One Great Game Isn’t Enough To Redeem Chargers’ Faulty Defense

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The San Diego Chargers’ defense has been the talk of the NFL this week after roughing up Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts and ending their drive for an unbeaten season. But the Chargers’ defensive effort on Sunday was too little, too late, for a team that will likely miss out on the playoffs, in large part because the team has failed to protect a fourth quarter lead four different times this season.


Having an excellent offense prop up a subpar defense is a something of a tradition in San Diego. In the history of pro football, no team has a richer history of great offenses than the Chargers, and yet they have never won a Super Bowl.


The Chargers have had two of the best offensive coaches in NFL history, first with the passing game pioneer and Hall of Famer Sid Gillman in the 1960s and then with Don “Air” Coryell in the 1970s and 1980s. Since its maiden season of 1960, San Diego has led the league in passing yards 10 times, more than any other franchise, including every year from 1978 to 1983.In the 1980s,with Dan Fouts under center, the Chargers’ offense led the league in both total yards and first downs every year from 1980 to 1983, a four-year streak that no team has ever equaled.


In 1985 the Chargers set an NFL record with 259 passing first downs, a record that still stands despite the league’s continued rules changes to favor the passing game. But just as inevitable has been an under performing defensive unit. Bad defense kept the Chargers from being the best team in football, notably in 1981, when San Diego topped the league in both points scored and yards gained but was undermined by a lousy defense and finished only 10-6.


In addition to Gillman, the Chargers have suited up five Hall of Famers, all of them vital parts of the passing game: Fouts, receivers Charlie Joiner and Lance Alworth, tight end Kellen Winslow, and tackle Ron Mix, one of the best pass-blockers of his era.


Given the history of a great passing game, it’s a bit surprising that current coach Marty Schottenheimer, known for his conservative belief in a sound running game, is now leading what might be San Diego’s best offense yet. Gillman and Coryell were ahead of their time in emphasizing the passing game. Schottenheimer, by contrast, is a throwback to the old days of run-first football. San Diego’s current offense is less flashy than its predecessors, but its best player, LaDainian Tomlinson, is the greatest running back in franchise history.


Tomlinson has 1,323 rushing yards this season and 7,222 for his career. Last year, in only his fourth NFL season, he became the first player in Chargers history to rush for more than 5,000 yards in his career. And while quarterback Drew Brees and tight end Antonio Gates deserve a great deal of credit for a solid passing game, blocking is where San Diego sets itself apart.


Fullback Lorenzo Neal, named to the Pro Bowl this week, is one of the best lead-blockers in the history of the NFL, and the offensive line, led by right guard Mike Goff, is so good that in each of the last two years, Tomlinson’s little-known backups (Jesse Chatman last year and Michael Turner this year) have averaged 6.0 yards per carry.


But barring a major upset in the season’s final two weeks, the great offense won’t get to showcase itself in the playoffs. The Chargers have allowed 237 passing yards per game this season, fifth worst in the league. A week before looking so impressive against Manning, they couldn’t lay a finger on Miami’s Gus Frerotte, allowing him to complete 14 of 22 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in a 23-21 loss.


Perhaps most important, San Diego has repeatedly been on the losing end of close games, with their five losses coming by a combined 14 points. Because of that, San Diego will most likely be the best offense watching games from home in January – and not for the first time in franchise history.



Mr. Smith is a regular writer for FootballOutsiders.com.


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