If there's been one most disappointing aspect to the 2010-11 NFL regular season so far, it's the San Diego Chargers. All around, the Chargers have been a huge letdown this year, having lost several A-list players in the offseason and now reeling off poor ticket sales and regular season losses. Chargers games have been blacked out in San Diego for three out of four home games so far this season, but that's not even the toughest part for the Chargers to digest.
This San Diego team should win ball games. They should stand atop the weak AFC West. They should have Vincent Jackson catching passes and Philip Rivers making game-winning plays. Instead, the 2010-11 Chargers have fumbled away games and let some of their best players slip through the cracks. The Chargers are currently the bottom-feeder of their division right alongside the 2-5 Denver Broncos. It's easy to blame anyone and everyone involved in the franchise for the Bolts' lackluster season, but - like any sports team - responsibility comes from the top.
Chargers GM A.J. Smith is notoriously stubborn, and he shocked the football realm this offseason by letting LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Cromartie and Jamal Williams walk. Since then, Smith has also battled Shawne Merriman, Marcus McNeill and Vincent Jackson, causing the winds of change to sweep through the organization as many of these franchise faces have disappeared for good.
While turmoil seems very evident in San Diego, it's time for the Chargers to regroup and move forward. With one of the most elite quarterbacks in the league in Philip Rivers and dangerous weapons in tight end Antonio Gates and frighteningly quick running back Darren Sproles, the Chargers have the ability to move the ball down the field. Rookie running back Ryan Mathews adds to this mix when healthy, and if the Bolts could enter a game with all of their best players they could truly be unstoppable.
For now, the playoffs are still in the picture for the Chargers if they can manage to turn around their 2-5 record. Philip Rivers is a guy who will sell San Diego Chargers tickets no matter his team's standing, and it's only a matter of time until the Bolts finally click.
In the meantime, however, Norv Turner's Chargers have to learn to step up and play without some key players. The injured list of Chargers keeps stacking up, with players like Legedu Naanee, Buster Davis, Malcom Floyd, Nate Kaeding and even Antonio Gates skipping practices recently. The Chargers face the Tennessee Titans at home in Week 8 of the regular season, and they've got to pull out a win here to have a shot at the postseason.
The blame game might be running rampant in San Diego, but one thing most Chargers fans can agree on is that this team needs some wins. With a prolific quarterback at the helm and a slew of able runners and receivers, the Chargers offense has the ability to start a stampede -- the problem is getting all the right pieces in order beforehand. Do the San Diego Super Chargers have what it takes to make a comeback? The next few games could make or break their season.
This San Diego team should win ball games. They should stand atop the weak AFC West. They should have Vincent Jackson catching passes and Philip Rivers making game-winning plays. Instead, the 2010-11 Chargers have fumbled away games and let some of their best players slip through the cracks. The Chargers are currently the bottom-feeder of their division right alongside the 2-5 Denver Broncos. It's easy to blame anyone and everyone involved in the franchise for the Bolts' lackluster season, but - like any sports team - responsibility comes from the top.
Chargers GM A.J. Smith is notoriously stubborn, and he shocked the football realm this offseason by letting LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Cromartie and Jamal Williams walk. Since then, Smith has also battled Shawne Merriman, Marcus McNeill and Vincent Jackson, causing the winds of change to sweep through the organization as many of these franchise faces have disappeared for good.
While turmoil seems very evident in San Diego, it's time for the Chargers to regroup and move forward. With one of the most elite quarterbacks in the league in Philip Rivers and dangerous weapons in tight end Antonio Gates and frighteningly quick running back Darren Sproles, the Chargers have the ability to move the ball down the field. Rookie running back Ryan Mathews adds to this mix when healthy, and if the Bolts could enter a game with all of their best players they could truly be unstoppable.
For now, the playoffs are still in the picture for the Chargers if they can manage to turn around their 2-5 record. Philip Rivers is a guy who will sell San Diego Chargers tickets no matter his team's standing, and it's only a matter of time until the Bolts finally click.
In the meantime, however, Norv Turner's Chargers have to learn to step up and play without some key players. The injured list of Chargers keeps stacking up, with players like Legedu Naanee, Buster Davis, Malcom Floyd, Nate Kaeding and even Antonio Gates skipping practices recently. The Chargers face the Tennessee Titans at home in Week 8 of the regular season, and they've got to pull out a win here to have a shot at the postseason.
The blame game might be running rampant in San Diego, but one thing most Chargers fans can agree on is that this team needs some wins. With a prolific quarterback at the helm and a slew of able runners and receivers, the Chargers offense has the ability to start a stampede -- the problem is getting all the right pieces in order beforehand. Do the San Diego Super Chargers have what it takes to make a comeback? The next few games could make or break their season.
