Chargers Giants Breakdown

By Jason Owens, SDNN sports editor

Position San Diego: chargers_helmet_jan8Chargers Giants Edge
Coach Are we in the early stages of the familiar Norv Turner midseason playoff surge? We’ve already seen the standard slow start. Wins over Kansas City and Oakland sure don’t tell the tale. Sunday’s matchup against the Giants will give us a lot more to work with. Tom Coughlin knows how Turner feels. He used to be the punching bag for all the Giants woes. Unlike Turner, he was criticized as being too hard on his players — a disciplinarian to a fault. But the sentiment was the same. Get him out of town. Then he won a Super Bowl. It’s amazing how that changes things. While we find Coughlin’s stratospheric rise into the NFL’s upper crust a bit hyperbolic, it’s hard to argue with that ring. Giants
QB Philip Rivers has suddenly found protection, taking just one sack in the last two weeks. But he’s been outstanding with or without it (2,036 yards, 11 TDs, 4 ints). How he reacts to the spotlight of New York and playing against Eli Manning — his famous 2004 draft-day trade partner — remains to be seen. We’ve seen enough poise from Rivers to believe he’ll be as cool as ever on Sunday. Too bad this one’s not in San Diego. We’d love to hear the fan reaction to Eli, who said he thinks his mom has his Chargers jersey tucked away somewhere after shunned America’s Finest City. Classic. He’s having another excellent season despite having to throw to a very green receiving corps. His turnovers (8 ints, 3 lost fumbles in 8 games) have to worry the Giants faithful. Fans have been waiting for this matchup since ‘04. N.Y. fans will howl over this pick, but Rivers does a better of taking care of the ball. Chargers get the edge, despite Eli’s bling.
RB Do not, under any circumstance, believe the hype that LaDainian Tomlinson’s remotely close to being back. Against the soft spot of the schedule that was the Raiders and Chiefs, he tallied 127 yards on 41 carries. That’s 3.1 yards per rush if you’re counting. He’s seeing more holes now, but lacks the burst that used to define his game. He did find the end zone with two TDs against Oakland, an encouraging sign. Darren Sproles has been moderately effective out of the backfield — at best. Reports of the decline of Brandon Jacobs are vastly overrated. While he’s lost his nose for the end zone (2 TDs), his 550 yards have him on pace for a 1,000-yard season. That’s while splitting considerable time with Ahmad Bradshaw, who’s averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Jacobs may not be piling up TDs like he used to, but he’s still a physical force behind the 7th best running attack in the NFL. The Giants may be off their game lately, but it’s nothing like the Chargers struggles. Don’t let Bradshaw’s name on the injury report fool you — he’ll suit up on Sunday.
WR/TE The Chargers are so stacked here, they could afford to outright cut Chris Chambers. Malcom Floyd stepped into his newfound starting role with a bang last week, snagging a leaping 53-yard catch on the first play from scrimmage. Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates look like Pro Bowlers. Nothing wrong here. A young group of receivers has stepped up admirably sans-Plaxico. Steve Smith leads the NFL in receptions, while rookie highlight reel Hakeem Nicks caught TDs in four straight games. Second-year WR Mario Manningham still makes rookie mistakes, but rounds out a solid if not specatcular group. The Giants corps is good. The Chargers are amongst the best in the league.
O-Line This is the group most worth watching on Sunday. After struggling mightily in the first five games, they allowed just one sack against the Raiders and Chiefs and opened up gaps for Tomlinson that weren’t there before. But it was the Raiders and Chiefs. The Giants have a nasty front seven that won’t be confused with the weak AFC West competition. Injured center Nick Hardwick has been practicing and could see a return to action on Sunday. This group’s taken heat for its shared role in Jacobs’ struggles near the goal line. It’s a minor tweak of a unit that’s defined excellence and continuity since anchoring the offense of the 2007 Super Bowl champion. David Diehl, Chris Snee and company have worked together at a high level for a long time running. Questions loom large for the Chargers. Not so much for the Giants, where continuity is king.
D-Line Their names weren’t called much against the Raiders, but for the second straight week, Chargers linebackers found room to penetrate — which has a lot to do with what Jacques Cesaire and Luis Castillo do up front. Ogemdi Nwagbuo has not practiced this week while Travis Johnson has been limited, leaving the apparently improving unit gimpy heading to New York.  Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora became household names during the Giants Super Bowl run and have 7.5 sacks and five forced fumbles between them this season. N.Y. rotates in proven performers like Mathias Kiwanuka and Chris Canty (when healthy) to keep things fresh. This unit is still not to be trifled with. Giants — no brainer. Even if they’ve been taxed in three straight N.Y. losses.
Linebacker Was that Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips I heard announced over the pressbox P.A. last week? Merriman notched his first two sacks while Phillips had two sacks for a second straight game. Too bad Kevin Burnett and Tim Dobbins are both injured or there could be some continuity here. This unit’s making headlines for the right and wrong reasons right now. Team captain Antonio Pierce is the latest Giant to take the blame for defensive struggles in allowing 48, 24 and 40 points in consecutive losses to the Saints, Cardinals and Eagles. How he and fellow backers Chase Blackburn and Danny Clark respond against the dangerous Chargers attack will go a long way in the outcome. Both teams are loaded with traditional talent and plagued with question marks. Too many questions… This one’s a push.
Secondary Steve Gregory is loving his new role with two sacks and an interception since being promoted to starter before the Chiefs game. Eric Weddle has been all over the field. QBs are scared to throw at Quentin Jammer while Antonio Cromartie has been more up than down lately. Again, though — Eli will test this group like it hasn’t been tested in weeks. The once-revered unit has been lit up by the likes of Drew Brees and Donovan McNabb lately. Rivers will provide another stern test to a group that sorely misses injured CB Aaron Ross. They performed well in a 5-0 start, but have been porous against the league’s premiere passers. Another tough call here. The Giants appear better, but the Chargers have played better lately. Rivers won’t let up on the gas against N.Y.
Spec. Teams Outside of the Denver debacle, these guys have been money. Mike Scifres, Nick Kaeding Darren Sproles and the coverage unit have all been outstanding as usual. Really — Jeff Feagles? Still punting? I remember that guy from Tecmo Super Bowl. On the 8-bit Nintendo. When I was in elementary school. That’s awesome. Lawrence Tynes has missed four field goals, a pair in the 20-yard range. Domenik Hixon is always a threat in the return game. The Giants kicking game is just OK. The Chargers are strong across the board.
Overall The Chargers are at another crossroads — much like before the Denver game. They’ve appeared to correct several early season problems against inferior competition. Now we find out how legit those improvements are against an agitated championship-caliber team that’s lost three in a row. Until three weeks ago, the Giants looked like the Giants. Drew Brees destroyed their defensive mojo, and they haven’t recovered since. But they can still run and pass effectively and control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. N.Y.’s been absolutely lit up lately. Rivers will present another firm challenge to a struggling D. But the Giants are superior on the offensive and defensive line. Do you really expect them to lose 4 in a row? Giants 31-24.