From: kprashan@sdcc3.ucsd.edu (hyderabadi)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: San Diego Chargers: Reg season report
Date: 29 Dec 92 22:21:51 GMT
Organization: what.. me.. organized?



[SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - Regular season report-card]


**How the West was won**


This team did what no SD team had done for the past 11 years, 
win the AFC West.

Every week, SD was pushed into new scenarios; home fav, road underdog
but expected to win, road fav in a must-win situation, big home fav
vs. a team they needed to beat, big road fav for division game they
*had* to win, etc. And SD came up big in every game.
When was the last time SD was a 14 pt fav over anybody? 10 pt road
fav over anybody?

This team has all the makings of a Western version of the Redskins. There
are similarities between the two teams' styles. Obviously, you have the same
GM  who built up the two franchises, Bobby Beathard. Then you have the same
physical offensive style based by a power running game that sets up an 
imaginative passing game. In addition, both the teams have
the capability of controlling the clock with the running game and a 
safe short passing attack. The defense is made up of guys who may not be 
all stars (except for a couple), but they all play well together and
play a bend-not-break type defense. They blitz very rarely, and use a 4 man
front rush most of the time.


SCORES 

Season record: 11-5, 1st place AFC West.

KC     10-24 Loss
@ Den  13-21 Loss
Pit     6-23 Loss
@ Hou   0-27 Loss
Sea    17-6  Win
Bye
@ Ind  34-14 Win
Den    24-21 Win
Ind    26-0  Win
@ KC   14-16 Loss
@ Cle  14-13 Win
TB     29-14 Win
Rdrs   27-3  Win
@ Pho  27-21 Win
Cin    27-10 Win
@ Rdrs 36-14 Win
@ Sea  31-14 Win


SD played 4 tough teams at the start and lost all 4. Their only other loss
was a heart-breaker in the last minute @ KC. IMO, the loss at KC was the 
turning point of the season. SD was down 13-0 at half-time, and had been 
dominated completely by the Chiefs. That SD came back in the 2nd half
and had a 14-13 lead late in the 4th Q was a confidence boost. They
came back big in a road game against a strong team. That confidence
was the reason they were able to come back the next week in a snow-storm 
in Cleveland and win the game in the last few minutes. The defense played 
very consistently over the season. The offense picked up after the bye
week when Humphries finally got into the groove and from then on they were
firing on all cylinders.


OFFENSE

QB (Humphries, Gagliano) B+ 
The only reason he doesn't get an A is his early play, which is understandable
in that the team hadn't jelled at that time under a new coach and system, and
he was just getting used to the play-book. He has all the tools you want
in a QB; strong arm, good touch, nice release, and smart decision-making. 
Right now, in my opinion, Humphries is the starter next season, Freisz is the
backup. Gagliano started the first game, didn't play well, but he was the
reason they won the Sea game to win the division. 

Offensive Line (Swayne, Moten, Hall, Richards, Thompson, TE Young) B
Very good job by the line. They went one stretch allowing just 2 sacks in 
5 games. Their passing blocking against strong rushes has been suspect at
times, forcing Ross to use extra TEs to pass block. Should be better 
next season considering their youth.

RBs (Butts, Bernstine, Harmon, Bienemy) B 
They have done an adequate job, if not as spectacular as previous seasons.
The running game has not been very consistent. The injury to Bernstine probably
cost them the KC game. They have fumbled a few more times than I would have 
liked to see. But the solid B is bcoz of one man, Ronnie Harmon. He has been
unbelievable all season long. His pass catching out of the backfield was the
reason they won so many games. No LB can stay with him, forcing opponents
to use DBs to cover him and end up opening up the passing lanes to the WRs.

WRs (Miller, Lewis, Jeferson, TE Walker) C+
They have improved, but not enough to give them a higher grade. They have 
stretches where they drop passes left and right. And they are games where 
they seem to catch every crucial pass. Miller goes to the pro-bowl after a 
bad start. Lewis and Jefferson have visibly improved over the season and should
be better next year. TE Walker has not played well, except for a couple of 
games. He is a good blocker, but SD needs a TE with better hands.


DEFENSE (4-3 defense)

Defensive Line (Mims, Grossman, Winters, Thornton, O'Neal) B
SD's pass rush is the basic 4 man rush in the 4-3 defense. Rookie Mims
has been a pleasant surprise after a slow start. Right DE Leslie O'Neal
is going to the pro-bowl with 16 sacks to his credit. The middle holds
up pretty well, and Grossman seems to be back to his old form. The line
still gets pushed around by physical O Lines, but they always seem to 
make that big play. They don't get a lot of sacks, but they put just 
enough pressure on the QB while controlling the opponents running game.

LBs (Rolling, Plummer, Seau!) A
They have the *best* all-purpose LB in the NFL. Seau
has been unbelievable. I have never seen a LB with his instincts to smell
out plays. He always seems to be at the right spot; whether he is blitzing
or covering RBs/TEs or making the open-field tackle or stripping the football,
whatever.. Rolling and Plummer (2 INTs) have been good support.

Secondary (CBs Byrd, Blaylock, Carrington & VanHorse, 
Safeties Floyd & Richards) C+
They have had their good moments and their bad moments. Gill Byrd has 
been solid at CB, and Blaylock has played well at the other spot. The surprise
has been Carrington, who seems to make a big INT whenever SD needs one.
FS Richard has developed beautifully into one of the better FSs in the NFL. 
He is not a big hitter a la Lott or Atwater, but is a solid tackler and has
good instincts. Second year player SS Floyd has been inconsistent.


SPECIAL TEAMS

Kickoff Return (C): Bad start, but improved slowly. Solid but don't block well. 
Kickoff Cover (B-): Played fairly well. 
Punt Return (C): Same as Kickoff Return.
Punt Cover (C+): So-so, allowed a big return for a TD in the opener.

FG Kicker (A): Carney has been great. Has kicked 16 straight FGs. 
Punter Kidd (B): Made big kicks in crucial situations.


COACHes

Grade A

Ross has been marvelous. His intensity, his methods, his motivational skills,
game play-calling and adjustments have been great. Coach of the Year, IMO.

Special mention goes to defensive coordinator Bill Arnsbarger, whose 
"no nick-name" defense has played very well. He uses his personnel well,
his adjustments to what the opponent is doing is unbelievable. In one drive,
the opponent seems to run the ball at will, and on the next drive they can't
do a thing on the ground.


FRONT OFFICE

Grade A

Beathard atoned for his Moten-for-#1pick deal by picking DT/DE Chris Mims.
He recognized Mims potential even though he was undersized coming out of 
college. More importantly, he signed Mims a month before training camp
started. His last season deals for SS Floyd, WR Jefferson, 
and O Lineman Zandofsky have panned out. And most importantly, 
he hired Ross and Arnsbarger!


PROBOWL

ProBowl Selections: LB Seau, DE O'Neal, CB Byrd, WR Miller.
ProBowl Backups: 1st team - QB Humphries, RB Harmon 
ProBowl Backups: 2nd team - RB Butts, C Hall 


AWARDS (my selections)

MVP: Offense 1) QB Humphries 2) RB Harmon
MVP: Defense 1) LB Seau 2) DE O'Neal
Best Rookie: #1 draft pick DT/DE Mims, 8 sacks, signed a month before
             before training camp started in order to bulk up and 
             be ready for the NFL! 



_______________________________________________________
| Prashanth                    |                      |
| U. of California @ San Diego | prash@raman.ucsd.edu |
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