5 Questions with Anthony Blake of ChargingBolts.com

Each week we interview the opposing Fanball.com blogger for the Giants, and this week that is Anthony Blake of ChargingBolts.com…..

GMenDen: Now that the Giants are in free fall, how do you expect the Chargers to capitalize?

ChargingBolts: Being that this game is in New York, I am still a bit wary to get any sense of confidence about this week. The Giants just seem to have lost their swagger up front on the defensive line and that is a troubling thing. Of course they are dealing with some injuries in the secondary which is a contributing factor to their lack of pass rush, but if they are unable to pressure Philip Rivers, the Bolts aerial attack could have easy pickins.

GMD: This team used to rely on LT to run the ball and then use the passing game as a secondary option.  Now, as with most of the NFL, they appear to be a pass-first team.  Are the Chargers better equipped for that than most teams? (side question: I own Antonio Gates and he is killing me….is he hurt?)

CB: The Chargers certainly have an assortment of talent on offense that can hurt opponents in many different areas. From week to week it has really depeded on the opposing personnel and where the strengths and weaknesses are for the other side. As for this week I would expect to see more of the passing game early and depending on the score in the 2nd half maybe more ground game to grind the clock later on. (((For the aside, Gates is actually healthier at this point than he has been in a handful of years believe it or not it just seems that we have gone away from him in the red zone. He has been a primary to secondary target between the 20’s but hasn’t gotten the touches near the goal line that fantasy owners (such as yourself) are used to.))

GMD: The Chargers got off to a bad start again, but appear to have gotten things together now….how do you see the rest of the season shaking out and do you think they can still overtake the Broncos?

CB: The obvious answer is that if we have a few more weeks like this past one where Denver loses and the Chargers win it can certainly happen. I really don’t think the race is over in this division though, and it’s just disappointing that the schedule didn’t work out like last year so the two could play in the final week to decide who goes to the postseason and who plays golf. I hope the Chargers aren’t, but I’m already looking at that week 11 contest in Denver as a potential turning point in the season.

GMD: If I”m Kevin Gilbride, Giants’ offensive coordinator, how am I looking at the Chargers this week and planning to attack them?

CB: Last week the Chargers employed a rather effective bend but don’t break style of defense surrendering only one touchdown along with three field goals. With the absence of Jamal Williams inside, the Bolts defense has been vulnerable to the inside running plays and that’s where I would start if I were Gilbride. Especially considering that the Chargers are down to third stringers at middle linebacker now with special teams ace Brandon Siler having to fill in for the injured Tim Dobbins who was filling in for Kevin Burnett, well, you get the idea. We are depleted up the middle and that could be an exposable area for the Giants on Sunday.

GMD: How do you see the final score ending up and why?

CB: Even with all of my knocking on our defense and the cross country flight, I think the Chargers bring a sense of urgency to the Meadowlands this week. It is becoming a trend, but I think Rivers to Vincent Jackson will be something the Giants are waking up in a cold sweat to both before and after this game. I look for a big day from those two and I’m hopeful that our stout red zone defense can continue to hold teams to 3 rather than 6. I’m going to go with 27-20 Chargers.

Tags: Antonio Gates, Bolts, Broncos, Chargers, Chargingbolts, Giants, Jamal Williams, Kevin Gilbride, Philip Rivers, Tim Dobbins, Vincent Jackson