By BlueandGold
BoltTalk Contributor
Well, being that yesterday’s game was little more than a pick-up game for bubble riders, I’ll focus this write-up more on the major event that followed the game - the final roster cut-down to 53. Today, the Chargers cut 20 players, many of whom we Charger fans have been watching for over a month now:
- LB Antwan Applewhite
- LB Eric Bakhtiari
- WR Gary Banks
- S Tra Battle
- CB Josh Bell
- TE Wade Betschart
- S Brian Bonner
- RB Eldra Buckley
- DE Andre Coleman
- DT Lamar Divens
- G Brandyn Dombrowski
- DE Keith Grennan
- DT Keith Jackson
- WR Mark Jones
- T Tyler Luellen
- LB Terna Nande
- T Tony Pape
- LB Carlos Polk
- G Erik Robertson
- RB Marcus Thomas
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Source:
Associated Press
By Greg Beacham
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Even against his hometown team’s third-stringers and scrubs, Alex Smith demonstrated why he’s no longer the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback.
Smith passed for 146 yards but also threw two terrible interceptions, and San Diego’s Eldra Buckley made a one-armed diving catch on a 2-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds left in the Chargers’ 20-17 exhibition victory over the 49ers on Friday night.
Just four weeks ago, Smith never would have expected to be playing three quarters in the season’s most meaningless game. But the former No. 1 overall draft pick gradually lost his job to J.T. O’Sullivan, the journeyman quarterback who will start for the 49ers (2-2) in next week’s home opener against Arizona.
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By Curtis Egan
BoltTalk Staff Writer
This is not an article about urban legends like the Bunnyman, or a tale of horror where in a darkened room you call out Candyman three times and a murderous spirit appears behind you to end your life in some brutally graphic manner. This is not even about the latest Hollywood flick where some ordinary looking Joe with an instrument of death comes out of no where to play havoc on the standard American family in Suburbiaville USA.
No this is about the figure that haunts NFL locker rooms every year form mid August to early September. This is about the Turk. The horrifying figure that is responsible for players to disappearing from NFL Rosters from sea to shining sea. Many of us will never know the dread that his visitations bring but many a young player has found out… the hard way.
The month of August winds down and the Turk goes hunting:
Lets face it, the Chargers entered the preseason as arguable the most ‘set’ team from a standpoint of having it’s roster set and ready to go. The competition this preseason has been for back up spots, nickel position or filling in for injured or suspended stars. There were very few starting rolls which could have been considered up for grabs. This makes the Turk’s (*1) task of hunting down the players who are to be cut a little easier, but by no means an easy one.
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Source:
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO (AP)—Backup quarterback Billy Volek threw a 2-point conversion pass to Malcom Floyd in the fourth quarter, giving the San Diego Chargers an 18-17 preseason win over the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night.
Volek’s lob to Floyd followed a 1-yard touchdown run by rookie Jacob Hester that pulled the Chargers to within 17-16 with 2:30 left in the game. The 6-foot-5 Floyd out-jumped Omare Lowe, a 6-1 cornerback, near the left sideline in the end zone for the go-ahead score.
Both teams played their starters for most of three quarters, and will likely rest them in their final preseason games Friday.
Philip Rivers completed 11 of 21 passes for 143 yards, driving the Chargers to the 1 yard line on their first possession before a bad snap out of the shotgun formation by backup center Jeremy Newberry was recovered by Seattle.
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Source:
Yahoo Sports
It appears Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman’s season is over before it got started.
Or at the very least, it will be compromised because of two torn ligaments in his knee.
Merriman, who has mores sacks (39.5) the past three seasons than any other player, is contemplating playing through the pain or taking care of his wobbly knee.
“It could be career threatening if I (play),” Merriman said. It’s a possibility.”
Merriman has crisscrossed the nation speaking with specialists as he contemplates how to deal with torn posterior and lateral cruciate ligaments.
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Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner expects his starters to play one quarter or less Saturday night in the Bolts' preseason contest at St. Louis, meaning several young players will get an extended opportunity to show their worth.
The Chargers made big plays in all three phases Saturday night as they rolled to a 31-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in their preseason opener at Qualcomm Stadium.
Source:
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO (AP)—If first impressions are any indication, the San Diego Chargers should be pleased with rookie Jacob Hester.
The rookie running back scored on a pair of short runs to help the Chargers to a 31-17 preseason win over the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night.
Hester, the club’s third-round draft pick from LSU, is competing with Darren Sproles to replace Michael Turner as back up to two-time defending NFL rushing champion LaDainian Tomlinson. He made a strong case as he carried the ball 13 times for 49 yards and scored on runs of 1 and 2 yards.
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Its been more than a year since several young Chargers have played in live action, but Saturdays preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys will give them a chance to show how theyve grown.
By TrojanHorse and Lucky Lou
CowboysPride.net Writers, Analysts
Vince Lombardi once said, “if it doesn’t’ matter who wins or loses, why do they keep score?” It’s a point well made, and one well taken, but not in all instances. The NFL preseason provides one of those instances, where the final score acts as a formality, having absolutely no effect on team records or status. In exhibition football, wins and losses amount to personal gains of individual teams, and not the numbers aside an image on the Jumbotron.
The Cowboys and Chargers will enter Saturday’s contest looking to achieve victories in several areas.
1) Game preparation
2) Development of timing
3) Player evaluation
4) Situational scheming
5) Avoidance of injury
6) Establishment of team chemistry
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