Interview With Charging Bolts

The Kansas City Chiefs host the San Diego Chargers Sunday as they try to win their second game of the season.  To get the low down on the Chargers I sat down with Anthony Blake.  Anthony is the Chargers correspondent and gives you everything you need to know at Charging Bolts.

Ryan Jones: Last week Norv Turner kept LaDainian Tomlinson on the sideline in favor of Darren Sproles on the goal line.  Sproles was stuffed and LT didn’t look happy.  Are Turner and Tomlinson back on the same page or will this linger?

Anthony Blake: That personnel decision coupled with the one a few weeks ago in the home loss to Baltimore really make me wonder what Norv is trying to prove by stiffing LT for Sproles who flat out cannot run between the tackles.  I don’t think it will linger as far as Tomlinson is concerned and if it does anything, it will motivate him to prove all of the doubters wrong and have a large game against your Chiefs (which will at least please a few disgruntled fantasy owners).

RJ: The Chargers are giving up nearly 150 YPG on the ground.  What happened to the San Diego defense?

AB: The loss of Jamal Williams has clearly been huge for this team and the free agency departure of Igor Olshansky cannot be overlooked as the loss of a run stuffing presence as well.  Despite all of that, the rotation on defense against the Broncos last week was a positive sign for the Bolts up front as Denver only gained 101 yards on 33 carries.  It’s taken a while, but I think this defensive front may finally be beginning to gel a little.

RJ: And on the other side of the ball, San Diego seems to be having the same trouble with the running game as the Chiefs.  Does it have to do more with LT getting hurt and missing time or is the offensive line just not getting the job done?

AB: Injuries again have really put a damper on the running game for the Bolts.  Nick Hardwick is in my opinion the most underrated offensive lineman in the league as he is the anchor on an offensive line that has proven to be without him just average at best.  Scott Mruczkowski has done an admirable job trying to fill in, but putting a back up center next to a rookie guard is the recipe for disaster in the running game.

RJ: There have been some grumblings about Norv Turner “losing the team”.  Have you sensed this at all?  Would a loss this week sign his ticket out of town?

AB: I don’t really know if Turner ever actually “had” the team persay, but I don’t think there would be any coaching changes made mid season.  Perhaps if Jeff Fisher is available in the offseason and we fail to make the playoffs or go under .500, then those rumblings would become deafening and you could see a change.

RJ: What’s your best guess on the final score?  Player of the game?

AB: The Chiefs looked better last week, but that was against the hapless Redskins.  I just don’t know what to expect, but with the weather looking fairly balmy, I would expect the Chargers to be able to handle KC.  I’ll go 24-20 San Diego with Philip Rivers around 300 yards and 2 TD’s.

Many thanks to Anthony.  Be sure to check out Charging Bolts for all of your Chargers information!

Tags: LaDainian Tomlinson, Norv Turner, Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers