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We’ve just released Episode 103 of the Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast.
Our synopsis is below:
Happy New Year, BoltFam! The Los Angeles Chargers kick off 2025 in style! With an elite head coach, a savvy GM, a superstar QB, and a dominant defense, the Bolts are officially playoff-bound before Week 18.
Join us on Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast as we break down the Chargers’ 10th win of the season—a commanding 40-7 victory over the New England Patriots in Foxborough. We’ll also preview their final regular-season matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders and dive into the AFC playoff picture. Don’t miss it!
You can also listen on Spotify below (or download on audio wherever you like to listen to podcasts):
As always, you can support us by doing any or all of the following:
– Rec’ing this post and leaving any thoughts/feedback you have in the comments section below.
– Following us on Twitter (and ‘liking’ our tweets) at @TDU_Chargers, or individually, at @TDU_Alister, @TDU_Jack and @TDU_Andy.
– ‘Subscribing’ to our YouTube channel, clicking the ‘Like’ button for today’s episode, and engaging with us in the comments section.
– Giving us a rating and leaving a review on the Thunder Down Under Podcast page on Apple Podcasts (and ‘subscribing’).
– Spreading the good word to all of your awesome Chargers friends and family and encouraging them to listen to our show (and engage with us on social media).
Hope you enjoy the episode! Thanks so much for listening 
Alister (@TDU_Alister)
Should get to watch today before work.
Happy New Year, Stormcloud family! ⚡️⚡️⚡️
Who’s got it better than us?
Just watching now so gonna make some comments while it’s fresh….
I’ll shorten Jack’s comments re: defense a bit…..DERWIN BITCHES!!! Heart and soul of this D. Watch his play, listen to what Harbaugh says about him. Yes, he’s worth his paycheck.
Roman and a “bag of tricks” he’d withheld? Hmmmmm….not at all sure I agree. I’d say it’s more that he’s finally recognizing Salyer>>Pipkins (and it still required an injury), DD’s speed has a place in this offense, and QJ needs the ball quickly where he can create. There were more screens and RB passes this game….finally!!! So I’ll say that perhaps Roman is finally learning to incorporate more aspects of these players skill sets.
Good to put a weaker opponent away properly. Confidence building. Now FTR, let’s go get that 5 seed.
@buck-melanoma Thanks for the comments, Buck!
I think the bag of tricks comments were mostly facetious, but two Offensive data points I like (but didn’t get to on the show) are:
- Against the Pats, the Chargers went 19/27, 211, 2 TDs in the “No Play Action Drop Back Passing Game“. That has not been a strength of this team this season, so to see the team not having to rely on play action for the bulk of its passing production was a pleasant surprise.
- The Chargers are now 12th in the NFL for Points scored (368). If you’d told me before WK 1 that the Offense would finish 12th in that metric, I would have thought hard about taking it, given the lack of pass catching talent on the roster. As it turned out, there were some injuries to Herbert, Dobbins and Gus too. We’ll see how they finish the season, but the last two weeks are making the season as a whole look a little better.
FTR!
Listened to the pod while walking to get coffee this morning (my wife’s parents do not trust me driving their car on the left side of the road – very smart of them!). A few comments:
Offense:
- I agree that this was the best the Chargers OL has played this season. I still saw mental mistakes by Bozeman. I didn’t see Salyer make the mental mistakes or get beat physically like Pipkins. There was a play where Salyer let his guy cut across his face and get into the backfield to tackle Dobbins. Overall Salyer with a side of Mustipher >>> Pipkins. In the playoffs, Bozeman needs to limit the mental mistakes and Pipkins needs to sit
- Prior to the season, I thought the Chargers WR group could not afford to have 2 of 6 players who couldn’t play the position (QJ, Davis). The catch Davis made in the end zone… Holy fuck! If Davis can become a threat running routes… The Chargers are going to be a very difficult out in the playoffs.
- Agree with the Fisk/Matlock analysis. They both flash. I think Fisk is more consistent. Both could cost the Chargers in the playoffs
- I thought this was a better game for the RBs. When Vidal hits the hole at speed, good things happen. When he stops and chops his feet, he’s fucked.
Overall, I am optimistic that the offense can build off the performance going into the playoffs. On defense:
- I would have preferred Molden sit out this game, especially with the Chargers in control. Sucks that he was hurt (and hope they find a way to re-sign him). I do think that Jefferson has been very good when he’s on the field. Between Gilman coming back, Jefferson and Eddie Jackson, there should not be a drop-off in play.
- Agree that Derwin is having an amazing season. Last year, there was a lot of discussion about how the defense was better without him. The defensive play this year is a total inditement of how shitty a coach Staley was. I am embarrassed that I stuck up for that guy as long as I did. I guess I was clinging to a belief that the Chargers were about to turn the corner and be great. Unfortunately, they turned the corner into a dark alley and got mugged. Fortunately for us, the Spanos family pulled their heads out of their asses and handed over the football operations to actual football professionals.
- The IDL is interesting. Fox does not have the strength to do what Minter requires. Ogbonnia and Eboigbe have been underwhelming. Playing Tart (which was an amazing in-season pickup) and Ford completely changes the defense. Those two should be the starters in base defense, with Fox rotating in on pass-rushing downs.
Interested to see what the Raiders do after this game. Will Pierce stick around? I don’t see that happening. Will Telesco? I think (or at least hope) he stays. Davis has some money to throw at a coaching staff, but I can’t see a team with no QB and no direction (and in a division with Mahomes/Reid, Harbaugh/Herbert) as an attractive destination for one of the first-tier candidates. I think they will likely end up with Vrable or Rivera and continue winning 4-6 games per year, which makes me very happy. FTR!!!
See you guys this afternoon!
If Davis can become a threat running routes…
Davis has been a pleasant surprise with 2 TDs recently, but one of those was a broken play, not what I would call “running routes.” Don’t get me wrong, Davis did a great job on that play, just saying it wasn’t a called play.
I hope he can continue the trend, but I see no reason to expect it. Other than those 2 TD receptions, he has 10 receptions for 65 yards and 0 TDs this year. It is also worth noting that he has only played 67 passing snaps this season, including 12 in the past 2 games. What he did in the past 2 games was great, but unlikely to be repeated.
It’s a fair point. I should have said that Davis catching the ball 10+ yards down field is different and could be a difference maker if the offense can integrate this into the offense.
While limited in what routes he can run, defenses can no longer just protect against jet sweeps and screen passes. I hope that Roman/Trestman/Lal are working on plays that leverage the attention McConkey gets to drag the safety across the field, then have Davis blow past single coverage.
think they will likely end up with Vrable or Rivera
I would be very surprised if they end up with Vrabel. He should be the #1 or #2 candidate this offseason, depending on whether or not Ben Johnson is in play. Would he really choose the Raiders? I suppose money could talk.
I honestly think this cycle sucks for destinations. The Raiders, Jets, Jags, Bears, Saints, Giants(if it comes open) are all shit show organizations at the moment. Unless Vrabel is dying to get back into the HC seat, I think better situations will be open next year. Especially New England, where he would be an ideal fit with his wealth of knowledge there from everything from the owner to the fanbase. Plus, most of these openings are screaming for an experienced HC, so I could see Rivera, Rex Ryan, Pete Carrol or Marvin Lewis pop up in a few of these openings. Could you imagine a First time HC going to NYJ, LV, or Chicago? I think Khan will make a strong play for Ben Johnson. They just paid Lawrence a huge contract to be the franchise QB, but whether he is or not, is yet to be determined. They might figure if one of the best young offensive minds in football can’t get him over the hump, nobody can. Plus, with them being in the AFC, the Jags are not competing directly against Dan Campbell’s Lions which could make it just that more enticing for Johnson. I would have my doubts hiring him as he has turned down opportunities the last few cycles. That could be a red flag for some teams.
@evolz3737 I’ve said all along that Lawrence ain’t all that, since his Clemson days, and I stand by it.
We caught up with @kevdiego today in Melbourne.
Excellent fellow and we had a great time.
Happy new year to everyone at Stormcloud. Hope some of you can make it to Melbourne, Australia soon for similar fun
@alisterlloyd This is fantastic!! Great to see the connections this site and other’s in the LAC community are making. It would be fantastic if we could all get a meet up one day somewhere. Enjoy!!
Awesome! It could be my turn next time later in the year. My wife and I were supposed to be there for the holiday season and be with family in Melbourne, but then the wife had an medical emergency on the week before the scheduled trip.
@buck-melanoma Thank you Buck. She’s recovering very well from a surgery she underwent a week ago.
Great to hear she’s OK. One of the reasons we’re in Melbourne is that my wife’s father had back surgery – our kids haven’t seen their grandparents since 2019….
Important that we appreciate all the time we have to spend with family & friends.
@kevdiego Thanks Kev! Glad your family was able to make it down there to see family. Five years for grandchildren not seeing their grandparents is a long time. Absolutely, time with loved ones and friends is priceless.
Love the Melbourne’s unpredictable weather – all four seasons in one day. Golf is so much cheaper down there and some great courses, too. Hope you didn’t leave your clubs back home. :))
Clubs are home, unfortunately. We’re going to try to come back again next Christmas, so will look for more golfing opportunities next year!
Hey Al – It was great to meet you and Andy. As I said yesterday, I felt like I’ve known you guys for years. Very grateful that you guys made the time to meet up.
Great conversation – A few highlights (my memory may be a bit foggy due to the 30+ beers we had):
- Salyer>Pipkins: It looks like this is happening, which helps the team tremendously
- Roman? TBD. I think we all agreed that we need to see more before we want him back next year (recognizing what we want doesn’t mean a fucking thing)
- Playoff opponents?
- Texans? Yes please
- Pittsburg? I’m afraid of the physical way the beat the shit out of the Chargers in the first game
- Bills? The Chargers match up well. Weather will be a factor
- Chiefs? Would be fun to see what the Chargers could do in the third game. The refs would need to call a fair game
- Ravens: Probably the worst matchup. Perryman would need to be back. We also briefly discussed what the Chargers would have looked like if they had found a way to sign Henry….
I also learned that, other than a brief layover, Andy has not really been to the US. Both Al and Andy plan to go to the SB if the Chargers make one. I volunteered my house if the Chargers are in the SB in 2028.
@kevdiego If the Chargers make the SB and the TDU crew comes over for it, I would love to make a meet up happen, but I could never watch a Chargers SB in the stadium. I would want to watch it in my man cave with my son because there’s no way I could give it the attention it deserves at the game or even at a party with friends. Plus, I wouldn’t want them to see how I could possibly act if things didn’t go well. 😂😂 Maybe in the near future, some of us that are stateside can all agree to take a pilgrimage to see the Bolts together on the road somewhere.
That would be awesome Eric – I think I remember you saying your close to Atlanta? Let’s see what the schedule gods have in store for 2025!
Please let this be more than precautionary!!!! 🙏🙏🙏
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