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We’ve just released Episode 83 of the Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast.
Our synopsis for Episode 83 is below:
Preseason football is back! However, it was a damp squib for Chargers fans as Easton Stick and the Bolts Offense struggled to move the football at SoFi Stadium in a 16-3 loss to the Seahawks. Join us today as we share our observations from Jim Harbaugh’s first hitout as Chargers Head Coach. 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)
Thank you guys for the amazing effort and content!!!
Comments:
Chargers should have immediately grabbed Tannehill when Herbert went down. It would have given us a better back up and a better QB to battle against our defense. Stick does not help our defense get better. Still not too late.
Shouldn’t Quentin Johnston play all four quarters? He is not the kind of player that needs to be protected, but one that needs to get reps, get open, get confidence and production.
Alt looked solid but has been susceptible to getting bull-rushed in practice and in the preseason game. He needs to build strength and get lots of reps against Mack and Bosa in practice.
Leatherwood was shockingly bad to me. Jaimes has had years to develop and has not gotten there. I am not seeing it with either guy. Waiver wire at the 53 cut the Chargers should be adding an offensive lineman. Or I would just keep Karsen Barnhart and develop him.
Cornelius Johnson is destined for the practice squad.
Jack “Lots of hands on balls”…WTF?! Hahahaha
Picking up Shaq Quarterman and bringing back Savion Jackson could mean that Junior Colson and his recovery may take longer than we think? Chris Rumph II has a foot injury that “could take some time” to heal.
I am starting to be concerned about Bradley Bozeman and Jamaree Sayler. Both continuing to miss practice for over a week now.
@spanos-must-go And thank you for the engagement and great comments!
I’ll let most of your comments speak for themselves.
I would have liked to see QJ targeted at least once regardless of how many snaps he played.
Here are a couple other points I didn’t get to on the show from my notes:
- I enjoyed Minter mixing up the DB combinations and cross-training guys. Ja’Sir Taylor played 11 snaps at Outside Corner with Still covering the slot. Obviously still trying to work out the best mix.
- All 5 snaps Poona Ford played were in the “B Gap”. Historically, that’s not where he’s played his best ball: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1823816267968733223.
- On 15 rush attempts on Sunday, the RBs forced “0 missed tackles”. The run blocking wasn’t good, but neither did the RBs showcase their ability to overcome it.
- Interestingly, including QB designed runs there were 11 “Zone” runs v 7 “Gap” runs (per PFF). This is completely counter (no pun) to how Greg Roman’s run schemes have traditionally operated, which historically have been the most gap-heavy running schemes in the NFL. Again, maybe he was just testing out some things.
Junior Colson returned to practice yday (per Popper) so perhaps the Quarterman signing was more about continuing to add quality depth to battle with Dye & Niemann? No idea.
I’m mildly concerned about the injuries in general. But I don’t feel like I know Harbaugh well enough to gauge this just yet. And I’ll wait until Wk 1 before getting myself too worked up about the OL.
Thanks mate!
@alisterlloyd Great news on Colson, I missed that somehow. He has been off to a rough start, but maybe he can settle in now.
I am pumped with churning that bottom of the roster even if it improves the team a tiny bit. It is a game of inches.
The run game felt very familiar. Minimal running lanes and poor offensive line play. Understanding that Bozeman was out, but damn there is Jaimes being pushed three yards behind the line of scrimmage and causing the play to blow up before it even has a chance. I understand it was Byron Murphy (1st rounder) pushing him back, but Jaimes is in his 4th season, and it looks the same. And he gets to face Christian Wilkins and Chris Jones twice. I’d lobby for Hardwick to throw on his uniform, but he’s gotten too skinny.
@alisterlloyd Will write a longer reply when I have the time (which has been in short supply of-late) – I do want to make one comment on the running game:
The observation that the run plays were counter to what Greg Roman runs is very astute. My guess (hope?) is that Roman has worked on developing his running schemes, which he’s going to unleash on the NFL over the course of the coming season. For the pre-season, he’s running simple plays to see how specific players perform in a game setting. He is in no way tipping his hand regarding what the Chargers running attack will look like during the regular season.
Regarding the forced missed tackles, I re-watched the game and thought Spiller forced a few as did Patterson. Didn’t really improve the play much, but I thought both looked OK running behind shit blocking. I also saw Spiller pick up a blitz, something he was horrible at last year.
@kevdiego I also thought I saw a couple missed tackles forced on the broadcast, Kev (including on the one decent outside run Patterson had). So maybe PFF missed a couple or just have a different definition of missed tackle forced.
@kylededi 😆 😆 “Half flag” is what comes out of one’s mouth when they’ve had 2-3 beers pre-show and mix their metaphors live on air whilst realising mid-speech.
- @kylededi you know Kyle, I commented about Jack’s “lots of hands on balls”, but I left the “half flag” alone! These “down under” guys have too much fun on these podcasts!
Kyle: For how many times I’ve been to Australia to visit my family in Alister’s home city, Melbourne. I’ve only heard of it once while we’re sitting around with my brothers and some Aussie friends watching an Aussie Rule football game. I knew very little about Aussie rule football. I thought it was an Aussie Rules football jargon since the umpires carry a while flag in both hands. :))
Another great episode, Alister! Just got thru listening to it. Next time you use another Aussie idiom without translation, you’ll get half flagged (yellow carded) for it and full flagged (red carded) and ejection for repeating of the same foul. 😆
Some good news today. Popper reported that Herbert is out of the walking boot as of today. It was the earliest possible day he could’ve been out of it, which leads me to believe the injury recovery is on track. Now he has about 3 solid weeks to ramp up, develop chemistry, & get that important timing down w/ his pass catchers.
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