Eight Chargers Missed Practice

Eight San Diego Chargers players missed practice on Thursday, including outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, rookie right guard Louis Vasquez, and running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Charger center Nick Hardwick had surgery on his left ankle on Wednesday and will be out of the line-up for the next eight weeks. Coach Norv Turner was concerned about who will participate in Friday’s practice. “When you don’t practice on Thursday, it gets tougher. Shawne and Vasquez, I think we’re going to try to see what they’re able to do tomorrow. I don’t know that L.T. would be ready to try to do anything tomorrow.” L.T. sprained his right ankle in week 1 against the Oakland Raiders and missed Sunday’s home loss to Baltimore. Vasquez sprained a knee a knee at Oakland and also missed the Ravens game. Merriman played against Baltimore, but suffered a groin pull later in the contest. The Chargers (1-1) host the Miami Dolphins (0-2) on Sunday. L.T. stated that his injury is getting better, but he’s not sure if he will be able to play on Sunday. The explosive running back said, “Hopefully it just keeps getting better and I start to do a little bit more every day.”

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Did The Chargers Find A Stadium In North San Diego County?

According to reports from San Diego 10News, “the cities of Oceanside and Escondido are in talks to partner up to provide the adequate room for both a new Chargers stadium along with mixed-used development land, a prerequisite for the San Diego Chargers’ ability to help fund a new stadium project. Have the Chargers finally found a permanent home in San Diego?” The report stated that Oceanside’s Centre City Golf Course could be a possible stadium site after it is placed on the agenda for an October session. The Chargers are also interested in Escondido and the 17-acre site of its swap meet. Next week, the Chargers will begin meeting with developers to discuss specific details in order to see if the plan will work. Attorney Mark Fabiani, who represents the Chargers, said “It sounds promising. While it is an advantage for the projects to be connected, it is possible to divide it. The key will be generating the needed revenue to privately finance a stadium.”

It should be noted that the cities of Oceanside and Escondido are discussing a partnership that would resolve Big issues such as finding enough space for both a new stadium and mixed-used development that could help the team fund the stadium.

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Dolphins vs. Chargers (week 3)

The Miami Dolphins are 0-2 for the second straight season. Last year, nobody expected Miami to do well since they were coming off a 1-15 season. But the Dolphins ended up 11-5 last year, equaling the greatest one-season turnaround in NFL history. Miami was poor in week 1, committing four turnovers in a 19-7 loss at Atlanta. The Dolphins were much better in week 2, gaining over 400 yards against Indianapolis and controlling the ball for an eye-popping 45 minutes. However, the Dolphins had to settle for three field goals and fell short on a last- minute drive, which should sound familiar to Chargers fans. “The good news for the Dolphins is they’re playing a team they dominated last year and has had problems stopping what Miami does best — run the ball. Plus, quarterback Chad Pennington has been unstoppable in four previous starts against the Chargers.” Miami has dominated the Chargers for nearly 15 years, winning seven games since the Bolts’ playoff victory in January 1995 to take the 14-2 overall lead. Three of those games were at the Q. The Chargers made the trip out to Miami last year only to see the Dolphins jump out to a 17-3 lead. Miami held on for a 17-10 victory as LaDainian Tomlinson was stopped on fourth-and-goal at the 1 in the last quarter.

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Chargers’ High Powered Offense Couldn’t Get By Ravens’ Defense In The Red Zone

Although Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers threw for a career-high 436 yards, the Bolts couldn’t get past the Ravens defense in the red zone. San Diego went for an eye-popping 0-for-5 in the red zone, settling for four field goals and turning the ball over on downs on the final play of the game.  Tight end Antonio Gates said the Bolts’ “loss was easy to figure out-taking five trips into the red zone and not converting any into touchdowns. We know we can throw the ball up and down the field, but leaving the red zone without scoring touchdowns came back to haunt us.” But not scoring in the red zone is the least of their worries, the Chargers (1-1) are tip-toeing through the minefield of injuries this early in the season. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson, center Nick Hardwick, and rookie guard Louis Vasquez did not play against the Ravens. Three-time Pro Bowler Jamal Williams is out for the rest of the season after injuring his triceps. Shawne Merriman did not play in the last two series against Baltimore after straining his groin. His status will be determined later in the week, but so far in the season he hasn’t played like his old self.

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Ravens Hold On To Beat The Chargers 31-26

The game was over after Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis shot up the middle and hit Darren Sproles on fourth-and-2 with the Bolts driving for the winning score. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers marched his team down to the Baltimore 15-yard line but could not get any further. But that was the Chargers’ problem against the Ravens. They had the ball five times in the red zone and couldn’t get a touchdown on any of those drives. Instead, they settled  for four field goals measuring 29 yards or less. “Lewis was a disruptive force for the Ravens. He forced a fumble, caused Rivers to throw an interception and made the play that closed out the game.” Injuries plagued the Chargers. San Diego was without running back LaDainian Tomlinson, center Nick Hardwick, and rookie guard Louis Vasquez. Tomlinson missed the game due to ankle injury. Although Rivers set a career high with 436 passing yards, he was unable to lift the Bolts past the Ravens. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco has throw five touchdown passes this season. Last year as a rookie, he did not throw his fifth touchdown pass until week 9. Flacco finished last year with 14 touchdown passes.

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Chargers Have A History Of Slow Starts

In 2007, the San Diego Chargers entered the season with a new head coach and a new defensive coordinator, and hopes of finally winning the Super Bowl. The Bolts start the season with a close game against Chicago, winning by a score of 14-3, before losing the next three in a row. The Chargers were 1-3, but eventually made the playoffs. However, they did not get to the Super Bowl. In 2008, the Chargers start the season with back-to-back losses to Carolina and Denver. The team went 2-2, and then 4-8, before they made the playoffs, but did not reach the Super Bowl. Now, in 2009, the Bolts  begin the season 1-0, winning a game they should have probably lost. “Overall the Raiders’ running game looked better, their defense looked better, and were it not for the silver and black joker behind center, the Chargers would likely be sitting at 0-1.” Next up are three-straight games against 2008 playoffs teams, and two of those teams beat the Bolts last season. Chargers’ fans have seen slow starts, lackluster efforts and disappointing losses from the team they support, and if week 1’s performance against the Raiders is any indication, the Blots could end up with the same outcome as previous seasons, no Super Bowl.

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Do The Chargers Have A Solid Running Game?

Although preseason doesn’t determine the outcome of the regular season, the San Diego Chargers have carried their preseason rushing numbers into week 1 of the regular season. Through four preseason games, the Chargers averaged 3.5 yards per carry. Their average through week 1 was 3.3 yards per carry. Chargers manager AJ Smith said the Blots needed to improve their run game. “I just know we’re not good enough. But I will say this, which I’ve said before: we need to have a solid, consistent running game. We have to.” The Chargers tried to run the ball against the Raiders on Monday night, but were unsuccessful. The Raiders were not fooled when the Bolts ran it on first down. The Chargers want to be a balanced team and Head Coach Norv Turner seems committed to the running game. “We want to be a running team. We want to pound the ball. We want to mix the run. But there was a lot of times over the last year and a half that, when we go back and throw it like we did in the fourth quarter, 12 for 14 for a 144 yards, we’re pretty good. So we’re always torn with that (running vs. passing). But we’re going to continue to run the football. But we’ve got a lot of guys who can make plays and contribute, so we’ve got to be a great a protection team, and we’ve got to find a way to use all the guys we have.”

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Shawne Merriman Snubbed In Team Captain Vote?

The San Diego Chargers announced their offensive and defensive captains for the 2009 season. So who are the Captains? The Bolts voted for quarterback Philip Rivers and running back LaDainian Tomlinson to be their offensive co-captains. Kassim Osgood was voted the special teams captain, and Jamal Williams and Stephen Cooper were named defensive captain. Shawne Merriman did not earn enough votes to be captain. Perhaps being sidelined last year due to an injury prevented him from becoming a captain. According to bolthype.com, “His public legal battle with Tila Tequilla certainly didn’t help much either. But I must say it is mildly surprising that the team’s most vocal and intense leader did not earn a captain designation.” In other Chargers’ news, Merriman sat down in an interview for Playboy and discussed his hits, his comeback, being hazed as a rookie, and his troubled childhood. “I’m so dangerous right now I scare myself,” said the linebacker.  He was answering a question about his rebuilt body.  Shawne Merriman’s interview will be featured in Playboy’s October 20Q (issue on newsstands and online at www.playboydigital.com Friday, September 11). The linebacker said he is healthy and strong following knee surgery, and is ready to hit anything that moves. “I’m 100 percent healthy for the first time since entering the league…Now I’m the strongest I’ve ever been…If you’re wearing a different-colored helmet than me, you’re in trouble.”

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Chargers Defeat Raiders 24-20

The Chargers won last night’s game after Darren Sproles took a hand-off five yards up the middle for a touchdown, capping an 89-yard drive that gave San Diego a 24-20 lead with 18 seconds left of the game. The Oakland Raiders had one last shot to try to win the game, but Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell’s Hail Mary was intercepted with three seconds left of the game. The Chargers took a knee and concluded one of the ugliest games I have ever seen the Bolts play. LaDainian Tomlinson fumbled for the first time since week 7 of 2006 and the Chargers lost two starting offensive lineman to injuries in the third quarter. Rookie guard Louis Vasquez was taken to the locker room due to an injured knee and center Nick Hardwick was carter off the field later in the game because of a left leg injury. Sproles was the key player of the game. “In addition to scoring the winning touchdown, Sproles caught two passes for 24 yards and added another 5-yard carry on the final drive. He finished the game with 246 total yards, including 180 on kickoff and punt returns.” The Raiders held the Bolts to just 77 rushing yards, but Oakland’s defense couldn’t stop Chargers QB Philip Rivers, who completed 6 of 7 on the deciding drive.

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Loreane Tomlinson Has A Book Out

I enjoyed reading  LT & Me, a book by LaDainian Tomlinson’s mom Loreane Tomlinson. You might be scratching your head while pondering “Why do I want to read a book by LT’s mom?” But if you give the book a chance, you will find the book to be a great read. The book focuses on the life of L.T., from birth through the end of the 2007 playoffs. If you are a Chargers’ fan., you will find this book to be very interesting, especially how L.T. found it difficult in securing a spot as a running back, a position he seems to have been born to play. LT & Me also focuses on the Tomlinson family. The book is about a real family who had real problems and struggles and worries. According to bolthype.com, “This book is about the power of faith and hope, and of a mother who would not compromise her beliefs while raising her three kids. LT & Me is a book about football, and everything that is more important than football- family, faith, and convictions.” LT & Me exhibits a struggling single mom who has strong values and a very big heart, which are qualities that L.T. carries on and off the football field.

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