5 Areas For Chargers to Improve

As the Chargers lick their wounds from a gut-wrenching defeat in the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night, they know they failed to achieve in certain areas. Let’s look at some of the things they need to improve on as they prepare for the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks this week.

Hold on to the ball: So many drops from the receivers, especially in key situations. There were a half-dozen in all, and each seemed to come at the worst time. The defense was just as bad, as safeties Eric Weddle and Marcus Gilchrist both dropped easy interceptions. Secure the rock, fellas.

Finish the job: The Chargers were twice in Arizona territory in the first half and came up empty handed. Another drive started inside the Cardinals 30 but resulted in just a field goal. But the biggest killer was late in the fourth quarter, the Chargers leading by 5 and driving, when a bad snap pulled them out of field-goal range and forced a punt that led to the game-winning score for the Cards.

Get stops: On that fateful go-ahead drive the Cardinals had four third-down plays and converted all of them. A big play on any one of those at least forces the issue and maybe gets the ball back for good. Overall, the Cards converted just 6-of-13 on third down, but made plays when it counted.

“It just comes down to at the end, like a majority of games in the NFL, you gotta play your best football at the end,” Chargers coach Mike McCoy said. “And it comes down to one missed play in one phase that maybe could win the game.”

Phase out the crowd: Yes, it was a rowdy bunch at Phoenix University Stadium – at least, the fans who were able to trudge through the rain. Still, the Chargers looked rattled at times, especially on the final drive when the Cards D upped the pressure. Quarterback Philip Rivers acknowledged as much.

“The environment was awesome and tough,” he said, adding, “We left too many plays out there.”

Get Nick Hardwick back: The impact of the starting center and offensive co-captain leaving early with an ankle injury wasn’t felt … until that fourth-quarter drive. Rich Ohrnberger’s bad snap pushed the Chargers back 15 yards and out of field goal range at a critical moment. Not to put the blame on him, but it’s still an area of concern if Hardwick misses any time.

Keep making plays: The defense and special teams both came up big. Gilchrist recovered a fumble that negated a big first-half pass from Carson Palmer to Michael Floyd just seconds before. Jeremiah Attaochu blocked a punt. The Chargers won the turnover battle, 2-1. If they keep doing that, good things will come.
 

Editor's Note: The Chargers placed Nick Hardwick on the Reserve-Injured with a neck injury on Sept. 10, 2014.

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