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| David Biderman. 22nd December, 2007 - 1:09 pm
 Through the first four games of the 2007-08 season, LaDainian Tomlinson had just 262 rushing yards. A far cry from last year?s record-setting 28-touchdown season.
In that same span, Philip Rivers averaged a mediocre 221.5 passing yards per game, tossing five touchdowns and six interceptions.
The sky was falling on the 1-3 San Diego Chargers. More specifically, it was collapsing on new Head Coach Norv Turner.
The Chargers parted ways with Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer after last season?s first round playoff flameout, seemingly disregarding the 14-2 record he helped achieve in the regular season. San Diego fans were none too pleased with that decision and were further incensed by Turner?s slow start. Numerous players were upset, too, evidenced by their body language and comments to various media members.
More than two months, eight wins and an AFC West division crown later, however, it appears Turner, Tomlinson, Rivers and Co. have righted their ship.
The Chargers are on a four-game winning streak --- albeit over mostly weak competition --- and are favored in their last two contests, at home against the reeling Denver Broncos and at Oakland.
The old saying, ?winning is a good deodorant,? has applied to San Diego.
Turner, on the hottest of hot seats several weeks ago, is now on cool ground. He?s winning games by feeding the ball to Tomlinson, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his last three games, and working out the kinks among his numerous Pro-Bowl defensive players.
In week nine Adrian Peterson was a man among boys against the Chargers? struggling defense, rushing for an NFL record 296 yards. However, following that embarrassment San Diego has won five of six games while holding opponents to an average of 15.5 points. In that time frame, linebacker Shawne Merriman has six sacks and 22 tackles despite missing last week?s game against the Detroit Lions.
More and more, it appears Turner?s initial struggles were related to high turnover among coaches and unfamiliarity with players as opposed to an inability to coach.
The midseason acquisition of wide receiver Chris Chambers didn?t hurt, either.
But where do the Chargers go from here?
San Diego?s spot in the playoffs is assured, but a postseason run will likely be little more than a crawl. The Chargers couldn?t beat the New England Patriots in the playoffs last year, and San Diego now is a bit worse while the Patriots are 14-0.
The Pittsburgh Steelers just lost running back Willie Parker for the season because of injury, but they?d give the Chargers a run for their money, too. And don?t forget the Indianapolis Colts, who are a quite 12-2 and lost to San Diego earlier this year more because of luck than anything else. The Jacksonville Jaguars are no joke, either, with a two-headed ground game that compliments emerging quarterback David Garrard.
Sure, Chargers' fans can start buying their first-round playoff tickets, but they need not stash away extra cash for late January and early February games.
The San Diego express has gotten back on track after a rough start, but the ride is going to end sooner than later.
If you?d like to comment on this story, email DVDDAB@yahoo.com |
