This installment of JIC is dedicated to the memory of Philip Chapman Lesh as well as David Harris, who played "Cochise" in The Warriors. Also pour one out for the late Michael Newman of Baywatch, who fought Parkinson's since 2008.
Normally I'd spend all my time complaining about the Chargers. I used to close out my posts with a dedication to whatever celebrity had passed that week. That was before I had experienced actual loss and now it seems that someone we all grew up with passes away every day. In the case of Phil, I still listen to the Dead every single day and saw him in concert this March with Warren Haynes and Jimmy Herring. He was 84 and I knew I wouldn't have too many more chances.
But he did what he loved for as long as he could, probably longer. He had a liver transplant a few years after Jerry died which gave him almost 25 years to play and be with his family. Enjoy some acoustic demos from 1973 as well as his first time singing since that year on stage in 1984. That's why the crowd is more ecstatic than usual.
Back to Monday. Even though I spent the majority of the game watching it in bed through a janky ass stream while my wife slept beside me it was no less stressful. The Tart interception followed by a fumble seemed like it might be just a speed bump. The Reaghor fumble, which of course was somehow recovered in bounds was only so big because we never got that close to the end zone again.
Of course, the final offensive drive somehow could have changed that. The uncatchable pass flag being picked up was the biggest one of the night, in my opinion. Of course, everything in the Halls of Justice is my opinion. You know that, FAITHFUL READER. There was an earlier flag that was picked up as well. Even if the refs had thought the throw wasn't catchable (of course it wasn't when the receiver was held), a holding call would have given them a first down and the likelihood of finally scoring a touchdown. At the very least, they would have eaten a ton of clock.
The last call seemed a little suspect, especially since his helmet didn't make contact. Again, I never complain about calls and we should never allow a call to decide the game. The week before in Denver, the calls were never discussed because we won. The real reason we lost was the shitty interior blocking and complete inability to contain on defense. I am finally on the "how come we can't get Herbert weapons" train. McConkey was hobbled and Johnston was out, just as he was starting to show real promise. McConkey will play today, though Johnston will miss his second straight game. Davis is sitting as well. The point was made during the game that the defense can stack the box when there is no threat of us throwing. Herbert finally looks healthy, but I cringe every time the blocking breaks down. I saw two seconds of that same Cardinals team today against Miami with a QB who should not be playing football again, and they had no problem blocking their rush. I know there are some who feel like it's a rebuilding year and we need to get out of the cap hell Telesco left us in. But we could make the playoffs. Losing games like that, of course, will squash that possibility. However, whether Chark plays or not, we need to get some real receiving threats. Dissly was nice, but that's not sustainable. Mike Williams has rapport with Herb and can't cost much. I don't care who they get but they need some real downfield threats. I know we aren't Detroit and won't be scoring 35 in a half, but the fact we haven't scored in the second half since the opener is insane. It's more insane that we have two wins during that streak though they came out strong in Carolina and Denver.
I'm not ready to call it a season. I didn't love Greg Roman as a hire, but didn't love any of them. Wisenhunt played small ball with Phil and then Reich tried to open things up. Rivers got the shit kicked out of him in 2014. One of the reasons we came up short after that mircle Niners win in OT was that his back was all sorts of fucked up. Remember the graphic that said it was a "dick" in his back instead of "disk?" Yeah, that really happened. My dad sent me the screen shot. Anyway, it's almost 3 PM here in the Panic Room. Time to spend 40 minutes on the elliptical and get all that extra angst out before kickoff.
See you out there.
JIC,
RLW
4th quarter no-touchdown streak is over!