Is It The End Or Beginning?

I mean if Tom Telesco valued Mike Williams as much as this picture makes it seem like he does you'd think he'd have made sure Staley didn't play him in Denver. I know, FAITHFUL READER, I'm always saying the same shit. But that's because this team keeps doing the same shit. For years, I have said that it's a lazy take to blame the way the team is on ownership being cheap. I still think it's not the reason, but I do understand the "fish stinks from the head" reasoning. Of course, it's impossible not to hear that not coming out the the mouths of people who think the Chargers are somehow cursed because they moved from San Diego. Do they not remember the Chargers when they played in San Diego? I sure as fuck do. Visiting fan bases "took over" the stadium, though you could argue it was during the series of "will they or won't they" years where it wasn't clear if they would move.

The reality is that we all thought Sean Payton, or even Urban Meyer, might be the answer to our eternal coaching woes. It's clear that Dean, with John Spanos installed permanently, has a hierarchy that does not allow for a coach with control. Jim Trotter used to check in during every coaching fire cycle and remind us as much. When Kevin Acee first reported that John Spanos was being brought in, he said that this would essentially be the GM going forward.

Yet Staley seems to have a lot of power in terms of who plays and the ability to call plays on a defense that is more terrible than the days of Gus Bradley and the "picket fence."

Daniel Popper reported in the summer of 2021 that Staley was different than Lynn and I wrote that all we wanted was different. We were all sick of the 4th down run up to the line play which never worked and clearly our own team was sick of not going for it and constantly watching the opposition not jump off sides.

The issue with Staley is results. He doesn't have any. If his biggest asset is his scheme then why is he still calling plays when his scheme sucks? Chenna, Kyzir, Tranquill, all good draft picks are gone. Is Kenneth Murray going to play good for a year and force the team to keep him like Mike Davis? Troy Aikman was insufferable in the booth on Monday but he did point out that this team is constantly giving the biggest cushions to receivers.

Someone asked Merriman on Twitter about it and he admitted that these guys can't fly to the ball if they are always worried about this "scheme." It's kind of like the Lakers on Winning Time, worried about where their precious spots were in Paul Westhead's system. Staley made such a big thing about Derwin upon coming here. Derwin is worse than ever and I blame Staley. James is no longer as injury prone but he can't be as slow, impulsive, and lost as he's appeared.

Even Matt "Money" Smith spent a good part of his podcast time talking about the "curious" use of Quentin Johnston. I know nothing about (and really care nothing for) college football. However, I know Addison and Flowers seemed like safer picks. That's in the past, but unless Johnston is some destructive locker room force I don't know about, "Money's" suggestion that getting Johnston some simple touches is as obvious to anyone as the fact Staley isn't getting it done.

I definitely have trouble blaming Herbert for anything. But the reality that Slater has been hurt, Johnson has been bad, Pipkins is regressing, and that Clapp is a backup is pretty clear. I don't blame Herbert for being skittish. He was getting chased and hit on every play. His arm was bleeding at one point I assume from diving on the turf regularly. Would it make sense to try a play to Johnston to get things going? Of course. The screen play to Ekeler looked like it was a big gainer until the pass got knocked down.

I don't know what to expect today. Like many of you, I'd rather they just get blown out if they don't have it in them to finish the game. The same can be said for the season itself. Going 9-8 would bring back the same staff and the same problems. It's still October. I'd like to at least have the unearned optimism that something good might come out of this season.

Since I've been posting all these Burt Reynolds photos, I might as well put in this one:

This auction site https://www.julienslive.com/lot-details/index/catalog/175/lot/74963

says it was custom made for him with Fouts' number. I'd love to know the backstory. Anyway, it's a little after twelve here on the East Coast. I'm going to stop here. What else is there really to say right now. If we can all envision them almost winning this game and then losing at home to Chicago, it means we all see the same things. Are the Chargers wasting Herbert? Yes. Rivers in 2019 was as bad as he'd ever been and then looked fine in Indy. Everybody that leaves the Chargers gets better afterwards. It never seems like we maximize anyone's potential while they are here. Otherwise, we'd clearly have at least one Lombardi Trophy by now. On a lighter note, this SNL skit was amazing and worthy successor to the "Catchphrase Kings of Comedy" series they did.

If you need some decent tunes before kickoff, might I suggest this Fall '84 selection.

Happy Birthday (yesterday) to my amazing 17 year-old daughter, Sarah.

JIC, RLW