Chargers’ Play Leads to #FireMcCoy Chatter
Credit: Getty Images
Living in San Diego you just get used to heartache when it comes to professional sports. The Padres and Chargers (and the Clippers for that matter) have done nothing but kill the hopes and dreams of sports fans in the area for decades. The always talented, but never successful San Diego Chargers have probably been the team responsible for the most pain in the city though.
The team is seemingly always prepared/built to win (unlike the Padres), but constantly fails to achieve its goal for one reason or another. The Chargers have had a franchise-type quarterback (Brees and Rivers) at the helm for the past 15 years. That in itself is half the battle. Just ask teams like the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Cleveland Browns who have had numerous quarterbacks in the same 15-year period. So, what’s the problem? Most would agree that Philip Rivers, though fiery and intense, is not a negative factor on the team.
What could be the issue? It has to be the coaching, right? I’m not one to play Monday morning quarterback (or coach), but I also see what all the fuss is about in regards to the play of this team. It really cannot be ignored.
Mike McCoy‘s post game press conference on Sunday in Indianapolis was very interesting. You could sense the frustration in the coach, and he replied to a question by indicating he does what he can coaching-wise and it is up to the players themselves to execute and catch a ball on third down or make a play when needed. Usually a coach never “passes the buck” and puts blame on others. A typical response from a coach after a game like that is he needs to do a better job and the play of the team is on him.
The players themselves are well aware they failed to execute. They do not need a reminder of that. The pressures of the game are intense enough. Why would you cast blame and put more pressure on your team? A young team. A team that is losing veterans weekly. A team in search of leadership. Not exactly a good sign for the future of this coach in San Diego. Has he lost the ship already or are we making too much of this because the team continues to make the same frustrating mistakes? Only time will tell, but the Chargers are not a team built for the long run. Rivers is getting older. They need to win now.
#FireMcCoy is a thing. A Twitter thing for now, but like a snowball growing as it tumbles downhill, it is becoming a real thing. The only way to stop it is by winning. After the “White Hot Sunday” dominant home-opener, the fans were merciful and drunk with victory. They made no mention of the coach, and no praise (of course), but that is the life of a young coach in his first NFL head coaching job. McCoy is, and will be, learning on the job for a while. That is the reality.
Learning on the job has cost the Chargers many wins over the last two seasons. The two losses this season are eerily similar to many defeats in the 2015 season. The Chargers were in almost every game last year, but when it was all said and done, they failed to execute. The only consistency they have shown is failing when the going gets tough. That is a horrible thing. That needs to change. A defensive or offensive unit should want to have the chance to win the game for its team. Not that the Chargers haven’t wanted to be in that position, but time and time again the respective unit has failed to do its job.
In the K.C. game, the team had continuous opportunities to win the game. The offense just needed a successful drive to win the game and failed twice in the fourth quarter. The defense had two opportunities to hold the Chiefs and win the game and they too failed to do so. Those kinds of losses are demoralizing. Last week in Indy, once again… just make a play. Both facets of the game failed and the Chargers once again blew a late lead. If this continues, there will indeed be a changing of the guard. #FireMcCoy is an entity that cannot be stopped. Especially if the team continues to perform like it has. The young coach has to feel the pressure. It cannot be ignored. Will the team step up and play the hearts out for their coach?
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.