LaTunaNostra said:
The SD fans have explained how when they get the early lead, they are able to hold it and TOP with LT.
Not always. This backfired on us in Indianapolis. Of course, if it hadn't been for our sudden and very uncharacteristic special-teams ineptitude, we still would have won. That game still ticks me off when I think about it. >8(
When they don't get that early lead, they are just as likely as any team to start screwing up when trying to come from behind.
It really depends on how far behind we are. If you put Drew into "your-only-option-is-to-pass" mode, then it can get dicey, especially if the defense is capable of bringing steady, consistent pressure. But you could say that about almost any QB. I will say, though, that he improved greatly in what I call "one-time obvious passing situations" like third-and-long. The other obvious passing situation is when your running game has been ineffective and you're down by two or three scores, meaning you're going to be passing for the rest of the game. It's hard to say how he does in that scenario, because if the team has played badly enough to be in that situation to begin with, then it might be more because Drew is just off that day, rather than because he can't rise to the occasion.
Last year when they lost to NY in the regular season, they had two early turnovers, an interception by safety Erik Coleman, which led to a quick TD, and a second quarter fumble by Parker. Altho their specials team bailed them out somewhat with a long kickoff return, their O was sytmied, and their run D fell apart.
This is kind of like choosing the NE @ Miami game last year to try to formulate a weakness in the Patriots game. That first game against the Jets was the worst game we played all year, and it had little to do with the Jets. Drew was horrible that day, and Gates had hands-of-stone for some reason. He dropped maybe four passes all year, and three were in that game. Any team that plays like that is going to get beaten.
In the first half of that game NY had 217 yards as opposed to 72 for SD. Curtis Martin had rushed for 89 yards, and the passing differential was 128 to ONE.
It was our second game in the 3-4. Things can get ugly when you're in a new system, even if you good players. Sound like any teams you know?
Brees threw anothr pick in the 3d qtr, and to add injury to insult, suffered a concussion from a safety's hit The only notable LT play was a 59 yard screen pass gain. (Yeah, I know..what do screen pass mean? We really have to watch out for these.. ) But they only ran LT 19 times, and obvious miscalculation.
Again, our worst game of the season, early in the season, before our team had any confidence or any basis to think they were good.
This was a day the Chargers turnover advantage did not apply. It went 4 to zip Jets.
A -4 turnover differential in our worst game of the season, and we still only lost by seven...
There are many ways to win or lose games, but the Chargers are no more likely to offset turnovers, or to come from behind without making mistakes than anyone else. In fact, tho Brees now has the rep for playing a very clear headed, measured game, I'd give Bledsoe a better chance of playing catch up than Brees.
We're good enough to offset a -1, or possibly a -2, but a -4 is pretty much a sure loss.
Early leads are always 'good things'..in this game it looks even more critical.
Marty stresses on getting the early lead at home. It energizes the crowd and keeps them at full-throat the entire game. Generally, if we start quick it means we're going to be productive all day. If we start slow, we're going to go in spurts. But sometimes, even when we start slow, we'll still score 10 or 14 in a quick spurt, so I can't really say the way to beat us is to keep us down early. It would definitely help, though. Better than letting us get off to a quick two-score lead.
and glad to have you on board.
