Lack of rhythm leaves Chargers blue

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Sunday, Oct 05, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Going into Sunday’s game in Miami, the Chargers boasted the NFL’s second-highest scoring offense. The Bolts were only able to put 10 points on the board Sunday and were never able to find a rhythm after a sluggish first half that eventually led to a 17-10 loss to the Dolphins.

“We didn’t play at a level we need to play at,” Head Coach Norv Turner said. “We’ve been down this road and found a way to win the games like this in the second half. We weren’t able to get it done today.”

The Bolts’ opening possession of the day didn’t foreshadow what became a difficult afternoon for the offense. They mixed things up and drove 61 yards to set up a 34-yard Nate Kaeding field goal that gave them an early 3-0 lead.

“We moved the ball, hit a few screens, made some decent runs,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “Then we didn’t do anything the rest of the first half. When you come in 15-0, come in 31-17, you come in 17-3, you just can’t keep doing it. Certainly we believe we can come back every week. That’s not the case.”

On their following four drives of the first half, the Chargers totaled only 11 yards. Those four drives included four three-and-outs, and after picking up four first downs in the first quarter, they didn’t gain another until 5:34 remaining in the third quarter.

“We didn’t execute the things we’re capable of executing,” Head Coach Norv Turner said. “Obviously we had protection problems offensively and they did a great job on third down of keeping us off the field.”

Pass protection and third-down efficiency were certainly contributing factors. Rivers was sacked only twice but was hit four other times and had a difficult time finding a rhythm. The Chargers credited Miami for using their zone blitz to get outside linebacker Joey Porter and Matt Roth singled up against LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert in protection.

“It was a tough match up for us,” Tomlinson said. “It’s really a mismatch when you have a guy that’s close to 300 pounds against a guy that’s 215 and 180. It’s a match up problem that we have and they exploited it.”

The Bolts were just 3-of-12 on third down Sunday, two of which came on their opening drive.

“Just in general, the way some of the things developed in the passing game just didn’t have a flow to it,” said Rivers, who finished the day 13-of-28 for 159 yards and a touchdown. “I don’t know that there’s a certain reason for that. Obviously the Dolphins played a part in it. I missed some throws that I can make. We just didn’t execute.”

The Chargers finished the afternoon with just 202 total yards, their lowest output of the season. Tight end Antonio Gates caught just one pass for 12 yards, and the lack of rhythm offensively kept Tomlinson from getting in a groove. LT finished the day with 35 yards on 12 carries.

The Bolts weren’t surprised by anything Miami threw at them schematically. The Chargers were just disappointed in how they handled the Dolphins’ attack.

“They played exactly how we expected them to play,” wide receiver Vincent Jackson said. “I think they threw some different blitzes at us. We’ve got to adjust faster on the fly and pick those things up.”

The Chargers left Miami without any real specific answers, just promises for some strong self reflection.

“Football is not simple enough to give you a one-sentence answer,” Rivers said. “We’ve just got to play better and execute better. All of us have got to step up and do better.”

Doug Benc, Getty Images North America

LaDainian Tomlinson didn't find a lot of room to work Sunday.

	Gameday: Norv Turner Post game press conference with Head Coach Norv Turner Play
	Gameday: Philip Rivers Post game press conference with QB Philip Rivers. Play
	Gameday: LaDainian Tomlinson Post game press conference with RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Play
	Gameday: Stephen Cooper Post game press conference with LB Stephen Cooper. Play