Shame of the Game - Chargers

[dolphins4life]

The whole defense.

If I have to pick one player on the defense it would be X

Sanders for the missed PAT, too

[AQNOR]

I agree.  The defense as a whole played like shit

[fyo]

I'm not as down on X as some. He always plays on the edge of what is allowed and today the calls didn't go his way.

I'm giving mine to Connor. Arguments could be made for the O-line coach since this has been going on all preseason, but the rest of the line played some great ball. Sure, there was a ton of pressure, but Tua evaded pretty much all of it and the plays called for some really quick releases. That's still head and shoulders above what I expected.

I did expect the bad snaps, however.

HM to Sanders. Can't miss extra points.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Whole defense, they were really bad except for the last drive.

HM to Sanders who may not survive the season as our kicker if he costs us a game.

[Spider-Dan]

Vic Fangio.
The stop on the last drive was important, but you can't put that much pressure on the offense to score on every possession.  The run defense was simply embarrassing.

[pondwater]

Vic Fangio.
The stop on the last drive was important, but you can't put that much pressure on the offense to score on every possession.  The run defense was simply embarrassing.

Well, on the flip side. Last year we stopped the run pretty well and got lit up in the secondary often. Given the choice, I'd rather make the other team beat me with the run. So I think this is by design. Not to mention it was the first game in a new scheme with a new DC. Things should get better with time.

I'll have to pick sanders for missing that extra point. That could have been huge

[Spider-Dan]

200+ yards on the ground is just unacceptable IMO.
I recognize that Ramsey is one of the best run stoppers at his position and that's a key piece Fangio is missing, but Josh Boyer coached a MUCH better defensive game last year than Fangio did yesterday.

[masterfins]

Sanders - you just can't miss that kick at the end of the game to go up three.  Thankfully the defense started blitzing and it paid off; otherwise this could have been a heart breaking loss that would carry over to this week,

[CF DolFan]

Dolphins whole front line get my vote. Christian Wilkins, Zach Sieler, Bradley Chubb, and Jaelan Phillips. They got their arse handed to them right up until that last series and they know it. As Christian Wilkins said “We all know that wasn't our standard. We know we have to play better defense. It starts with me, as the leader of this defense. We will definitely be better this week and going forward."

[Dave Gray]

This would have been an easy choice to pick the defensive line, but I think WHEN you do things matters.  And they needed a stop to end the game and they got (essentially) three sacks in a row.  It doesn't mean they played well, but they executed and won the game.  As good as we played, we won the game on a definitive and dominating defensive stop.

I have to say that on the flipside, it's gotta be Sanders.   When you miss kicks matters.  To have your offense come out and do their thing, you need to hand your defense a 3 point lead there.

[CF DolFan]

This would have been an easy choice to pick the defensive line, but I think WHEN you do things matters.  And they needed a stop to end the game and they got (essentially) three sacks in a row.  It doesn't mean they played well, but they executed and won the game.  As good as we played, we won the game on a definitive and dominating defensive stop.

I have to say that on the flipside, it's gotta be Sanders.   When you miss kicks matters.  To have your offense come out and do their thing, you need to hand your defense a 3 point lead there.

I can't nail him for that as he hit 3 FGs and 3 extra points. He was 6 for 7 for the day and the FG he made to end the 1st half was basically what won it for us.

[Dave Gray]

Sanders didn't play poorly on the day, but it's a bit of a "what have you done for me LATELY" situation.

[dolphins4life]

Sanders didn't play poorly on the day, but it's a bit of a "what have you done for me LATELY" situation.

Like Mare.  It's not just the misses, it's the timing of them.  If you are going to miss, do it in a blowout game.

[Downunder Dolphan]

Tough call, but I would go with Fangio for the run defense. We just can;t afford to give up so many yards a game.