Hello and congrats, Pats fans

[PABoltsnut]

Hey, I just wanted to introduce myself around the board. Seems like you guys have a great thing going here.

Obviously I'm a Chargers fan and I'm looking forward to hanging around and offering my takes about this week's game for the next seven days, as well as getting the takes of all of you. I love chatting with opposing fans, so hopefully you guys'll have me.

I'm certainly not here to talk up the Chargers or simply be one of the annoying rival fans that every forum has to deal with - i'm here to talk knowledgeable (or atleast I'd like to think ) football, and thats it. So if you have any questions about the Chargers, I'll do my best to answer them for you.

Congratulations on advancing; I was very impressed with the win over the Jets today. Great gameplan by BB and his staff, as far as the quick throws to beat the blitz. Brady had a hell of a game.

I'm sure this could be found with a little research, but would one of you guys mind answering me question of whether it's likely that Rodney will play next week in SD? He's still up there with my favorite Chargers ever and that would definitely make for yet another fun aspect to the game.

Can't wait!!!

 

[PromisedLand]

Classy introductory post - we always welcome fans of opposing teams who come here to knowledgably discuss football. So, welcome!

 

[Elway]

As a fellow AFCW fan, congrats on the win today! I wish we had #12!!

 

[patsfan13]

Hey, I just wanted to introduce myself around the board. Seems like you guys have a great thing going here.

Obviously I'm a Chargers fan and I'm looking forward to hanging around and offering my takes about this week's game for the next seven days, as well as getting the takes of all of you. I love chatting with opposing fans, so hopefully you guys'll have me.

I'm certainly not here to talk up the Chargers or simply be one of the annoying rival fans that every forum has to deal with - i'm here to talk knowledgeable (or atleast I'd like to think ) football, and thats it. So if you have any questions about the Chargers, I'll do my best to answer them for you.


I'm sure this could be found with a little research, but would one of you guys mind answering me question of whether it's likely that Rodney will play next week in SD? He's still up there with my favorite Chargers ever and that would definitely make for yet another fun aspect to the game.

Can't wait!!!

Welcome, I think the game next week could be the best game of the playoffs, possibly the 2 best teams in the league.

As to Rodney, the way the Pats handle injury reports I doubt we'll know until the inactive players are listed Sunday. I will predict that Brady will be listed as probable on the injury report with a shoulder injury (like every week for thye past few years).

 

[PATSNUTme]

From one Nut to another, welcome. Hope that you continue to post classy stuff.

This is not an answer to your question but I have heard "hints" in the media over the weekend tha Rodney may be back next week. I'm not believing it until I see it, but if anyone can do it , it's Rodney.

 

[Flying Fungi]

Hello, and welcome. I imagine that there cant be many SD fans in PA?

must be Amish

 

[Fogbuster]

must be Amish

BOLTS, Amish!!

 

[Michael]

Hey, I just wanted to introduce myself around the board. Seems like you guys have a great thing going here.

Welcome!

Now let me ask you. What would you rather have the best running back in the NFL or the best Quarterback in the NFL?

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Hey, I just wanted to introduce myself around the board. Seems like you guys have a great thing going here.

Obviously I'm a Chargers fan and I'm looking forward to hanging around and offering my takes about this week's game for the next seven days, as well as getting the takes of all of you. I love chatting with opposing fans, so hopefully you guys'll have me.

I'm certainly not here to talk up the Chargers or simply be one of the annoying rival fans that every forum has to deal with - i'm here to talk knowledgeable (or atleast I'd like to think ) football, and thats it. So if you have any questions about the Chargers, I'll do my best to answer them for you.

Congratulations on advancing; I was very impressed with the win over the Jets today. Great gameplan by BB and his staff, as far as the quick throws to beat the blitz. Brady had a hell of a game.

I'm sure this could be found with a little research, but would one of you guys mind answering me question of whether it's likely that Rodney will play next week in SD? He's still up there with my favorite Chargers ever and that would definitely make for yet another fun aspect to the game.

Can't wait!!!

Thanks. Keep your posts knowledgeable and polite and you'll always be welcome on this board. As for Rodney's avaialability, I'm sure that Bill Belichick will be completely forthcoming on this subject when asked

 

[PromisedLand]

PABoltsNut, what kind of a reception do you think Rodney will get in SD if he does happen to play? What kind of reception would Jr have gotten if he hadn't gotten hurt?

 

[PABoltsnut]

Hello, and welcome. I imagine that there cant be many SD fans in PA?

You nailed that one. In fact my dad and a senior in my school are the only two I know.

I'm just waiting for the day someone from around here calls me a bandwagon fan. I think whipping out a size kids large Ryan Leaf jersey, bought after draft day '98, should do the trick of shutting the person up.

Welcome!

Now let me ask you. What would you rather have the best running back in the NFL or the best Quarterback in the NFL?

I'll go out of the box here in part one of my answer. I'll take the best offensive-line in the league over either of the positions you mentioned. A high-quality line can make any back look good, and giving any NFL quarterback a decent amount of time should be enough.

Your question is a real tough one, but I'll have to go with running back in this one. It's been proven before (Trent Dilfer) that being a top team doesn't necessairily require a top quarterback, but it's rare when you see a SuperBowl winning team that can't A) run the ball and B) stop the run.

There's so many advantages to having the top quarterback and so many to having the top runningback, it's a close question. Both our teams are fortunate to be able to say that we do have one of those two, IMO.



Thanks for the welcome, everyone. You seem like a classy group of fans yourself.

 

[PABoltsnut]

PABoltsNut, what kind of a reception do you think Rodney will get in SD if he does happen to play? What kind of reception would Jr have gotten if he hadn't gotten hurt?

I fully expect both of them to be received very warmly. A lot of fans questioned letting Rodney go at the time they did and, ever since then, we've been searching for the big-hitting safety that he is. It looks like we've found that to some extent with Marlon McCree.

As you might know, Junior still has a restaurant out in San Diego and, another fun fact, I was able to meet him there while my family and I were out on vacation in December of '04. Having those kind of connections to the city can only work in his favor as far as his PR.

They're both definitely still respected and liked among Charger fans and I for one was dissapointed with their injuries.

 

[patsfaninpa]

I was stationed in San Diego during their heyday for the 1980 season. I'm a Pats fan but have followed the Chargers too. Especially, since their one of the original AFL teams. Where do you live in Pa?

 

[PABoltsnut]

I was stationed in San Diego during their heyday for the 1980 season. I'm a Pats fan but have followed the Chargers too. Especially, since their one of the original AFL teams. Where do you live in Pa?

I'm in Bethlehem, which is a little over an hour north of Philly.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Welcome, Boltsnut.

Last season we had a really good group of San Diego fans over on the board during the week of the game. They were well-informed and passionate but polite -- and gracious after your team kicked our backsides. I expect that this year's game will be closer, but worry about missing Harrison and whether we will be able to close down LT when he runs outside.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Your question is a real tough one, but I'll have to go with running back in this one. It's been proven before (Trent Dilfer) that being a top team doesn't necessairily require a top quarterback, but it's rare when you see a SuperBowl winning team that can't A) run the ball and B) stop the run.

The Pats can run the ball #12 overall and stop the run #5 overall.
I believe the Bolts are #2 at running the ball and #7 at stopping the run overall.

So I believe that puts us at an impasse.

What will seperate these teams? QB play and the receiving game. I think Brady gives us an advantage and we will try to rattle Rivers and force him to beat us with his arm.

Should be a good game and believe it or not I like going into this game as underdogs. The media has never respected the Pats before. Why should they start now? And I think this works in our favor.

 

[PABoltsnut]

The Pats can run the ball #12 overall and stop the run #5 overall.
I believe the Bolts are #2 at running the ball and #7 at stopping the run overall.

So I believe that puts us at an impasse.

What will seperate these teams? QB play and the receiving game. I think Brady gives us an advantage and we will try to rattle Rivers and force him to beat us with his arm.

Should be a good game and believe it or not I like going into this game as underdogs. The media has never respected the Pats before. Why should they start now? And I think this works in our favor.

I agree completely about QB play being the big deciding factor of this game. I don't believe the Patriots, nor any other team, will have success running the ball against our front 7. They've been dominant in that area (and for the last few years, as well), and I expect that to continue.

When we do have trouble against the run it seems like it's always against bigger backs (Lamont Jordan comes immediately to mind), so I wouldn't doubt seeing a few impressive runs from Dillon on Sunday.

Our DB play has been improved over last year as well, but that and the ability of the Chargers to get pressure/the Patriots to shut down that pressure will be where the game is won and lost, IMO. They did a great job today of picking up the Jets blitzes, but the big difference between the Jets and the Chargers is that we'll be able to generate pressure without blitzing. I fully expect BB and his staff to come up with another great plan, however, and it's inevitable that our DBs are going to be forced to step up and make some plays at some point during the game.

The media's "disrespect" of the Patriots is an important factor, but I wonder about something else. No matter what Tom Brady says, I don't believe he's not upset about having Rivers basically unseat him from the Pro Bowl team this year. I'm betting he'll come out looking to prove that it should've been him, rather than Rivers, making the trip to Honolulu.

But it's Brady in the playoffs, does he even need anymore motivation to go out there and excel? It's almost unfair.

 

[Bruschi 3:16]

Finally, we get to play a team I honestly respect. I love LT and the Chargers' game. Its going to take an A game for the Pats to escape SD. I think they can do it, but we need to be healthy and not turn the ball over.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

OK, we got our payback for Ben Dreith...Now its time for payback to Lance Alworth and those guys, from 1963. Then the book will be cleared. LD

I watched that game on our black and white Crosley 19 inch or whatever it was. 51 - 10. Yes, revenge for that would be sweet, then, in the SB, I want Patriots 47, Bears 9.

 

[PABoltsnut]

I watched that game on our black and white Crosley 19 inch or whatever it was. 51 - 10. Yes, revenge for that would be sweet, then, in the SB, I want Patriots 47, Bears 9.

Kind of like our outside chance for revenge. Our losses have been as follows:

To the Bears and Niners in pre-season, to the Ravens and Chiefs in regular season.

We beat the Niners in regular season this year, beat the Chiefs our second time around, and (obviously we'd have to beat New England to do this, I'm not looking past this game - but for the sake of thinking about it) on the outside change we'd play and beat the Ravens in the AFCCG and the Bears in the Superbowl, we would've beaten every team we've played this year.

Kind of cool.