Charger's Offense Very Similar to Packers Offense..............

Chargers’ offense is closest to Packers’ attack that Bears will see
By Mark Potash mpotash@suntimes.com November 19, 2011 3:38PM

The Bears took a huge step toward the playoffs with their victory last week against the Lions. This week, they get a chance to take a step toward a level many people didn’t think they’d have a shot at reaching:
the Packers.

Philip Rivers and the Chargers aren’t Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. But they’re close enough to simulate the best offense in football. In fact, if you stuck around for the end of the Packers-Chargers game two weeks ago in San Diego, you saw just how dangerous the Chargers can be.

The two teams — and quarterbacks — practically switched roles in the fourth quarter. After the Packers opened a 45-24 lead with 10:37 left, Rivers led the Chargers to two touchdowns in the next four minutes — a combined 135 yards on 10 plays.

After Rivers connected with Vincent Jackson on a 29-yard touchdown pass to get the Chargers to 45-38 with 6:25 left, the Packers were rattled and Rodgers suddenly looked human. Charles Woodson returned the ensuing kickoff from just inside the end zone to the Packers’ 9. Rodgers had an awkward scramble for two yards, a short pass to Greg Jennings for one yard and an incomplete pass intended for Jennings. The Packers had to punt.

Dangerous quarterback but Rivers couldn’t finish the job — that’s one reason the Chargers are the Chargers and the Packers are the Packers — but the flurry should have resonated in Chicago. It was a small hint that even though the unbeaten Packers are the best team in the NFL and Rodgers might be having the best season an NFL quarterback has had, they’re not invulnerable.

And it served as a warning that even though Rivers is having the worst season of his career, he’s still dangerous. In fact, during that sudden burst, the Chargers looked a lot like the Packers: Rivers to Antonio Gates, Rivers to Vincent Brown, Rivers to Gates, Rivers to Brown, Rivers to Mike Tolbert, Rivers to Jackson for the touchdown. It had all the rhythm of Rodgers to Jennings, Rodgers to Jordy Nelson, Rodgers to James Starks, Rodgers to Jermichael Finley for the touchdown.

That’s what the Bears are in for Sunday — and it’s just what they need. The Bears can’t afford to coast toward the finish line; they need to finish with a flourish. And if the offense is going to tiptoe its way toward the next level, it’s going to be the defense that carries the bigger share of the load. And you don’t get there by having your way with Blaine Gabbert and Curtis Painter.


Bears’ defense ready

The Bears are ranked 25th in the NFL in total defense, but they’re in better shape than they know. They’re conditioned to take the next step. They’re healthy. They’re rested. And no defense in the NFL has played a tougher schedule.

The Bears are the only team in the league that hasn’t played an offense ranked among the bottom 10 in the league. In fact, eight of their first nine opponents are ranked in the top half of the league in total offense, four of them among the top six.

The point is, the Bears’ defense is primed like no other in coach Lovie Smith’s eight seasons as head coach. ‘‘Yeah, we can get better,’’ linebacker Brian Urlacher said last week. ‘‘We had a good game [against the Lions], obviously. We got some takeaways and some points, [but] we always feel like we can get better. We still made a few mistakes, a few missed tackles. The effort can always be better.
‘‘I think our coaches are always going to harp on that. We could have zero loafs, and we still could be better. That’s what they say. We want to keep building on what we have now.’’

I think the comparison of those two offenses is apt. They use a lot of the same tools. Rivers go to guy is Gates and Rodgers has Finley. When they need a big play downfield River looks for Jackson where Rodgers looks for Jennings. Both offenses are capable of putting some high numbers up on their side of the scoreboard. So do we call this a dress rehersal for Christmas Day?

I think one advantage that we'll have over the Packers when they faced San Diego is a far better defense. For whatever reason the Packers defense hasn't played with the intensity it did last year. Is it because their offense is so good the defense tends to skate a little and let their offense take them off the hook the way our defense takes our offense off the hook?

I think there's a truth in the first sentence of that last paragraph and a caution as well. The defense is playing better right now than just about anytime we've seen them this past decade. Peppers is getting into the backfield and creating some havoc and we have more sacks between Melton, Okoye, and Paea so far than we had out of the both DT positions all of last year. Urlacher and Briggs are starting to shut down the run and both have looked good in pass coverage these past few games. Peanut is having the best year of his career Jennings is solid at the other corner and it looks like we ay have our starting Safety tandem in place. So what's wrong?

I'm beginning to sense a peak. What always follows the peak? This defense isn't young anymore and it needs some parts replacement on the fly over the next few years if it's gonna retain it's form. All the more reason I say that the offense has to step up to the table and do it's part. There'll come a day in the not too distant future when the defense won't be able to carry them as well as it has now. Time to equalize the forces I think.

But for now at least we get to see how we match up with another explosive offense who can put major points up if they get any space to do it at all. Maybe this is the perfect dress rehearsal for that December Packer matchup.

Yes... very similar. They both have a guy who throws the ball. They both gave guys who catch the ball when thrown to them. They both have guys who try to stop the other team's ball-thrower. Why... they are almost mirror images of each other.

'Cept, of course.... in execution.

So, get back to me when the season records include "could have been's" in the win column, and then we can discuss how "similar" they are. Until then, one of them is 4-5 and the other is 9-0.

Quote:

---

Philip Rivers and the Chargers aren’t Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. But they’re close enough to simulate the best offense in football

---

So... Rivers is "close enough" to Rodgers...

Rodgers, 215 of 295, 72.9%, 2869 yds, 9.73 yrds avg, 28 TD, 3 Int, 130.7 rate, 319 per game
Rivers, 216 of 352, 61.4%, 2743 yds, 7.79 yrds avg, 13 TD, 15 INT, 80.2 rate, 305 per game.

Good god... you're right. Except for percentage, total yardage, average yardage, TD's, INT, rating and attempt/complete they are very VERY close. Almost, one would say, close "enough".

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by loki520

So... Rivers is "close enough" to Rodgers...

Rodgers, 215 of 295, 72.9%, 2869 yds, 9.73 yrds avg, 28 TD, 3 Int, 130.7 rate, 319 per game
Rivers, 216 of 352, 61.4%, 2743 yds, 7.79 yrds avg, 13 TD, 15 INT, 80.2 rate, 305 per game.

Good god... you're right. Except for percentage, total yardage, average yardage, TD's, INT, rating and attempt/complete they are very VERY close. Almost, one would say, close "enough".

---

yeah, but Rodgers is a Packer, so that automatically drops him down a few pegs. So yeah...they are identical.

The offenses have similarities in personnel, but arent the same design. McCarthy once ran an almost identical offense as the Chargers until he had his epiphany and realized he could take advantage of the league's rules that heavily favor offenses by running more spread.

So for the reason that they aren't really the same, I don't think it will give any indication on the outcome of the Packer rematch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by loki520

Yes... very similar. They both have a guy who throws the ball. They both gave guys who catch the ball when thrown to them. They both have guys who try to stop the other team's ball-thrower. Why... they are almost mirror images of each other.

'Cept, of course.... in execution.

So, get back to me when the season records include "could have been's" in the win column, and then we can discuss how "similar" they are. Until then, one of them is 4-5 and the other is 9-0.



So... Rivers is "close enough" to Rodgers...

Rodgers, 215 of 295, 72.9%, 2869 yds, 9.73 yrds avg, 28 TD, 3 Int, 130.7 rate, 319 per game
Rivers, 216 of 352, 61.4%, 2743 yds, 7.79 yrds avg, 13 TD, 15 INT, 80.2 rate, 305 per game.

Good god... you're right. Except for percentage, total yardage, average yardage, TD's, INT, rating and attempt/complete they are very VERY close. Almost, one would say, close "enough".

---

Don't get so worked up and overly proud of your guys stats pal. The quote say "Phillip Rivers and the Chargers aren't the Packers". I think right there he's saying they aren't comparable as far as the results are concerned. He's just drawing a parallel between the style of offense they play and their abilities to put points on the board. At least that was my understanding of what he wrote.

Given your position that Rivers is so much worse the reality is that he almost beat the Packers a couple of weeks ago. If I was a Packer fan watching that game it would have made me sober up about my teams legendary invulnerability. No one is questioning Rodgers superiority to any other QB as far as this years stats are concerned but this article is about the BEARS matchup with Rivers being a prep for a Packer style offense. How well we handle the Chargers offense may be an indication of how we'll prepare for the Packers. That's pretty much the gist of what the article is about.

It's not about a Bear vs Packer game. We'll get to you guys to hand you a loss soon enough. Be patient.:lol-027:

Most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Similar offenses? Has this joker even watched either team? Maybe they have a similar scheme, but you dont have to watch more than a drive or two to see how vastly different the two offenses are, and how much better one is than the other.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Similar offenses? Has this joker even watched either team? Maybe they have a similar scheme, but you dont have to watch more than a drive or two to see how vastly different the two offenses are, and how much better one is than the other.

---

That's all the article is saying Benji! They run a similar style offense. They attack in a similar way. Isn't that just what this paragraph saying or am I missing something?

And it served as a warning that even though Rivers is having the worst season of his career, he’s still dangerous. In fact, during that sudden burst, the Chargers looked a lot like the Packers: Rivers to Antonio Gates, Rivers to Vincent Brown, Rivers to Gates, Rivers to Brown, Rivers to Mike Tolbert, Rivers to Jackson for the touchdown. It had all the rhythm of Rodgers to Jennings, Rodgers to Jordy Nelson, Rodgers to James Starks, Rodgers to Jermichael Finley for the touchdown.

He's not saying they're comparable in production, just the offenses they run a similar. Why are you so defensive about the Packers mighty offense??? I could kind of understand Loki's response but your a Bears fan so why get all uptight about the Chargers offense being compared to that mighty Packer juggernaut.

Do I have to take up a collection to pay for reading comprehension classes for the two of you or should we save money and just buy you a Packer pennant to wave and a seat next to Loki? :lol-027:

Just kidding guys but jeez all he was doing was comparing the style of offenses and Rivers to Rodgers, not their respective rank.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by soulman

Why are you so defensive about the Packers mighty offense??? I could kind of understand Loki's response but your a Bears fan so why get all uptight about the Chargers offense being compared to that mighty Packer juggernaut.

---

Because comparing them is apples to oranges. They are both fruits and thats where it ends.

Comparing them, is football stupid at its finest.

And yes, I am jealous of the packers offense.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Because comparing them is apples to oranges. They are both fruits and thats where it ends.

Comparing them, is football stupid at its finest.

And yes, I am jealous of the packers offense.

---

But you can call both and apple and an orange fruit as long as you differentiate between them. They are both in that category of fruit just like the Charger and Packers run a similar STYLE offense and that's what he compared while at the same time differentiating by stating that the Chargers offense is not the equal of the Packers offense!

I give up!!!!! You both missed the intent of the article. :twap: