Achievement Unlocked!

If you're a gamer and own an Xbox 360, then you already know what Achievements are. Achievements are basically badges that you collect when you play games on the Xbox 360 (and also some PC Games). They look like this:



Seeing as how I work full-time in the games industry, (the main reason I haven't been able to update the blog as much as I like...sorry guys!) its only natural that I look for ways to combine two of my favorite things - Chargers football and video games!

No, I haven't developed a new football game for 360, but I did create some Achievements that I'll be awarding different Charger players after each game. So lets kick it off this week and see who unlocked some Achievements:

Antonio Gates - 175 points

Antonio Gates had himself a big, big games against the Houston Texans. Gates scored twice on three receptions for 92 yards. He gains the following Achievements -









Philip Rivers - 200 points

Rivers didn't have to throw the ball much on Sunday. But when he did throw it, he made them count. Going 7 for 11 and gaining 190 yards with three touchdowns unlocked the following for Rivers -



Chris Chambers - 75 points

Welcome to San Diego Chris! In Chambers' first game as a Charger, he contributed immediately. Even though he only caught two passes, he gained 35 yards and scored a touchdown. The Texans certainly respected Chambers and had to play the Bolts honestly. He unlocks -



Eric Weddle / Stephen Cooper - 100 points each

These two players were important in limiting the Texans' ability to gain yards after the catch in the intermediate field. Weddle and Cooper are two players who are always around the ball, and their football instincts payed off to the tune of an interception for each. They unlock the following Achievements -






Antonio Cromartie - 350 points

If you unsure as to what Antonio Cromartie can do on the football field, then after Sunday you should have no doubts. Cromartie epitomized the word "playmaker" with his monster performance on defense and special teams. Cromartie intercepted two passes, scored twice, and racked up a couple of tackles. I expect him to be named the NFL Defensive Player of the Week, in addition to being the BoltHype MVP. He earns some massive Achievement points -







Lets see what achievements get unlocked next week...Sacks? Rushing touchdowns? 100+ yard performances?

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Texans At Chargers Slideshow

Leo shared with me a cool slideshow video he made of the week 8 matchup between the Chargers and the Texans...check it:

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Will The Chargers Play The Texans On Monday Night?

With fires raging across San Diego County, the Chargers' focus turns from the Houston Texans to making sure their families and loved ones are safe. Qualcomm Stadium has been converted into an evacuation center, and it remains to be seen whether or not the stadium will be available for a football game on Sunday.

As a result of the poor air conditions, the Chargers have flown out to Tempe, Arizona where they will hold practice at the Cardinal's facility.

Gary Kubiak, head coach of the Houston Texans, had the following to say about this week's matchup between the Chargers and Texans:

(on the possibility of having to play at a neutral site) “I don’t know that much about it right now. There are some people that mentioned this morning about playing in Arizona, and it’s been mentioned to me in the last hour that they may play Sunday night, may play Monday night, I don’t know. I just know that we’ll have to adjust. They’ll figure out a time for us to play the football game. You’re concerned for those people in California in those fires. I’ve been through that in Denver and that’s a horrible thing, so you just keep them in your prayers and we’ll figure out what to do with the football game.”

(on what he went through in Denver) “They had some of the same issues in Denver at one time. We had coaches have to leave the field one day during practice. The fires were coming down from the mountains. It was about five or six years ago. We had a couple of coaches that their homes were very close to being lost, and I just remember how scary it was for their families. But everything worked out.”

If the NFL moves the game to Sunday or Monday night, it does not seem likely that the game will be nationally broadcast like a typical night game would. Certainly the Chargers would have loved a home field advantage after coming off a bye week. Compounding the pressure on the team is the fact that the division race remains as tight as ever, with the Chiefs and Broncos winning their week 7 matchups.

It will be tough for the team to remain focused on football when so many in the organization have been affected by the fires. But the leadership from guys like Philip Rivers can rally the team:

“What’s most important is making sure our families are taken care of and that everyone has what they need out of their houses. Once everybody is safe, we can start putting the focus on the week and the game. Obviously there’s more to life than football. We all know that, but football is very important to all of us. Once we get what’s most important taken care of, then we can put our focus there.”

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Chambers Expects A Smooth Transition

So just what are the Chargers getting in a guy like Chris Chambers? A lanky, physical, tough receiver who can work the middle and red zone, as well as beat people deep. Chambers is a guy who goes up and attacks the ball. Its very hard to overthrow a guy like Chambers; he has incredibly long limbs and has the leaping ability of a basketball player.

Combine his abilities with his familiarity with Norv Turner and his offensive system, and you are looking at a guy who instantly becomes the best receiver in San Diego.

"Every minute, every second I'm starting to understand the transition. It's really a great opportunity for me. All I've known is the Miami Dolphins the past seven years. There were some rumors earlier before training camp that some stuff may happen, so I knew right then and there to be prepared if something does and I feel like I am. I'm ready to move on and get a fresh start to my career. I feel like I have a lot to offer and I haven't maximized my ability yet."

"I don't think it's going to be much of a transition, maybe a few words here and there. All the routes are the same and everybody runs the same routes. They may be called a little bit different but for the most part, I spent two years with Norv and I felt like that second year, I was really getting some of the stuff he wanted to do. I can pretty much step into that huddle and pretty much know everything that is going on right now."

Chris Chambers, welcome to San Diego

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Chris Chambers Now A Charger

The San Diego Chargers today acquired Wide Receiver Chris Chambers from the Miami Dolphins, in an exchange for a 2008 second round draft pick. If the Chargers make the playoffs as expected, that draft pick would be in the 55-60 range.

In Chambers, the Chargers are getting a proven veteran wide out who has great size and experience. Eric Parker's current injury may have been a factor in AJ Smith's decision to make a trade. It looks like Parker might miss even more time, and with no real veteran leadership at the wide receiver position, the Bolts feel Chambers can help them.

Personally, I have always liked Chris Chambers. I like how he attacks the ball and is physical after contact. His skill set is going to fit into our offensive philosophy under Norv Turner, who coached Chambers in Miami.

"Chris is an explosive, talented player and I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to work with him again," Turner said. "He’s a very consistent player and he has big-play ability. We think he can add to what we’re doing on offense. The bonus for us is that he’s familiar with the system. It should be a quick and easy adjustment for him. We expect him to come in and be productive right away."

While Dolphin fans might feel Chambers is overrated or prone to dropped passes, the reality is that Chambers has had Quarterback instability almost his entire career. In San Diego, he'll provide the team with another big-play weapon and will allow guys like Vincent Jackson and Buster Davis time to grow as pros.

AJ Smith has obviously made it a priority to address the team's needs at wide receiver through the draft and via trades. Chambers will be the most expensive trade Smith has made (in terms of draft picks), but he'll figure to contribute right away, much like Keenan McCardell and Marlon McCree did when they arrived in San Diego.

"We are very excited to add Chris to our team," General Manager A.J. Smith said. "He brings a wealth of experience and outstanding production. He is an extremely talented football player and we have held him in high regard throughout his career."

So does this mean Keyshawn Johnson was right to call out the Chargers and AJ Smith?

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Luis Castillo Coverboy Of Madden '08

Not to be out done by teammate Shawne Merriman, Luis Castillo is also getting in on the video game mix. Castillo has been selected and agreed to appear as the Spanish language Madden 08 coverboy. (Madden 08 en Espanol is going to be a special version of the traditional Madden 08 game)

Castillo has emerged as a worthy ambassador of the NFL towards it's Spanish speaking fans, and I congratulate and appreciate Castillo's efforts to reach out to the Latin community.



Read the full press release after the jump

Madden 08 to Speak Spanish

Luis Castillo drafted as cover athlete for first major video game in Spanish.

Catering to the growing Latino population in the United States, EA Sports will embrace Spanish-speaking gamers by delivering Madden NFL '08 en Espanol, a new version of the popular Madden 08 game for PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 that's fully translated into Spanish. Luis Castillo, defensive end for the San Diego Chargers replaces Vince Young as the cover athlete for the new game.

Castillo, who hails from the Dominican Republic is the second player from that country to be drafted and start in the NFL. After being a first round pick in the 2005 draft, Castillo has since earned his keep as the third highest sacker on his team and was selected for the All-Rookie Team by NFL.com, Pro Football Weekly and the Professional Football Writers of America.

Madden NFL 08 en Espanol will feature three exclusive music tracks, play-by-play coverage and game analysis in Spanish. Those tracks include Los Que Luchamos by Kinto Sol, Blame Me performed by Molotov and Relax by Mana. Alvaro Martin, the first Spanish language announcer for ABC Sports' Monday Night Football, will voice the play-by-play broadcasts.

The new game might seem experimental to English-speaking gamers but the NFL's efforts in reaching out to Spanish-speaking fans has grown significantly over the last few years with broadcasts on NFLatino.com, NFL Monday Night Football on ESPN Deportes, NBC Sunday Night Football in Spanish via SAP, Univision Radio and specials on Telemundo. EA Sports and the NFL have a close relationship and the extension of the Madden 08 series to Spanish-speaking gamers serves as a new way to attract gamers to the 18-year old series and most likely gain new players.

Developed in Orlando, Florida at EA Tiburon, Madden 08 En Espanol is expected to release during the holiday season.

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Merriman To Grace Video Game Cover

I know I know, things have been a little slow around these parts lately. But like most people, I have a freakin' job...so eff you haters (just kidding, you know I love ya). You see, the video game industry is one of milestones and deadlines...these things need to be met and if that means you have to work long hours for a few weeks, then so be it.

Apparently, Shawne Merriman is getting involved with the video game industry as well. Who can blame him, this industry rocks! Merriman was voted for, by the fans, to grace the cover of EA's latests franchise, NFL Tour.

Congrats Shawne!

Full press release after the jump:

EA Sports Names Shawne Merriman Winner of NFL Tour Cover Athlete Election

Fans Elect Gridiron Sack Leader to Grace the Cover of EA’s New NFL Licensed Arcade-Style Football Game

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Power to the people! Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced today that Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers was elected as the cover athlete for NFL Tour through an open online voting process. For the first time ever, EA SPORTS™ put the decision of who would be the face of a game in the hands of fans. After three weeks of voting, Merriman received the most votes out of fellow nominees Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins, and Dwight Freeney of the Indianapolis Colts. NFL Tour is a new NFL and PLAYERS INC licensed video game that offers players an accessible, fun and engaging experience with the NFL and its talented players.

Shawne Merriman’s performance on the football field matches well with the fast paced action in NFL Tour. Merriman is a two-time Pro Bowler starter and his 17 sacks last season led the league. In 2005, this first round draft pick from the University of Maryland was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, leading his team and all NFL rookies with 10 sacks.

NFL Tour is an authentic yet uncomplicated arcade-style football game that features a responsive gameplay system and easy-to-use game controls. Appealing to both NFL fans and gamers, NFL Tour allows players at any skill level to storm the field and play competitively from the start. With real NFL players as teammates, players travel across the country to play against each of the NFL teams in newly designed stadiums. As players defeat each of the NFL squads, they come one step closer to winning a NFL contract.

NFL Tour is an action-packed sports game with an emphasis on individual player control. For the first time in a football video game, gamers will have Total Collision Control, a dynamic gameplay feature that allows players to have complete control of the action when offensive and defensive players collide. With Total Collision Control, players can use well-timed button commands to deliver a run stopping tackle, or to break away from one. This new level of control gives gamers more options and power to effect the outcome on the field.

Developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon, NFL Tour will be available for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360™ video game system from Microsoft. The game is scheduled for release in January and for more information, log onto www.easports.com/nfltour.

EA SPORTS is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA SPORTS BIG™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2007, EA posted revenue of $3.09 billion and had 24 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. John Madden, NFL, NBA, FIFA, NHL, NCAA, Tiger Woods, PGA TOUR and NASCAR are trademarks of their respective owners and used with permission. PLAYSTATION is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Contact BOLTHYPE

Interested in contacting the people behind BOLTHYPE? Emails are listed below, and you can also use the contact form:

Rob Zepeda - Executive Editor

robzepeda@gmail.com

Rob Zepeda has been covering the San Diego Chargers since 2006. BOLTHYPE was originally conceived as a journal in which notes from Chargers training camps could be posted. Since then, BOLTHYPE has grown to offer exclusive player interviews, podcasts, in-depth analysis, updates from camps, and Chargers news from around the web.

In addition to his work at BOLTHYPE , Rob Zepeda also worked for AOL's Fanhouse as their Chargers blogger.

The ultimate goal for BOLTHYPE is to become the premier Chargers blog on the internet, and to be recognized as one of the foremost destinations for thoughtful Chargers analysis.

ABOUT ROB ZEPEDA:

In addition to the Chargers, Rob Zepeda enjoys other hobbies such as video games and muay thai; he works full-time in the video game industry and has been a muay thai practitioner for 3 years, traveling to Thailand twice to train, as well as training and fighting here in the states:

Anderson Silva, UFC Champion





Thierry Sokoudjou, UFC Fighter





Naruepon Fairtex, Muay Thai Champion



PUBLIC RELATIONS INFO:

If you are a public relations professional and feel BOLTHYPE readers are a part of an audience that would be interested in your services or products, feel free to send me an email. Keep in mind however, that free gifts (or money even!) go a long way!

ADVERTISING INFO:

We are always looking for sponsors to help provide the financial support necessary to grow BOLTHYPE into the preferred destination for San Diego Chargers news, opinion, analysis, and commentary. Please contact Rob Zepeda with all inquiries!

TRAFFIC STATISTICS

A Counter-Argument To The Pass Rush 'Problem'

Everyone has a theory about why the Chargers aren't leading the league in sacks right now. Have the coaching changes had a negative effect on the defense's ability to put pressure on people? Is Shawne Merriman getting less opportunities to rush the passer? Is the defensive line getting pushed around?

Where is that tenacity, that aggressiveness? Flying around was what this defense, and in particular the outside linebackers, did well last year. What happened?

Well there's a couple of things happening:

1. Don't look now, but Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman are better.

How dare you say that?!, you might ask.

Well through their first four games of 2007, Merriman and Phillips' numbers are extremely similar to what they had in 2006.


Merriman (first four games of 2006):
12 tackles, 4.5 sacks.

Merriman (first four games of 2007):
20 tackles, 3 sacks.

Phillips (first four games of 2006):
20 tackles, 4 sacks

Phillips (first four games of 2007):
16 tackles, 3.5 sacks

So between the two of them, they have virtually identical numbers from last year. I mentioned they were better players, and part of that is becoming a more complete player. No longer are they one dimensional pass rushers. These guys are playing the run, dropping into coverage, and blitzing a little less.

Merriman and Phillips carried the identity that they were purely pass rushers. Ron Rivera has helped make them better Linebackers.

2. Losing Donnie Edwards had an impact on the entire defense.

Its easy to blitz your outside guys every down when you have one of the greatest coverage linebackers of all time on the field for you. But when you lose a guy like a Donnie Edwards, all of the sudden you find yourself having to drop more linebackers back to make up for that drop in coverage ability.

That's what's happening right now. The Chargers lost about 20 years of combined experience when Randell Godfrey and Donnie Edwards departed.

With what seems like a new set of starters at inside linebacker every week, its difficult to be totally confident that those guys are going to be on the same page with the defense. The Chargers have been getting burned badly by over-the-middle stuff and thats where Donnie Edwards used to cherry pick.

The Chargers don't have that right now, and are trying to make up for it by dropping more linebackers in coverage than they'd ideally like to.

3. Teams know how to attack the Chargers Defense.

We've witnessed how offenses have been successful against the Chargers' D; spread them out.

Spreading the defense out can cause breakdowns in communication and coverage assignments. It also allows the QB to get rid of the ball quicker and avoid the pass rush.

We have seen the Patriots, Packers, and Chiefs all do this effectively, and as a result those teams have put up big passing numbers against the Chargers that ultimately won them games.

So if you are looking for answers as to why the team is ranked 14th out of 32 teams in sacks, think about the above three answers.

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Marty's Dismissal Was Spanos' Decision, Not Smith's

AJ Smith is god-like among some fan circles... and an egotistical maniac in others. He is regarded as a brilliant scout of talent and a master roster-builder, but lacks the people skills to be an endearing figure. While that image is perfectly fine with Smith, some people feel that Smith's ego has gotten in the way of the Chargers being successful.

An example used in this instance is the firing of a winning head coach in Marty Schottenheimer. Since it is well known that Smith and Schottenheimer refused to be friends, the assumption is that AJ Smith fired Schottenheimer simply because the two weren't twp peas in a pod.

Not so, according to former San Diego journalist Jim Trotter (now with Sports Illustrated):

Spanos cited the "dysfunctional relationship" between Schottenheimer and Smith as the reason for the move, but that was hogwash. Schottenheimer and Smith had barely spoken in a year and Spanos was fine with it. Plus, just a month earlier Spanos had announced Schottenheimer would return for a sixth season.

The dismissal was strictly because Schottenheimer stood up to the team owner. When he informed Schottenheimer of the change, Spanos told him he had never seen Schottenheimer act like that. He told Schottenheimer that he had changed. Spanos was right, of course. Schottenheimer was tired of feeling like an outsider in his own organization, so he drew a bright line and crossed. Then he collected his $4 million salary and returned to his offseason home in North Carolina, where he could spend time with his daughter and grandkids.

As popular as it is to lay the blame of Schottenheimer's ouster on Smith, Spanos is the one whose fingerprints were on the pink slip. There was no way he was going to allow an employee to openly defy one of his organizational tenets. So go ahead and rip Smith for hiring Turner, who came to town with a 58-82-1 record after failing in Washington and Oakland. But any venom about the firing of Schottenheimer will have to be spewed in another direction.

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Week 5 Power Rankings

Week 5 Power Rankings (last week's rankings in parenthesis)

ESPN
16 (09)

CNNSI

19 (13)

CBS Sportsline
22 (12)

FOX Sports
21 (14)

USA Today
17 (09)

Sporting News
18 (13)


'You are what your record says you are'

The team is 1-3, 'nuff said.

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Is AJ Smith On The Hot Seat?

The Chargers getting off to a shaky start has been a huge disappointment for Chargers fans and the San Diego community. Expectations were extremely high after three winning seasons without a playoff victory to show for it. This year, not only are the Chargers playing for a third playoff birth in four years, but they are in many ways playing to gain the favor of the greater San Diego community, in hopes that the community would support the Chargers' search for a new stadium.

The rocky start to the season may have led to Oceanside withdrawing it's bid to host a stadium.

Dean Spanos can't be pleased with the city of Oceanside's decision. Losing them as a bargaining chip is a huge blow to their abilities to negotiate with other cities such as Chula Vista. Blame can't be place soley on the team's current 1-3 record, but who's to say that a dominating 4-0 start wouldn't have impacted Oceanside's decision?

Joel 'DiG' DiGiacomo of FootballForBreakfast.com has some thoughts about AJ Smith's ego, and believes karma is bad in San Diego right now because of him.

Smith has carefully and successfully fostered an image in the media of being a brilliant judge of talent. So much so that he has been able to leave the impression that he is more responsible for the Chargers success last year than the coaching staff. Smith honestly believes that Marty had nothing to do with the Chargers winning last year.

In fact, it seems he believes that a coach who kowtows to the all-mighty GM would have more success than someone with 200 career victories. How dare Marty disagree on such personnel decisions as getting rid of Drew Brees, Donnie Edwards or hiring Ted Cottrell as defensive coordinator.

Just think if Norv Turner, with a career 58-82-1 record, won a championship. What would simultaneously validate A.J. Smith and invalidate Marty Schottenheimer more than that?

So I eagerly watched the Chargers this season to see if A.J. Smith might get some well-deserved comeuppance, at least temporarily. I mean the Chargers are loaded with talent. Norv Turner couldn't possibly keep that Ferrari in neutral for the whole season, could he?

Check out Football For Breakfast for more

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Mike Shanahan's Thoughts On The Chargers

The Broncos held their Wednesday press conference, and would you know it? The Denver media actually asked about the Broncos upcoming opponent on the week! Wow, what a concept? You'd think the San Diego media would do something similar, but no. Three days into the new week, and we are still hearing questions about last Sunday.

Anyways, John from Mile High Report was nice enough to type up the transcript of press conference:

Head Coach Mike Shanahan:

On Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson - "I can't speak for them but we know what type of football team they have. You take a look at what they've done offensively and defensively last year and they've got the same football team coming back, they've played some excellent team and they've had some turnovers. When you have turnovers and when you don't win in that area, especially on the road, it's hard to win football games."

On getting desperate - "It's a long season, sometimes teams start out very hot and they fade sometimes teams start out slow and they get better. It's a full 16-game season, it's week-by-week. You've got to fight and find ways to win games. Each game is another opportunity."

On importance of the game against San Diego - "Any time you play a team in the AFC West, obviously it's a big game. We know how important they are, if you win your division, you're guaranteed a home playoff spot. That's obviously the first thing you talk about as a team. We understand how important these AFC West games are - especially in our backyard. It's a very important game."

On differences between Norv Turner and Marty Schottenheimer -- "It's still too early to tell, I can tell you better at the end of the season. Just like I talked about, you play some good teams, you turn the football over, it's how you respond. We're in the same situation they're in, every game is very important. Any time you're 2-2 or 1-3 each game becomes bigger. Their backs are against the wall, they better think that way and we better think that way. That's the mindset every football team has especially after the first quarter of the season, you look at where you're at and hopefully you can make some strides but you've got to do it on the weekend."


Quarterback Jay Cutler:

On facing the San Diego Chargers for the second time in his career - "I don't think their record indicates what kind of football team they have. Defensively their doing good, probably giving up a few more points than they would like, but the front seven, obviously they create problems. You really don't know where they are going to bring pressure from. Their secondary is equally as good, so I expect them to play some good football in these next couple weeks. We'll probably get their best shot."



On the team having a need-to-win mindset going into the game with the Chargers - "There's a lot of football left. Outside the lockerroom I think everybody's kind of freaking out a little bit, and getting excited, but we have a lot of games left. Obviously it's a divisional game and we want to win this one. We have a bye next week, so we want to get a win, and then take some time off. We have to execute, offensively, defensively and special teams; we have to put it all together. Every time the Broncos don't win, people freak out, so we're not that excited about it. We're still working hard and we think we have a good football team. It's not a lack of effort. The guys are flying around and we're making plays, just not enough of them."

On needing to win this game against the Chargers - "We want to win every game. Every game is tough; it's a battle in the NFL. You never know in this league who is going to have a good team; it's just day-to-day. We want to win; there's no doubt about it and every game is important to us. It will be important to the fans to be coming back home, so we are going to do our best this week."

On being surprised that the Chargers are 1-3 so far this year - "I think everyone is a bit surprised. They didn't lose a lot of guys and obviously some coaches left and made a few changes in that area, but you still have the players on the field and I'm sure they will come together here. They've got entirely too much talent and they know how to win, from last year, obviously. They are going to put it together soon enough."

On expecting San Diego to play desperate this week - "I think those guys have been in the NFL long enough, and they understand that there is a lot of football left. Obviously, they want to get back into the conference race. They are going to come out and I'm sure they will give us everything they've got. It's going to be a hard game any time you play those guys."

On facing San Diego's defense last year - "We did the best job that we could have over there. They got some pressure and they flew around. I think we went to the shotgun in the second and third quarters. They get back in a hurry, kind of like Indianapolis' front four; they don't waste any time. You've got to get rid of the ball. Teams have been dropping back and getting rid of the ball and just making some plays; that's what we're going to have to do."

For tons more Broncos coverage, check out MileHighReport.

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BoltHype Representing On Mile High Radio

This straight from Mile High Report:

EDIT: Tune in by going here - NowLive.com/MHRradio

MHR Radio -- "We Just Need To Win A Damn Game" Edition -- TONIGHT!!!
By TheSportsGuru
Posted on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 02:55:31 PM EDT

The Broncos have lost two in a row and there are signs of panic amongst Broncos Country. We haven't lost faith, and if you haven't either then we want you!! Join us tonight on MHR Radio -- The Official Podcast of MileHighReport.com!! Here's what we have in store for you to chew on TONIGHT --

--We'll take a quick peek back at Sunday's loss in Indy

--Things Are Bad, But I'll Give You 5 Teams That Are Worse Off

--QuarterPole Review - A Quarter Through The Season - The Good, The Bad, and The Run Defense So Far.

--Rob Zepeda from BoltHype.com Will Join Us To Talk Chargers.

--We'll take a look around the AFC West to see how the rest of the division did in Week 4.

--Your Phone Calls!!!

All that and MORE!! Tonight on MHR Radio!!!!

Get in on all the action tonight starting at 10PM est/7PM pst...Is there anything better to do than talk Broncos football???

Charger fans, tune in tonight to get a feel for our next opponent. Its time to move on from last week's loss. Lets get refocused on the task at hand!

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Upon Further Review - Chiefs At Chargers

The BAD:

Philip Rivers has to play better. He holds the keys to the offense and if he can't find a rhythm with his receivers and do a better job of taking care of the football, this team is going to lose lots of games.

Its a combination of little things that is hurting Rivers right now - he isn't doing a good job of planting his feet and throwing with good form. I'm not sure what it is, but his basic technique seems to have gotten worse since last year. He is throwing off balance, often times leaning to one side and side-arming the football. I know he has an unorthodox throwing motion, but his interceptions are way up this year, and there are lots of balls being batted down at the line of scrimmage. He is looking great when he is rolling out of the pocket, but when he has to stand in there and deliver the ball, he is hesitating or rushing the pass. He simply does not look comfortable.

The new offensive system combined with a fresh group of receivers might be taking more time to adjust to than I thought it would have. The only guy Rivers seems to be real comfortable throwing to is Antonio Gates. Of course, he is also looking down Vincent Jackson's way plenty but Jackson needs to be more consistent and reliable.

Taking care of he football was one of Marty Schottenheimer's biggest mantra. So far this year, the Chargers have seemed to forget about that mentality. Losing the football at the most inopportune times have killed the Chargers this year. Having opposing defenses score on you after you cough up the football is an almost guaranteed way to lose a game. The Patriots did it to the Chargers and the Chiefs did it to them as well. That took those team's point total up into the thirties, and with the way the Chargers' offense has been playing, scoring 30+ points seems to be too much to ask.

Allowing short plays underneath seems to be the philosophy for the Chargers defense the past few years. I'm not sure what it is; maybe its just the way the 34 defense is built. But the Chargers' secondary seems to want to allow the play to happen in front of them, and to let nothing get behind them. This has positives and negatives, but if you can't tackle the ball carrier in front of you, and you have no safety able to clean up the play, then you are putting yourself in the position to allow big plays for the receiver. Greg Jennings took a pass 57 yards for a touchdown. Dwayne Bowe did the same with a 51 yard catch and run. And add Randy Moss to that trio and that's three consecutive 100+ yard receivers the Chargers have allowed.

The GOOD:

Certainly there was plenty to like about how the Chargers performed Sunday. Nate Kaeding looked as strong as ever with his kicks. He was kicking touchbacks and his field goal attempts were true.

I like how Ladainain Tomlinson looked running the ball. The offensive line did a good job opening holes against an underrated Kansas City defensive line (Tank Tyler, Tamba Hali, and Jarred Allen are very good). Norv Turner was far more creative in his running schemes and it paid off as the Chiefs never really knew where the ball was going.

True to name, Shawne Merriman had a lights out performance. He continues to rack up sacks and continues to keep his average of about 1 sack per 1 game started. Merriman seems to love to compete against Larry Johnson and the Chiefs. His tackle totals seem to spike when Larry Johnson is on the field.

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Ticket Solutions

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Chargers Drop Three In A Row

Are the Chargers overrated? What about Coach Turner? Are the players responding to him at all, either negatively or positively? Is the team growing accustomed to losing? What's the deal with Philip Rivers?

Question marks abound, for sure.

Before I throw my hat into the ring and start declaring the season lost, I'm going to re-watch the disappointing game between the Chargers and their division rival Chiefs. I'll watch the first half and wonder if this is the team that is going to run through defenses like swiss cheese, and then the second half will come around and it'll be painfully clear that the Chargers cannot make half-time adjustments.

More to come later tonight..

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