I think New Orleans is an opportunity for Norv to really make a statement on whether or not he should be retained after this year.  I mentioned in my Norv replacement candidate thread that Norv has failed to really make any statement wins over the last couple of seasons, and when I say statement win, I am referring to a win that everyone thought we would and should lose and we came out and won.  You could maybe make a case for Baltimore last year, but then we came out flat the following week against Detroit and with it our playoff hopes went up in smoke.

Basically, if we can beat New Orleans, I think it will make SD fans back off Norv and the proverbial hot seat a little bit for the remainder of the season.  If we lose, it will only strengthen the argument even more that Norv brings little to nothing to this team as we beat the bad teams and get waxed by the good ones.

Yeah I will definitely agree with this, I will go a step further though, and say AJ's retention hopes should be on the line here as well....Yes its Norv's job to coach em up, but it is also AJ's job to field a competitive team, and if we somehow lose this game, and fail to make the playoffs, then we are not fielding a competitive team, and we need someone in here who can make that happen....

I will say this though, if we win, we will still here nitpicky things about Norv, playcalling, etc etc.... I, for instance, was one of the guys yesterday thinking these thoughts: Why are we letting them stick around? Why cant we complete a ball to a reciever more than 10 yards down the field? Why does our running game suck? Why is Cason still on the team? Yaaaay! They took Clary out! Nooooo! They put him back in!

Norv needs to step up his gameplan against the Saints, yes they are winless, but they are a tough very talented football team, and they are desperate, and hungry for a win, and they are at home..... Norv needs to come out guns blazing, and not try and feel them out his first couple drives, because they are going to be very very aggressive......

Forget falling flat the next week (yes, that sucked) but my gosh, we destroyed Baltimore in a game we all thought the Chargers would probably lose. I think that is a statement win.

Question is, can he get TWO in a season. 

SoCalThrilla wrote: ... Norv has failed to really make any statement wins over the last couple of seasons, and when I say statement win, I am referring to a win that everyone thought we would and should lose and we came out and won.  You could maybe make a case for Baltimore last year...

But this is the Norval way.

GoBolts17 wrote: ..... Norv needs to come out guns blazing, and not try and feel them out his first couple drives, because they are going to be very very aggressive......

+1

why just this year 90% of Bolt fans had us losing our opening game against the Raiders


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--- shoehater wrote:

Forget falling flat the next week (yes, that sucked) but my gosh, we destroyed Baltimore in a game we all thought the Chargers would probably lose. I think that is a statement win.

Question is, can he get TWO in a season. 

SoCalThrilla wrote: ... Norv has failed to really make any statement wins over the last couple of seasons, and when I say statement win, I am referring to a win that everyone thought we would and should lose and we came out Land won.  You could maybe make a case for Baltimore last year...

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Based on how they have played so far without Williams and Payton I wouldn't say that beating the Saints qualifies as a statement win. They have the the worst rush defense in the league, are giving up the most yards out of any D in the league and are giving up the 4th most points. Their offense while still very good has regressed as well and hasn't been enough to make up for the atrocious defense they have been playing. Now they do have the personnel to exploit our weaknesses in the secondary but still, there is a reason they're 0-4. Not saying that it will be an easy win but based on how NO has looked so far it is a game that we should win. The only way I think it could be a statement would be if we came out and shut down their offense.

Disagree, NO has lost every game they've lost by 1 score and are actually favored against us this week.  The last thing SD needs is to go into the showdown against Denver coming off a loss and with 1st place on the line.  SD can really put the division on lockdown over the next two weeks with two wins and assuming Denver loses to New England on Sunday.  

Bambi19 wrote: Based on how they have played so far without Williams and Payton I wouldn't say that beating the Saints qualifies as a statement win. They have the the worst rush defense in the league, are giving up the most yards out of any D in the league and are giving up the 4th most points. Their offense while still very good has regressed as well and hasn't been enough to make up for the atrocious defense they have been playing. Now they do have the personnel to exploit our weaknesses in the secondary but still, there is a reason they're 0-4. Not saying that it will be an easy win but based on how NO has looked so far it is a game that we should win. The only way I think it could be a statement would be if we came out and shut down their offense.

Bambi19 wrote: Based on how they have played so far without Williams and Payton I wouldn't say that beating the Saints qualifies as a statement win. They have the the worst rush defense in the league, are giving up the most yards out of any D in the league and are giving up the 4th most points. Their offense while still very good has regressed as well and hasn't been enough to make up for the atrocious defense they have been playing. Now they do have the personnel to exploit our weaknesses in the secondary but still, there is a reason they're 0-4. Not saying that it will be an easy win but based on how NO has looked so far it is a game that we should win. The only way I think it could be a statement would be if we came out and shut down their offense.

I agree its not a "statement" win as far as the league is concerned.

But I will be god damned impressed if we do win.  The Saints are not great, but they are not 0-4 bad, and they have a huge homefield advantage in that dome.  Its just a bad matchup for us, they like to spread it out and throw to all levels of the field...which is very very bad for Cason and Jammer.  Can you imagine Jammer trying to cover Devery Henderson deep? Or Cason trying to tackle Colston or Sproles in the open field? And they have a freakish TE who (like Gonzo last week) could make Bigby look foolish again.


I expect it to be a shootout, and the problem with that is we're on the road, and Rivers hasn't been playing his best lately.

And, if it IS a shootout, our secondary is susceptible x100. Plus you've got a couple of former Chargers who might amp it up, including a Brees who is a TD away from breaking a Johnny Unitas record.

Nervous!

syxwunine wrote:

Bambi19 wrote: Based on how they have played so far without Williams and Payton I wouldn't say that beating the Saints qualifies as a statement win. They have the the worst rush defense in the league, are giving up the most yards out of any D in the league and are giving up the 4th most points. Their offense while still very good has regressed as well and hasn't been enough to make up for the atrocious defense they have been playing. Now they do have the personnel to exploit our weaknesses in the secondary but still, there is a reason they're 0-4. Not saying that it will be an easy win but based on how NO has looked so far it is a game that we should win. The only way I think it could be a statement would be if we came out and shut down their offense.

I agree its not a "statement" win as far as the league is concerned.

But I will be god damned impressed if we do win.  The Saints are not great, but they are not 0-4 bad, and they have a huge homefield advantage in that dome.  Its just a bad matchup for us, they like to spread it out and throw to all levels of the field...which is very very bad for Cason and Jammer.  Can you imagine Jammer trying to cover Devery Henderson deep? Or Cason trying to tackle Colston or Sproles in the open field? And they have a freakish TE who (like Gonzo last week) could make Bigby look foolish again.


I expect it to be a shootout, and the problem with that is we're on the road, and Rivers hasn't been playing his best lately.

I'm not saying it won't be a tough game or that it won't be impressive if we do win, I'm just saying that it's not automatically a statement if we do win. I just think people are still giving the Saints a little to much credit for what they have done in the past. Williams masked a lot of their weaknesses on D and without him they're hopeless and Payton made their O great where without him they are merely very good.

We should be able to put up plenty of points on their horrible D and I think we will stop their O enough times to get it done. We also should be able to control the tempo of the game and stop it from getting out of hand by exploiting their horrible run D with Ryno. It's time to trust him again and let him carve them up on the ground.

Personally I dont think that a win over an 0-4 team will do much for Norv.  He needs to get into the playoffs.  

A loss will certainly hurt his chances though.   When we look back at this game it wont mean too much unless the Saints also make the playoffs.

I actually don't think this game is nearly as important as the one after it.  I would love to win this game but  New Orleans is a much better team then its record.  They will be playing at home and desperate.  They have a high powered offense and expect a shoot out.  The more important game is the one after it.  If we win against Denver then we will be 3-0 in our division and win or lose to NO we will be either  2 or 3 games ahead of the Broncos ( I think they lose at New England) who is our biggest rival for the division.  So if you want to look for a signature game I would say wait a week to the monday night home game vs Denver.

The Chargers need consistency and they need to win against quality opponents. I don't care right now what the Saints record is, they are a good football team, just like Green Bay, who won by the skin of their teeth against the Saints, and could have a bad record too if it weren't for that last win.

Saints are favored for a reason. Chargers offense needs to find a rhythm, the defense needs to shut teams down on third and longs.

If Norv is smart, he'll try to have long, extended drives, keep Brees on the side lines, and he'll also have his defense play aggressive football, because the last thing you want to do against Brees in the dome, is sit back, and let him have a field day.

Should be a good game! Let's keep our fingers crossed, I think Battle will have another good one.

Agree Honk and Norv is good at long boring drives.  The key is they we take advantage of their weak run defense.  We need to make full use of our RBs.  Here is were the dink and dunk and boring runs will be used to keep Brees off the field.

Chargerhonk wrote: The Chargers need consistency and they need to win against quality opponents. I don't care right now what the Saints record is, they are a good football team, just like Green Bay, who won by the skin of their teeth against the Saints, and could have a bad record too if it weren't for that last win.

Saints are favored for a reason. Chargers offense needs to find a rhythm, the defense needs to shut teams down on third and longs.

If Norv is smart, he'll try to have long, extended drives, keep Brees on the side lines, and he'll also have his defense play aggressive football, because the last thing you want to do against Brees in the dome, is sit back, and let him have a field day.

Should be a good game! Let's keep our fingers crossed, I think Battle will have another good one.

slammer8 wrote: I actually don't think this game is nearly as important as the one after it.  I would love to win this game but  New Orleans is a much better team then its record.  They will be playing at home and desperate.  They have a high powered offense and expect a shoot out.  The more important game is the one after it.  If we win against Denver then we will be 3-0 in our division and win or lose to NO we will be either  2 or 3 games ahead of the Broncos ( I think they lose at New England) who is our biggest rival for the division.  So if you want to look for a signature game I would say wait a week to the monday night home game vs Denver.

Captain obvious agrees.  haha

I'd trade a win in New Orleans for a win in Denver any day. 

I'm just hoping the Saints are too heart broken to give a real effort this week, because I don't think its a good matchup for us at all.   Denver...I like our chances much more knowing Manning either can't or won't throw the deep ball exposing Jammer and Cason's lack of speed.

Exactly Slammer! Can't wait for this game! I think our defense really shows up too. Really getting excited about Butler and company...now if the Chargers could go out next off season and get a stud corner, and even a DT with some real size, they could be really dangerous.

Don't forget a add  a real coach to that equation

Chargerhonk wrote: Exactly Slammer! Can't wait for this game! I think our defense really shows up too. Really getting excited about Butler and company...now if the Chargers could go out next off season and get a stud corner, and even a DT with some real size, they could be really dangerous.

This is my assessment, as well. However, a win puts us 4 - 1 and a game, possibly two over Denver. THIS would be the best possible situation going into the game with Denver.

thrill2death wrote: Personally I dont think that a win over an 0-4 team will do much for Norv.  He needs to get into the playoffs.  

A loss will certainly hurt his chances though.   When we look back at this game it wont mean too much unless the Saints also make the playoffs.

I agree with the match up comment but you can't really prefer a win against a winless NFC opponent vs our biggest rival in the division? 

syxwunine wrote:

slammer8 wrote: I actually don't think this game is nearly as important as the one after it.  I would love to win this game but  New Orleans is a much better team then its record.  They will be playing at home and desperate.  They have a high powered offense and expect a shoot out.  The more important game is the one after it.  If we win against Denver then we will be 3-0 in our division and win or lose to NO we will be either  2 or 3 games ahead of the Broncos ( I think they lose at New England) who is our biggest rival for the division.  So if you want to look for a signature game I would say wait a week to the monday night home game vs Denver.

Captain obvious agrees.  haha

I'd trade a win in New Orleans for a win in Denver any day. 

I'm just hoping the Saints are too heart broken to give a real effort this week, because I don't think its a good matchup for us at all.   Denver...I like our chances much more knowing Manning either can't or won't throw the deep ball exposing Jammer and Cason's lack of speed.

For some reason I glazed over the fact that this is a PRIME-TIME, SUNDAY NIGHT game.  That dome will definitely be rocking.  I think the the Saints secondary is as bad, or worse than ours.  Plus, they have zero pass rusher that we need to worry about, giving Rivers plenty of time to dissect a below-average defense.  At least we should be able to put a little heat on Brees.