1 Man’s Opinion

1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Monday. “Chargers Come Up Short on Field and on Sidelines”

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Chargers Come Up Short on Field and on Sidelines”

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A tough loss in Denver on opening night for the Chargers.

A game they should not have won, but tried to win.

A game they probably deserved to lose.

Tough break for rookie kicker Younghoe Koo, having his 44Y field goal blocked, when fellow rookie Dan Feeny couldn’t hold a block at the line of scrimmage.

Tough luck for QB-Philip Rivers who valiantly tried to rally his troops from a (24-7) deficit in the 4th quarter.

Superb efforts from Melvin Ingram and Joey Boss, who combined to help ring up 4-quarterback sacks on the night. The Bolts added two takeaways and a goaline stand, but they were on the field most of the night..

Travis Benjamin showed what he could be all about with a couple of good catches, including a go route grab worth 38-yards.

Not a good night for coach Anthony Lynn, who spent the entire first half trying to establish ‘ground and pound’ that resulted in very few yards or first downs till midway in the third quarter. He wasted the talents of his quarterback.

In trying to establish the run, 16-runs-11 passes in the first half, Lynn took away some of the bullets in the gun of his great quarterback.

Also missing in action, no targets for TE-Antonio Gates till the fourth quarter, and passes in the direction of Hunter Henry, their other tight end.

Equally glaring, the poor play of most of the other people on defense. If Bosa-Ingram were not making plays, then no one else was, as the Broncos gashed them for almost 300-yards in three quarters before the frantic fourth stanza happened..

Keenan Allen had 2-drops and a stupid end zone taunting penalty.

Corners Casey Hayward and Jason Verrett got beat 5-times on pass plays…gave up a TD…and failed to hold the edge on run support.

A shaky start for OG-Matt Slauson, getting beat and drawing a penalty. Joe Barksdale got beat a couple of times too.

For all the hype about the new improved Bolts defense..they gave up 8-plays of double digit yards..and (321Y) in all. The secondary gave up big plays, and the linebackers did not do much in coverage.

For all we have known about Philip Rivers history, he was handcuffed by his coach, going just (6-11) throwing the ball in the opening half for 52-yards…and was hamstrung till the 4th quarter, when they had to throw, and finally completed some passes.

And special teams gave up 12 and 34Y returns, lost 6-yards on a punt return, and missed the game tying field goal.

Coaching and game planning needs to be better. Lynn has weapons, he didn’t use them enough. Gus Bradley’s defense has work to do, especially in the secondary.

Letter Grades…

(A) Rivers
(A) Bosa-Ingram
(D) Offensive Line
(C) Run game
(D) Defensive Line
(C) Wide receivers
(C) Secondary
(F) Special teams
(D) Coaching

Grade Point (2.4)…a shade above a “C” grade…for a game they should not have been in…but nearly came back to tie.

They didn’t play 4-quarters of quality football. They didn’t deserve to win.

5-runsearddsanthonycosey 3-d