The Chargers were just a little to careless with the football to beat the Niners last night.  Billy Volek was terrible as he completed only 1 of 3 passes for 5 yards.  He also lost a fumble.  Scott Tolzien was a lot better as he completed 16 of 23 passes for 226 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT.  He also carried the ball 1 time for 18 yards.  Ryan Mathews was electric for the Chargers as he carried the ball 5 times for 78 yards (15.6 avg) with 1 TD run.  Rookie RB Jordan Todman pitched in with 46 yards rushing on 15 carries (3.1 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 24 yards (12.0 avg).  Todman also lost a fumble in this game.  WRs Laurent Robinson (6 rec, 120 yards) and Seji Arijotutu (5 rec, 41 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Chargers.  The Chargers finished up with 154 yards rushing on 23 carries (6.7 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 26 passes (65.4%) for 185 yards as they only had possession of the ball for 24:38.

The Chargers’ D just couldn’t seem to get off of the field last night.  LB Stephen Cooper led the way for the Chargers’ D  with 7 tackles.  CBs Dante Hughes and Marcus Gilchrist pitched in with 1 interception apiece in this contest.  The Niners finished up with 160 yards rushing on 42 carries (3.8 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 22 passes (68.2%) for 124 yards.  The Chargers finish the preseason with a 2-2 record.

23-year old, undrafted rookie QB Scott Tolzien is currently the Chargers’ #3 QB.  If he wants it to stay that way, he will need to step up in the last preseason game.  He has played in all 3 preseason games for the Chargers and he has completed 9 of 17 passes (52.9%) for 76 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs (64.8 QB Rating).  Tolzien has also carried the ball 3 times for 6 yards (2.0 ypc) in the preseason.  If Tolzien doesn’t step up this week, don’t be surprised if the Chargers start combing the waiver wire for a #3 QB.

UPDATE:  (9/4/2011) – The Chargers have waived Scott Tolzien.  He was quickly claimed off waivers by the 49ers.

The Chargers played really well last night offensively, but just about as poorly defensively and it almost cost them this game.  Philip Rivers was solid in this game as he completed 18 of 28 passes for 198 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT.  Billy Volek finished up the game and he looked solid in completing 9 of 17 passes for 123 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  His TD pass went to WR Bryan Walters (14 yarder) with 3 seconds left in the game!  Ryan Mathews led the way on the ground for the Chargers with 69 yards on 10 carries (6.9 ypc).  Mike Tolbert pitched in with 7 carries for 26 yards (3.7 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 27 yards (13.5 avg).  WRs Vincent Jackson (5 rec, 78 yards), Bryan Walters (5 rec, 61 yards, TD) and Malcom Floyd (5 rec, 52 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Chargers in this game.  TE Antonio Gates also pitched in for the Chargers in this game with 2 grabs for 18 yards with a TD grab.  The Chargers finished up with 111 yards rushing on 21 carries (5.3 ypc) and they also completed 27 of 45 passes (60%) for 321 yards in this game.

The defense played poorly last night for the Chargers.  LB Donald Butler (5 tackles) and safety Steve Gregory (5 tackles) led the way for the Chargers’ D in this game.  LB Darryl Gamble recovered a fumble and he returned it 1 yard for a TD.  The Cardinals finished up with 167 yards rushing on 25 carries (6.7 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 30 passes (63.3%) for 264 yards in this game.  The Chargers are now 2-1 on the preseason.

The Chargers took advantage of a sloppy Cowboys team to get a nice road win last night.  Philip Rivers was sharp last night as he completed 8 of 11 passes for 92 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  Billy Volek was also efficient in completing 8 of 12 passes for 48 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs.  Scott Tolzien finished up this game at QB by completing 4 of 5 passes for 12 yards.  Ryan Mathews led the way on the ground for the Chargers with 35 yards on 7 carries (5.0 ypc) with 1 TD run last night.  Rookie RB Jordan Todman pitched in with 5 carries for 27 yards (5.4 ypc) last night.  WR Vincent Jackson (3 rec, 49 yards) and TE Randy McMichael (3 rec, 24 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Chargers last night.  The Chargers finished up with 92 yards on 26 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 28 passes (71.4%) for 147 yards last night.

The defense was in bend but don’t break mode last night for the Chargers.  DE Vaughn Martin led the way for the Chargers’ D last night with 4 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks and 2 QB hits.  Safeties C.J. Wallace (4 tackles and a fumble recovery) and Eric Weddle (4 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception) also had good games for the Chargers last night.  LB Andrew Gachkar pitched in with 3 tackles and 1 fumble recovery in this game.  The Cowboys finished up with 109 yards rushing on 20 carries (5.5 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 42 passes (59.5%) for 204 yards last night.  The Chargers are now 1-1 on the year.

The Chargers’ starters played pretty well in this game as they were up 10-0 at the half.  That is when the roof caved in on them as the Seahawks looked inspired in the second half.  Philip Rivers was razor sharp last night as he completed 5 of 6 passes (83.3%) for 87 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  Billy Volek was so/so as he completed 6 of 10 passes (60%) for 39 yards without a TD or a INT.  Undrafted rookie Scott Tolzien had a rough introduction to the NFL.  He completed 5 of 12 passes (41.7%) for 64 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 2 times for 8 yards (4.0 ypc) but he also lost a fumble.  Rookie RB Jordan Todman led the way on the ground for the Chargers last night with 30 yards rushing on 6 carries (5.0 ypc).  He also caught 4 passes for 21 yards (5.3 avg) last night.  Mike Tolbert carried the ball 2 times for -3 yards (-1.5 ypc) and he also caught an 8 yard pass that went for a TD.  WR Vincent Jackson looked sharp last night with 2 grabs for 54 yards (27.0 avg).  WR Bryan Walters was the star of the game for the Chargers last night.  He only caught 2 passes for 31 yards (15.5 avg) but he shined on special teams.  Walters returned 4 kickoffs for 179 yards (44.8 avg) including one that he returned 103 yards for a TD!  The Chargers could only muster 51 yards rushing on 18 carries (2.8 ypc) last night.  They also completed 16 of 28 passes (57.1%) for only 172 yards.  They only had possession of the football for a measly 24:28 in this game!

The defense was rock solid against the Seahawks’ running game as they held them to only 3.1 yards per carry.  The Seahawks rushed for 133 yards on 43 carries last night against the Chargers.  CB Ramon Broadway (9 tackles), LB Darryl Gamble (8 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 QB hit and 1 sack) and safety C.J. Wallace (7 tackles) led the way for the Chargers on D last night.  The Seahawks were semi-effective throwing the ball last night as they connected on 22 of 34 passes (64.7%) for 180 yards.  The end result was not pleasing but the regulars looked pretty sharp early in the game for the Chargers.

The Chargers just couldn’t get anything going on offense last night.  Billy Volek starting this game at QB and he completed 15 of 24 passes for 159 yards with 2 INTs.  Rookie Jonathan Crompton finished up this game at QB for the Chargers by completing 9 of 16 passes for 114 yards with 1 INT.  RB Curtis Brinkley led the way on the ground for the Chargers in this game with 57 yards on 13 carries (4.4 ypc) with a TD run.  He also caught 5 passes for 43 yards (8.6 avg) in this game.  Mike Tolbert carried the ball 6 times for 37 yards (6.2 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 13 yards.  WR Buster Davis was solid in this game with 4 grabs for 82 yards (20.5 avg).  The Chargers finished up with 116 yards rushing (4.5 ypc) and 235 yards passing in this game.

Rookie safety Darrell Stuckey led the way for the Chargers on D last night with 8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed.  LB Antwan Applewhite pitched in with 7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB hit and 1 sack.  Fellow linebacker Brandon Siler was also solid with 4 tackles, 1 pass defensed, 1 QB hit and 1 interception.  The Niners finished up with 139 yards rushing (5.0 ypc) and 148 yards passing in this game.  The Chargers finish the pre-season with a 1-3 record.

Rookie first round pick (RB) Ryan Mathews is looking good so far this pre-season.  Mathews has carried the ball 34 times for 136 yards (4.0 ypc) and he has caught 5 passes for 33 yards (6.6 avg) so far this pre-season.  The Chargers have not been shy about giving the rock to Mathews this pre-season to get him ready for the grind of his rookie year as he will be the main man in the running game.

This game was a lot closer than the scoreboard shows as the Saints intercepted a pass and returned it to the house with 7 seconds left in the game (it was a 87-yard return).  Philip Rivers started this game and he looked sharp in completing 16 of 27 passes for 167 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  Billy Volek finished up the game by completing 9 of 21 passes for 97 yards at 2 INTs.  Ryan Mathews led the way on the ground for the Chargers in this game with 43 yards rushing on 13 carries (3.3 ypc).  FB Jacob Hester pitched in with a 6-yard TD carry the only time he touched the ball in this game.  TE Antonio Gates (5 rec, 66 yards) and WR Malcolm Floyd (4 rec, 51 yards, TD) led the way in the passing attack for the Chargers last night.  They finished up with 68 yards rushing (3.4 ypc) and 255 passing yards last night.

LB Kevin Burnett (6 tackles) and CB Quentin Jammer (6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) led the way for the Chargers’ D last night.  The Saints finished up with 129 yards rushing (4.6 ypc) and 423 yards passing in this game.    The Chargers are now 1-2 on the pre-season.

The Chargers were awesome on defense in this game but the offense just didn’t come through last Saturday Night.  Philip Rivers completed 11 of 15 passes for 125 yards with 1 INT.  He also had 1 carry for 1 yard and it went for a TD.  Billy Volek was so-so completing 5 of 12 passes for 94 yards.  5th round pick Jonathan Crompton finished up this game by completing 3 of 6 passes for 8 yards with 1 INT.  Rookie first round pick Ryan Mathews led the way for the Chargers on the ground in this game with 53 yards rushing on 12 carries (4.4 ypc).  Mike Tolbert pitched in with 10 carries for 34 yards (3.4 ypc) and 2 receptions for 21 yards (10.5 avg) in this game.  Marcus Mason pitched in with 8 carries for 7 yards (0.9 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 1 pass for 6 yards.  Darren Sproles only had 1 carry for 3 yards but he also caught 3 passes for 38 yards (12.7 avg) on Saturday.  WRs Seji Ajirotutu (3 rec, 71 yards) and Malcolm Floyd (3 rec, 47 yards) both pitched in for the Chargers in the passing game last night.  The Chargers finished up with 92 yards rushing (2.7 ypc) and 202 yards passing in this game.

Safety C.J. Spillman (7 tackles) and LB Darry Beckwith (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) led a good effort by the Chargers’ D last night.  The Cowboys finished up with 54 yards rushing (2.3 ypc) and 140 yards passing on Saturday Night.

The Chargers had little problem in dominating the Bears on Saturday night.  Philip Rivers looked sharp completing 4 of 6 passes for 62 yards with 1 TD pass (a 28-yarder to Legedu Naanee).  Billy Volek looked so-so completing 7 of 14 passes for 77 yards.  Rookie 5th round pick Jonathan Crompton finished up the game at QB by completing 6 of 11 passes for 81 yards with 1 INT.  Rookie 1st round pick Ryan Mathews led the way on the ground for the Chargers in this game with 50 yards rushing on 9 carries (5.6 ypc).  Curtis Brinkley (5 car, 36 yards) and Mike Tolbert (6 car, 17 yards, TD) also pitched in on the ground for the Chargers in this game.  The Chargers spread the ball around pretty well in the passing game using 14 different receivers.  None of them caught more than two passes or had more than 36 yards.  The Chargers rushed for 120 yards (3.6 ypc) and they passed for 215 yards against the Bears.

LB Darry Beckwith (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and safety Steve Gregory (6 tackles) led the way for the D on Saturday night.  Safety Paul Oliver made a huge impact in this game with 1 tackle, 1 pass defensed, 1 fumble recovery and a interception.  The Bears finished up with 48 yards rushing (2.3 ypc) and 168 yards passing in this game.