1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: Black Hole is alive and waving their hands. Fans powerless 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:08,560 Speaker 1: to control this one. Snap hold, kick us up and 3 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: it is good. Chargers win seventeen sixteen they defeat the Raiders. 4 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: That was Matt money Smith's call of Nick Novak's game 5 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: winning field goal last Sunday on the Chargers Broadcast Network. 6 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:24,479 Speaker 1: Hey everybody, Chris Harry with you on Chargers Weekly. The 7 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: host of NFL Total Access, Dan Hellie joins me in 8 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: a bit to pick some of the biggest games in 9 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: week seven. NFL dot COM's Matt Franciscovic also stops by 10 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: with some advice for your fantasy teams. And I'm also 11 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: joined by Broncos writer Nicki Jabvla of The Denver Post 12 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: to get this week's opposing view. But let's kick things 13 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: off with Chargers beat writer Dan wike of The La Times. 14 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: All right, Dan Wikey of The La Times joins me 15 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: on Chargers Weekly, and Dan another gutty road win. But first, 16 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: did you survived the black Hole? I did? I survived 17 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: if by not venturing over there, you know, I'm very 18 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: risk averse, Chris, and I decided that I'd be best 19 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: off in the confines of the press box. In Oakland 20 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 1: and the occasional trip down to the field. How is 21 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: that press box? Um? The seat itself is actually pretty good. 22 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: The press box itself is kind of as you'd expect 23 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: for an older, crummy stadium. Um, in the fact that's 24 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: old and crummy. Uh. The funny story, I have two 25 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: Oakland Coliseum memories like I'll be sad when it's not 26 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: gone or when it's gone. Um. As a young child 27 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: on a family vacation, UM, I was shown on the 28 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: scoreboard and an art car. Yeah, one of my bart 29 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: car won, like the race in between innings. I was 30 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 1: probably like eleven years old, and it was it was 31 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: an Oakland A's Chicago White Sox game. And then I 32 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: went to my parents and I was very excited to 33 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: be at a starter jack down. I remember this very vividly. 34 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: And and and then that set. The next time I 35 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: went to the OPLA Coliseum, I was there covering an 36 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,639 Speaker 1: Angels game to the Orange County Register and my computer 37 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: got a horrible virus and I had to write my 38 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 1: stories on a BlackBerry. So a lot of very great 39 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: And then I saw the Chargers get their first winning 40 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: streaking years. So I've had a lot of big memories. 41 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 1: It's like the odd memories are better than the even memories. Right, 42 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 1: It's like the starter jacket memories good, the virus is 43 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 1: not good, and then the Bolts get their sick of 44 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: way of the year, all very similar. I will hold 45 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: them all so dearly to my heart. Well, what did 46 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: you make of the teams fromforance Man, because this is 47 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: two straight weeks where they kind of gutted out on 48 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: the road, they're down in the fourth quarter, and they 49 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: find a way to win. Yeah. I mean, I think 50 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: that's the most I mean you touched on, and I 51 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: think that's the most encouraging thing. I think that there 52 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: are still if you want to look at this team, 53 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: there's still questions that need to be answered about you know, 54 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: the way they're getting off the starts and um, you 55 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: know their depths in the way that they're defending the run. 56 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: These are still real problems. They're not a perfect team 57 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: and they're still flawed. But I think what's been most 58 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: impressive to me is that they've won these last games 59 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: while being flawed, and and that's what you have to 60 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: do in this league, I think is you know there 61 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: maybe only you know I think of the Chiefs as 62 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: a team to me, even though they're coming off of 63 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: a lot that they're a team to me that's closer 64 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: to being pretty complete at this moment. But you know, 65 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: for the most part, everybody's got their issues and you 66 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: just kind of kind of figure out ways around them. 67 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: And I think this character team is learning to do that. 68 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: I also think Chris that in that final drive, m 69 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: we hear Anthony Lynn talk about this, We hear coaches 70 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: and players talking about finding an offensive identity. Could that 71 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: maybe have been them finding it in that last drive, 72 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: running the ball with physicality, finding Hunter Henry, getting you know, 73 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: getting guys involved in the passing game a little bit. 74 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 1: But mostly it was to me, it was sort of 75 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: them the pounding that they put in over the first 76 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: three quarters finally paying off. And I think there'll be 77 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: some belief there and I think this team will continue 78 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: to run hard um this week against Denver d was 79 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: my next question. I feel like we've seen of a 80 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: shift over the last two weeks when you've seen Melvin 81 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: Gordon as the centerpiece of this offense, and you've seen 82 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: Hunter Henry being featured more of the last three weeks, 83 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: really touchdown touchdown than he goes five for ninety, has 84 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: two big catches on that final drive. I feel like 85 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: they are establishing an identity and at the same time, 86 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: I think they're putting Philip Rivers in positions to be 87 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: successful and not trying to go out and just win 88 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: a game and kind of fling some balls that could 89 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: be kind of iffy. Yeah, I know, and I had 90 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: kind of some conversations with some guys about that, and 91 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: I think it's they have been conservative isn't the right word, 92 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: but it's you know, when they're in tighter games, when 93 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: you know they're they're not playing away from behind. I 94 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 1: think he can be a little bit more you don't 95 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: want to say game manager, but he can like manage 96 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: the game a little better with shorter, better completions, you know, 97 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,479 Speaker 1: higher percentage plays, not these long across the field outs 98 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: that I saw him throw in Kansas City. Like that 99 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: team got down, they got down so quickly. It seemed 100 00:04:58,080 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: like he was trying to get it all back with 101 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: these really, really difficult throws. And I thought I thought 102 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 1: it contrasted starkly against what Kansas City did with Alex Smith, 103 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: which was, you know, they never put him in a 104 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: position really where he could make a bad decision, Like 105 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 1: it was all quick, good decisions, and I think quicker, 106 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 1: faster decisions from Philip rivers combinal drowning him. I think, 107 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: to me, that'll be kind of when the offense gets 108 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,839 Speaker 1: into its best rhythm. And obviously it's part of that 109 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: is using Keenan Allen. I think another seems part of 110 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: its Hunter Henry to me, the guy when I first 111 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: took this out this summer and started watching the team practice, 112 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,239 Speaker 1: to me, he was the guy that flashed the most. 113 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 1: When I saw him, I was like, wow, like that 114 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 1: looks like a guy. And I think that's why it 115 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: was so curious Dan, because the first the first four games, 116 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: he's not targeted in half of them. And I thought 117 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: the same thing that you did. I'm like, this guy's 118 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: the potential to be a top five tight end in 119 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: the NFL with Antonio Gates on the football team, and 120 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: we're starting to see it now the last three weeks. Yeah, 121 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 1: my friends who played fantasy football who asked me for 122 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: advice were pretty angry with me early in the too, 123 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,359 Speaker 1: And uh No, I think it's just you know, I 124 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: think that what they have said is like, look, they've 125 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: they've had Hunter Henry and the game plan all along. 126 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: Um that you know, a lot of what they do 127 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: offensively is based on what the defense gives them, and 128 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 1: you know, they think they're good enough to where they 129 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: can kind of play off what the defense gives them. 130 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: I think what they've started to figure out in these 131 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: last few weeks is that maybe they're a better offense 132 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 1: when they're doing what they want to do first, maybe 133 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 1: not be quite as reactionary, bringing you know, bringing the 134 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: fight to the other defense a little more and put 135 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 1: them on their heels. And I think I've seen them 136 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 1: play with a little more purpose. We still haven't seen 137 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 1: like that big offensive breakout game that I feel like 138 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: that capable of. Still when I look at this team, 139 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 1: like I do think that there is a game where 140 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 1: you know, they score thirty plus points and and really 141 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: put it hurting on somebody because of all their weapons. 142 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: But um, we're not there yet. But this version of them, 143 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 1: that version that won and Open, the version that won 144 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: in New York, I think is good enough to kind 145 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: of keep them sort of on the fringes of a 146 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 1: playoff on if they can play like this continue the 147 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 1: way they played on defense, you know, bending that breaking 148 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: being really good in the red zone. I think, you know, 149 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: the one thing we've seen around the league, at least 150 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: through the first six weeks, is that, you know, the 151 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: number of great teams is pretty small. No, it is, 152 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: And you know, I wrote this from charges dot Com 153 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: on Sunday. I feel like over the last two weeks, 154 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: it's just like snap of a finger. You go from 155 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: being owing four to winning two in a row and 156 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: seeing some other teams kind of come down to earth. 157 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: We the Raiders have lost three in a row. I 158 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: don't think they have been the same team since that 159 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,119 Speaker 1: Washington game a few weeks ago. We saw what happened 160 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: to the Broncos. On Sunday, the Chiefs lost their first 161 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: game of the year. Have you sensed a different locker 162 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: room over the last two weeks? Just getting that first win, 163 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: I feel like has really kind of taken a weight 164 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: off their shoulders. I don't know what the right word is. 165 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: I think there was some relief in it. I think 166 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: that's a fair word. I would say, though maybe the 167 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: streams or the most encouraging thing is outside of that relief, 168 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: I haven't really seen a huge difference, and I think 169 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: that's a credit to Anthony Lynn. Philip Rivers today talking 170 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: to us, said that that was what stood out to 171 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: him most kind of in these first six weeks is 172 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: just how steady he's been that, you know, you manage 173 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: it is a long season, you know. I think one 174 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: of the adages that was kind of given to me, 175 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: you know, is that you don't really judge the NFL 176 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: by September, That weird things happen, right, and that really 177 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: September football is this weird outlier months that you figure 178 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: everything out afterwards. And granted they put themselves in a 179 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: pretty big hole in September, Earthwin and Fire had a 180 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: way better month than the Chargers did. You know. That 181 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 1: is not a that will not be a memorable month 182 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: for them. But I do think that, you know, as 183 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: the as the season kind of progresses and the schedule 184 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 1: kind of lightens in a way, you know that we 185 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 1: were getting a better idea of what kind of football 186 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: team this isn't And I think all along, you know, 187 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: I expected this to be a team that contended for 188 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: the playoffs. My feelings it seems a little bit obviously 189 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: after an open four start, but I do think that 190 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: these last two weeks give hope to the you know, 191 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: the slim possibility that you know, in the right scenario 192 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,199 Speaker 1: with what's the league kind of you know, this parody, 193 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: and that maybe they're going to be a lot of 194 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: teams right around five hundred come playoff time. You know, 195 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: I think the Chargers can be in that. And I 196 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: would just want to echo what you said about coach 197 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: Lynn his steadiness through the first four weeks of the 198 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: season and not wavering. I mean that that's the mark 199 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 1: of a good football coach, a guy who's been there 200 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 1: and his scene that you don't win playoff games in September, 201 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: you don't get to the playoffs in September. And he 202 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: has these guys believing, and I think that's a big thing. 203 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 1: But not scoring first in any game this year? Have 204 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: you talked to anybody about that? And just the need 205 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 1: to get off to a quicker start because it seems 206 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: to be, you know, playing from behind every single week. 207 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: It's not a good recipe for success. Yeah, yeah, I have. 208 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: It's actually it'll be my story the Thursday and the 209 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: Thursday Light Times. Um. You know, we talked to Philip 210 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: Rivers about today because it's a weird problem, right, It's 211 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:08,719 Speaker 1: not the kind of problem you can drill. It's not 212 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 1: like they're dropped so you can spend more time at 213 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: the JUX machine, you know what I mean. It's not 214 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 1: like you can do more on run blocking. It's it's 215 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: just like they've just been really, really stagnant early in 216 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 1: games on offense. I went back and looked at all 217 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: their first down plays in first quarters this year, and 218 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 1: they've actually had some, you know, a pretty good chunk 219 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: of big ones, enough so where their averages right around 220 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: five yards on first down in the first quarter, which 221 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: you're like, wow, that's great. Well, if you subtract those 222 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: ten yard plays, I think they are like eight of 223 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: them or something like that. I don't have the numbers 224 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: in front of me right now, that average drops to 225 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: something like one and a half yards first down, where 226 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: it's a lot of second and eights, a lot of 227 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: second and eights. And I think, um, to me, that's 228 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: been their issue is that they've been very predictable or 229 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: early in games, early in drives, and I think you 230 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,680 Speaker 1: know they'll have a play like that in Oakland where 231 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 1: Melvin Gorne first around, reverse to the line for an 232 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: eleven yeard game. You know, you'll think the offense is 233 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: starting to go and then all of a sudden, it's 234 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: like someone pulls the emergency brank and it just stops 235 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: this drop or in completion and then it's like punt. 236 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: And this has been kind of a trend for them. 237 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 1: Outside of the Kansas City game when it was turnovers, 238 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: it's usually a first down or two and then punt. 239 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: And it's been that way almost every time in the 240 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: first quarter. You would think that that trend would reverse 241 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 1: at some point, especially considering they were much better last year. 242 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: I think they were twelfth and first quarter scoring a 243 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: year ago, you know, this year, I think they're twenty eighth. 244 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: That the flip side of this though, right if for 245 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:41,439 Speaker 1: the optimists out there, they've been really good in the 246 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: fourth quarter, and last year they were very bad in 247 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter. So it's been kind of you know, 248 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: I talked to Hunter Henry about it, and he's just like, yeah, 249 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 1: it's just like sort of the opposite of last year 250 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: or the you know, but you you don't want to 251 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,199 Speaker 1: play from behind. It does limit what you can do. 252 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: It changes your game plan. Like like you said, you know, 253 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: this is a team that does want to run the 254 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,439 Speaker 1: football well. An easy way to to be able to 255 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: stay with the run is to have the score but 256 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 1: close early in games, and I think they've they've done 257 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: it these last two games, at least where they're not 258 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:10,599 Speaker 1: down two scores. Yeah, and defensively, Dan obviously, stopping the 259 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: run has been probably the biggest issue with this team, 260 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: and last Sunday it was much better. You take out 261 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 1: that Cordiall Patterson forty seven yard rush and they did 262 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: a pretty good job. How do you see them continuing 263 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 1: this going into Sunday? I looked with the Broncos running backs. 264 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: They had really no success against the Giants. I know 265 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 1: that the game script kind of changed because they were down, 266 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: but I think fifteen carries for thirty eight yards. Have 267 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: they talked about improving in that category over the last 268 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 1: week or so, Yeah, I mean, I think it's something 269 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: they need to do better. You know. I still feel 270 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 1: like even though I think the running game with Oakland 271 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 1: was weird in the sense that, you know, Marshawn Lynch 272 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: was pretty successful on the ground in that game, Yeah, 273 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: but they weren't able to kind of keep going to 274 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: him and they did a really good job on everyone else. 275 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: With the exception of that Patterson run. You know, they 276 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: really kind of shut down everyone else, and I think 277 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: the Raiders were a little discouraged by them, and then 278 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: maybe that's why they went away from the run. I 279 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 1: you know, to me, it seems like the running backs 280 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 1: that they're going to struggle with most are like the 281 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: big physical guys, guys that break tackles Denver, you know, 282 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,439 Speaker 1: cc Andersons and not really that guy Samaal Charles is 283 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,199 Speaker 1: paying day. Um. You know, this could be a good 284 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: week for them on the ground, but to me, that's 285 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: still like I need kind of proof of life on that. 286 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: You know, it depends to me. This has been an 287 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 1: issue since the startup a preseason for this defense. And 288 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 1: you know that what this kind of seems to me, 289 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: like what this Gus Bradley defense is to design to 290 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 1: do is is to test your discipline. You know, how 291 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: willing are you to keep taking for the five yards 292 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: of play? You know, are you going to do this 293 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: all the way open on the field? Um, And teams 294 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 1: don't like teams get board with that. Teams want to 295 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 1: take chances and I think when they when they hang 296 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:51,319 Speaker 1: you know, the charges for the most part, it made 297 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 1: them pay, whether by forcing and completions are getting sacks 298 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 1: um or you know, like they did in Oakland by 299 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:58,959 Speaker 1: by turning the ball over time get you out of 300 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: you on this stand. What's the key to getting the 301 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: third straight wins Sunday? We've seen this broadcost team in 302 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 1: week one, based on what you've seen over the last 303 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 1: two weeks, what's the what's the key to victory on Sunday? 304 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: You know this is a lame answer, but I mean 305 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:14,439 Speaker 1: I think it's kind of more the same where it's 306 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: just like the above average in all three phases. And 307 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: I think if they're you know, if I know that's 308 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: that's you know, that'll win most teams in most games. 309 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: But I just when I feel like when I look 310 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: at this team, chause I you know, the huge flaws, 311 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: like I said, with the exception of um kind of 312 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: the turnover fast against the Chief, Um, they haven't really 313 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: been there. You know that this is a team that, 314 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 1: yeah they struggle against the rum, but I think that's 315 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: just going to be who they are. You know. I 316 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: think getting to Trevor Simeon will be important. Hitting him 317 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: he really impressed me in the opener disability to kind 318 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: of withstand that pression containing him when he gets out 319 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: of the pocket will be very important. But for me, offensively, 320 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: they'll just be continuing to kind of to use your weapons, 321 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: you know, going to Hunter Henry, going to Melvin Gordon, 322 00:14:57,920 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: getting key to n and evolved, getting your best heavy, 323 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: your best players, be kind of touchstone guys on offense. 324 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 1: To me, I think that's what this team needs to do. 325 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: And then on special teams just kind of like just 326 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: hang in there, you know, and don't make any negative plays. 327 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: Let me some kind of lease, and you get the 328 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: opportunity to make a kick. Kick it high, kick it 329 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: over the guy's hands. You know. I think that'll be important. 330 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: I think so too. And you know, these these these 331 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: bast rushers too. That right tackle position in Denver Menelick 332 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 1: Watson may not play. Billy Turner, the guy they brought 333 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: in to replace Watson, went on ir. I think that's 334 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: a very vulnerable spot for the devil Broncos and Joey 335 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: Bosa had second and a half in Week one. Bosa 336 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: and Ingram both got off. Yeah, and I think those 337 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: guys can be disruptive, and I think that'll allow you know, 338 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: it can negate some of those things. I think that's 339 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 1: also told the reason my teams have been, you know, 340 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 1: successful running the ball as they know, they've got kind 341 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: of some you know, some real kind of past rush 342 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: centric players. But you know, if you can stop the 343 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: run early and downs and kind of put yourself in 344 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: sex situations, the Chargers in this game, we'll see. Man, 345 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: this is a big one. You know. It gets these 346 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: guys at three and four. If they went on Sunday, 347 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: he's Dan Waiki. Check out his piece on starting fast 348 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: Thursday in the LA Times the Chargers. Well yeah, well timed. 349 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: How about that, Dan, appreciate your time, man, all right, 350 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: thanks for us, Hey, fans, be there live to support 351 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: the LA Chargers this season. Always buy your Chargers tickets 352 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: from our official ticketing partner, ticket Master and the NFL 353 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: Ticket Exchange. Only. Ticketmaster has verified tickets that are one 354 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: hundred percent guaranteed to get you in every time. Other 355 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: sellers can only guarantee they'll give you a refund if 356 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: they sell you a fraudulent ticket. So go with a 357 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: trusted source and our official partner, and no, you're going 358 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: to the game all right. To get this week's opposing view, 359 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: we bring in Nikki Jabula. She covers the Broncos for 360 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: the Denver Post. Nicky, thanks for joining me on Chargers Weekly. 361 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: How are you doing good? Thanks for having me. I 362 00:16:57,320 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 1: want to start with last Sunday because it was a 363 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 1: game that most expected the Broncos to roll in. They 364 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 1: lose twenty three to ten to the Giants. What was 365 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: the immediate reaction from the team after the loss and 366 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 1: how they tried to move forward from it? Um Well, 367 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,120 Speaker 1: I think there was a lot of shock around them, 368 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:15,960 Speaker 1: like what the heck just happened? And what if he 369 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,399 Speaker 1: just witnessed? Because they got beat in the two areas 370 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: they've been the strongest in so far the season, and 371 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 1: that's with their run game and the run defense. I mean, 372 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 1: the Giants really, you know that they were missing some 373 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: of the receivers that they relied on their run game, 374 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: and they relied on their tight end of an ingram 375 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 1: and they're running back even in the receiving game, so 376 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 1: they really kind of picked them apart. And now some 377 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 1: people are looking at this as kind of a blueprint, 378 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: maybe especially against the Chargers, who have the personnelity kind 379 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,680 Speaker 1: of execute the same thing, you know, and maybe even 380 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 1: do it a little bit better with than Melvin Gordon 381 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: and Hunter Henry and Antonio Gates. So I think all 382 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 1: around the Broncos there was a lot of surprise, you know, 383 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: especially coming out of the bye, how this kind of 384 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: lost happened. But the players themselves, I mean they were 385 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: pretty quick to balance back. You know, they were down Sunday. 386 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,919 Speaker 1: Obviously Monday there was some disappointment, and then by today, 387 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: I mean it's like they're onto the next one. So 388 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: and Vance Joseph has remained positive throughout. I mean he 389 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: said he's some confident in his quarterbacks, are confident his team, 390 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:25,439 Speaker 1: and you know, they feel like they can only look 391 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:28,159 Speaker 1: forward from here. You know, it sounds like they just 392 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: got all script. Because when Trevor Simeon throws the ball 393 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: fifty times and then I think Bronchos running backs combine 394 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: fifteen carries thirty eight yards last week, I imagine that's 395 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: not the formula that advanced Joseph for once. Offensively, no, 396 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: not at all. I mean they want a balance attack, 397 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: and they they won when they're the most balanced, when 398 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: they have a run game. I mean, they definitely don't 399 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 1: want Trevor Simeon thrown fifty times a game. I think 400 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: he's run for forty or more times than seven games 401 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: in his career, and the Broncos has won one and 402 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 1: six in those games, So it's definitely not a good 403 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: recipe in one they want to do again. You know, 404 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: the key is establishing that run. They came out flat 405 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: against the Giants, never regained their momentuming that goal and 406 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:16,160 Speaker 1: um and the other victories this season, you know, they've 407 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 1: really come out firing. They've got on the board early, 408 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: their offense was clicking. It's never really been perfect, but 409 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: they've had that balance and they've had that run game 410 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: and they got to find a way to bring that back. 411 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: You know, defensively, they've been so stout against the run 412 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: this season. They've shut down Zeke Elliott and they really 413 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 1: bowed up Gordon in Week one Lashawn McCoy, and they 414 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: haven't allowed an opponent over seventy five yards rushing this 415 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: season and then the Giants go for one forty eight. 416 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 1: Do you think this was just an anomaly or did 417 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 1: the Giants find something. I think they hope it's an anomaly, 418 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 1: because you're right, they certainly did do a good job 419 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: on the against the run, and you know, the first 420 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: four weeks they helped Melvin Gordon, they shut down Ezekiel Elliott, 421 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 1: they really shut down Marshawn Lynch too. Um LaShaun mccloyd 422 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: wasn't as effective as usually is. So yeah, they hope 423 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: this isn't anomaly. They hope they don't see kind of 424 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: the same things coming out of Chargers. But I also 425 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: feel like they know now where they need to fill 426 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 1: the gaps. Um. You know, the one hundred and forty 427 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,880 Speaker 1: eight yards, that's almost three times what they were averaging 428 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 1: at fifty point eight going into this into that game. So, um, yeah, 429 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:27,399 Speaker 1: they have to clean up a lot of things. And 430 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 1: now they're banged up this week. You know, they got 431 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 1: Maynel Sanders and Isa McKenzie are injured. So there's there's 432 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: their number two receiver, there's they're starting punt returner, UM 433 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,639 Speaker 1: Brandon Marshall is dealing with the shoulder injury and he 434 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 1: may not play. UM, so that could really affect things 435 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 1: in the run defense. You know, back on offense, men 436 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 1: like Watson has hurt, so the line is kind of 437 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: shaky right now. UM, so they're they're trying to bounce back, 438 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:55,680 Speaker 1: clean up things and do it with you know, a 439 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:59,440 Speaker 1: depleted roster. Really yeah, you know, I read your piece 440 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,920 Speaker 1: earlier to day on just the injury list, and it's 441 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 1: like a laundry list. It's it's pretty crazy going into 442 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 1: week seven, how many guys that are not practicing right now. 443 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 1: But I want to stay with the defense because this 444 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: defense is still dominant. They've been down over the last 445 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 1: several years, and we know Wade Phillips had such a 446 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: big role in it. They're still among the league's best. 447 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: But in what ways would you say this defense is 448 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:26,159 Speaker 1: different under Vance Joseph and Joe Woods. Yeah, when he 449 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 1: when he came in, he changed a few things, scheme ones, 450 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 1: and they signed dematop Heco, who's been just a force inside. 451 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: I mean, he's really changed the dynamic of this defense. 452 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: You know, last two years they'd let him past defense 453 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: and that's really been their forte with that secondary back there. 454 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: And they're still pretty good in the secondary. They like 455 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 1: of t J. Ward and now they have the second 456 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: year player Justin Simmons and then well Parks being the 457 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 1: diamebacker and kind of floating around the second day. But 458 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 1: the biggest persons the emphasis on the run defense, because 459 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: that's that's where they struggled the most last year. I 460 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:05,679 Speaker 1: think they were twenty eight and run defense and now 461 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 1: you know before this past game and they were number 462 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: one obviously, So it really started with personnel getting domatop there. Um. 463 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:18,880 Speaker 1: Derek wolf is healthier, he got bigger too. Adam Gatzis's 464 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:23,880 Speaker 1: more experienced, also bigger. You know, Brandon Marshall and Todd 465 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: Davis have another year playing together, so they've they've really 466 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 1: honed in on that one area and they with a 467 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 1: couple of tweeks of the scheme that you know, a 468 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:35,200 Speaker 1: domatop there allows him to take on double teams and 469 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 1: the inside linebackers to rush down. Um, they've really been effective. 470 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: I still think they want to get even better there um, 471 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 1: even if you used the last game as an outlier, 472 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 1: they want to get even better there, especially when I 473 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: get better on past seasons. They start the goal going 474 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 1: into this season of um leaving the league three years 475 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 1: in a world of the past seasense, and I think 476 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:57,959 Speaker 1: they're still in the top ten. I might be mistaken 477 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 1: on that, so don't hold me to it, but they 478 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,160 Speaker 1: were in the top ten going into the last game, 479 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 1: and they just got to eliminate some of these big 480 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:08,479 Speaker 1: passing plays, clean up the communication issues and now they 481 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 1: still have a solid group back there. They absolutely do. 482 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 1: And you made the point about Evan Ingram, who had 483 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 1: a pretty big game. I think he caught five balls 484 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: for eighty some ode yards in a touchdown. Hunter Henry 485 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 1: has started to pick up and the Chargers have made 486 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:24,400 Speaker 1: more of a conservad effort to get him the ball. 487 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 1: Last week five catches for ninety yards. In what ways 488 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: do you think the Broncos need to tighten up covering 489 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 1: the tight end? I think they got to tighten up 490 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:36,879 Speaker 1: quite a bit, you know, the tight ends kind of 491 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: post mismatches, right because of their side that and Toteo 492 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: Gates especially, but I think they've got to clean up 493 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 1: in all facets really of the defense. They're good, they're 494 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:49,920 Speaker 1: not great, I would say probably they want to say 495 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: the same thing. I mean, there's still you know, number 496 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: one in the league, which says a lot, but you know, 497 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 1: after the last game that kind of exposed their weaknesses 498 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 1: and both running the past and then you know in 499 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 1: weeks prior could of cleaning up the past defense. They're 500 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 1: still a really good team back there, but if they 501 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,879 Speaker 1: got to clean it up, and they've seen how with 502 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,400 Speaker 1: the Giants game as an example, and of course even 503 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: the first game against the Chargers, how teams can utilize 504 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: their running backs and tight ends, you know about the 505 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: run game and past game. So yeah, I think they 506 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 1: got to clean up quite a bit, and I think 507 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:30,440 Speaker 1: the onus alls on everybody really, from the line to 508 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,399 Speaker 1: the secondary. Obviously, this is the second time that these 509 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 1: two teams are playing, and we know that really the 510 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 1: Broncos led from start to finish in Week one, but 511 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:42,119 Speaker 1: it came down to that black field goal. What is 512 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: this Broncos team saying about playing the Chargers for a 513 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,879 Speaker 1: second time this year. Well, I think they view this 514 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 1: as a big game as always. It's a divisional game, 515 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: Um you know, it's it's Mike McCloy's former team, it's 516 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 1: going against Philip Rivers. So I think they always used 517 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:59,159 Speaker 1: by too much Chargers as a really big game, and 518 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: I think of you know, they look at silly their 519 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 1: their first meeting. One of the big things that stands 520 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,679 Speaker 1: out to them, and this is something that they've preached 521 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:11,960 Speaker 1: throughout the season so far, is getting more effective in 522 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:15,520 Speaker 1: the red zone, scoring more once you get down there, 523 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:18,639 Speaker 1: being more efficient, and then finishing the game strong. I mean, 524 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: they started that game really well. They started the Cowboys 525 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 1: game really well, they started in Oakland pretty well, and 526 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:30,960 Speaker 1: they've kind of let up in the last quarter even 527 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:34,200 Speaker 1: you know, probably midway through the third and through the fourth. 528 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: And they've been preaching all along they want to be 529 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:41,800 Speaker 1: more consistent, more efficient, more focused, and they want to 530 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 1: do that for all four quarters. So I think that's 531 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 1: one of the things that stands out about that Chargers 532 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:48,920 Speaker 1: game is the way they built up that big lead 533 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: and it nearly slipped and they had to rely on 534 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 1: that on that block to preserve the winds. So that's 535 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:57,920 Speaker 1: one of the things they're looking at for this way 536 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,240 Speaker 1: for sure. You know, I think one of the he's 537 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: the Sunday's game. I look at Joey Bosa and then 538 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 1: that right tackle position for the bronchos men like Watson, 539 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 1: I believe his day to day I think Billy Turner 540 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: was put on IR Tuesday. What's the plan for this 541 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: bronchos O line on Sunday? Should you know Watson not? Yeah, 542 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 1: I would honestly be surprised if he plays. I mean, 543 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 1: they they haven't rolled him out obviously that he's been 544 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: wearing a boot on his on his leg and you 545 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:29,400 Speaker 1: know it doesn't today so UM, but right now they 546 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,919 Speaker 1: have two guys, so they're kind of working Donald Stevenson 547 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: UM and then Alan Barber, a veteran who's been mostly 548 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 1: used at guard UM, but they've been watching both of 549 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:43,400 Speaker 1: them at tackle. UM. Donald Stevenson's performance really hasn't been 550 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 1: great since he signed really uh in twenty sixteen. UM, 551 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: and I thought it was pretty telling that, you know, 552 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 1: when Mentelle came out in the game last weekend, that 553 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:58,400 Speaker 1: I decided to use Billy Turner, who is now hurt too, 554 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:02,120 Speaker 1: but they didn't go to Donald Stevenson. Advanced Joseph Well 555 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 1: that's about that today and he said, Um, Donald Stevenson 556 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:07,479 Speaker 1: didn't have a great week of practice, so UM, they 557 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 1: decided to go with Billy. UM, so their options are 558 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:14,119 Speaker 1: kind of limited. They do have one open roster spot. UM. 559 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 1: They cleared two spots by moving a table Ruben or 560 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:20,560 Speaker 1: releasing a table Reuben and putting Billy turnout a IR 561 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 1: so they could go out and find another lineman before Sunday. 562 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:26,920 Speaker 1: I kind of used him as a reserve back there. 563 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:33,239 Speaker 1: So UM, we'll see. It's not great options either way. UM, 564 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:35,600 Speaker 1: and that will certainly be a match up to watch 565 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:39,640 Speaker 1: with botha and whoever they have there on the right tackle. Yeah, 566 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: Bosa and Ingram and von Miller. I think could play 567 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 1: a big role in this game. Nick, he would get 568 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 1: you out of here in this the Broncos. They've won 569 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 1: eleven of the last thirteen against the Chargers if you 570 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,119 Speaker 1: include the playoffs. Based on what you've seen from this 571 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,359 Speaker 1: Broncos team through the first five weeks, what do you 572 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:57,720 Speaker 1: think will decide Sunday's game? The turnovers first and foremost. UM. 573 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:02,399 Speaker 1: You know, that's that's really been the Achilles heel throughout 574 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 1: the season. I'd say last year it was a run 575 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:07,159 Speaker 1: defense that was pretty weak and their lack of a 576 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 1: run game. UM. But this year so far, the story 577 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: has been the turnovers. UM. Trevor Simmon had a pair 578 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:17,199 Speaker 1: of interceptions, one return for a touchdown. Last game. They 579 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:22,399 Speaker 1: had two against Buffalo, so he I think that's a 580 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: big thing for him, especially is protecting the ball. UM. 581 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 1: They can't afford the turnovers. I think they have like 582 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 1: a minus two turnover differential and last year it was 583 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 1: five and it still wasn't great. UM, but that's that's 584 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 1: really been hurting him. UM. So not turning the ball 585 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 1: over and then as the defense can get more takeaways. 586 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: It's you know, for this Cooper defense, it's kind of 587 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: unusual for them to only have four takeaways through week six, 588 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: so I think they want to get their hands in 589 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: the ball more too. Yeah, Philip Rivers has been taking 590 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 1: care of the football over the last two weeks, and 591 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 1: of course one of the things he can't do is 592 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:01,720 Speaker 1: turn the ball over against that no fly zone secondary. 593 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 1: So it's gonna be fun. It's gonna be interesting that 594 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 1: you look forward to seeing me out in LA. I 595 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 1: can't thank you enough for your time. Yeah, thanks for 596 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 1: having me. If you're a fan of the Chargers, shop 597 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 1: our huge selection of Los Angeles Chargers gear and merchandise 598 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 1: at the official pro shop of the Los Angeles Chargers 599 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:19,400 Speaker 1: by officially licensed Chargers apparel to cheer on the team, 600 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 1: including Chargers jerseys, T shirts, tailgating gear, salute to service gear, 601 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 1: and much more. Browse our collection of the most popular 602 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 1: items and school accessories such as backpacks, fidget spinners, and 603 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 1: Chargers back to school supplies. Find any kind of Los 604 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 1: Angeles Chargers gear or clothing you may ever need today 605 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: at shop dot Chargers dot com. Okay, the host of 606 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: NFL Total Access, Dan Helly joins me on Chargers Weekly. Dan. 607 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 1: What's going all, buddy, man? I am just trying to 608 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:52,800 Speaker 1: recover after a crazy weekend. It's been like a crazy 609 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 1: season for you, bro. I see you. I see you 610 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 1: in San Antonio. I see you. You called what Lions Saints? Yeah? 611 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,440 Speaker 1: Speaking of crazy, ninety points in that game, that was 612 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 1: the highest scoring game in almost two years. Four defensive touchdowns. 613 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 1: It was nuts, man, yep, and then you got I 614 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:10,880 Speaker 1: was just telling you all fair Fox is taking you 615 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:13,800 Speaker 1: some terrible cities, right New Orleans and Miami. Miami. You 616 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: got Miami in the Jets this week. Yeah, I'm looking 617 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:19,720 Speaker 1: forward to that when you know, the Jets beat Miami 618 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: in Week three. The Dolphins may have turned the corner 619 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 1: last year. After Week five they were an entirely different team. 620 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 1: They have that seventeen point comeback on the road against Atlanta, 621 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 1: so I think the Dolphins could be turning the corner. 622 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 1: But this offense with Jay Cutler obviously a struggle for 623 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:39,280 Speaker 1: the majority of the season. They had averaging twelve points 624 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 1: per game, which is thirty second in the league. So 625 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to see if they can turn that 626 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:44,440 Speaker 1: around in Miami this weekend. You know, I don't know 627 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:46,280 Speaker 1: if we say this every year, but is this the 628 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 1: weirdest season that you've been a part of? Because we 629 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: sit here six weeks in, I don't know who's good. 630 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: I don't know who's a contender in the NFC or 631 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:58,080 Speaker 1: the AFC. You know, it's funny with Aaron Rodgers going down. 632 00:30:58,560 --> 00:31:02,160 Speaker 1: You lose a team that was a certain Super Bowl contender, 633 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 1: and then you look over in the AFC and I 634 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:07,240 Speaker 1: think eventually it's going to come down to the Patriots 635 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,480 Speaker 1: and the Chiefs. But it's strange. It depends on how 636 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 1: you want to look at it, right, glass half all 637 00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: or glass half fifty. Is it parody, which is what 638 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 1: the NFL obviously strives for, or is it mediocrity in 639 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:22,960 Speaker 1: terms of not having truly great teams this year. I 640 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 1: think once you kind of sift through everything, the cream 641 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 1: will eventually rise to the top. I'm not convinced the 642 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 1: Eagles are the best team in the NFC, although a 643 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 1: lot of people want to crown them right now because 644 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:35,720 Speaker 1: they're five and one. To me in the NFC, they're what, 645 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 1: they're sixteen teams in the NFC. You have fourteen teams 646 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:41,000 Speaker 1: that still have a legitimate shot to make the playoffs. 647 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 1: There's only two, right, There's the forty nine Ers who 648 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 1: are done, and in my opinion, there are the Giants 649 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 1: who are done. Everybody else has a shot to make 650 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 1: the postseason, which to me is great. I love that. 651 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 1: That's a good thing. And it's funny because I think 652 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 1: it was a segment yesterday Total Access, like who's the 653 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 1: best team in the NFC, the Rams or the Eagles? 654 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:00,120 Speaker 1: And this was like, it's crazy things about that these 655 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 1: guys are picking one two Golf and Wentz and now 656 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 1: they're they're the top two teams as it stands after 657 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:07,719 Speaker 1: week six. So that's just wild to me. And then 658 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:11,480 Speaker 1: two weeks ago, Dan, the Chargers were owing four. You 659 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:13,680 Speaker 1: get two wins, you beat the Raiders on the road, 660 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: you have Denver coming into town on Sunday. All of 661 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:18,080 Speaker 1: a sudden, these guys are back in the mix. Well, 662 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 1: and this is a brutal stretch, right, You had the 663 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 1: Giants and then