Norv's thoughts on our team

[casmith07]

This is from Galloway, who started naming a "San Diego source" but has been drinking on his show and pretty much admits it's Norval himself. (As do all the other hosts.)

Says Ratliff is the best defensive lineman they played all year.

Ware is obviously special.

Spencer is, surprisingly to Galloway, a very good player.

SD has great respect for both our corners, Jenkins and (yes) Newman.

Our weak spots, they felt, were our D-ends and both safeties.

Also said they don't want to get run all over, but they'd rather get run on than have Romo throw it on them. But they did say if you could stop the main threat of Austin making huge plays on you, you'd be okay.

Just FYI.

Good praise from Norv. That INT by Newman was spectacular. That's the highest I've seen him get up in a long time. Looked like Jenkins' vertical on that Eli pick a week ago.

Olshansky is definitely a weak spot - he's good at stuffing the gaps between T and G, but not outside contain. I think they don't give Spears enough credit.

Ball is obviously a weakness due to inexperience. Sensabaugh vs. Gates is a mismatch. Anyone vs. Gates is a mismatch, really. I still think Sensabaugh is one of the best fundamental tacklers on this team. When he squares up for the tackle, he wraps up clean and the ball carrier goes DOWN.

Good comments. Some stuff there we can take away and build upon down the stretch and for the future, hopefully.

 

[Randy White]

thing I don't agree with Norv is about the DEs.

I think they did a good job yesterday, especially Spears. It took the Chargers 31 carries to get 73 yards ( 2.3 ypc ) and that was in great part because of the DEs. If Brookings and Brady didn't get caught sneaking on the wrong running lanes, that figure would have been lowered by at least 10 to 20 yards.

Spears made two plays, one on Tomlinson and one on Sproles, that if looked at closely, he was the last man before a wide open field.

 

[Randy White]

Olshansky is definitely a weak spot - he's good at stuffing the gaps between T and G, but not outside contain. I think they don't give Spears enough credit.
.

What outside run did the Chargers broke for on Sunday that had any significance ?

Again, it took SD 31 carries to get 73 yards and THE longest run play was Tomlinson's 11 yards run.

 

[Cowboyz88]

Id, I can read.

I know Norv didn't question Spears' 1st round value. I did.

I have maintained that Spears was not a good 1st round selection, and Norv intimating (or believed to be the source of the opinion) that our DEs were a weak link in our defense lends some credence to my argument.

Simply stated, 1st picks should not be the weak links on any team. It was true for Roy Williams (of course, you fought me on that one too), Ekuban, Rod Hill, Danny Noonan, Kevin Brooks, Barbie Carpenter, etc. and it's true for Mr Spears.

Now, if you can't see that this team needs DE help, and if Norv's supposed opinion doesn't cause you to pause, then what can I say? I'm guessing you like our OL situation as well.

That said, your agreeing that you wouldn't spend a 1st on Spears just supports my argument whether you want to admit it or not. I, too, never said he was a "bad player by any stretch." He's solid, but you don't draft a guy in the first round hoping he'll be solid. That's what the later rounds and FA is for.

He's just a bad first round selection.

The question wasn't 'has Spears delivered good value as a first round pick.' The point was, you read through every positive thing Norv said about the defense to come away with the conclusion that Spears was (another) wasted first round pick. Of course it was your opinion since that idea wasn't supported by anything Norv was quoted as having said in the thread.

For giggles, though, to answer your question, I don't know that the current team needs DE help, but, no, I wouldn't spend a top 30 pick on Spears again. I would consider resigning him in the offseason, though,a nd I don't think he's been a bad player for us by any stretch.

 

[Idgit]

thing I don't agree with Norv is about the DEs.

I think they did a good job yesterday, especially Spears. It took the Chargers 31 carries to get 73 yards ( 2.3 ypc ) and that was in great part because of the DEs. If Brookings and Brady didn't get caught sneaking on the wrong running lanes, that figure would have been lowered by at least 10 to 20 yards.

Spears made two plays, one on Tomlinson and one on Sproles, that if looked at closely, he was the last man before a wide open field.

It is a strange criticism, given how well we stopped the run and how little our ends rush in the 3-4. I'm not sure what Norv might have been referring to, frankly.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Ah yes, the good old consolation prize.

We lost and now we are 0-2 in December, but hey, the opposing Head Coach said good things about our team..yay!!! .

 

[Doomsay]

..as usual

I thought he had a decent game

Sorry, just having fun - Roy played OK for a #3 receiver that was singled most of the day. Just remembered, he ran a god awful out route that cost us a series.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

He did okay considered he got 1-on-1 coverage the whole game and that is all he could produce as the #1 Dallas WR. If the CB that was covering him could tackle you could knock 25 yards off of that total.

The big issue isn't whether RW is a mediocre #2 WR who can occasionallly take advantage of 1-on-1 coverage. Crayton already gave us that level of production in 2007/8.

The issue is whether he is worth his ongoing salary and occupying the #2 WR spot when we could potentially put in a more productive receiving option.

I can tell you I'd rather spend $9M elsewhere.

The draft picks are gone forever unfortunately - would have given us a chance to upgrade safety, IL, OL.

If you're going to rag on Roy for the money he is being paid, you should also mention quite a few others. Newman is robbing Jerry blind, has been since he got the new contract. Same for Flozell, Bradie, Hamlin and lately, Barber.

That is one of the true problems, Jerry handing out these big contracts when he didn't have too, and then wanting to get his money's worth and forcing the coaching staff to play them as much as possible.

That's the main reason for Choice not getting many carries. He is the low (earner) man on the totem pole. Barber gets the starter money, so he starts, Felix gets first round money, so he is next and Choice brings up the rear.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Ah yes, the good old consolation prize.

We lost and now we are 0-2 in December, but hey, the opposing Head Coach said good things about our team..yay!!! .

Woot!

 

[theogt]

Spears was a monster at LSU- he dominated in college and was one of the best D-Lineman in the draft that year. He might be a better 4-3 DE. Like Ellis was for us.

Spears was not a monster at LSU.

 

[theogt]

San Diego gave Roy williams the least respect you can.

Single man coverage and they pressed.

and he couldnt make a thing happen.

Austin received a lot of single coverage as well. They kept their safeties in very close to the line and still couldn't stop the running game. I couldn't believe they wouldn't ever take advantage of it. I'm all for running the ball if it's working, and it was working. But at some point it's nice to make them pay for selling out against the run.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Austin received a lot of single coverage as well. They kept their safeties in very close to the line and still couldn't stop the running game. I couldn't believe they wouldn't ever take advantage of it.

This is true.

Phil Simms stated numerous times that the Chargers ask a lot of their corners.

What is even more of a mystery is that the Chargers really didn't generate a consistent pass rush and Tony Romo typically has field day when he has time.

 

[theebs]

Austin received a lot of single coverage as well. They kept their safeties in very close to the line and still couldn't stop the running game. I couldn't believe they wouldn't ever take advantage of it. I'm all for running the ball if it's working, and it was working. But at some point it's nice to make them pay for selling out against the run.

did they, that makes it worse.

I just couldnt believe what I was seeing on williams side, pressing him and then when the ball was snapped the saftey would high tail it to the middle of the field.

We are going to see more of it saturday I imagine, williams likes to be aggressive and take chances with his corners. We will have to make something happen out there saturday.

 

[theogt]

This is true.

Phil Simms stated numerous times that the Chargers ask a lot of their corners.

What is even more of a mystery is that the Chargers really didn't generate a consistent pass rush and Tony Romo typically has field day when he has time.

Before the last two drives, we had a run-pass ratio of 60-40. Like I said, when the run is working, I can see the argument for sticking to it. But if you have that kind of run-pass ratio, you can't be surprised if you don't score many points. The few times you do get the ball in the red zone, you MUST score running that kind of offense.

It looked to me that Barber got into the end zone on the third down run based on the replay on the big screen. I haven't watched a replay since, though.

 

[Idgit]

did they, that makes it worse.

I just couldnt believe what I was seeing on williams side, pressing him and then when the ball was snapped the saftey would high tail it to the middle of the field.

We are going to see more of it saturday I imagine, williams likes to be aggressive and take chances with his corners. We will have to make something happen out there saturday.

What's happened to his sluggo routes from earlier in the season? That's one route, at least, he should be able to work all day in single coverage.

 

[Eskimo]

If you're going to rag on Roy for the money he is being paid, you should also mention quite a few others. Newman is robbing Jerry blind, has been since he got the new contract. Same for Flozell, Bradie, Hamlin and lately, Barber.

That is one of the true problems, Jerry handing out these big contracts when he didn't have too, and then wanting to get his money's worth and forcing the coaching staff to play them as much as possible.

That's the main reason for Choice not getting many carries. He is the low (earner) man on the totem pole. Barber gets the starter money, so he starts, Felix gets first round money, so he is next and Choice brings up the rear.

Yes, all those players are also overpaid and could/should be released, but I would keep TNew because good corners are hard to find and all the others are high paid JAGs.

The only trouble becomes where you should target your releases in terms of where it will have an impact on the field. I would suggest for now we also keep James because otherwise we just lost both ILBs in the 3-4 with no backups with any experience.

Hamlin/Flo/Barber/RW could all easily see the door and the team would notice no change in the level of play without signing anybody. It would also rid us of 3 bad attitudes and 1 guy who is worn out.

 

[JBond]

San Diego gave Roy williams the least respect you can.

Single man coverage and they pressed.

and he couldnt make a thing happen.

Just curious, how many times was he left in one on one press coverage? Any idea if a particular DB was shadowing him or were they shutting him down with one guy no matter who was covering him?

 

[theebs]

Just curious, how many times was he left in one on one press coverage? Any idea if a particular DB was shadowing him or were they shutting him down with one guy no matter who was covering him?

honestly I couldnt tell you, just in the flow of the game it kept happening.

I havent rewatched the game on tv yet and I am not sure if you can even see it on tv.

 

[JBond]

I don't think anyone said Newman doesn't have talent. He just gets lazy and plays poor technique sometimes. He's getting up there in age for a CB, so he can't take downs off or play sloppy. Perhaps if he focused more in the game, he could focus less, more, while on the sideline, right?

After watching every game of Newman's college and pro career I would have to say he has lost a half step. For many years he was the quickest guy on the field. Hopefully he will adjust to losing a half step. More film? Not sure, but he does not look the same as in his prime.

 

[jimmy40]

did they, that makes it worse.

I just couldnt believe what I was seeing on williams side, pressing him and then when the ball was snapped the saftey would high tail it to the middle of the field.

We are going to see more of it saturday I imagine, williams likes to be aggressive and take chances with his corners. We will have to make something happen out there saturday.

you said earlier they wouldn't dare play Austin that way. sounds like a bias to me