Stillers vs. Chargers Pregame Analysis (Game #4, @ SD)
The 1-2 Stillers travel to the left coast to face the 2-1 SD Chargers, who suffered a crushing last-minute road loss in Balt. this past Sunday. This game hearkens back to Oct 10th of last year, when the 2-1 Stillers went to Diego and pulled out a thrilling 24-22 win on MNF. Almost 1 year later to the day, these 2 foes meet again, in the same venue, in nearly similar predicaments.
* When the Bolts have the ball, they'll bring an offense that is trying to find its legs with 1st-year starting QB Phil Rivers. Former Charger Drew Brees had given the Bolts a sense of dependability and air power. Brees is now in Louisiana, and the reigns have been turned over to Phil Streams, the highly touted young QB from the BenRoth-Eli Manning draft class. Streams has vast potential, but is extremely green and is currently being used by his turtling, trembling coach in a rapid 3-5 step drop-and-toss mode.
At RB, the Bolts possess the guy who may be the best all around back in the NFL, LT. He is, by far, the most dangerous, capable all-around back the Stillers have faced this year. LT can both tote the ball as well as catch it with equal aplomb. Michael "Burner" Turner is a superb backup RB that is more than rugged enough up the gut, yet can bust it loose for a big gainer. Zo Neal serves as a very capable FB; he is a rumbling bull capable of punishing blocks, solid running on plunges, and catching the occasional swing pass. Unlike, say, Jon Wittman, this really is an all-around FB that truly can do it all, and simply stated, this is the best FB in the entire NFL.
At WR, the Bolts start former Niner Eric Parker and the ageless Keenan McCardell. Despite their limited downfield passing attack, Park is averaging nearly 17 yards per catch. At 36, McCardell is finally showing signs of slowing down, although he seems to relish playing the Stillers. Former #3 WR Reche Caldwell is now employed in Beantown, but Malcolm Floyd and Vince Jackson see a fair amount of PT in multiple-WR sets. Overall, the Charger WRs are fearless and more than willing to go over the middle.
At TE, of course, is the incomparable Antonio Gates, who has very few peers in the TE business. The former Kent Stater is off to a relatively slow start, having snared just 10 passes in the first 3 games. Of course, Gates could haul in 6 or 7 passes in a heartbeat if he's not guarded�.or 4 or 5 even if he is.
Last year's starting LT Roman Oben is on the PUP list. Replacing The Roman is highly touted rookie Marcus McNeill, the massive tackle drafted in the 2d round out of Auburn. McNeill could some day supplant Jon Ogden as the premier LT in the league, as he has the size, wingspan, and skills to do so. Alongside McNeill is Kris Dielman, an undrafted FA from a few years ago out of IU that committed 3 penalties (2 on running plays; 1 hold, 1 clip) in last week's loss. Former Bungal Mike Goff works the RG spot. Former Boilermaker Nick Hardwick mans the center spot, and 2004 7th round pick Shane Olivea has maintained his hold on the RT spot. Overall, aside from McNeill, the SD O-line is a motley collection of castoffs and low-profilers, but collectively they get the job done in a solid manner.
The key matchup will be Antonio Gates versus James Farrior or Troy Pola. Gates is due for a breakout game, and his size and athleticism gives any defender a headache. The Stillers have enjoyed using Pola as a freestyle bandit, freelancing all over the field to either harass, disrupt, or disguise. Now, however, LeBeau faces the dilemma of slowing down Gates, which might mean more vanilla for Pola. Added to the challenge is the status of Pola's injured shoulder, which should be considerably healed but may not be 100%. James Farrior has been and is regarded as the "Winged God of LB coverage", although he never has given any more than marginal evidence of such.
LT is another concern, especially in the passing game. LT leads the Bolts in receptions and is a threat on any down to snag a short flip and look for open space for RAC.
* When the Stillers have the ball, Benji Roethlisberger resumes his role at the helm after 2 fairly shoddy performances.
The Bolts run the 3-4 as their base, with mammoth Jamal Williams manning the NT spot. He's similar to Fat Casey Hampton; pudgy, highly capable, and difficult to move. For a big man, Willie is fairly agile as well. SD's D-line is rounded out with 2nd year stud Luis Castillo and the Russian spy, Igor Olshansky.
The LB corps is experienced and capable. Leading the way is the real Most Feared Man in the NFL, Shawne Merriman, aka Light's Out. Huge for an OLB, former Terp Merriman is strong, quick, and has the leverage ability to deliver crushing hits with regularity. Former Cryboy & Seacawk Randall Godfrey plays alongside Merriman. Donnie Edwards, voted by GMs as the best coverage 'backer in the league, works one OLB. Edwards can be spotty at times against the run, however. The Bolts suffered a major non-football loss when starting OLB Steve Foley was shot by a cop prior to the season. In his stead is 2nd year man Shaun Phillips, who is a bit soft in run support and nowhere near the equal of Foley. Stephen Cooper serves as a very capable backup ILB.
Diego continues to invest heavily in the draft on its secondary, with mixed results. Jammer, Keil, and Florence were all day-1 picks, although none is to be confused with Ronnie Lott or Rod Woodson. Keil was busted for drugs early last week and is out. Talented rookie 1st rounder Tonio Cromartie didn't start last week, but by the 2nd half, had supplanted former 2nd-rounder Drayton Florence at the starting CB opposite Jammer. The Jammer has lived up to his surname since joining the NFL in 2002, jamming and making loads of contact with opposing WRs, so much so that he's often referred to as "The Human Flag Machine". To his credit, Jammer has shown considerably better technique this season, using his hips and feet more and his hands less.
Marlon McCree, a Caro Panther castoff, starts at FS, and both his coverage and tackling skills are suspect. He's marginally better than last year's failed starter, Bhawoh Jue, who has been relegated to backup chores. Former Eagle "Hillary" Clinton Hart starts in place of the drug-busted Kiel. Overall, the Bolts have 3 capable, well-skilled CBs, but especially with Keil out, their safeties are the distinct weak spot of this defense.
The key matchup will be the Stiller passing game against the Bolt secondary. Ben Roth has not played anywhere near to form, and the WR corps has been inconsistent with a bad case of the drops. Hines Ward has been quiet, too. This is a weak safety duo for SD, coupled with a rookie at one corner and a human penalty machine at the other. SD will make rushing yards very difficult to come by, particularly with studly defenders like Merriman, Castillo, and Williams. The time is now for this passing game to snap out of its 3-week funk.
* Special Teams: SD has a strong overall special teams unit. Unlike some teams that get absolutely nothing from the return game, the SD returners are capable and dangerous. Eric Parker is slick and quick enough to take any punt return to the house. Michael Turner is equally dangerous on KO returns. Nate Keading does the PK work, and he hasn't missed from inside the 40 since his rookie season in 2004, although he did miss from 40-yards last week. Mike Scifres is a strong-legged punter; he boomed a 71-yard missile last week, entirely through the air with no bounce or roll. He did take a pretty good shot on a late punt, and it should be interesting to see if he's nicked up at all or merely acting in the tradition of all NFL punters.
For the Stillers, we can all only hope and pray that Willie Reid -- the team's very best kick returner -- will finally be permitted to dress, and consequently we can hope that Dicardo Colclough has been relieved of any and all kick return tasks.
Key Individual Matchups:
* FB D. Kreider & TE H. Miller vs. OLB Shaun Phillips. Phil is the weak link of the front 7, and needs to be mauled at every opportunity.
* OLB Joey Porter vs. LT Marcus McNeill. Big Joey hasn't done jack shit this season, at all. Watching him getting swallowed up by McNeill will be sickening & disheartening.
* C Jeff Hartings vs. Jamal Williams. This will be Hartings sternest test to date. Williams is a load, and enormously talented at that, and for a big man he's more agile than most might think.
* WR Hines Ward vs. CB Quentin Jammer. Ward is due for a breakout game. The Jammer is physical and prone to dumb penalties and poor judgment, and this could be exactly what Hines needs for a breakout game.
* Marty Sr. against his son, Billy Cowher. It's always strange and interesting in sports, any time a son goes up against his father. And so here we get this unique matchup -- Shittenhimer versus Cowhard, two of the very biggest playoff chokers and floppers in NFL history, and 2 of the league's biggest turtles. You saw Shittenheimer go so conservative in the 2H of last week's game in Baltimore that even Rush Limbaugh was screaming and complaining about the overt conservatism. Prior to SD's last gasp drive after Balt. took the lead with 41 secs remaining, Shittenheimer threw just 1 pass in the 3Q (good for 18 yards) and 3 in the 4Q, while plunging the ball 19 times. Were this upcoming tilt a playoff contest, the NFL would have to dictate that each sideline be manned by a fully equipped EMT team, lest 1 or even both of these coaches gags, chokes, or self-asphyxiates during the game. The NFL has already mandated that no apples or other hard fruit (pears, avocados, peaches, apricots, mangos, etc.) will be permitted on either sideline, lest one or both of these coaches takes a bite and then allows the chunk of fruit to become lodged in his throat, thereby causing a severe choking hazard.
* Synopsis: An incredibly interesting game with a dozen subplots and a variety of momentum factors. SD has to be bitter, not only about last week's loss to a Baltimore team they clearly outplayed, but also last year's loss at home to the Stillers. The Stillers, coming off the bye, are smarting after 2 losses, particularly the pre-bye loss to Cinci when they had the game in-hand before giving it away midway thru the 4Q. I think the time off will have helped Benji, as well as the defense, which has faltered in key, clutch situations the past 2 games. Backed up against a wall, the Stillers will prevail in a tight, hard-hitting game, 20-17.