Week 1 SD @ Raiders

[draft jedi]

SHIT A BRICK WE HAVE A competitive offence!
First half  10 each.
Pluses
we have scored with 2 great drives. 84 & 64 yards and have 217 yards on offence
Oline on the run has been good. Holding to the ball.
We have kept SD to 74 yards of offence, 6 first downs & LT has been a non factor.
Seymore 4 tackles 2 sack (1 was 1 armed)
Now the bad
Our receivers could not catch a cold standing naked in Iceland. Russell's had the accuracy of a scud missile.
SD has had 3 short starts 2 drives were the scoring
Sprolies is running all over us on returns. So far a 66 & 58 returns
Refs screw us again. this time by not tucking!

[Aeyjay]

I don't know what's worse losing in the final 18 seconds or getting blown out.

Gutted!

[Aeyjay]

Taken from jerry's blog

– Sproles scores from the 5 as San Diego gains 166 yards in its last two drives. The Chargers had 152 yards total offense before those two drives.

Topped with Russell's woeful passing percentage 12 for 30 it all takes the shine off an otherwise good performance.

Seymour and Ellis both had sacks and Miller and Murphy produced.

Oh for Schilens to have been healthy!

The mean spirited cynic in me wants to say bad teams find a way to lose and good teams win when they play badly like SD just did.

Anyway put it behind you boys and lets get ready for KC

[MancSilverBlack]

Yeah, I'm absolutely gutted. Went to bed early and set the alarm for 3am (Watched it on the net and got a decent stream). In it right to the death. O wasn't great in the 2nd half to be honest and maybe the D was just a bit tired towards the end. Trying to take the positives out of the game, which I'm sure I will over the course of the day.
Before the game started I was a bit concerned that there might be a repeat of last years week 1, but it bodes well for the coming season. As Jerry says Russell needs to be more accurate, but the return of Schilens should help him feel more comfortable. DHB had quite a bad drop in the 1st half and I wasn't best pleased when Murphy's first TD was taken off, even Steve Young in the booth said it was a poor decision.
Seymour was excellent, lined up in all four positions across the front and two first half sacks. Limited the Chargers to around 35 rushing yards in the 1st half.
There you go I feel more positive already 

[Other Porter]

there was an awful lot to be encouraged about. the Chargers are the consenus favorite to take the division with just about every media talking head you care to mention.

We not only played them close but looked like we were going to win.

louis Murphy played like a first rounder.

Seymour 2 sacks, Ellis 1 sack.

running game was effective, Passing game was effective. D- was effective.

I take far more positives from this game than negatives. Sure, the 'W' would have been better but we looked good.

Certainly in comparrison to the Saints blow-out.

[draft jedi]

I am gutted. Am working on 3 hours sleep and I work a double today.  We just stopped running the ball we ran for less than 40 yards in the 2nd half. Our d stopped was giving sprioles to much room.
I must admit we looked better. But am soooo pissed we lost.

[Raider Dee]

Just watched the game. Totally gutted.

A lot of positives though , especially our ground attack.

The defence was also impressive , until the final drive when it actually mattered  , they gave Sproles far too much room.

Bit worried about losing Garcia though.

[MancSilverBlack]

I think Jonesy mentioned it at the top as well, but the O line played well (Apart from Green) opening up lanes for the run game in the first half, which set up the pass nicely. Inexperienced receivers and some inaccuracy from Russell didn't really take advantage of that, but Russell had more than enough time to make his throws. He's still only played one season so you've got to hope he will improve over the course of the year and we've got Schilens to come back. I'd like us to try Barnes at RT as Green is not starting material.

Our D was unrecognisable from what we saw in pre-season. Ellis and Seymour seemed to make a huge difference. Branch played well and even Huff picked up a fumble and interception, which apparantely equals his totals for the previous three years 

All in all, I know it's only one game but I'm really positive about this year

[R8RMR]

I might have  to reassess my guess at the final standings after this performance. I hope they can maintain the passion and improve the performance. I'd like to say that we could be in for a good season but with my history that could be the KOD.

[draft jedi]

Next week will be intresting. Baltimore made 500 yards on KC last weekend.

[Gazzara]

I have to say that although I am gutted I am looking at the positives from the game which is a hell of a lot.  We all said, going by pre-season, that the Chargers were liable to run us ragged and our ground game gets shut down by weak lines on both sides of the ball. 

A massive difference from then I have to say, ground game was solid and a lot of passion from a team that I felt hasn't had a lot over the last few years.  I really feel though, and I'm am going to get crucified that Russell will be a bust and the main problem for us in the future.  A number one pick and stupid amounts of money, the quality of the guy should have slid right in to the position on day 1 of last year.  The more this goes on I feel the worse it will get and we keep making excuses for a player that was meant to be quality.  Manning didn't have a problem straight away, nor did a few other rookie QB's.  I know our receiving corps hasn't been the greatest but some of Russell's read etc smell of high school sometimes.

There I said it, now you can crucify me, lol.

[Raider Dee]

RE: Russell , he's far from the finished article and should given more time , but you do get the feeling watching him that's he's never going to be an elite Quarterback.

[R8RMR]

There have been several QB's that started badly but became great. Aikman and Elway weren't stars out of the gate.