Here's bits on history of Chargers-Skins, Special Teams in D.C., and some fourth-and-ones.
History
The Chargers and Commanders are related.
Joe Jackson Gibbs was the Offensive Coordinator for Don Coryell's Chargers for two years ahead of taking over in Washington. Gibbs was with Coryell at San Diego State.
I didn't know Bill Walsh was also a Coryell Offensive Coordinator at one point.
I used to think West Coast = Walsh East Coast = Coryell. Now what? Intercontinental Coast?
Norv Turner was East Coast. Norv's best year as Head Coach?
You guessed it. The 2009 . . . San Diego Chargers.
His defensive coordinator that year?
Riverboat Ron Rivera. Most recently Skins-Commanders Head Coach.
The 1980 Chargers were something. Interestingly, Joey T and the Skins beat that great Chargers team, 40-17.
Bobby Beathard was general manager for the Skins and the Chargers. Went to the Super Bowl with both squads.
Stan Humphries, former Skins QB, was the Quarterback for the 1994 Charger team that lost to the Niners in the Super Bowl.
Special Teams
Is Special Teams due a big game for the Commanders? Let's remember their heritage.
Malinchak was about carving your niche. Mike Nelms was about bringing the hammer. Herb Mul-Key was about going the distance. B-Mitch was about taking it to the house.
Special teams is a nascence. It has always been the origin story of many a great NFL Career. Not just players.
Remember. Dick Vermeil? Marv Levy? Special Teams Coordinators for George Allen.
This just so happens to be a Washington Commander Special Teams Unit that can live up to the Old George Allen Special Teams squads. Outside of adding Ja'Corey Brooks and Donovan Edwards to the return man rotation, I can't think of anything more they can do than what they are doing now.
Fourth and Ones
I thought Joe Whitt's remarks about social media to be spot-on. Turn off your phone. Get off the grid. Other people that's hell. Nobody outside the locker room knows what they're talking about. It's a waste of brain. This is your brain on social media. It is a total loss of focus.
It also sounds like Coach knows what the problems are on defense. Put away the cape. Work with each other.
Makes sense. They've only had four games together. But . . . preseason is over.
Light-heartedness: light-hearted focus, light-hearted concentration, light-hearted communication. Football joy. Building authenticity. Building trust. Dispensing with impostor syndrome. Can't do it with doom and gloom. Or dating negative Nancies.
Doom and gloom is grist for the mill.
Use it to build some fire.
