Nick Canepa's grades: Falcons beat Chargers

By Nick Canepa

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Quarterbacks

F+

For the first time, Rivers (42.5 passer rating) ran a Chargers offense
that didn t score a touchdown (team had gone 151 straight games scoring
at least one). Close to, if not, his worst game since N.C. State.
Protection didn t help.

Running backs

F

You fumble the ball inside the five when you re about to take the lead,
what do you expect, commencement exercises? Mathews must hang onto the
ball or find something else to do like soccer, where hands aren t
necessary.

Receivers

D

Floyd and Gates have serious drops. Falcons seemed to know where
everyone was going every snap.

Offensive line

F

Don t know who to blame here, the players or coaching. Harris was worked
pretty well. Rivers had about as much time to succeed as a Mayfly.
Gaither may be the key to this season.

Defensive line

F+

There was little push and they got pushed around. Youth was not served.
It was blocked.

Linebackers

D-

There were some moments. Some terrific hits. But not enough of them to
matter.

Secondary

F

Bigby must have lost that photo of Gonzalez they told him to keep in his
wallet. These guys got worked by Ryan and his big catchers all day. Lack
of a pass rush didn t help.

Special teams

C

Even Scifres, their best player, had a horrible punt. Nothing they did
made a difference one way or the other.

Coaching

F

If adjustments were made on either side of the ball, they weren t
noticeable. Norv better get some Velcro for that fumbling tailback of
his or find someone who doesn t cost him his job.

Next opportunity

at Kansas City

D-

Arrowhead s a tough place to play, the Chiefs are coming off a huge win
and the Chargers still will smell like 53 cakes of limburger when they
get on the plane.