4/1/2015 by James Fedewa

The San Diego Chargers have holes all over their roster and this years draft can be used to fill some very important team needs. The Chargers draft plan a little different this year because there are decent and quality starters at every starting position (vs. the last two years). The starting roster looks good on paper, granting GM Tom Telesco to draft Best Player Available (BPA) prospects for depth (not immediate starters).  The “holes” are San Diego’s depth… Read the rest of this entry →

By James Fedewa – 3/6/2015 (@JAMFED)

Free agency is starting to launch and NFL teams are scrambling to resign their own players before they officially become Free Agents.   Rumors and front-runner gossip are beginning to swirl too, as in “where will Ndamukong Suh go” and “who’s going to get Vince Wilfork…”

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2/27/2015 – by James Fedewa (@jamfed)

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New Beer Review Pelican Brewing Company’s RED LANTERN IPA

(Red India Pale Ale, Oregon, Coast) 1/17/15 – review by James Fedewa

Very full and hoppy aroma that smells like a little slice of hop heaven, which got me a little excited about this new IPA. Great deep bronze tone with nice full head.  The first gulp grabs all the true and initial IPA features, but waiting for a hoppy after bite, it finished with a smooth maltiness, which was a little surprising.  It’s piney smells were only at the front end of this IPA and it smooths out considerably. The end smoothness made me think that this beer lacks high ABV (right at 6.4), so it finishes very light. Maybe it’s a sessions IPA, so l should be drinking a few more of these, right now…

B++ (it would’ve gotten an A if there was a little more bitter hoppiness at the end) Very good-lite IPA…

**I typically write my beer reviews on an APP called Pintley but this beer wasn’t on it. And I haven’t been keeping up with either my football or beer reviews because of starting a new job last month. Once the new job starts rolling and I start using public transportation, I can start writing more…  Granted, American Idol is starting, which my wife loves, so I’ll be writing about football and beers a little more too (as I’m not a big fan of Idol).

12/25/2014 – by James Fedewa

I’m not going to write an article today, because today is my last day of work (for my real job), and I have a ton of things to closeout. But I do need to write something and this will not be OBJECTIVE, as this is MY (quick) opinion…

First of all, I hate the New England Patsies, just because they have had the Chargers number in several big games in the past. I also know and work with too many friends from the New England area who are Patriots fans and they sure love their team and like to gloat. But I think SD can handle the Patsies this year (as long as San Diego can score touchdowns and not too many field goals).

The less we see Chargers kicker Nick Novak, the better. But do not forget about CB’s Revis and Browner. They could tie down Keenan Allen and Floyd on the outside. But that could lead to a big game for Chargers tight ends Antonio Gates and LaDarius Green

My predictions:

Chargers: 31 (Gates 1TD, L.Green: 1TD, Floyd: 1TD, Mathews: 1TD, 1FG)
Patriots: 23 (Gronk: 1TD, Vereen: 1TD, 3FG)

Noteables:

*Rivers goes 28-33, 3 TD, 1 INT
*Brady goes 29-41, 1TD, 2 INT

*Brandon Flowers gets 1 interception

*Donald Butler get 11 Tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception (and sneaks away with player of the game

*And Rivers takes the new nickname: The December Man (while wearing a bolo tie)

11/14/2015 – by James Fedewa

The San Diego Chargers have a sturdy 5 – 4 record coming into week 11 of the 2014 season, which is probably a better start than what most Chargers fans would expect after the first nine games. Philip Rivers started the season red hot, a possible MVP candidate, yet he has cooled off quickly (especially vs. Miami two weeks ago, where Rivers was doused from an ice bucket challenge).

In the past, the Chargers have always been better in the second half of the season and are notoriously slow starters in the first half, so a 5 – 4 record is an accomplishment within itself.  Yet three game losing streaks are no strangers to the Chargers either and San Diego will find themselves in several must win situations again this season.

Playoff aspirations are still very high in San Diego and looking forward, their odds do not look bad. The Chargers are coming off a bye week and have several key players returning from injuries (including playmaker Ryan Mathews, defender Manti Te’o and rookie pass rusher Jerry Attaochu). All three players are extremely talented and ready to explode for a team that desperately needs them.

The bye week could not have come at a better time, with rested and healthy players, but the added bonus this week is that the Chargers host the winless Raiders. Oakland played well in the team’s first meeting back in week 5 (which was the Chargers last victory) and San Diego should handle the Raiders again for the win. San Diego cannot look beyond each week’s opponent from now on, as every win is a necessity in the second half on the season (especially home wins) and Rivers has a very good second half track record in his tenured career.

(B & W:)

If all goes well, San Diego wins out, finishes the season 12 – 4 with and start the playoffs with a BYE. Worst case scenario, San Diego loses out, finishes the season 5 – 11 and the San Diego front office and coaching staff face the firing squad. With seven more games in 2014 and four more home games, it will be safe to say that San Diego probably finishes the season with an impressive 10 – 6 record, with a hopeful wildcard berth.

Looking beyond all-wins or all-loses scenarios, what if (two polls):

*ALL OR NOTHING!

10/22/2014 by James Fedewa

Week 8, the San Diego Chargers fly to Denver to play their biggest game of the season. The odds of the Chargers winning are slim, but any given “Thursday” can change that. Winning of course is the objective every week, and if the Chargers can create a win, then fantastic. San Diego already has the blueprint to victory from their last (regular season) win in Denver to defeat the Broncos, but what if head coach Mike McCoy planned a loss, how would it look?

First, the Facts:

• The Denver Broncos – the new arch rival of the Chargers
• Prime Time Thursday Night Football – the big stage
• Peyton Manning – Future Hall of Famer, Quarterback legend
• Division Rival, Chargers are currently 1 – 1 in the AFC West
• On the road (away game in Denver) – Advantage Denver, a very hostile environment
• It is a Short Week, which tends to lean in the favor of the home team
• Playing against their biggest AFC Threat (other than the Colts, Ravens & Patriots in most current power rankings)

No one plans losing, and a winning attitude is half the battle of a team’s success. If San Diego wins the game, then mental momentum still favors the Chargers. But if San Diego plans a loss, what would McCoy’s blueprint be? How can a loss help the San Diego Chargers the next time they play (long term)?

Let’s continue to bullet point this (the Chargers Blueprint for expecting a loss):

• A fans “loss” mentality is always awkward (and could be loftier) than a coach’s perspective. Example, if a team loses the game, but knocks out the opposing quarterback (or any star player), then overall (by a fans perspective of course) the loss is still considered a psychological tie or abstract draw. So, a blueprint of this “abstract” could be the all-out blitz on the quarterback. Every play, every down, bring the heat and knock Payten Manning down. This will help the Chargers not only in this game, but future games. Game Plan: Bust the Manning! This method starts with pressure right up the middle (probably within the nickel defense). So all eyes on Corey Liuget and Kendall Reyes applying pressure, right up the middle. Anything from the outside (Freeney, Attaochu, Johnson, T.Williams, Law) is just a blindside bonus.
• Keep the team fresh: Instead of playing heavy doses of starters and having them be on the field most of the time, the Chargers need to rotate heavily. Usually coaches prefer their best players on the field (most of the time) which gives you the best chance of winning the game. And sure, it sounds great, but fatigue leads to injuries so fresh and renewed matters. In order for the Chargers to prevent injuries and use the blueprint for a loss, San Diego needs to keep their team fresh and fast, expect a heavy dose of substitutions.
• Earning Quality Experience (a young man’s game): Professional Football is driven by strength and speed, which is prime for the team’s younger players. It is time to get the rookies, 2^nd year and 3^rd year players heavily involved into the rotation.
• Practice what you do well even MORE. Exotic and creative schemes always throw opposing teams off and can be confusing, but a blueprint to lose is not scheme related. It is repetition at doing the job, with the best options, multiple times. And please avoid the “trick play” unless it is a decoy.

Of course The Chargers want the victory, as do the fans. San Diego will try everything within their power to win, but this game is not a must win game as much as we might think it is. No one ever won a Super Bowl in October and looking forward into the second half of the season, how could this loss (or win) still equivalent a team victory? San Diego can still lose this game, and come out victorious.

NOTES:

Denver is favored to win (again). Percentages are against the Chargers, and most predict the Chargers winning would be a 30% longshot. A 7.5 point underdog and the over/under is 51.5 points.

Rivers has a winning regular season record at Mile High Stadium in Denver (6 -2)

The home team on Thursday Night Football has won 4 of 7 games.

10/17/2014 by James Fedewa

Finding fantasy football starters from the waiver wire is an art and tremendously difficult. Well, it’s not really art, it’s more like speed, timeliness, and of course the waiver wire order. Grabbing those buds before they bloom is the real advantage (like San Diego’s new find running back Branden Oliver). And most of the buds are entirely created from key injuries, weekly matchups and bye weeks. And there will be some available in Week 7. So, let’s REACH for a DOG.

My Wide Receiver “Dog Named Reach” for Week 7 is Paul Richardson of the Seattle Seahawks. With star Percy Harvin out the door and traded to the New York Jets, Seattle loses their most dynamic playmaker. Or did they? Seattle did draft speedy wide receiver rookie Richardson out of Colorado. Both Richardson and Harvin have the same build, play the same position and are loaded with speed, but Harvin has some significant injuries throughout his short tenure in Seattle. In fact, Harvin has only played in 8 games in Seattle since joining the team last year, but when he does play, he has game changing ability. However, Seattle has lost their offensive identity with Harvin on the field, with his ball demands. Seattle’s offense has become “novelty” with Harvin in the lineup and it seem that every play is going to be a trick play, taking the command away from star quarterback Russell Wilson. Expect Richardson’s play time increase as he could be the Seahawks next superstar. Obviously Pete Carol always has a solid backup plan when it comes to his playmakers, and don’t forget about Seattle’s wide receiver Jermaine Kearse
as his snaps will increase.

My Quarterback “Dog Named Reach” for Week 7 is Charlie Whitehurst
of the Tennessee Titans. A career backup in San Diego and Seattle, he’s had only a limited playing time and only a few spot starts in his career. Nicknamed “Clip Board Jesus” (or CBJ) from his long hair / beard, managing the clipboard duties on the sidelines, Whitehurst is a nine year veteran and has been coached by some of the best quarterback coaches in the business.

Whitehurst has had most of his NFL playing time in the preseason, scrambling behind shotty second and third string offensive lines, and Tennessee first string O-line is quite a talented and impressive young bunch (with three first round draft pics and a premier guard). If the O-line and if they can keep CBJ upright to throw the ball down field, Whitehurst has a lot of dangerous weapons at his disposal. Tightend Delanie Walker has developed into a good TE1 with wide receiver speedster Kendall Wight and deep threat Justin Hunter, Whitehurst is due to breakout game and take over as the Titans starting quarterback for the remainder of the year. I like the o-line and the weapons CBJ has at his disposal and I will predict a 300 passing years with 2 very long TD (one to Hunter and one to Nate Washington).

Three weeks ago, Whitehurst started against the Cleveland Browns and I predicted (via Twitter @jamfed) he would shine in that game. Most people claimed I was crazy and Whitehurst would FLOP (but he finished with 13 completions, 21 attempts, 194 and 2TD’s / in a game they lead until the last second of the game). Not a bad performance, yet that was the game where Cleveland had the biggest road comeback win in NFL history. (Sorry Charlie…)

If you have Nick Foles as your starter, or you do not necessarily like your starting QB’s matchup this week, Charlie Whitehurst
your “Dog Named Reach” of the week.

*Two Week ago, I started fantasy football segment called a “Dog Named Reach,” driven by our own fantasy football teams (with our own drafting errors). Finding a new Dog (player), or Reaching on a fantasy Free Agent is the new evolution of improving our (weekly) fantasy football team. This is the Art of the Waiver Wire. Two weeks ago, I had Austin Seferian-Jenkins
set as the “Dog Named Reach” and yet I just released him due to his bye this week, the emergence of Dwayne Allen as my TE2 on my team (with my TE1 Vernon Davis wounded on the bench). Plus, I picked up WR Malcom Floyd to take ASJ’s spot. – The worst way to manage your fantasy football team’s bench is to have three tightends or quarterbacks on your team, so I had to let ASJ go but I still like him.

My Pools, Mules & Wagers of Week 7:

Jets +9.6

Tennessee +4.5

Jacksonville +4.5

Buffalo -4

New Orleans +3

San Diego -4

Giants +5.5

Atlanta +7

Seattle -6.5

Cincinnati +3

Miami +3.5

Green Bay -7

Arizona -3.5

San Francisco -3.5

Houston +3.5 *Total Score (tie breaker): 47