O-Line leads big offensive performance

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Monday, Oct 08, 2007
By Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said it after Sunday’s 41-3 win over the Denver Broncos and repeated the message last Monday after the Bolts improved their record to 2-3.

“The pocket was clean on every pass today and we were able to run it well,” Rivers said Sunday after the game. “In 18 attempts I was touched once. Those guys did a heck of a job.”

Those guys, of course, are the offensive linemen. Denver saw the success that New England, Green Bay and Kansas City had with eight-man fronts on film and tried to throw a similar game plan at the Bolts, but this time they handled the scheme.

“I really believe the key to us playing better has been, and will continue to be, no matter what happened the previous Sunday, our guys have come out prepared,” Chargers head coach Norv Turner said. “We’ve had great meetings and outstanding practices. Friday morning, I told the team that Thursday’s practice was the best practice we’ve had to this point.”

However, don’t look for a simple reason to explain the difference between the Chargers standing 2-3 as they enter today’s game against the Oakland Raiders (2-2) at Qualcomm Stadium instead of having fallen to 1-4.

“Who knows?” Pro Bowl center Nick Hardwick said. “I really don’t know. They were running eight and nine men in the box. We were running nickel runs into a seven-man box on that two-minute drive that we put together at the end of the first half. One just squirted out of there (a 49-yard Michael Turner run that set up a field goal). It was a matter of a little more grit, a little more effort, a little more intensity coming into the game. A little more on every block made the difference.”

Here’s a prime example “of a little more” that Hardwick mentioned:

Against Kansas City, Rivers looked for tight end Antonio Gates, who was behind coverage, and aimed a pass his way. But he was hit as he threw and the ball was intercepted.

In a similar play at Denver, Rivers had plenty of time in the pocket and hit Gates for a 23-yard gain. Three plays later Rivers scored for a 7-0 lead and 11 seconds later, Carlos Polk forced a fumble on the kick return that Brandon Siler returned for a touchdown.

“As a staff, we were seeing that our team was coming along,” Turner said. “We were playing better in spurts and we had practiced better and prepared better. But it’s harder to sell when you’re not winning.”

It was the second straight week the Chargers opened the game running the ball strongly, although against Kansas City leads of 10-0 after the first quarter and 16-6 at halftime didn’t stand up in a 30-16 loss.

“That’s two weeks in a row where we’ve kind of offensively hung our hat on the play of our offensive line,” running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. “Once again those guys have come through. That just shows us and tells us that whenever we hang our hat on those guys they’re going to step up to the challenge and control the line of scrimmage.”

Tomlinson only ran for 67 yards against Denver, but he caught three passes for 73 yards for 140 yards of total offense. Against Kansas City, he rushed 116 yards in the first half before finishing the game with 20 carries for 132.

Turner enjoyed his first big day running the ball this season, gaining 147 yards on 10 carries for one touchdown on a 73-yard run.

The Chargers rolled up 484 yards of total offense with 214 rushing and 270 passing. Rivers was 13-of-18 for 270 yards with a remarkable quarterback rating of 151.4 that is a career best. He had no interceptions and no sacks after throwing six interceptions and being sacked nine times in the first four games.

The Chargers cautioned that Denver was just one win, but Hardwick said such a victory prevents more doubts from entering their minds.

“Even when you win 14 games, a loss causes self-doubt, so when you put together three losses, there is a lot of self-doubt,” Hardwick said. “There is no doubt this was a huge win that we needed. The attitude in the locker room is totally different. I think we wish it was Wednesday already.”

Wednesday is when the team gets back to work on the field for the Raiders.

MikeNowak, Chargers.com

A strong performance by the Bolts' offensive line led the way for 484 yards of total offense.

	Monday: Norv Turner At Mondays press conference head coach Norv Turner talks with the media about Sundays 41-3 victory over the Denver Broncos. Play
	Monday: Philip Rivers Philip Rivers talks with the local media on Monday, October 8, 2007. Play
	Monday: Marlon McCree Marlon McCree talk with the media on Monday after looking at game film of the victory over the Denver Broncos. Play
	Monday: LaDainian Tomlinson On Monday October 8, 2007 running back LaDainian Tomlinson tells the media "We need to continue to build on we did yesterday." Play