Lights Out on Defense?

Under Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips, the Chargers defense was an attacking 3-4, using a violent pash rush to dictate what the other team's offense would do. In 2006, Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips attacked opposing quarterbacks, combining for 28 sacks & 127 total tackles (61 sacks as a team). This year, under new coordinator Ted Cotrell, the defense is passive and prefers to drop into various zone coverages. The Chargers have picked have already picked off 17 passes this season ( 14 INT in 2006) but only have 19 sacks with only 6 games left.

Did the losses of veteran middle linebackers Donnie Edwards & Randall Godfrey hurt the Chargers more than A.J. Smith will let on? In 2006, the duo only compiled a combined 6.5 sacks & 3 INTs. However, Edwards led the team with 142 total tackles (Godfrey 58 total tackles). So far this season, their replacements Stephen Cooper & Matt Wilhelm have accounted for 138 total tackles, 1 sack & 2 INTs. More distressing, Merriman & Phillips have combined for only 11 sacks (87 total tackles) in 2007.

The most important loss, is Wade Phillips (who is currently in Dallas). He is coaching the 10-1 Cowboys, whose aggressive 3-4 defense has become one of the best in the NFL. Meanwhile, Cotrell is in San Diego, coaching the underachieving defense for a 5-5 team desperately clinging to a share of first place in the AFC West.