I know it's Tuesday already, but having read all these other questions, I became curious as to what people thought. On the one hand we have of course the Coach? Bad use of the Challenge in the second half, we can argue preparation, we can argue mental focus, etc. How about the Offensive Coordinator. The potent Chargers offense mustered only 21 points? How about Eric Parker and his dropped passes, muffed punt and subsequent lost fumble. How about McCree and his boneheaded attempt to run back an interception that could've sealed the game. How about Florence (?) who had that ridiculous personal foul penalty that gave NE a first down and kept that game tying drive alive? Dare I say, how about the kicker who missed the game tying field goal?
My opinion is the Coach, because all these errors are mental mistakes, that a Coach is responsible for. A Coach needs to have his team mentally prepared and I think it was obvious the Chargers were good enough to win, but they weren't ready.
2007-01-16 10:00:40 · 18 answers · asked by Chaney34 5 in Sports ➔ Football (American)
By the way, the Best Answer doesn't have to agree with me at all. I'm really just curious, please state your reasoning as well. Thanks.
2007-01-16 10:01:17 · update #1
Wow, big question. Definitely not the field goal kicker, 54 yards is a long way, was not his fault at all. The biggest reason will probably be the ridiculous penalties in the game that gave New England all the chances. The person with the interception was unlucky-if you were in the NFL, and you caught a interception, first instinct would be to start running the other way-he did just that, and was unlucky that troy brown hit him right on the spot. About the challenge, yea the timeout was a biggy. With that, they could have stopped the clock and advanced it maybe another 5 yards to put it in a little better place. But the play they challenged on was a big one-perhaps he did it in case?
2007-01-16 10:06:03 · answer #1 · answered by DJ4LIFE 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm a go with The Chargers for 500.
2007-01-16 10:03:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The offense looked great this year because the Chargers had a very favorable schedule and the MVP/best runningback in the league with his 28 touchdowns.
Their schedule consisted of very weak teams and decent teams with horrible defenses. I wouldn't call them potent just yet.
( Don't expect the Chargers to score this much next year with a much more difficult schedule. )
You could say that there were a few areas in the coaching aspect that could have been better. But that's conservative Marty ball for you.
Twenty-one points isn't bad considering they could not get a break.
The headbutt penalty on 3 and long
Muffed Punt
Interception stripped and recovered back by New England.
The missed field goal at the end.
Most of these were huge point swing factors. What can you do?
Baring those 4 plays they win, so I agree with you ther. But the Chargers beat themselves and that's the worst way to lose.
2007-01-16 10:37:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The major coaching mistake was going for it on 4th and 11. I mean c'mon do you have no faith in your kicker to try a 48 yard field goal. It just seemed ridiculous. Then with the game on the line Schotenheimer puts the kicker in to attempt a 54 yarder?? All in all the Chargers should've run the ball more and utilized LT more. The Patriots clearly could not stop him especially off tackle on the left side.
2007-01-16 10:59:45 · answer #4 · answered by nflterry 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the head coach of the chargers. he throw the challenge flag for the interception then a fumble play. it was so onvious that is was a fumble and he had no reason for throwing the flag. that cost them a timeout which they needed at the end to set up a more manageable field goal for the kicker. everyone did their part and made smart plays but the coach is to blame for this loss to the patriots.
2007-01-16 12:56:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The New England Patriots!
They aren't the better team but that day they scored more points, dang it!
2007-01-16 11:11:54 · answer #6 · answered by askareferee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
marty he lost the game by only giving the ball to LT 9 times in the second half
when he was averaging over 5 yards a carry
and he also wasted a timeout on challenge that had no cahnce of being reversed, and went for it on like 4 and 19 wen the could have easily kicked a 30 yrd feild goal, he lost the game
2007-01-16 10:15:09 · answer #7 · answered by Jimmy D 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I dont think you can blame the coach. My football coach kept telling my team this year that, "When we win, it reflects upon you guys and how talented you are. When we lose, I'm the only one to blame." Obviously a head coach makes the executive decisions but at that age, do the pro's actually listen to their coaches anyway? You can really only blame the entire team because you can't place the blame on 1 sole individual. If the practice squad could've immitated the other team better, wouldn't they have won. If the players hadn't made those little mistakes in the first, second and third quarters, they may have won. It's just way too complicated to blame on one individual.
2007-01-16 10:09:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
McCree, for going for an interception instead of just knocking the ball down. Even if he hadn't fumbled, knocking the ball down for a turnover on downs would have given the chargers better field position than if he were tackled on an interception. And the coach for challenging when there was no question of a fumble.
2007-01-16 10:08:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, Marty's fault 100%, LT, shawne merriman, Rivers, Gates, all these guys on one team is the recipe for a champion ship, and once again history proved to be correct...that martyball does not work in the playoffs
2007-01-16 10:09:24 · answer #10 · answered by billy j 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋