Philadelphia Eagles 2009 Opponents’ Preview- San Diego Chargers
by JasonB on Jul 2, 2009 5:00 AM EDT
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This is the first in a series of previews of the Eagles 2009 opponents. Joining us for this new feature is Dave Schwab, who writes about the Eagles at his site Eagles Lincs.
We start with the Eagles slate of games against the AFC West. Today, Dave previews the very tough week 10 road matchup the Eagles have with the San Diego Chargers. Maybe we can re-sign Matt Ware for this one game?
Dave's full analysis is after the jump.
The Eagles will face the teams from the AFC West this regular season and on Sunday, November 15th they head to the West Coast to play the San Diego Chargers. This should be a good challenge for the Birds as San Diego is one of the most solid teams in the AFC, especially at home where they are 20-4 over the past three seasons.
The Chargers are definitely the cream of the crop in the AFC West winning the division the past three seasons. In 2006 they compiled the best regular season record in the league going 14-2. In 2007 they slipped to 11-5, and last year actually won the division with an 8-8 record. While last year’s regular season record was considered a disappointment, they did manage to knock Indianapolis out of the playoffs and gave the Pittsburgh Steelers, eventual Super Bowl Champions, all they could handle before losing in the second round 35-24.
On offense the star power is still there with QB Phillip Rivers, WR Chris Chambers, TE Antonio Gates, and the most dangerous player of all RB Ladainian Tomlinson. They can put points on the board in a hurry as well as grind it out down the stretch. They Eagles will have to come up with a scheme that can shut down the running game as well as defend against the long ball to keep all these stars in check.
The Charger coaching staff is no stranger to the Eagles, as head coach Norv Turner and defensive coordinators Ron Rivera both have strong ties to the NFC East. Turner spent seven season as head coach of the Washington Redskins and seven seasons with Dallas as their offensive coordinator. Rivera was the Eagles’ linebacker coach for five seasons, learning all the tricks of the trade from defensive coordinator, Jim Johnson.
I expect the Chargers to be back on top in the AFC when the Eagles come to town in week 10. You never know, this could be lining up as a potential Super Bowl preview. With two- a- days not even started at Lehigh, it may be a bit early for that kind of speculation, but it doesn’t hurt to dream.
Check out more of Dave's insights at Eagles Lincs.
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Although this paints a pretty picture of the Chargers...
I’m not buying it. The chargers have posted progressively worse records each season with Turner at the head. He has never shown himself to be a quality coach, and he is again showing it with the Chargers. The main reason they even made the playoffs was a very weak AFC West left them the champs almost by default.
SD’s defense last year was horrible, and I don’t see any reason they will be any better this year. LdT is of course a historically great back, but he is on the wrong side of 30 and had the worst season of his career last year. Although he may still have big games, his days of dominating the league are over.
If the best receiver SD has in 09 is the highly overrated Chris Chambers, I don’t think their passing attack will be much to fear. If the Eagles have any pretentions to being an elite team this year, they should handle a team like SD with relative ease.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Bear Bryant
by NJBammer on Jul 2, 2009 9:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yea
Norv isn’t that great of a coach. I believe if Marty was still around they wouldve won by now but that’s a team marty built and norv is slowly destroying. I expect to see him fired in the next two years. But I believe their defense should be good with Merriman coming back and Cromartie could get back to his old form. We should win this game but San Diego is still a tough team not to be taken lightly.
by birdsflyinhigh2590 on Jul 2, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
don't sleep on the 2009 chargers...
2008 was anomaly… multiple injuries to key players + some early season bad luck + DC fired midway through year + tough schedule… all in all Chargers showed some resiliency and hopefully were humbled by their failure to meet lofty expectations.
Our 2009 D will be better for several reasons: 1) Merriman back 2) 1st Rounder Larry English 3) Stephen Cooper missed 4 games due to suspension 4) Cromartie’s hip will be healed 5) Rivera full offseason as DC. We were extremely weak up the middle of the D, TE’s routinely tore us apart. Not much has changed in the secondary, the hope is an increased pass rush will help shore this up.
I’m not sure why you would think that our passing attack is nothing to fear, Rivers put up 4k yards last year expect him to do the same this year, regardless of how chambers performs. While none of our receivers are “big names” they all can ball… Jackson avg 19 YPC… then you still have to contend with gates, tomlinson and sproles out of the backfield… there’s just too many weapons…
I’ve liked the eagles since the days of Randall Cunningham, Keith Jackson, Keith Byars, and that bad a$$ d they had in the early nineties… so I have much love for Philly, eager to see if McCoy and Maclin can produce and if the O-Line will gel… can’t wait for this game, the season can’t get here soon enough… this is the most boring time of the sports year…
by truheeyo on Jul 2, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tough schedule?!?!?
The Raiders, Broncos, and Chiefs twice a year?
by Bye, Dawk :( on Jul 2, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And don’t get me wrong… I very much respect the Chargers, but go sell that “tough schedule” nonsense elsewhere. This is an NFC East team you’re talking to.
by Bye, Dawk :( on Jul 2, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol I had to read that twice … was he serious?
I’m of a firm belief that the only reason the NFC South was so good record wise was partly because they played the AFC West.
"The 0-2 pitch, swing and a miss! STRUCK HIM OUT! The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of baseball! And let the city celebrate! " - Harry Kalas 1936-2009
by Whodie126 on Jul 2, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha, yeah that’s a good point… Now I have to go see what NFC division the NFC South played…
by Bye, Dawk :( on Jul 2, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
2008 strength of schedule
Chargers opponents W-L: 132-124 .516
Eagles opponents W-L: 131-124-1 .514
but you do make a great point about who the NFC south played… very interesting, playing in a bad division can actually help your strength of schedule… counter intuitive.
We all need lives! football on July 1st?? at least you all don’t have to suffer this miserable Padre team full of AA players…
by truheeyo on Jul 3, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Over the past 3 years...
Chargers record against the AFC East: 15-2 Against everyone else: 18-13.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Bear Bryant
by NJBammer on Jul 2, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow! they play the AFC East teams a lot.
It took my two years to come up with an avatar and sig
and this is the best I could come up with.
by einman77 on Jul 3, 2009 3:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not afraid of LT
back in 05, he was hitting his prime and the eagles stopped him cold. 17 carries for 7 yards.
merriman will be back this year, so the SD defense has to improve.
I looked at Ohrnberger in the fourth quarter and he looked back at me. And we said, 'We're not losing this game"
by psudrozz on Jul 2, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
loved that game!
if i remember correctly, prior to the game against the Eagles he hadn’t had a game under 100 yards all season. He got jacked up by the Eagles that day.
by elmarbyzach on Jul 2, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ah yes. san diego...
discovered by the germans in 1904, they named it san diego, which of course in german means a whale’s vagina.
by awd777 on Jul 2, 2009 2:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“There’s no way that’s correct.”
“I’m sorry, I was trying to impress you. I don’t know what it means. I’ll be honest, I don’t think anyone knows what it means anymore. Scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago.”
“Doesn’t it mean Saint Diego?”
“No. No.”
“No, that’s – that’s what it means. Really.”
“Agree to disagree.”
by Bye, Dawk :( on Jul 2, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stay classy, San Diego
Sometimes it's just fun to take the family for a spin around the lake in the old boat. Even if it's not your family or your boat, and they're screaming for you to stop.
by Baron Dainer Von Tresvant on Jul 2, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
A healthy Merriman and Cromartie will make the defense a lot better this upcoming. They lost a lot of flukey games (officiating for one) last season and their 8-8 record probably should’ve been at least 9-7.
On offense, Chris Chambers is done. Vincent Jackson is the threat here as he’s gotten better year after year, especially at his height and size. Jackson and Gates are both matchup nightmares and then you have to worry about Darren Sproles in the backfield too.
Considering the weak division they play in, SD should have a much improved record next season. I don’t think the Broncos do it this year without Cutler
by JGCarraway on Jul 2, 2009 3:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Can’t wait for tickets to go on sale so I can drive down to San Diego and see my Eagles in action!!!!
As long as there is evil in the world, the cowboys will have their fans.
by vinniesdad on Jul 2, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
expect a close one.....
26-21 Eagles.
Westbrook and Celek have big receiving games, both having 7 receptions for over 75 yds and a td. We are held to about 70 yds rushing, but have just over 250 passing yds.
On the other side, we have trouble stopping Vincent Jackson who burns us for over 120 yds and two td’s. Gates gets the other td. However, we win by holding them to under 55 yds. rushing and getting a turnover with under 40 seconds left.
Boy, do i need a life.
by eaglemaniac814 on Jul 2, 2009 6:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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