Five Steps to Lose the Game – Week 5 – San Diego Chargers

I got a few e-mails asking where this segment was last week – well, call it being just plain too busy last week, but I’m back with it now for your enjoyment.

There were a lot of ways to lose to the Chargers last year. So far only the Bears have followed the formula successfully. The team is reeling, but so are the Broncos, and I believe in our quarterback more than theirs. That being said, this promises to be a good game between two underperforming teams.

If we were to lose, here’s how.

1. LT stands for Lousy Tackling

D.J. Williams was the only person on the defense who could consistently stop Joseph Addai. Addai is good, but he’s no Ladainian Tomlinson. The Chargers’ offensive line doesn’t have to be great to plow through the Broncos’ defensive line. Therefore it will be up to the linebackers to remember how to tackle. Nate Webster had a string of good games until last week, where he was awful. Ian Gold had moments of both solid coverage and tackling, then other moments of missing assignments and not plugging the gaps. And he got ran over a few times.

With LT, this isn’t acceptable. You get a hand on his jersey, you have to wrap him up and take him down or he’ll bust a move and break a big one before the next guy has a chance.

Disciplined gap control will be the key, since I don’t expect our defensive linemen to be much of a factor against the run. Then hitting the runner in the gap, and finishing tackles.

This will also help our cover corners focus solely on coverage, rather than getting got peeking at the running back like they have been lately.

2. Rely on four-man pressure

Our defensive line is decent in the pass rush department, but it would be foolhardy of the Broncos not to send a blitzing linebacker in on passing plays. With Chargers RT Shane Olivea tender from injury, and a bit of a disappointment in their RG (Mike Goff) thus far this season, it’s all about the Ian Gold blitz.

I want to see Gold blitzing 10 times this game, if not more, helping Simeon Rice and Elvis Dumervil get to Philip Rivers. We haven’t been blitz-heavy so far this year, but this is the perfect opportunity. Our defensive end unit is full of pass rushers, and they could get the job done, but the Broncos stand a better chance to win with Gold busting into the opponent’s backfield.

(This also has the added benefit of not assigning Gold to cover Antonio Gates. But more on that later).

Philip Rivers just isn’t playing sound football right now, and the Broncos have to take advantage of this by hitting him all day and keeping him on the ground. Anyone else remember the quote after the game in San Diego last year? Something like, “I got hit the first play then never got touched the rest of the game.” That happens and we’ll surely lose.

3. Tight End Causing Problems for Broncos

Dallas Clark of the Colts scored 2 touchdowns against the Broncos last week, and the week before Mercedes Lewis gave the team all sorts of fits. This week the team faces a much larger challenge in Antonio Gates. So far, in fact, the two teams the Broncos have lost to featured a solid ground game complemented by a playmaker at tight end – well, the Chargers fit that bill and then some, and it will be difficult to contain Mr. Gates.

The solution last year was to put Champ Bailey covering Gates, and I would suspect that will be the solution again this year. As big a D.J. Williams fan as I am, I’m not sure if he is athletic enough to keep pace with Gates as Rivers looks for his main target.

The problem with putting Champ on Gates is that the Chargers may not feature a true stud at the receiver position, but they boast three wide receivers who are all at about the same level of talent. While Dre Bly will take one out, and Foxworth may be able to handle another, do we really want D.J. covering first round rookie Craig “Buster” Davis in the slot? Nick Ferguson may have to help D.J. there (note that in this formation, Ladainian Tomlinson is the 11th man on offense, so who’s covering him, and where’s our run support?). Ultimately Ian Gold may have to sit back instead of blitzing. It’s an interesting dilemma, and I’m just glad I’m not the defensive coach asked to figure it out.

4. Conservative Passing Game

We haven’t had a truly big play yet this year – well, it’s time to let her fly. The Chargers rank 27th against the pass, and their secondary isn’t performing this season. If we don’t challenge this secondary we’d be plain foolish.

Even without Javon Walker (who will probably be listed Questionable on the official injury report tomorrow), we still have enough playmakers in the passing game to stretch the field. Let’s see a big throw to Stokley to stretch their defense. Then, when we look like we’re going for the big play again, toss a screen to Henry or Young and let them beat a few linebackers for more. Keep their defensive backfield guessing and it will be a long day for the Chargers.

5. Not-so-special teams

This is the biggest test to our special teams we’ve had since Buffalo, who really does have one of the more elite squads in the league. Antonio Cromartie is a monster at returner, and could really burn the Broncos if we’re not careful.

With Domenik Hixon out, look for Andre Hall, Brian Clark, and even possibly Dre Bly to handle kickoff and punt return duties Sunday. Hopefully they will perform better than Hix.

Nate Kaeding isn’t renowned for his leg, but the thin air in the Rockies could help him there. He was the AFC’s Pro Bowler last year after all. We’ll need to stop the Chargers in the “orange zone” – between the 35 and 20 yard lines – to prevent him from putting up 3.

Meanwhile, Jason Elam is cause for concern as well.  He’s been hampered by a groin injury and may not be as powerful in his kicks (not to mention the three missed field goals on the year already).

And will someone on Special Teams make a freaking play so we can get Champ OFF the field?