Bolts’ D can't put stamp on strong day

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Monday, Nov 17, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

The single factor that left the Chargers’ defense feeling so good a week earlier against Kansas City was the same one that caused them to leave Pittsburgh disappointed

“We didn’t finish,” linebacker Stephen Cooper said. “Good defenses finish.”

While the Chargers’ offense tied their season low with just 10 points scored, the club’s defense kept them in the game until the final seconds. Pittsburgh scored only 11 points in the win, two of which came via safety.

“Today our offense wasn’t the juggernaut that they’ve been,” linebacker Matt Wilhelm said. “It was up to the defense to step up. We did a lot, but it wasn’t enough.”

From a statistical standpoint, the Chargers weren’t dominant defensively. Pittsburgh gained 410 total yards and possessed the ball for 36:31 as Cooper and company forced just one three-and out.

But the number that bode well for the Bolts was the fact that they kept the Steelers out of the end zone on the day and forced them to settle for field goals at the end of long drives.

“They moved the ball and converted first downs,” Head Coach Norv Turner said. “Even when they had drives going, it seemed like they’d get on the verge of field goal range and we’d come up with a big stop.”

The Chargers also delivered their most consistent pass rush in weeks. Coming into Sunday’s game, the Bolts had just one sack in their last 13 quarters. They delivered four Sunday thanks to solid team defense.

“The secondary did a heck of a job today covering the receivers,” said defensive end Jacques Cesaire, who had two of the team’s four sacks. “We had time to get to (the quarterback) and we got there.”

While encouraged by the sack numbers, Bolts defenders couldn’t glory in it much for the same reason they couldn’t fully embrace their overall performance on the day.

“I don’t want to say (we’re happy) because we didn’t get the win,” linebacker Shaun Phillips said. We’ll take no sacks and a win any day of the week.”

Several Chargers offensive players were complementary of their defensive counterparts and believed they missed an opportunity to take advantage of a strong performance.

“Our defense played a heck of a ballgame,” LaDainian Tomlinson said. “(Pittsburgh) didn’t score a touchdown. It’s hard to think we lost a game when that team didn’t score a touchdown."

Ben Roethlisberger, Jacques Cesaire, Anthony Waters

Keith Srakocic, AP

Defensive end Jacques Cesaire (74) and linebacker Anthony Waters (53) sack Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the second half of the NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008. The Steelers defeated the Chargers 11-10.

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