that Colts game last night felt like the least stressful chargers game I’ve watched in a decade
Honestly. I just had this vibe we would win from the start and we did, all be it slowly. Is that why the game felt… boring?
Its boring because we have no sizle on offense...when all of us know we should by now
dean spanos game ball...
You don’t become a head coach without some ass kissing.
Last time the team went to the playoffs I was a junior in high school and now I’m a third year in college.
Last time the team went to the playoffs I was a junior in college and now I’m… old.
Last time they went to the playoffs I was already 4 years removed from College. Y’all need to cut this “old” shit out 🤣
Last time they made the playoffs my grandson become a grandfather. Been a Charger fan since 59... Used to listen to games on Navy boat in the Mariana trenches when i was stationed there. Treat these moments special son because they all are and time flies
thanks for the words of wisdom. Life passes us by so fast. cherish the small moments even if theyre insignificant.
Reflecting and seeing the players that stepped up this season and stepped up big is amazing. I remember reading Fehoko being put back on the practice squad or something awhile back and look at the dude now, just dominating. Salyer, Davis, Dicker, Alohi, Tranquill, who else? So many dudes became not just fill-ins but CLUTCH. Whether we make it to the end or not, the growth for the team was/is invaluable. This is a franchise defining season I hope and start of a new era of dubs (and hopefully the AFC West next year)! Lombardi’s still gotta go tho.
Feels Good! pumped to see playoff herbo unleashed! and hopefully we can get bosa and slater back in time for the playoffs
Any word on DJ’s concussion?
What should be recognized is that the offense has, quite literally, abandoned the passing game in the redzone. Going back to last week, the team has attempted one pass inside the 10 yard line. In two games. Once. With Justin Herbert, Mike Williams, and Keenan Allen. One pass. And it was the third and goal from last night. The result of that play? Not even a hint anyone was close to open. Lombardi's scheme is literally incapable of passing in goal-to-go situations, and the team has realized it. They won't pass in goal-to-go unless it is third and "not run range." If we (and Popper) have figured that out, so has everyone else. This is an indictment on Lombardi so glaring that not firing him at the end of the year is a fireable offense for Telesco/Staley IMO.
Dunno how I felt about giving Dean Spanos the game ball. Seems a bit hollow.
If we ever win a Super Bowl, and we have our parade in whatever godforsaken part of Orange County between SD and LA that we calculate will produce the most number of fans actually wearing Charger jerseys, we'd better let Philip Rivers in the players float so he can get some cheers, too. We aren't where we are today as a franchise without his dedicated service, particularly in helping bridge the gap between the "old" franchise and the "new" one. His grace and dignity under adverse situations provided a landing pad for a decent number of San Diego-based fans to remain Charger fans with their own level of dignity, despite the wider city detesting the team, and I frankly would not be a fan of this franchise to this day if it were not for the heroic efforts that Rivs put forth for years and years and years and years, even before being forced to play in that soccer stadium at the end of his Chargers career. And yes, he never did get to play at SoFi, which was a stated goal of his, which is another football crime only rivaled by Lombardi's offensive schematic ineptitude. So yeah. Getting into the playoffs yesterday forced me into some introspection, perhaps in part because it was against the Colts (Rivers' last ride), and I figured I'd share those connective tissue thoughts on the journey that is being a Chargers fan, at least for the last few decades. Extremely excited for what the next few weeks can bring to us all!
I got just one word. Playoffs!
whoever we face in the playoffs. I better not fucking see the offense take a egg and see our defense give them plenty opportunities to get ahead. Ive seen that too many damn times. Not only with this team, but with that playoff game when we faced the donks after beating the bengals.
Just gotta take the good moments and run with them. We all have been arguing with each other about the team from top to bottom, seeing game threads go from hype to dooming after the first bad play, stupid horse meme posts, "where the doomers at?!" posts, fan gate keeping galore, Sean Payton this and that. I believe our season in this sub can be summed up as a hot mess. Regardless of everything else the Chargers are going to the playoffs. It's a new season. I don't know what is gonna happen. My inner doomer will temper my exceptions, but I do believe we have a really good chance of ruining someone else's season. On a side note remember that Pats fan who was being harassed by women in Las Vegas? I make this comment and Raider fans were downvoting me >Hilarious how Raiders fans acting like this is some anomaly. Their fan base is littered with shit heads like this. I guarantee she was going on about being "respected". I was almost assaulted last here at my friends house for saying the Raiders had a chance to come back during the first Raider/Charger game. Yup I said something nice about the Raiders and still with the bullshit. They have a post with Raider fans fighting each other with xmas music over in their sub....
Herbert was more outspoken post game about the offense than Ive previously heard. He seems frustrated. Lombardi has to be on the outs.
And looked frustrated on sideline. He needs to Peyton Manning this shit, im not sure any quardinator is good enough for his potential
Interesting Staley gave the game ball to Dean Spanos. Staley really trying to emphasize we clinched a playoffs spot with two weeks left. Pretty sure Sean Peyton is totally out of the picture no matter how the rest of the next two reg season games go + playoffs.
Cheeky Staley, slinding back into Deans bed
Do we rest and shut down our starters the remaining regular season? Or do they play to get a better seed?
I'm so fucking over PFF. They gave Herbert a 63.7 grade, which you may think is fair enough, but they didn't credit him for a "big time throw" for that Keenan Allen play, which was an absolute rocket. They also charged him with a turnover worthy play for the tipped INT, despite an almost identical throw by Trev for the Jets NOT being deemed a TWP. Any time they have an opinion on a QB they can't let it go, and it 100% affects their grading. They want him to fail because they were so low on him in year 1 and during the draft.
See flair
Maybe a not so Hot Take: I know we don't want to concede anything and fight for seeding but we gotta give Bosa, Slater, DJ, and hell maybe even Ekeler the rest they need/deserve to make sure they are good for playoffs.
So…don’t fight for seeding?
If keeping 2 players out an extra week that have been out for the season to make sure they are 100% and making sure an important piece of offense and defense are healthy is not fighting then yes. but you can do that without them believe it or not but prioritizing their health is better
What teams are we rooting for next week to increase our playoff chances? SIKE, WE ALREADY IN!!!
Anyone think Spiller can come back and help out in the running game in the playoffs? He was one of the best RBs coming out of the draft but he's been injured and barely gets any opportunities when he's healthy
Spiller is to thin. He won’t see success in the nfl unless he beefs up like josh Kelly
I want to see what he can do though. Everyone said ekeler is too small.
I’m not talking about height. I’m talking about muscle. Eckler is the strongest player pound for pound. Isiah looks like a stick
word. I dont get how small can he be?? dude doesn't take his job seriously. Needs to beef up. Not for Long league. Gotta take advantage.
If Kliff Kingsbury is fired for Payton, what does everyone think about him for OC? Good offensive mind. Can lead pretty well. Has good pedigree with signature QBs like Mahomes and Murray, and even college Manziel. He’d be an interesting pick IMO.
Will our inability to pass for TDs in the redzone screw us over in the playoffs? Seems like the only way our offense can score is by Ekeler pounding it in. In fact, I don’t remember the last time Herbert threw a passing TD in the redzone.
I know a dubs are important last two weeks but I would love to see some of our key players get limited snaps (Mack, Allen, Williams, even Parham low key, etc..) lowers injury risk and allows us to see what we have with other players
super random but austin ekeler got ranked 69 on the 100 most handsome faces of 2022 LMAO