I saw an interesting post today on orting.blogspot.com.

Let’s compare the head coaching careers of Marty Schottenheimer and Norv Turner.
The rap on Schottenheimer was that he could turn around a terrible team and win in the regular season, but never in the playoffs.
In contrast, Turner just flat-out has a history of not making the playoffs as a head coach (he’s only done it twice in 10 years.)
Two seasons very well justify the feelings about each coach, when you consider 2004 vs. 2008.
In 2004, Schottenheimer was coaching what was believed to be the least talented team in the NFL with the Chargers. (It was so bad that first-round draft pick Eli Manning refused to play for San Diego.)
So what happened?
The Chargers went 12-4, were the surprise team of the NFL and lost in the first round of the playoffs when Nate Kaeding couldn’t make a 40-yard field goal.
(Just what you would expect from Schottenheimer, who was 200-126 in the […]
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sdsporting wrote an interesting post today on orting.blogspot.com.

Which team is the most disappointing in the NFL?
Without a doubt, it’s the Chargers.
Here’s a team in the weakest AFC division by far that came into the season with Super Bowl expectations.
And here’s a team that finds itself two games behind the resurgent Denver Broncos with six to play.
So what is happening?
Where do you start …?
It’s almost inhumane to pick on head coach Norv Turner because his ineffectiveness as a leader is more than well documented.
The stubbornness of General Manager A. J. Smith has … and will continue … to drive successful players and coaches away from the team.
Then there’s the immediate:
This team has not recorded a turnover in 17 quarters … or more than four games.
The inept offense totaled 213 yards against Pittsburgh; or 197 fewer yards than the Steelers.
Pittsburgh had 110 more penalty yards than the Chargers; so much for the theory that the officials are against the […]
Lots more here.

Let’s see now:
The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the NFL in total defense.
They are first in pass defense, second against the rush, and tops in sacks.
The Chargers can’t run the ball. (Just ask LaDainian Tomlinson, who has made an issue of it all week.)
They can pass; but they can’t protect the quarterback too well.
On top of all that, the Chargers were underwhelming in a one-point escape at home against lowly Kansas City last week.
So how can the Chargers possibly beat Pittsburgh?
Remember, Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger is banged up and has one TD pass along with eight interceptions his last three games.
But therein lies the rub for the Chargers: They have recorded ZERO turnovers in the past 13 quarters.
It all comes down to the Chargers creating some turnovers or suffering their third loss in the past four games.
Predictions:Steelers 21, Chargers 17Utah 38, San Diego State 10

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orting.blogspot.com did an interesting post today.

Boy, was that “new look” Chargers’ defense impressive (tongue in cheek!)
Was it me, or did the “new” San Diego defense under Ron Rivera look the same as the old under Ted Cottrell?
Still no pressure on the quarterback. Still no turnovers in 13 quarters; and one in the past four games.
And still no stopping of another team’s final drive when the game was on the line.
With a 20-19 luck-out over Kansas City, the Chargers posed more questions than they answered.
What if the Chiefs hadn’t muffed a snap on an extra point? What if Kansas City had a decent play planned on a potential game-winning, 2-point conversion?
The Chargers would be looking at a 3-6 record, which still wouldn’t eliminate them from competition in the worst division ever in the NFL.
Under Rivera, it was the same-old, same-old for the Chargers defense.
The only players with above-average games defensively were Jamal Williams and Quentin Jammer.
Otherwise, […]
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sdsporting blogged about a good topic today on orting.blogspot.com.

The last time the Chargers were home, they held an opponent to 10 points.
Ted Cottrell’s defense was being praised, and the New England Patriots had their collective heads between their tales.
My, how times have changed.
Cottrell is no longer defensive coordinator of the Chargers; head coach Norv Turner has been very defensive of his move to make Ron Rivera his coordinator.
Has it really been nearly a month since the Chargers won their last home game by beating New England, 30-10?
Yes … and it has also be that long since the Chargers won a game.
Say hello to the downtrodden Kansas City Chiefs.
This game could be a landslide compared to what Barack Obama experienced this week.
The Chiefs can’t stop the run. Their top two quarterbacks are injured. Their most talented running back is suspended.
And, yet, one still can’t forget how Kansas City came in here and embarrassed the Chargers last season, 30-16.
The Chargers […]
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