Where to start with all the observations of the Chargers’ collective choke job?

-Throughout the season, it was remarked on that the Chargers had one of the worst per carry averages in the NFL, but people explained that it would be okay since the Chargers throw the ball well. Since when does that work in the playoffs? Even teams like the Super Bowl winning Rams had to rely on Marshall Faulk to win the big games.

-A large part of that low per carry average is due to the pathetic running of Ladanian Tomlinson. Constantly falling down even before contact, he broke less tackles this year than any starting running back I’ve seen in years. Formerly great, no doubt, but it’s time to put pride aside and retire. Schottenheimer’s coaching style simply dos not allow long careers, and he’s no different.

-Norv Turner – despite idiots on sports sites who wanted to give him credit for a nice regular season in a horrible division – is still meant to be a coordinator, not a head coach. There is no amount of experience that will change this. Going for the onside kick meant that the second most successful result (stopping the Jets on three downs) still would result in you having to go the full length of the field and rely on Nate Kaeding to not choke again. In addition, the play calling for the hurry up offense run by the Chargers made almost no sense, at least in terms of there only being one play called at a time. How are you not calling 2 plays every time you break huddle in that situation? The penalties and miscues can also be attributed to him, as his teams have never shown discipline.

-Shawne Merriman solidified his status as the most overrated “big name” defender in the league. He was being single blocked all game – at times by tight ends – and still had no impact on either run or pass. Without him contributing San Diego’s hardest hitter was Jammer, who is of course a Cornerback. Meanwhile every Jets defender was lighting people up.

-There is a complete lack of fear of all opponents coming to San Diego. When the Patriots won a few years ago, New England players celebrated by mocking Merriman’s “lights out” dance. Today, Shonn Greene celebrated a 53-yard run by mocking Tomlinson’s ball flip. None of them are punished, and none of them fear anything except maybe a few “those guys are meanies” comments in the post game locker room. Eric Weddle won a fundamentals award for his sure tackling this year, and was promptly run over by Greene on that same game clinching score. The team is soft. Period.

-When Antonio Cromartie was still a nickel back a few years ago people wondered why. Now that he’s spent two years getting beat regularly and almost had a key special teams turnover today, let’s give the definitive answer. Cromartie is athletic, but he’s not very strong and his spatial awareness is terrible. As a result he’s great in nickel situations where he can rove, avoid having to press Recievers, and keep plays in front of him. If you ask him to walk (stay with a man) and chew bubble gum (find the ball) at the same time he simply can’t.

The Nate Kaeding criticisms are obvious, he choked, but if anything that makes him more of a Charger than ever.