The Chargers have skidded to the mid-season of the NFL schedule, a team going in the wrong direction with an owner trying to go take his franchise out of town. A midseason report card on the (2-6) Bolts.

Owner…Dean Spanos used to be a special guy…active in the community….available….now reclusive…borderline despicable because of what he has allowed Mark Fabiani to do in the community on his behalf….and his franchise is falling apart on the field…..Grade (D)

General Manager…Tom Telesco still gets passing grades because the top of his draft boards have brought quality players here…but you need more than an occasional impact player….Only 4-of-17 draft choices have had positive impact on team. By January, the Chargers will have won just 1-playoff game with Rivers at quarterback in 7-years. His free-agent signings and cash outlays for bonuses are a disaster….Has turned Chargers into the Colts-great quarterback-soft team….Grade (D)

Coach…Mike McCoy…..Guess we’ll never know how good this team could have been and how good he could have been with his creative genius since injuries have destroyed the team…..But injuries are part of the NFL and he is (20-20) now in two and half seasons with that quarterback….He must win next year to keep the job….Still believe Frank Reich can be good with weapons….John Pagano era should be over…I said day they hired McCoy-best guy going into the best situation…..Situation going in wrong direction…Grade (C).

QB…Philip Rivers….Without him this would be the Detroit Lions or Jacksonville Jaguars, but I fear his career is headed the way Dan Marino’s went, losing (62-7) in his final game….Everything about the player and person is special…Grade (A)

RB…Melvin Gordon is learning on the job, about fumbles, hits, blocking etc…Still great upside with his explosive talent…..Who knows how good he is because he has no help upfront…but then again neither does Todd Gurley and look at his numbers coming off knee surgery with the Rams…Danny Woodhead does all he can with his God-given talents….Grade (C)

WR…Keenan Allen has a fine career ahead of him now that he has learned what it is like to be a pro…Malcom Floyd in farewell tour….rest of receivers have been pedestrian-though Stevie Johnson needs to get ball more…Add in productivity of Antonio Gates-Ladarius Green and group is good …Grade (A)

OL….A disaster from tackle-to-tackle…Have to question long-term health of King Dunlop….DJ Fluker playing with great heart….everyone else injured…Stunning Orlando Franklin misses 1-game in career in Denver-then has three different injuries in San Diego in eight weeks…Pass protection shaky-run blocking awful…Not all their fault because they are hurt…Grade (D).

DL…This is not player problem-it’s organizational problem…have failed to address defensive front in past five drafts at top of draft board….Corey Liuget cannot do it by himself….none of young players they brought in is a difference maker….Grade (D).

LB…You see flashes and say Melvin Ingram and Jerry Attaochu can create havoc in the blitz package…Virtually nothing from the Inside backers….Mantei Te’o injury issues for 3rd year in a row-he’s no Luke Kuechly is he…..Donald Butler never been the same since early career…Grade (C).

DB…Jason Verrett has stayed on the field and grown into shutdown corner…Eric Weddle, in contract year, has missed more tackles than I have ever seen…Brandon Flowers woke up an old man who cannot run anymore….Jahleel Addae is great at blasting people after the catch and run is made…Grade (D)

Special Teams…Josh Lambo is rock solid…Mike Scifres not what he used to be-age-injury…Jacoby Jones unemployed-leaving with lots of their money….Other teams get guys who make big returns-not this franchise….Kick cover units almost as disgraceful as return units…Grade (D)

Franchise….This won’t be a (1-15) type season like the Ryan Leaf era, because they have two wins so far, but this is a miserable feeling around this team, its leadership, its football people….Atmosphere at Stadium turning sour with fans selling their tickets-next road game for Chargers will be Monday night ‘home’ game vs Bears….Flash back to the season Art Modell announced he was moving the Browns to Baltimore-Cleveland didn’t win a game after that…..Chargers don’t seem to be the same either with all this ‘move to LA mojo’…..Grade (D)

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