Bolts/Bears Breakdown

This isn't really a live blog...not like I normally do.

I just watched the game on my DVR, with a pen and notebook, and jotted down some comments, some of which are snarky, along the way.

I'm a terrible Chargers homer, and most of my comments are based as such.  I don't even pretend to be "journalistic".  Just a doofus with a keyboard.

Dennis Leary does the intro welcoming us to Monday Night Football on Thursday night.  Which I loved.

Wonder if Dennis ever thought he'd be doing stuff like this back when he was doing this for a living:
(warning:  inappropriate language...and alot of it)

Chris "Boomer" Berman is announcing this game, with Trent Dilfer as the color guy.  Boomer is sporting some sort of strange plaid suit jacket...although the plaid stripes are Charger Blue.

and the Camera goes to NEW San Diego Chargers Head Coach Mike "Dammit Jim, I'm a Coach, not a Doctor!" McCoy.  He's looking sporty in a Chargers Visor.  Graphic Says:  2nd youngest Head Coach in the NFL.  I'm actually excited for the McCoy era, as a fan.

Next up, NEW Chicago Bears Head Coach Marc Trestman...Trestman looks kinda like a computer nerd (and yes, the irony of someone who works as a Technology Director calling someone a computer nerd is not lost on me....I'm just saying).

Soldier Field playing Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" before opening Kickoff.  Nice Touch.

Devin Hester with a great return to the 37 yard line, and we are underway.

Jay Cutler has his "douche face" in Midseason form as he takes the field.  Never really like Cutler, but I used to really despise the guy.  Now that he's on the Bears, I really don't care so much.  I think the thing that bugs me the most is just the way the guy looks.

Ladies and Gentlemen... it's Jay Cutler!

Cutler just has the look of the guy who got a brand new Trans Am from his parents when he passed his drivers exam.  I have no qualms about his abilities as a quarterback, the guy can sling it, and he's played behind some terrible o-lines.  Honestly, I don't even think his reputation would be so bad if he didn't look so.... douchey.

Jay Cutler doesn't care what you think.

He's just got one of those faces, ya know?  Like one of the cool kids, who thinks it's fun to pick on the underprivileged.
Note:  I'm not saying he is this way at all, I don't know the guy, or even know anyone who knows him, or ... you get the point.  He just LOOKS that way.  He's got a douche face.  So tonight, I will call him that.

Douche Face drops back to pass and is sacked and fumbles.  Bears recover.
Second pass, and the Douchemeister is sacked again...it's 4th and 24 for the Bears, and the Chargers D Line looks good, Corey Leguit is a beast-like person out there.

Chargers go no huddle right away.

Graphic Alert:  Philip Rivers has the 7th most wins of active quarterbacks.  That's a bit surprising.

The Bears hold at midfield, but the protection for Rivers was pretty good.

Douche Face retakes the field.  And Matt Forte breaks a long, long, run down the lest sideline.  Douche Face then throws a TD pass to Brandon Marshall and it's 7-0 Bears.  (Take that, dude who keeps calling me douche face!)

That was an impressive long drive by the Bears.

And now, it's Rivers turn to get sacked.  Rookie Right Tackle DJ Fluker was abused on that play.
GREAT story on Fluker in the San Diego Union Tribune.  Really rooting for him, very uplifting story.

Then Rivers is intercepted...on a play where the Chargers WR (Keenan Allen) is tripped and taken down by the Chicago defensive back...pretty obvious PI call there, in my opinion (and my opinion is biased).
-The Play is under review...the ball may have hit the ground.  Oh it did.  Replay confirms.  The Ref in the booth with Boomer and Dilfer also says this will be overturned...and the play is upheld.  Of Course.  So it's a Pass Interference No Call followed by a non-interception that is ruled an interception... I see how it is.

Douchey McDoucherton takes the field and immediately throws and INT to Donald Butler.  To be honest, I was expecting some sort of reveral on that, as no Charger touched intended WR Brandon Marshall, and Butler didnt' come close to touching the ground with the ball.

A classic sideline Douche Face on return from commercial.

Bolts come out in no huddle, and run the ball 4 straight times with Ryan Mathews...who is running hard, and wasn't injured on any of the 4 plays.

Max Starks gives up a sack and Rivers fumbles, the Bears recover.  Of course they do...because if we sack their QB and he fumbles, they pick it up and advance the ball a few yards... however, if they sack our qb our Charger players are perfectly happy to let the other team jump on the ball.  The Bears are just mean.

Forte scores and it's 14-0 to nothing and Cutler sends me a text that says "Who's the douche now?"  (This MAY NOT have actually happened).
-and the Chargers defense looked BAD on that drive.
-and the O-Line looked bad on that last drive too.
Bears...after a bit of a rocky start, look pretty good.

Then, Richard Goodman muffs the kickoff, and spins around looking for it, he can't find it...and finally takes a knee about .374 or a second before a Bear takes his head off... you can't make this stuff up.  Goodman better pick it up, he hasn't looked good this pre-season.

and the first Quarter mercifully ends.
-The Chargers start the 2nd quarter with some more no huddle, after the 1st down.
-When Rivers has time to throw, he's so good.  Staying no huddle for now.

It takes a full quarter for Boomer to mention that both starting WR's for the Chargers are out.  Donario Alexander tore his ACL, and Malcom Floyd hurt his knee this week..
-and then Jeromy Clary gives up a sack.... that's 3 different Offensive Linemen already.  Bill S. Preston, Esquire would proclaim "Most Non-Triumphant".

A Manti Te'o sighting... on the sideline, in a book.  Sprained foot.  The Chargers seem to always be among the most injured teams in the NFL.  It's something I pretty much count on.  Year in and Year out.

Backups in for both teams at the skill positions now.

The Bears Special Teams look phenomenal.
-the Chargers, not so much.

First a terrible return, then catch a break on a penalty that forces a re-kick.
And then, Keenan Allen (Rookie WR who looks promising) fumbles the return...and of course, the Bears recover.  Like I said before, the Bears are mean.

The Bolts get the ball back, and Clipboard Jesus (Charlie Whitehurst) has taken the field!  Perhaps he shall lead us to salvation.  Probably Not.  But "Clipboard Jesus" has to be the greatest nickname in the history of the NFL... or at least top 3.  It's up there with "Night Train" Lane, and "Slingin" Sammy Baugh.

"No...Guys... Seriously...Why do they call me Clipboard Jesus?"

And Jesus does not save on this occasion.  Whitehurst fumbles his first snap after entering the game, and of course the Bears recover, because...you know the rule... the Bears are mean.

So, as a Chargers fan...we've had 4 Turnovers already and there's 5 mins to play in the first half.
To sum it up in one word, that one word would be "Atrocious".
-another FG by Robbie Gould and it's 20-0 Bears.

Douche Face and Computer Nerd are really kinda rubbing it in, don't ya think?

And the Savior is resurrected!  Whithurst leads the Bolts down the field ( kind of impressively) and Fozzy Whitaker runs it in for a TD.  20-7 Bears.  Clipboard Jesus not only led the Chargers down the field for a Touchdown on that drive... he didn't spike himself.

Now watch the Bears return this Kickoff for a TD.
-OK, he only got to the 24, and there's a penalty for being offsides, on the Chargers of course...so they take over on the 29.  The Bears have owned Field Position in this game.  Hell, they've owned pretty much everything.  They take a knee, and it's halftime.

Yikes, that was depressing.  Not even gonna lie, I know it's preseason, and the games don't matter, and teams don't gameplan (much), but that was depressing.

The 2nd Half is ready to go...a bunch of FNG's and people just trying to make the roster.
-Pre-season football...it's Fabulous!

Clipboard Jesus back out with the backup Offensive line who were terrible last week.

MLB Jon Bostic of the Bears just DESTROYED Mike Willie of the Chargers.  Just crushed it.
-that hit was clean and brutal.  Willies ears gotta be ringing after that one.

The Bears fumble a punt return, and the Chargers recover.  That's just not something I'm accustomed to seeing.  And the fun of backups playing continues... 2 fumbled punts by backup returners already, and we're just into the 3rd quarter folks.

You know I'm not holding a clipboard in any of these pictures, right?

Clipboard Jesus finds salvation in the End Zone with a strike to LaDarius Green for a TD.  Green had a TD last week too, and he's one Charger who has actually looked good this preseason (and in camp too, from reports).

And the Bears almost return the Kickoff for a Touchdown.  I was one too early on my prediction...Nice hustle by someone on the Bolts to catch him, I'm too lazy to look it up.    Michael Bush runs the ball in for the Bears, and it's 27 to 14.
-and the Chargers return their kickoff, comparatively, to the 13 yard line.

After a Charger punt, a random Boomer quote, "#1 punting to #11".  OK.  Thanks for that Boom.

2 straight plays with Bears penalties.  Backup Football Rules!  4th and 32 for the Bears.

CBJ (Clipboard Jesus, I'm getting tired of typing that out...it's really not any shorter than Charlie Whitehurst), throws another Touchdown pass.  He's playing much better tonight than last week, and it's 21-27.
-I hope next possession, Rookie QB Brad Sorensen gets in.

Another Kick Return for the Bears out past the 30 yard line.  I am not joking.  It's like the teams are playing 2 different games on Special Teams.

DJ Smith has looked pretty solid at ILB for the Bolts.  Something to keep an eye on, especially with Te'o's injury.

You gotta love the Bears fans, it's 3rd quarter, in the pre-season...and they are cheering on their backups, doing the wave...Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego would be half empty by now.  Soldier Field is Rocking.

And another Manti Te'o segment, because we haven't heard anything about this kid, and his personal life.  And we certainly need a 2nd segment on a player not playing tonight because of precautionary measures.

And Sorensen takes the Field!  Yes!  I like this kid from Southern Utah.  I watched him almost lead his Thunderbirds to a miraculous comeback against my SDSU Jackrabbits a few years back.  He looked good last week.

And the Bears, block a punt.  You can't make this stuff up.  Don't forget our recurring theme tonight...The Bears are mean.

Man, the Bears hit hard!  Both on Defense, and Special Teams.  Just some big shots going on out there.

Sorensen and Ed "Rock" Baker lead the Chargers on a nice drive, and Sorensen throws a TD pass to Mike Willie and it's 28-30.  I have to say, the Bolts Backups look much better tonight than last week, when Seattle just took it to them.

But the Special Teams have been atrocious, in about every conceivable way, both games this PS.  Hold your breathe, there is a Kickoff coming.

The Bears win.  Final score 33-28.

Live Blog: 2013 NFL Draft Round 2

We'll be live blogging once again, tonight.

Although, not in near as much detail as last night.  Mostly, I'll post the picks, and maybe make a comment or two on some of the more interesting selections.  And, as always, I'll be paying special attention to the San Diego Chargers.

Topics of interest tonight:

• West Virginia Quarterback Geno Smith
• Notre Dame Linebacker Manti Teo
• USC Quarterback Matt Barkley

It wil be interesting to see where these players go, and when they will be selected.

For the Chargers, I have my hopes set on one of two Offensive Tackles:  Menelik Watson or Terron Armstead.  So, it's Day 2, Round 2, and I'll be sitting here hoping that one of the tackles fall to the Chargers again.  Weird.  Also curious as to what the team will do in round 3...  I had the Offensive Guard/Center Barret Jones from Alabama in my Mock Draft, but I think that's highly unlikely with the selection of DJ Fluker in Round One.  

If I had to guess on Round 3, for the Chargers at this point... I'd be looking at:  Cornerbacks David Amerson or Darius Slay; Inside Linebackers Kiko Alonzo, or Jon Bostic; or another position of need, which could be Guard, but could also be Outside Lineback (pass rusher) or perhaps Tight End or Wide Receiver.  

It's also possible that the Chargers take a Cornerback like Jordan Poyer in Round 2, basically I have no idea, and I'm grasping at straws.

Stay Tuned tonight... It all gets rolling in about another hour!  

Live Tweeting going on, with the hashtag #DoofusDraft

Mel Kiper was just on the set.... 25 minutes until the draft starts, and he brought out the "tremendous value" slogan.  I love Kiper and his "value pick" selections!

Adam Schefter is tweeting that Jacksonville will make the pick, not trade it, and they are looking at Cornerbacks.

Some great discussion on the "Honey Badger" on espn.  Bill Polian said he'd take him off his board, Trent Dilfer said it would be really hard for someone like that to "turn their life around" when they get all this money, and all they have to do is play football.

Best thing about Round 2...only 7 minutes between picks.
Best thing about Round 3... only 5 minutes between picks.

Just a couple minutes to go, and Jacksonville will be on the clock...

Trey Wingo manning the anchor position tonight for Boomer.  Man, remember the days when Boomer, TJ, and Kiper did all 8 rounds, pretty much by themselves?  Those were the days.

Jacksonville is on the Clock for the first pick of the second round... Pick 33  - Schefter tweeted earlier than Jacksonville is probably picking a corner
With the 33rd pick, the Jaguars select...Safety John Cyprien from Florida International

34th Pick is possibly being traded by the 49ers to the Titans.
-and the Titans select:  Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

35th Pick is the Eagles:  TE Zach Ertz, from Stanford  (3 picks in, and no Offensive Tackles yet!)
36th Pick is the Lions: (I bet here come a Tackle...because I did that)
Nope!  CB Darius Slay  Mississippi State

37th Pick is the Bengals (thanks to the Raiders for Carson Palmer...how'd that work out, Silver and Black?)
-RB Gio Bernard from North Carolina  (interesting...didn't see him being the first RB)

38th Pick is the Cardinals:  (no clue what they do here)  TRADED to the Chargers!  Woah!
with the 38th Pick, the Chargers take... Who?  Who? Menelik Watson?  Terron Armstead?
-Linebacker Manti Teo!  Holy Smokes...I'm Blown Away!  Blown Away!  Didn't see that coming.

Hope you play as well in SD as you did at ND.

Honestly, I'm going to have a hard time thinking for the next half hour or so, here.
I wonder what they gave up to get him?  They moved up 7 spots.
And Eisen tells me they give up their 4th round pick.  That's it.

39th Pick is the Jets:  Is it Geno time?  And it is!  QB Geno Smith from West Virginia.

Between Teo and Geno being picked back to back... we should just take a five minute break.
(Smoke em if you got em  #Spaceballs)

40th Pick is the 49ers (sheesh, they fleeced the Titans out of next years 3rd):
-Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State.  (Another Pass Rusher SF?  You don't play fair.)
TWEET from "Red Hed Jess":  I wanted to announce the Niners Pick!

41st Pick is the Bills:  Robert Woods, WR, USC  (pretty good player)
42nd Pick is the Raiders:  (If Al was still here, I know they'd screw this up, now I'm not so sure)
-Menelik Watson, Offensive Tackle, Florida State.... that's one of the guys I wanted!
(of course, that has changed drastically with the Teo pick)

43rd Pick is the Buccaneers:  Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
TWEET from Frank Caliendo:  BREAKING: Sources say Chargers drafting Manti Te'o may be part of a very elaborate hoax.
TWEET from Adam Schefter:  With 2nd-round selection of Geno Smith, Jets now have surplus of QBs, leading some sources to say team will consider releasing Mark Sanchez.

44th Pick is the Panthers:  DT Kawaan Short, Purdue
45th Pick is the Cardinals: (from the Chargers)-  LB Kevin Minter, LSU
46th Pick is the Bills:  LB Kiko Alonzo, Oregon
(suddenly a rush on Inside Linebackers...Te'o pick looking good)
47th Pick is the Cowboys:  TE Gavin Escobar, San Diego State
48th Pick is the Steelers:  RB Le'Veon Bell from Michigan State (that's 2 before Lacy!  surprising)
49th Pick is the Giants:  DT Johnathan Hankins, from Ohio State
50th Pick is the Bears:  LB Jon Bostic, Florida  (another ILB in the "run" that Te'o started)
51st Pick is the Redskins:  CB David Amerson, NC State

-Been getting alot of the picks before they are announced from Jason LaCanfora's twitter feed, but he totally butchered those Giants and Bears Picks.  Had the RB from UCLA going to both.

-Also, think I'm going to break this into another, seperate post for round 3.  Just getting kinda longish.

52nd Pick is the Patriots:  Outside LB, Jamie Collins from Southern Miss  (Who?  I don't know)  This was one of the picks from the Vikings to trade back into the first round, last night.

53rd Pick is the Bengals:  DE Margus Hunt from SMU (I didn't realize SMU played defense?)
54th Pick is the Dolphins:  CB Jamar Taylor from Boise State (I like this pick)
55th Pick is the Packers:  Traded to the 49ers!
-The San Francisco 49ers select:  TE Vance McDonald from Rice (makes sense, they lost one in FA)

56th Pick is the Seahawks:  Trade to the Ravens!
-And the Baltimore Ravens select:  LB Arthur Brown, Kansas State (another ILB type, I like him)

I gotta admit...my stamina is running out.  I think in the third round, I'll post until the chargers pick, and then wait...and just post the results and thoughts afterwards.  This is exhausting to do for nothing but fun.

57th Pick is the Texans:    Safety, DJ Swearinger from South Carolina  (I bet he's got a potty mouth)
58th Pick is the Broncos:  RB Montee Ball from Wisconsin (another RB before Lacy?  that's strange)
59th Pick is the Patriots:  WR Aaron Dobson from Marshall
60th Pick is the Falcons:  CB Robert Alford from SE Louisiana
-that Pick was announced by Leon Sandcastle!
61st Pick is the Packers:(from the Niners)  RB Eddie Lacy, Alabama (LOVE this pick...good one)
62nd Pick is the Seahawks: (from the Ravens)    Christine Michael RB, from Texas A & M

And that's it for Round 2!  I'm going to have a hard time getting as excited for round 3.  Don't know as many picks, and let's face it, it will be impossible to top the Te'o and Geno picks back to back!

Yowza...I'm already tired.

Free Association - Doofus Style

OK, so I've been really, really slacking in the blogging department the past six months or so.  Well, there are some very valid reasons for this, namely:

1. I started a new job/career, which has kept me very busy...and keeps me on a computer most of the time.  
2. We moved (new job related), and putting things away, getting organized, and household stuff took over.
3. For the first time in two years, I'm coaching BB again, and this has deeply cut into any free time I've had.

Once in a while, I'd have a good idea or two, but then I wouldn't have time, and I'd lose momentum, and then the urge to blog would go away.

So today, I thought I'd just throw down some thoughts and observations about pretty much anything that comes to mind.  

Greetings to my Russian friends!

I went to the "stats" page of my blog, and after Americans...the number of Page views by country...Russia comes in 2nd with 154 page views... (Over 50 ahead of 3rd place, the United Kingdom).  I wonder why Russian people are "stumbling" across my blog.  Or maybe they are American people in Russia... or, whatever, Welcome Comrades!

Podcasts

I painted my son's room today, and while I was working I listened to a couple of different podcasts.  Adam Carolla and Jay Mohr were the two I listened to (they are probably my favorites, along with the BS Report).  The Adam Carolla show is probably the best show in the genre, and honestly there are so many good podcasts out there any more... it's actually quite incredible.  I'd be lying if I didn't mention that I've often thought about doing a podcast myself at some point.  But here's the big catch... I'm boring.  What the hell would I talk about that people would want to listen to?  And who would I talk to?  I don't know many interesting people.  So although it might be something fun to try, it would pretty much only be for me.

Manti Te'o

So the Notre Dame star linebacker was taken in by a "Catfish" scheme, and fell in love with a girl who didn't exist...who then died of cancer.  OK.  Isn't he supposed to be like a very good student, at a very prestigious university?  So far, we've learned that Manti was fooled enough to tell the world that this person he'd never met was in fact, his girlfriend, and that she died the same day as his Grandmother.  I really don't care anymore, at first the story was so incredible I got swept up in it like everyone else.  Although I would like to make special mention of the excellent reporting of Deadspin.com.  They broke the story, and have also done a great job with updates like this.

Rock and Roll T-shirts

Remember that time you got a new job, and weren't allowed to wear PE clothes to work anymore?  And you decided that to "keep it real" you should get some Rock and Roll T-shirts to wear under your sweaters? Oh, that was just me?  OK.  Anyway, waited until I got some Christmas Cash, and ordered 5 classic rock t-shirts.  Looking forward to wearing them. Don't make fun of me.  

Yes, that's a Journey shirt among the Beatles, Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd...deal with it.

Brookings Half Marathon

I've decided to run the Brookings Half Marathon again this year.   I believe this is the 5th time.  Also participated in the Marathon Relay a few times, as well.  Anyways, it's very difficult to find time to get the training in.  If you are looking to run a Marathon, Half Marathon, or participate in a Marathon Relay...I'd give Brookings some serious consideration, it's a great race.

Lance Armstrong

So Lance finally confessed to Oprah.  And people are surprised he came off as arrogant?  Really?  The guy is a giant prick.  I remember first hearing the rumors of doping, and thought "no way".  And every time Lance would come out with a new accusation, and lawsuit, and I'd be all like "you get 'em Lance".  But eventually, too many people kept coming forward, too many teammates turned on him.  And people don't like this guy....the guy who lied to everyone for years and years...and sued people that he knew were telling the truth.  Yes, he's a jerk, he's arrogant, what else did you expect?  The guy only came forward because he had no choice.

Scrubs is fun to watch

Bought the complete collection of all the Scrubs seasons for Christmas, and we've slowly been making our way through them.  I know I've blogged about this before, but it's been really fun to watch, and we've been laughing our butts off around the house.

Twitter is addicting as you've heard

I held out for a long time.  I wouldn't get a twitter account.  Who wanted to hear from me (Judging by my 67 followers...compared to 735 Tweets...not many)?  However, I got tired of reading twitter updates from my favorite sportswriters.. by having to look them up individually, and I broke down and started an account before the NFL draft last spring.  Along the way, I discovered a number of things that are really fun to do while on twitter:  watching the presidential debate, watching the "big game", watching awards shows.  I highly recommend getting one, if you haven't yet.

The Chargers "Start Over"

The Norv Turner/AJ Smith era is over.  After an extensive search, the team ended up hiring Tom Telesco as the General Manager, and Mike McCoy as the newest Head Coach.  I'll reserve judgement until they have had a few seasons to do their job... but the first impressions are really good.  The Press Conference with Coach McCoy was very impressive.  Best wishes to the new guys in charge, and hope they can turn things around.

Hope these guys can lead the Chargers back to respectability.

Zero Dark Thirty

Actually took the wife on a date a few weeks ago, and we attended this film.  I came away very impressed with the movie...it doesn't really take a stance one way or another about the war, the use of terror, or any of those subjects.... it allows you to form your own opinion.