Jamal Williams was pegged to be the starting NT, with Ryon Bingham as his backup. Bingham went on IR in the preseason, Jamal after Week 1. Unknown rookie Ogemdi Nwagbuo wound up becoming the starting NT, but now he is also on IR. The current NT is Ian Scott (a free agent who started for the Bears in the super bowl against the Colts), and who the heck knows who his backup is.

Here’s how the rush defense has responded:

21st in the league in rush yds per game
18th in the league in rush yds per carry

The rush defense seems to scare Charger fans every week. It’s really quite poor, except in goal line situations. However, the game plan all season seems to be for the offense to score points in a hurry to force the opponents to abandon the run early. Obviously, it has worked.

but Sproles should not be your only concern. On any given play, the Chargers are sending 5 receivers. It’s usually 2 WRs (Jackson, Floyd), 1 TE (Gates), and 2 RBs (Tolbert and LT/Sproles). None of them can really be covered by one person.

You’ll almost never see Rivers throwing to the check-down receiver, because as he makes his progressions he almost always finds somebody open or at least “open enough”. Don’t sleep on the fact that this is the tallest receiving corps in football (perhaps football history), so Philip also has the option of throwing a “jump ball” and either getting a catch or a pass interference call.

Defense: Run the ball and play keep-away. Use the short-passing game and throw to your TEs. Don’t make mistakes, and take advantage of opportunities (score 7 when you get in the red zone).

Offense: I have no idea. Shut down the run, and play strong defense in the red zone (trade TDs for FGs).

I love Rivers. His teammates thrive off his passion, he does talk trash, but he doesn’t swear and its always about football not personally insulting people.
And i love a qb who is tough enough to get into a d-linemans face (so do his teammates). I remember Jared Allen (back when he was a chief) saying he loved going back and forth with Rivers.

He is a great guy off the field, great family man with strong religious morals who works hard and lives and breaths football.
I wouldnt want anyone else commanding my football team.

Although he didn’t practice last week, he was listed as Doubtful against the Cowboys and word was he was a game-time decision. That leads me to believe he’ll play this week.

we have a little sense

The gameplan changes from week to week. The deep shots were being taken because Dallas’ blitzes were ineffective (Cowboys players said after the game that Rivers knew every blitz that was coming) and because they were doubling up on Gates on every play. When teams decide to play 2-deep on every play, to prevent the big play, you’ll see a lot more 10-15 yard catches from Gates.

If the Bengals try to play one-on-one with Jackson or Floyd, without help over the top, you’ll see a ton of deep balls. Rivers is, without a doubt, the best long passer in the NFL today and it’s something he loves doing.

Exactly my point. This offense is better than Air Coryell because there’s more weapons. If you can shut down VJ and Floyd downfield, you still have to deal with Gates (and Naanee, and Tolbert and Sproles) in the short passing game. I don’t disagree that the Chargers lack of a running game could be their achilles heel in the playoffs, but for this game I expect the air attack to stay at it’s current level.

The Chargers’ winning streak has included victories against the Broncos and Raiders (both teams that beat the Bengals), as well as the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys (who are all possible playoff teams).

Oakland’s D is good. I believe so anyways. Is there any doubt amongst Bengal fans?

Of the Bengals 9 wins….2 are against the Browns, 1 against the Lions and 1 was against the Bears. You could also argue that the Steelers were a very mediocre team this year and the Ravens were nothing special.

Jackson is better than Jefferson or Joiner. Gates is as good as Winslow. Rivers is better than Fouts. What the Air Coryell team had in talent, the Air Turner team has in talent and depth. Three (maybe four) RBs that are great receivers out of the backfield, Five receivers over 6’4" with soft hands and a QB that can do absolutely anything asked of him. Not to mention a better defense and much better special teams.

Well, that’s an interesting question. Let’s go position by position

LT – Marcus McNeill has been a stud all year and deserves to start at the Pro Bowl. He has just about shut down every pass-rusher he’s faced without much help.

LG – Kris Dielman is a former Pro Bowler, based mostly on his run blocking. This year his run blocking has been inconsistent and his pass blocking has been mediocre. He doesn’t give up a lot of sacks or anything, but you see him missing more assignments than most former Pro Bowlers.

C – Former Pro Bowler Nick Hardwick has played a half of football this season, the first half of week 1, before fracturing his ankle. The last few weeks have each started with hope that he’d play, and ended with him being inactive. I doubt he gets the start on Sunday, as Scott Mruczkowski has been very good as the fill-in, but I’m hopeful that he has a good week of practice.

RG – This spot has belonged to rookie Louis Vasquez all year. He missed a few games due to injury, but his performance on the field has proven that he’s the cornerstone to build the right side of the line around. He came from Texas Tech, so he’s still learning how to run-block, but he seems to have made huge strides due to his size, strength and strong work ethic.

RT – Jeromey Clary was having a fine season until a few weeks ago, when he broke his leg and went on IR. Brandyn Dombrowski, a rookie from SDSU, took his place but is essentially keeping the spot warm for former Eagles star Jon Runyan. All signs last week point to Runyan getting the start this week, but Dombro has been pretty good at least as a pass-blocker.

If the Bengals still had Odom, I’d be more worried. However, since our offensive line has given up very few sacks lately (2 sacks in the last 4 games) I’m fairly confident Rivers will spend most of Sunday’s game clean and upright.

I -and many others, including opposition bloggers- have John’s back in any Chargers-related analysis. You’re talking to the most knowledgeable Chargers blogger on the net. Period.

And don’t you think Chargers fans would be more well-versed on the current team and how it compares to the Coryell team? I don’t think expect you’re going to see any Chargers fans come here and condescendingly “school” you on Bengals history.

he’s just giving his take on the lineman like one of us asked him to, right? that’s the whole point of this cross blogging.

But on the internet, there is a lack of emotional context with what is typed, therefore making it hard for some readers to realize you’re just having fun and jawing the opposition’s fans up. And we’re all fans here, let’s try to get along with one another.

or are you about to call me an Ad Homonem?

You might think it’s all in fun, but so far everyone else who’s commenting on your posts on this thread thinks you’re being a jerk. Including other Bengals fans.

You are, in fact, being a jerk. The thread was nice and civil until you decided to piss on it.

Having said that, I am a Charger fan, I had season tickets to the Fouts era, I’ve shaken Charlie Joiners hand and received his autograph on a Jersey. He was a tough SOB when he played, and is doing a great job as a coach for the Charger receivers now. Even He has commented in the local paper about how VJ is better than he ever was, and has a chance to be a star if he keeps it up.

Charlie Joiner is in the HOF as you say. But he was a possession receiver in the mold of Wes Welker. VJ is a WR with the body type of T.O. and the leaping ability of JJ. He in fact, is a better receiver.

While Jammer and Cro are good, I think at least this year Hall and Joseph have been better.

Next Question.

Who has dropped more INTs, Joseph or Cromartie?

I can’t really say because I haven’t seen a ton of Bengals games this year.

Jammer and Cromartie have been perfect in man coverage, and pretty good in zone. From what you guys are saying, Hall/Joseph have been close to perfect in both. The one thing I will say for SD’s corners, similar to our WRs, they are bigger and stronger than most other CB tandems in the league. Also, nobody supports the run like Jammer.

I predict there will be no new CBA before free agency, which would make Merriman an RFA and have him returning to San Diego for one more year. The team will not sign him long-term though.

I think Shawne got caught in the web of an attention whore who understands how to stay in the newspapers (or in this case, on TMZ). No charges were ever filed against him, and the SD Sherriff pretty much backed Shawne’s claim that the original event was the result of Shawne trying to keep Tila from driving drunk. Everything since is just her jibber-jabbering.