We’ve just releasedย Episode 130ย of theย Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast.
Our synopsis is below:
On Sunday Night Football in Wk 10, the Chargers showed the world they have what it takes โ even with Joe Alt out for the season โ to challenge the very best teams in 2025. It was a night where Keenan Allen surpassed Antonio Gates as the All-Time Franchise Receptions Leader, and the #BoltFam were treated to a special team performance. In an absolute beatdown of the Steelers, Jesse Minterโs Defense held Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Offense to 3 total points until junk time in Q4. The Chargers Offense, relying on Justin Herbert and the rush Offense, did just enough to keep the Steelers fearsome pass rush at bay. The final score (25-10) flattered the visiting team and the Chargersโ victory took their season record to an impressive 7-3.
With only a trip to Jacksonville standing between the Bolts and their bye week, are fans now feeling confident that a deep playoff push is on horizon? Or do doubts still linger? Join us on another episode of TDU to hear our views on all of the Chargery topics. Donโt miss it!
You can also listen on Spotify below (or download on audio wherever you like to listen to podcasts):
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Hope you enjoy the episode! Thanks so much for listening ๐
Alister (@TDU_Alister)
Did it go through Tau? I had a Pending and a Spam message in the moderation section but they were both from Alister
Sorry to confuse Kyle, I have access too so I went in and approved it after I read Tau’s comment
Thanks, guys.
Lol at Jack’s comments about his small loins. ๏ปฟ๐๏ปฟ
You guys characterized PIT as one of “the best teams.” IMO that is somewhat questionable. They are 5-4, #28 in offensive yards, and #29 in defensive yards allowed. They have lost 3 of 4. I think it is more likely they miss than make the playoffs.
Per Alister, in weeks 5-7, the Chargers were #32 in EPA/play. Since, they are #1 .
IMO, more than anything, that is a great indicator about Mack’s impact. I know there are other factors, but Mack played more than 12 snaps in 4 games — weeks 1 and 8-10. In those games, the Chargers defense allowed an average of less than 12 points per game, compared to more than 26 ppg when he played 12 snaps or less. And it’s not like it was schedule driven; the 4 wins with Mack included wins over 3 2024 playoff teams.
Agree with Al that there is reason to believe the Chargers can coach up DB talent. Al mentioned the corners, but it’s not just them, it’s also the safeties. I feel comfortable that as long as we have the current defensive coaching staff, the Chargers don’t need to invest big dollars in DBs. Frankly, they already are in Derwin, and IMO they probably should not continue that at his next renewal, which I realize will likely be an unpopular opinion. IMO they would be better off investing those cap dollars in the Edge and IDL position groups.
Jack referenced a Telesco holdover of trying to find OL in “the middle rounds.” Hortiz hasn’t done that. He drafted Alt at 1.5 and project Taylor in the 6th round. That’s it. We can only wish that he had drafted some OL in the middle rounds.
Al’s Yeh-Nah award was interesting, and I agree with him. Eventually, I worry that Harbaugh will cost the Chargers a game with bad decision-making.
On Jack’s teachable moment, the team has the OL it has. Yes, they will have to chip, etc., but that is a given. I’m not really sure what the point was… confused.
With the team getting this far at 7-3, the bye seems like a gift. I want to believe the Chargers can beat the Jags to get to 8-3 to enter the bye and get players recovered. Holding my breath.
Thanks as always for the commentary, Brian!
Fair observations about the quality of the Steelers:
On the Harbaugh Yeah/Nah discussion, thanks!
On to Jacksonville!
P.S. Not sure if this will be too much greater a test for our Defense. Jags are 18th in Scoring, 19th in Yards, 20th in EPA/Play, 11th in Rush Yards Per Attempt, 27th in Passing TDs (10). But I’ll take the win if we can get it!
To answer a question posed by Andy about PFF’s Top 35 Cornerbacks:
– The Colts also have 4 CBs inside the Top 35 (but that includes Sauce who’s been with the team for a week)
– The Chiefs have 3 CBs inside the Top 35 (in fact, they are all inside the Top 17)
– No other team has more than 2 CBs on the list.
Pretty great effort by Hortiz and Minter on this front.
Still and Hart will both be FA after the 2026 season. It will be interesting to see if they are extended since that will be the first draft class under Hortiz eligible for that. Don’t forget that Egboigbe, Vidal and Ladd are also in that class.
If they have already been identified as pieces they want to build the core of the team, they should extend them after this season. It will cost less in the long run and it gives the players the added security of having some bigger guaranteed $$ at signing.
Still and Hart (and Ladd and Eboigbe) were drafted in 2024. They should be under contract through the 2027 season unless the Chargers choose to trade or release them.
Vidal is a bit different since he was already waived. I think that means he will be an ERFA after this season and a RFA after the 2026 season, but that means the team should be able to easily re-sign him in each case if desired.
I’m pretty sure the team cannot extend rookie contracts until after their 3rd seasons, which would be after the 2026 season, not after this season.
Correct. I got the year the contract expires mixed up. They are on 4 year contracts since they are not first round selections. I would still like to see them extended before their contracts run out. The reason you want to draft good players is to be able to develop them and keep them in the fold.
We have a long time before these decisions need to be made, but I don’t think I agree with all of this.
Ladd will obviously get extended after next season. Period.
IMO Hart is a perfect example of a late round pick who gets coached up and plays a valuable role for 4 years, and then the team moves on. Things can change from today, but I would not extend him right now, even if they could. The current defensive coaching staff has shown they can coach DBs up, including premium players (e.g., James), late draft picks (e.g., Still), and UDFAs (e.g., Reed). That is the perfect situation for cycling through players on rookie contracts repeatedly. Plus, Hart has had multiple concussions as well as other injuries. No thanks to extending him (again, as of today).
As of today, yes, I could see extending Still. But it’s not a nobrainer. It depends on what happens in the next 1.5 seasons. As mentioned above, the coaching staff has shown they can coach up DBs, so they should be able to coach up a player to replace Still just as much as they can for Hart.
Eboigbe has a lot to show to earn an extension. I hope he earns it, but not today. Same for Vidal.
I agree on Egboigbe, while he has definitely shown improvement, I am not sure if he fits 100% what this team needs on the DL. He still gets pushed back way to easily for me. Agree on Still because he has that dog mentality in him, and he has flexibility to play inside or out in the scheme. I would not be so ready to dismiss Hart IF he can stay concussion free the next year. He is improving in his coverage and he brings a physical style of play at the CB position. I also like that he is a bigger CB to match up in the redzone with some of the bigger WR.
I am not saying that any of these players outside of Ladd are 100% locks to get extended, but I could see a case where any or all of them are retained.
Some Coachs Film Clips from the Steelers game I posted to X
Clip 1:
Clip 2:
Clip 3:
Clip 4:
Clip 5:
Clip 6: https://x.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1988410652810203202
Clip 7: https://x.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1988414153317642251
Clip 8: https://x.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1988424168631898319
Clip 9: https://x.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1988418191794860482
Clip 10: https://x.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1988435751370190901
Clip 11: https://x.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1988439410090930240
Clip 12: https://x.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1988431636900487275
Clip 13: https://x.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1988442337459200444
Clip 14: https://x.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1988447443349106949
Every time I want to say Pipkins is softer than the downy bears dick, he has a game like this. What the deal? Always look forward to the pod and clips, Al. Thanks!
Also, Hand and Tart are the keys.
You’re most welcome. Glad you get enjoyment from it!
Pipkins’ performance on Sunday is the baseline for what I hope we can get from our Right Tackle (whoever it is) for the rest of the season: