December 14, 2006 12:34 PM

Jeff Legwold on the Broncos-Chargers game

Mark_Wolf(Q) Given the way the Colts have been playing lately are the Chargers the best team in football?
jeff_legwold(A) I've said over the past month that I like the postseason profile of teams like the Ravens and the Chargers right now because of the way they play defense and their running games. Old school thinking or not teams that can't defend the run eventually find a struggle in the playoffs, especially for a team like the Colts who will lose the comfort of their dome in the postseason if they lose again. But yes the Chargers are playing the best right now and what Tomlinson is doing is historical.
Mark_Wolf(P) Old school is a pretty good school.

Mark_Wolf(Q) And how about LaDainian Tomlinson's place in history after setting the touchdown record against the Broncos?
jeff_legwold(A) His place in history as an offensive player is growing more secure by the day, certainly he's climbing into the short list of elite backs to have played the game. He runs, catches, and controls games.

Mark_Wolf(Q) What's your analysis of Cutler's performance?
jeff_legwold(A) Cutler continues to show progress and he also continues to show why so many people liked him before the draft. His composure in the face of stress is remarkable and uncommon. And even as he faced the team that has sacked quarterbacks more than any other this season, he continued to get up and play the next play. It's a rare trait, certainly a rare trait for a young quarterback. But he had it in college and has it now. It's what will serve him best as he learns to play in the offense. He has the arm, the mobility and the grasp of the offense, but long-term success at the position comes from being able to deal with the tough spots. He has that ability.

Mark_Wolf(Q) Via e-mail from Doug: What's the best showing a team has ever had in a season when they made a rookie quaterback their starter more than halfway into the season?
jeff_legwold(A) Tough to find all that right now, but usually it's an injury that forces a team's hand or if a team drops out of playoff contention it figures there's nothing to lose. The Titans were 0-3 when they put Vince Young in the lineup. After losing his first two starts, he's gone 6-2 since. That certainly is one of the better efforts in that kind of situation. Again over the years the rookies I've seen who entered the lineup late in the season for a team that considers itself a playoff contender, it's usually because of injury.

Mark_Wolf(Q) How do you handicap the playoff situation? Are the Broncos in a one-loss-and-gone scenario?
jeff_legwold(A) History says in the current eight division format, the Wild Card teams are all, most of the time, one-loss-and-gone in the postseason. Too hard to win that many games on the road against rested teams at home, regardless of the fact the Steelers became the first team in the Super Bowl era to win three road games on the way to win the championship. It's a big hill even if they get into the postseason, but they likely have to win their remaining three games to even get in the discussion.

Mark_Wolf(Q) You cited Vince Young and he made a dramatic 39-yard touchdown run in overtime to give Tennessee its third come-from-behind victory in succession. His strengths are a lot different than Cutler's but what do you make of his success as a rookie?
jeff_legwold(A) He has the same kind of mental toughness when things go bad that Cutler has. It's why I believe both of them have the makings for long-term starters. They also move well enough to get themselves out of trouble, which is helpful against defenses trying to rattle them. Young throws the ball better than he gets credit for by some as well. He just needs to learn to play under center after spending most of his time at Texas as a starter in the shotgun. But that comes with time. The Titans like his leadership skills and the teams has shown it responds with three consecutive late-game wins.

Mark_Wolf(Q) Suddenly the next two games (at Arizona, Cincinnati at home) look tougher than they did a few weeks ago. What do you make of the Cardinals beating Seattle yesterday? And what's wrong with the Colts. All my relatives back in Indiana are veering toward depression.
jeff_legwold(A) The Colts problems can be summed up in this number: 176.5. That's rushing yards allowed per game, or about 30 more yards allowed per game, on average than any team that has made it to a conference championship game in the Super Bowl has surrendered. That's too much and why they are most likely to waste another productive offensive season. They owe it to Manning to give him a defense. Cincy and Arizona each have quality offenses, but the teams that have had success against them have run the ball to keep the quality quarterbacks and receivers off the field. That's what the Broncos must do. They have to be productive running the ball, get first downs and keep moving the ball.

Mark_Wolf(Q) Cutler looks more comfortable in the shotgun. Given the pass protection issues might we see more of that in the season's final three weeks?
jeff_legwold(A) They will likely let him run it some, but protection is the key. If he gets hammered that hinders his development. They can use it, but they have to be able to limit the number of hits he takes. It's why teams don't use it more, even though most quarterbacks like the view and the extra time it gives them.

Mark_Wolf(Q) What do the Broncos say is wrong with the line play? Seemed like they were getting beat up on both sides on Sunday.
jeff_legwold(A) They are playing a second-year, undrafted player at left tackle in Erik Pears. He's done well, but it's a lot to ask to go from being a developmental prospect to squaring off against the best speed rushers in the league. And at right tackle they have George Foster, who was benched in favor of Adam Meadows because the Broncos were frustrated with his play, only to get back in the lineup when Meadows got hurt. Injuries to both tackles inhibits anyone's line play.