SDUT: Nick Canepa's grades: Falcons beat Chargers

[Robin Miller]

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.