*** OFFICIAL *** Chargers @ Cardinals 2007 PreSeason Game 3 GameDay Thread

This is it! It's time for the Bolts to fry some birdies!

VS
....


Less than 17 hours until kickoff!

Go Chargers!!

:icon_banana: !!!!! GO CHARGERS GO!!!!! :icon_banana:

Damn, I'm really liking those new helmets..

Go, Chargers!!!!!!!

BTW - anyone seen where this game would be televised in the east? I'm traveling to upstate NY today, hope to catch the game in the hotel tonight.

Stay healthy Chargers, the score in this game dont mean a thing.

Road Trip...

heading out in a few minutes, we'll be in Field level endzone...

Be safe Ron!

Take pictures!

That roadie is just a warm up for the next visit to 'Zona - for the Lombardi.

Have fun man !!

It's do or die for some of those guys on the bubble. Last chance to impress. GO CHARGERS!

CD! How ya doin... We draft today?

Yes we do in about 2 hours. I can't wait to see all of the homer picks!:icon_toast:

I've been looking as well.

Nothing here in Mich.

except for the Dish

I would thoroughly enjoy watch leinart get crushed by our pass rush ! :yes:

Get outta this with no injuries, and we are home free.

http://www.offshoreinsiders.com/index.php?Page=Articles&ArticleID=118

Chargers-Cardinals Betting Information to Beat the Online

Sportsbooks
Aug 24th, 2007

The San Diego Chargers and the Arizona Cardinals will both be trying to pick up a preseason win on Saturday when they battle at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Oddsmakers currently have the Chargers listed as 3-point favorites versus the Cardinals, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.

The Chargers won a convincing 30-13 decision over the Rams last time out. The Chargers easily covered the slight 2.5-point spread, while the combined 43 points made it OVER the posted total of 38.5.

Philip Rivers was good on 9-of-13 for 82 yards with a TD, and Billy Volek threw for a touchdown and finished 7-for-10 with 61 yards. Sports betting expert Joe Duffy reports that the Chargers starters will play into the third quarter. Of course the notable exception as always will be superstar running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

Arizona likely will have their starters play early into the third quarter. This is significant to football betting experts because Arizona has little depth at most positions.

Arizona was outscored 17-3 in the third quarter of the second week of preseason, falling 33-20 as 3-point home favorites. The 53 combined points were OVER the posted total of 35.5.

Matt Leinart was a perfect 7-for-7 for 70 yards and a touchdown, and Ahmad Merritt caught four passes for 61 yards for the Cardinals.

Team records:
San Diego: 14-2 SU, 9-7 ATS
Arizona: 5-11 SU, 8-8 ATS

Next up:
San Diego home to San Francisco, Thursday, August 30
Arizona at Denver, Thursday, August 30

http://www.betus.com/sports-betting/NFL_Preseason_Betting_San_Diego_vs_Arizona-6128.aspx

NFL Pre-season Betting - San Diego Chargers -3 vs. Arizona Cardinals +3

By D.S. Williamson

The NFL betting line for this game says one thing to us NFL betting fans: Vegas is awfully chilly on the San Diego Chargers. Check out these other NFL betting odds on Sunday: Denver -6 over Cleveland, Chicago -6 over San Francisco, Indianapolis -6 over Detroit.

It’s still the pre-season, people! But, it’s the last weekend of the pre-season and that may account for the strange lines. If Denver, Chicago, and Indianapolis play most of their starters, then giving up 6 points to the traditional doormats they’re facing isn’t all that bad.

Shouldn’t the same be said for the Chargers? Yes, the Chargers will not be playing LaDanian Tomlinson in their game versus the Cardinals, but the Cardinals won’t be playing their best defensive player, Chike Okeafor, at all - - for the entire season!

The Cardinals first team defense was atrocious against the Texans in their last pre-season game, giving up scoring drives of 85, 73 and 82 yards in the first half. That’s the Texans, friends. Now, they’ve got to keep one of the best offensive teams in the league out of the end zone.

The trend is obvious here - - the Arizona Cardinals cannot play defense. Expect the Chargers to use all of their weapons, minus LT, in the first half and run the up the score against the Cardinals. They’ve got to get some work into Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, and the new set of wide receivers that Coach Norv Turner hopes to unleash onto the AFC West come the regular season.

Getting an NFL betting line of -3 on the Chargers against almost anybody in the league is good, but against a Cardinal’s team that can’t stop anybody, is downright awesome.

Pre-season or not, this betting line is just too good to pass up. Go with the Chargers in this one.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20070824-9999-1c24slayer.html

Slayer hasn't lost long-held, thrash-metal independence

By David Berlin
UNION-TRIBUNE

August 24, 2007

After touring with thrash metal band Slayer for 26 years, lead guitarist Kerry King is pumped up – for the upcoming San Diego Chargers season.
“I'm off for all of football season. I can't wait. (It's) the first time in years I've been off for football season. Usually I'm in Europe and gotta get my info the next day,” said King, a Southern California native whose band is scheduled to perform at the Sports Arena tomorrow with Marilyn Manson.

“In England, you get the late Sunday night game and the Monday night game live. But you've got to be up at like 3 in the morning. And I was, trust me.” .....


CLICK ON LINKY FOR MORE .....

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070825/A_SPORTS/708250333

Ex-Trojan won't let injury get him down

By Roger Phillips

August 25, 2007
Record Staff Writer

A number of years ago, early in his football career, Tyronne Gross' grandmother, Joyce, asked him for a favor.

Whenever he was slow getting up after taking a big hit, Joyce said, kindly raise an arm or a leg. That way she would know he was not badly injured.

Six days ago, however, midway through the fourth quarter of the San Diego Chargers' preseason victory at St. Louis, Gross was tackled from behind by Rams linebacker Quinton Culberson.

And this time, as Gross lay on the artificial turf, there was no raised arm or leg. The former Lincoln High star running back had severely damaged his right knee, an injury accompanied by the worst pain he says he has ever experienced.

"At that moment," Gross said Thursday as he prepared for Friday afternoon's scheduled season-ending surgery, "there was no chance of raising anything. All my focus was on the knee."

Gross was speaking from White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles, where his father, Tyronne Sr., and his grandfather, Alfred Sr., joined him to provide moral support.

In addition to dislocating his kneecap, Gross tore two ligaments. He is hoping surgery and an intense rehabilitation program - some of which he said he plans to do with Stockton sprinting coach Sonny Larkins - will allow him to resume his football career one year for now.

Gross, who played college football at Sacramento State and later at Eastern Oregon, said he made it through the first 24 years of his life without undergoing an operation, something of an accomplishment for a football player.

He spent last year on the Chargers' practice squad as an undrafted rookie, and was fighting to win a roster spot in his second NFL season. He carried the ball eight times for 39 yards in two preseason games.

"Tyronne Gross has worked so hard," Norv Turner, the Chargers' first-year coach, told reporters after Gross was injured. "He's such a neat kid and a talented player. I was really disappointed to see him get hurt."

Gross said Turner had indicated to him before the St. Louis game that he was making a strong preseason bid.

"By him telling me that," Gross said, "I knew my hard work was starting to pay off."

It might seem reasonable to speculate that the injury has left Gross depressed, disappointed and fearing for his football future. But Gross, saying he will lean on his religious faith to carry him through the trials ahead, insists he does not see it that way.

"I have faith everything is going to be all right," he said. "It's just a mountain I have to climb. One door closes, another opens. I don't know the reason and I'm not going to ponder why this happened to me.

"I don't have time to do that. I have to keep my spirits up and focus on my recovery. If I sit here and ponder all the negative things, think about why this happened, such a serious injury, it would mentally be a setback."

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/95894

Cardinals defense still area of concern

Mike Tulumello, Tribune
Will the real Cardinals defense stand up ... or roll over? The answer will largely determine their season. So fans will be interested to see which defense they see tonight when the Cardinals host the San Diego Chargers.

Read Mike Tulumello's Bird Watching blog

After a respectable preseason opener at Oakland, the Cards regular defenders were pushed around last week by the Houston Texans.

The performance brought back memories of last season, when the Cardinals’ “D” ranked 29th in the league (by allowing nearly 350 yards per game).

To improve, “I didn’t study the stats as much as I looked at the tapes.” general manager Rod Graves said.

He believes the team’s talent has been upgraded and predicts a faster team that makes fewer mental mistakes than took place last season.

From what he’s seen so far (particularly against the Texans), “The one thing that’s been missing in our first two games that I’d like to see picked up is to be more physical, particularly up front.

“We should get after our opponents a little more than we did in the Houston game. I think coach (Ken) Whisenhunt shares that opinion.”

Graves foresees a “tough front seven” with “good competition in the secondary where we should be able to put together a pretty good unit.”

As for last week’s disappointment, Whisenhunt blamed poor communication in the defensive huddles.

“Some of it was guys not paying attention or not listening, some of it were guys not hearing it or not hearing correctly,” he said.

At times, defenses weren’t called correctly from the sideline.

“I’ve heard it said, ‘If we’re playing the wrong defense, as long as we’re all playing the wrong defense, we got a chance.’ But if we have a bunch of guys playing a bunch of different defenses, you’ll have holes.”

The Cardinals also were fooled on a number of misdirection plays.

To correct this, players who are responsible for the weak side have to stick to it rather then cheating elsewhere to make a play, he said.

“You have to be sound in where you’re supposed to be,” he said.

But all this still doesn’t explain all that went wrong vs. the Texans, who moved the ball with ease.

“We’re taking a look at players,” defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast said, along with their techniques.

The Cardinals are playing bland defensive sets, which basically emphasize one-on-one battles, in the preseason.

In the regular season, “Whatever style of defense we play, we want everyone to play with good technique,” Pendergast said.

To improve from last season, “The biggest thing is the big plays,” he said.

“We don’t want to give up big plays in the passing game, whether it be penalties or long balls. That’s one thing we really focused on in the offseason.”

Perhaps the addition of free agent Rod Hood, who seems likely to replace Antrel Rolle as a starter, will help here.

“He’s a guy with experience,” Pendergast said. “He reads route combinations well, sees the field very well and has good peripheral vision.”

Linebacker Bertrand Berry said the key is to stay healthy.

“The last couple years, we’ve had guys go out. I’ve been out the last couple of years and haven’t played a full season. There’s a level of consistency we just haven’t had. We need 11 guys out there for 16, 17 weeks and get some level of continuity.

“If we can do that and coach Clancy’s game plan, the sky is the limit for this defense.”

The Cards already have veered off course in this regard, as they’ve likely lost linebacker Chike Okeafor for the season.

The applicants to replace him are Calvin Pace and Darryl Blackstock, players who — though they’ve had chances — never have established themselves as starters.

Can they do so now?

“We’re going to find out,” Graves said.

“That question hasn’t been answered yet. I think it’s up to them.

“They’re certainly getting their opportunity. We’ll have to see if they take advantage of it. If they don’t we’ll certainly try to find replacements to where we’re satisfied.”

Some of those answers figure to start coming tonight.

Chargers at Cardinals
What: NFL preseason game
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale
TV: Ch. 15

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-thegameface082407&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

The Gameface: Fantasy becomes reality

By Michael Silver, Yahoo! Sports
August 24, 2007

As a Las Vegas native who literally learned to count by playing blackjack for M&Ms as a kid, Steven Jackson can appreciate the thrill of the big score. And though Jackson, the son of two longtime casino blackjack dealers, doesn't gamble, the St. Louis Rams' halfback has come to understand in recent months that his efforts on the football field last season helped pad a whole lot of pockets.

In an era in which fantasy football has become the new national pastime, Action Jackson was the object of more man-crushes in 2006 than anyone not named LT. Never was this more apparent than at Vegas's McCarran Airport last month, as Jackson sat at a restaurant tucked between the slot machines and the oxygen bar waiting for a meal he wouldn't have to buy.

"I was grabbing a bite before my flight, and a man came and offered to buy me dinner," Jackson recalls. "He told me I'd helped him win his league last year and that he wanted to show his appreciation. He wasn't intrusive or anything – he just picked up the tab and let me finish the meal. And he said he planned on picking me up again this year."

Lest you think this is a unique occurrence, consider the experience of San Diego Chargers halfback LaDainian Tomlinson, the man who in '06 put together what was probably the most prolific season in NFL and fantasy football history. "I get people offering to buy me meals all the time," LT said Monday when I related Jackson's story to him at Chargers training camp.

"People do the strangest things. They say, 'I owe you – let me buy you a meal.' One person said, 'I had you in all six of my fantasy leagues, and I won all of them.' I tell them, 'Hey, I'm just doing my job.'"

Like most players, Tomlinson isn't exactly sure how doing his job translates into others' fantasy-league winnings. He has a vague notion that yards, receptions and touchdowns are a very good thing, but beyond that it's as fuzzy as former San Diego coach Marty Schottenheimer's decision-making process during a playoff game.

"I stay away from fantasy football," says Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber, whose twin brother, former New York Giants halfback Tiki, was a high-scoring player late in his recently concluded career. "It's a bunch of stuff I can't control, and that I don't want to think about."

Many NFL players adopt this blind spot out of necessity, for fantasy's sensibilities have little to do with what they understand to be reality. Because so much of what goes into the communal pursuit of winning a football game isn't quantifiable, the mere consideration of personal productivity is an unwelcome pollutant.

Put it this way: In Tomlinson's world no one is more important than veteran fullback Lorenzo Neal, a man whom fantasy players regard as only slightly more valuable than former "Are You Hot?" judge Lorenzo Lamas.

For this same reason I've steadfastly resisted the fantasy-football thing, but that's about to change. Just last night, profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio invited me to join a league featuring other NFL writers, and though I'm going to pass (it's hard enough maintaining relationships with players from 32 teams without having to fight the urge to curse them for their ill-timed fumbles), there will soon be a regular fantasy element in my columns.

I'll even be attending somebody's draft, albeit in view of the Pacific Ocean, which I expect will brighten my mood as I assess the relative merits of Ladell Betts vs. Marion Barber III. (I actually have Tommy Armour III at the top of my fantasy-golf draft board, but that's another story for another time.)

In short, despite my conviction that it's antithetical to the essence of football, I'm determined to have a better attitude about fantasy. I figure if guys like Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia can go with the flow, I can, too.

Years ago, when Garcia was struggling as Steve Young's successor with the San Francisco 49ers, I learned of a conversation he'd had with some fans in a Bay Area bar. It happened midway through the season, and one of the fans started venting to Garcia that the quarterback's subpar statistics were killing him in his fantasy league.

Rather than blowing the guy off or taking offense, Garcia empathized. "Dude, stick with me," he pleaded. "I'm going to get things going. Keep me on the team and you'll see. I'll turn it up."

And he did, ultimately making the Pro Bowl and, I imagine, scoring lots of fantasy points.

In that sense, embracing fantasy as a new reality, Garcia was ahead of his time.

"People talk to me about fantasy a lot more than they do about our team, even around here," Rams quarterback Marc Bulger told me earlier this month after a training camp practice. "Even if you lose, you'll hear about your fantasy numbers. I guess if you throw for a lot of yards, to some people, it's not that bad of a loss."

And as tempted as Bulger was to roll his eyes as he uttered that last sentence, he understands the fantasy mentality because he knows what it's like to play. "After I got cut in 2000 (and was out of football), I played just to see what it was about," he says, harkening back to the Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf" era. "Back then, whoever had Kurt (Warner) or Marshall (Faulk) automatically won the league. It's a lot more competitive now."

Even coaches, the ultimate enemies of individual-statistical glorification, have had fantasy seep into their psyches in recent years. Says the Rams' Scott Linehan: "My son, Matt, will say to me, 'Dad, can you get Torry (Holt) the ball?' I say, 'Matt, I'm just trying to win a football game.' And he'll say, 'Yeah, Dad, but can you win and have him catch two touchdowns?'"

Or, might I suggest, Linehan simply give the ball to his big, dreadlocked halfback every time the Rams get near the goal line. That might not make for the greatest show on turf, but at least Action Jackson can save some meal money. ......

CLICK ON LINK FOR MORE

DirectTV channel 212 is the info I have, at 7PM PST, 9PM my time!! :yes:

:yes:

Score = meaningless

Win = meaningless

Staying healty and getting to review the rooks before the cuts = PRICELESS!

http://www.mercurynews.com/49ers/ci_6706267

49ers' Franklin on track for opener
Franklin on track for season opener

By Dennis Georgatos
Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News
Article Launched:08/24/2007 01:37:05 AM PDT

Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, a key acquisition in the 49ers' revamped defense, remains confident he will return from a knee injury in time to play in the season opener against Arizona.

"I can feel the progress," Franklin said Thursday. "I'm right on schedule now, maybe a little bit ahead of schedule."

Franklin, formerly with Baltimore, joined the 49ers as a free agent in March. He was in the midst of a strong training camp Aug. 6 when he got caught in a pileup during practice drills and tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Coach Mike Nolan ruled out Franklin for Saturday's exhibition game at Chicago and said he'll also be held out of Thursday's exhibition finale at San Diego to ensure his availability for the opener.
"There's been no setback, but we're still not doing anything until the season begins with Aubrayo," Nolan said.

Franklin said missing the past two weeks of camp has been frustrating.

"This is the first time I've ever been hurt to where I've missed out on this much time," he said. "It's kind of a killer not being able to go out there and work with my fellow teammates. But I'll be back."

Two-thirds of the team's three-man defensive line has been sidelined for most of camp. Defensive end Bryant Young this week resumed practicing after missing all but a couple of practices because of a bulging disk in his back. Young will also be held out of the Chicago game but could get a handful of snaps in San Diego, Nolan said.

Still, the 49ers figure to go into their opener Sept. 10 without the benefit of their first-team defensive line playing together in a game.

"Sure," Nolan responded when asked if he was concerned. "But there's nothing I can do about it."

• Also out of the Chicago game are safety Dashon Goldson (elbow strain) and running back Frank Gore (hand). Nolan also hinted that Gore probably won't play in San Diego either.

"It might be one of those things where if L.T. plays, Frank plays," Nolan quipped. The Chargers typically don't play LaDainian Tomlinson in the exhibition season to protect the star running back from injury.

• Rookie Joe Staley, who's competing with right tackle Kwame Harris for a starting job, will get his most extensive playing time yet with the first team Saturday.

Harris will start and play a couple of series before giving way to Staley. The two are scheduled to spell each other every couple of series through the third quarter.

"I'll definitely be getting a lot of playing time, a lot of chances to show them what I can do," Staley said.

Staley and Harris will be tested by defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, who led Super Bowl runner-up Chicago with 12 quarterback hits last season. He added 6 1/2 sacks.

Staley also could run into a familiar face. Backing up Ogunleye is former teammate - and Central Michigan's career leader in sacks - Dan Bazuin, who was a second-round draft pick.

• Playing the NFC champion Bears should serve as a barometer for the 49ers, especially with both teams expected to play their starters for at least a half.

"The better the team you play, yeah, I would say it kind of lets you know where you stand," Nolan said.

• A small number of tickets for home games will be available for purchase starting Saturday, the 49ers announced. More information can be obtained by contacting the 49ers or going online at 49ers.com.

http://thefootballexpert.com/afcwestpreview070001.html

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Initial Impression: This is a team that was within a few field goals of hosting the AFC Championship Game with a 17-0 record. All three of their losses were by exactly 3 points. Now the task is to prove that personnel and not coaching, is what got them to 14-3 last year.

Reading the Rookies: Craig Davis was considered a reach at #30, but the Bolts are dying for help at wide receiver. Their offense currently revolves around the RB/TE combo of Tomlinson and Gates. Being limited certainly cost them in the playoffs against the Patriots. Weddle (cornerback) and Waters (linebacker) will bolster the depth of an already stout defense. Davi will be counted on for big plays when opposing defenses pay too much attention to their stars.

Sizing up the Schedule: If it isn’t enough to be in a rugged division, the Chargers open against the defending NFC Champion Chicago before visiting New England who is considered by many a Super Bowl team yet again. The good news is that Denver and Jacksonville are the only other big tests on the road. Fellow defending division champion Baltimore is at home and they face no inclement weather with the possible exception of December 2 at Kansas City. They should be favored in 13 or 14 games.

Overall Outlook: Vincent Jackson is expected to step up at wide receiver along with aforementioned rookie Craig Davis. They will need to because another record setting season from Tomlinson can’t be counted on. Someone has to pick up the slack left by Parker (injured) and McCardell (gone) who combined for 84 receptions and 1,096 yards although neither scored a touchdown. For the offense to be effective in the playoffs their receivers need to be legitimate threats.

Guessing Game: Even with a mass exodus of coaches this is clearly the best team in the AFC West. The only question is whether or not they can lock up home field advantage to avoid tough road playoff games in New England or Indianapolis. I do not expect them to roll up a 14-2 record again because it will take the team time to adjust under head coach Norv Turner. They probably start 4-2 before the bye, and soon after face a difficult stretch of Indianapolis, Jacksonville (road) and Baltimore. 12-4 or 13-3 sounds good and a trip to the Super Bowl.

Ain't that the truth. Half-assed football is better than none, but it's still pre-season.

Less than ten hours! GO CHARGERS!

:icon_toast:

For the second-consecutive day, Turner reported no new injuries. Those missing Thursday’s practice included defensive end Igor Olshansky (groin), linebacker Anthony Waters (knee), defensive tackle Brandon McKinney (ankle), linebacker Matt Wilhelm (calf) and guard Erik Robertson (ankle).

Linebacker Marques Harris (shoulder) worked Thursday but missed some time earlier this week. Turner said that he may not play much Saturday against the Cardinals.

These late starts are real killer, A 10 PM start WTF????? Oh well at least I will get to see the Bolts for the third straight game.