Interview With Charging Bolts
November 27th, 2009 | by Ryan Jones |The Kansas City Chiefs visit the San Diego Chargers Sunday as they try to win their third game in a row. 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: The last time these two teams met, LT had yet to find the end zone and was being kept on the sidelines during goalline situations. Since then he’s found his way to the promised land five times. What’s changed?
Anthony Blake: It sounds cliché, but it all starts up front for the running game and the guys in the trenches have finally gained a bit of continuity. There has been a lot of shuffling since week 1 for the offensive line, but I think the guys are finally gelling together as a unit and opening up some better running holes for LT. You could kind of see this coming on with Tomlinson as he had regained that patented jump cut of his and looked quicker getting through the holes. Perhaps he has been more decisive as well in recent weeks of seeing the hole and hitting the hole, but his success really all hinges on the offensive line’s performance from week to week.
RJ: Are there any other players that have distinguished themselves since Week 7?
AB: A guy that I have been huge on since the preseason has finally started to prove me right in recent weeks since the release of Chris Chambers and that is Legedu Naanee. Both he and Malcom Floyd have looked like legitimate number two wide receivers in this already dynamic offense. On the other side of the ball I really like what I saw out of both Kevin Burnett and Steve Gregory especially last week. Gregory has been phenomenal since the team let go of Clinton Hart midseason just being a ball hawk alongside Eric Weddle who is really coming into his own as well.
RJ: San Diego signed veteran OT Jon Runyan this week to eventually take over for the recently IR’d Jeromey Clary. Who would you feel more confidence in Sunday, a rusty Runyan or Brandyn Dombrowski at full strength?
AB: This question really gives me some pause, but I am going to have to side with the veteran presence of Runyan on this one. Dombrowski hasn’t looked bad when his number has been called, but he is a serviceable backup at best in this league. If Runyan can prove to the coaching staff that he is up to speed on his assignments within the playbook he should get the nod on Sunday.
RJ: Earlier this week there was a story out there that Antonio Cromartie was being investigated for assault with a deadly weapon. Has it been a big enough distraction that it might be a factor on the team’s performance Sunday?
AB: To be honest, the whole incident sounds a bit odd to me as the altercation was supposedly Cromartie striking a man in the head with a champagne bottle at Bar West in Pacific Beach after the Chargers victory over Denver. Regardless of the authenticity of the statements taken by police, Cromartie has been publicly apologetic and has claimed his innocence as has his attorney. The Chargers released a statement addressing the issue and Norv Turner didn’t really dwell on it in any interviews this week so I don’t forsee it being a distraction at all come game time on Sunday.
RJ: What’s your best guess at the final score?
AB: Kansas City has certainly improved since these two met at Arrowhead a handful of weeks ago, but the Chargers are really starting to hit their stride right now. With the way this offense has been clicking on all cylinders and now add in the element of surprise with the balance returning to their repertoire in recent weeks, this could be a long day for the Chiefs at the Q.
Chargers – 34
Chiefs – 14
