Chargers-Chiefs Breakdown

By Jason Owens, SDNN sports editor

Position San Diego: chargers_helmet_jan8Chargers Chiefs Edge
Coach Is this the official beginning of Norv Turner’s lame-duck coaching session? Not quite. As he’s shown twice before, a 2-3 start isn’t a death knell to the season. Can we say with a straight face that we think he’ll pull off another miracele? No. The Chargers face a rookie coach for the second straight week. So far, Todd Haley is no Josh McDaniels. He doesn’t have quite the talent that he orchestrated to a Super Bowl as offensive coordinator of Arizona’s precision attack last season. He did, however, lead the Chiefs to become the third winless team to beat the Redskins last week. So there’s that. One coach saw great success as offensive coordinator of a Super Bowl team only to struggle mightily as a head coach. The other? ummmm. We’re calling it a draw.
QB When he’s not getting sacked, Philip Rivers is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He still managed 274 yards and a touchdown while the Broncos rocked him to the tune of five sacks last week. Be careful out there, Philip. Matt Cassel went and got himself paid. After earning accolades with the riches of New England under the tutelage of Bill Belichick, the $63 million man ($28 mil guaranteed) has fallen to the dark reality of the K.C. Chiefs. Don’t blame him for the 1-5 start, though. He’s performed admirably (7 TDs, 2 Ints, 82.2 rating) with limited resources. Cassel’s solid, but he’s no Philip Rivers… Chargers
RB For the first time this season, LaDainian Tomlinson found some gaps on Monday against the Broncos for an unspectacular 70 yards on 18 carries. A 25th-ranked K.C. rushing defense may be the key to transition the running game from inept, to functioning to “hey — didn’t that guy used to be a Pro Bowler?” Darren Sproles is still not a viable option to give the ball in the backfield. Welcome to the fantasy football nostalgia show! Larry Johnson fell a lot quicker and harder than Tomlinson has. He’s averaging a putrid 2.7 yards per carry this year and is three seasons removed from his brief stint as a bonafide superstar. Like Tomlinson, look for Johnson to return however so slightly to form against a paltry Bolts run defense (27th in the league). Despite his struggles, Tomlinson is showing more signs of life than Johnson. And Sproles is still fun to watch in the open field. Both running games improve, but the Chargers have more in the tank. That is if LT gets over the flu.
WR/TE Antonio Gates (29 catches, 419 yards, 4 TDs) and Vincent Jackson (24 catches 419 yards, 3 TDs) are among the best in the business and have eerily comparable stat lines. The Chiefs are equally inept against the pass (25th in the NFL) as they are against the run. These guys could have a field day. This is a well Turner should go to early and often. Like the Chargers, K.C. has one of the best tight ends in footb — what’s that? Oh. Tony Gonzalez has taken his services to the dirty south. The Chiefs now have some dude name Sean Ryan (14 catches, 135 yards 2 TDs) playing TE. He should show up on multiple SportsCenter highlights, because that’s what TEs do against San Diego. Dwayne Bowe (21 catches, 290 yds, 3 TDs) is solid but far from spectacular. Chargers, easy
O-Line Louis Vasquez is still a rookie, Scott Mruczkowski is still a backup center and Nick Hardwick is not coming back anytime soon. Pro Bowl tackle Marcus McNeil can’t do it all himself. This unit is the heart and soul of everything that’s ailing the offense. Don’t complain to Matt Cassel about the 20 sacks Philip Rivers has taken. The Chiefs have given up a conference high 22 sacks through six games. K.C. does tout four-time Pro Bowler Brian Waters and 12-year veteran and former Charger Mike Goff, whom A.J. Smith probably regrets letting get away right about now. The Chargers can’t run or pass block. The Chiefs aren’t a good running team, but are still a half-yard per carry and 40 yards per game better than San Diego on the ground. Chiefs get the edge here. Someone has to.
D-Line The Chargers showed signs of life against the Denver running game, which managed a pedestrian 3.1 yards per carry on Monday. But the pass rush was nowhere to be found and the Broncos got the yards when it counted (9-of-16 third down conversions). Vaughn Martin and Travis Johnson both practiced on Thursday, giving the Chargers hope for some depth on Sunday.

 If the Chiefs played in the SEC, they’d have an all-conference defensive line. But they don’t. And they don’t. Second-year pro Glenn Dorsey and rookie Tyson Jackson were both first-round picks out of LSU, and while promising, are very green to be anchoring a 3-4 scheme in the NFL. NT Ron Edwards is a nine-year pro, but not experienced enough to keep the Chiefs from lurking toward the bottom of the defensive rankings. The Chiefs rank near the bottom of the league in sacks and run defense — but still fare better than the Chargers. Young talent gets the edge over injured veterans — Chiefs.
Linebacker Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips — still no sacks. Rookie Larry English has two. Maybe he should get the start alongside Kevin Burnett and Stephen Cooper, who lead the team in tackles and have quietly become the face of this unit. Pressuring the quarterback is a thing of the past. Forgive the redundancy. Tamba Hali wreaks havoc (3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 safety). Playing opposite 13-year vet and former Patriots great Mike Vrabel, he’s what Merriman used to be for the Chargers. On a sad-sack defensive unit these two keep the pressure on. Hali and Vrabel are studs, but the rest of K.C.’s linebackers are better known for special teams play. Depth gives the edge to the Chargers.
Secondary They contained Brandon Marshall, but let Tony Scheffler (101 yards, 1 TD) burn them as Kyle Orton racked up 229 yards, 2 TDs and a 115.4 QB rating on Monday night. The lack of a pass rush doesn’t help, but these guys are getting beat up. Rookie Kevin Ellison looked solid with extra playing time with the release of Clinton Hart. Antonio Cromartie stepped up after getting burned against Pittsburgh, but may be limited with an injured knee. This could be Antoine Cason’s chance. The Chiefs start two second-year corners and it shows in their 25th-rated pass defense. Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr aren’t likely to strike fear into Philip Rivers. FS Mike Brown is a veteran playmaker that made the Pro Bowl with the Bears, but SS Jon McGraw is better known for his special teams play. The Chargers secondary picks up too much of the blame for the pass defense flaws — which rightfully falls on the woeful pass rush. Quentin Jammer gives the Chargers the edge over a mostly green K.C. unit.
Spec. Teams The normally reliable special teams got in on the act against Denver, giving up not one, but two returns for touchdowns. Darren Sproles helped ease the pain with a return TD of his own, but the damage was done. We’re concerned about punter Mike Scifres lingering groin injury. Whatever happened to Dante Hall? Bobby Wade’s no Dante Hall. The Chiefs didn’t even bother writing a bio for him. Rookie kicker Ryan Succop scored 12 of the Chiefs 14 points in their win over Washington last week. A talented Dustin Colquitt joins Scifres and Oakland Pro Bowler Shane Lechler to create a veritable Punter’s Alley in the AFC West. We’re calling last week a fluke. K.C. is solid, but the Chargers still have one of the best special teams units in football — that is if Scifres can punt through his groin issues.
Overall The Chargers passing unit is hands down the best to suit up on Sunday. The gameplan should read accordingly — especially against a shoddy K.C. secondary. Rivers just needs to get rid of the ball quickly. Cassel and company should see increased success against the Chargers. Larry Johnson may approach his first 100-yard game of the season. Whatever you do, don’t bet the under. Both teams have their struggles on offense, but the defenses are woeful. Granted, the Chargers aren’t good — but they’re not Kansas City bad. Rivers rips the Chiefs secondary to the tune of a 31-24 Chargers win.