Vikings Preseason Game 3: Five Questions With Bolt Beat

Chargers this week. No Adrian Peterson. I hit up Ernie Padaon of Bolt Beat for a question exchange.

Q: How do you feel about ownership’s decision to bring back Norv Turner and A.J. Smith?

A: I am one of the few people that actually like AJ Smith. He has made mistakes recently and had some questionable draft picks, but I have seen him take this team from the basement to the top of the AFC West.

Now Norv is another story. I love what he brings on the offensive side of the ball, but his game management has been terrible. The Chargers have brought in some help in the coaching staff to give him a hand in the game management part of the game.

Q. Hearing a lot of buzz about Vincent Brown. What’s the story with him?

A. Vincent Brown showed a lot of potential last season and San Diego fans already love him since he is from SDSU. He is not the fastest guy in camp, but he has a great chemistry with Philip Rivers and will catch anything that is thrown at him. I wouldn’t be surprised if fans are calling him to start over Robert Meachem as we progress through the season.

(Note: Brown broke his ankle after this exchange took place and will miss 8 weeks)

Q: Philip Rivers had a rough year last year. What was his problem and do you think he can bounce back to elite status?

A: I wish I could say he was hurt, but he denies that over and over. The best answer that anyone can come up with is that he was trying to hard to make a play and forced the ball into places he shouldn’t have. Philip takes risks and with that approach, there will be some interceptions that go around. He made a few more bad decisions than he should have last season. He will just have to make better decisions this season.

Q: Any rookies making an impression in camp?

A: First round draft pick LB Melvin Ingram is getting all the buzz in camp. Some people bring back names like Shawne Merriman when mentioning him. He will be brought in during passing situations to start out the season and will chase after the quarterbacks.

Q: Considering the Chargers’ recent history of failing miserably as favorites, if I were a Charger fan I’d now be going with the old “nobody’s picking us so this should be our year.” Do the Chargers have any kind of shot this season?

A: You nailed the Chargers fan approach right on the head. We definitely will be in the battle for the top spot in the AFC West when the season winds down. If we get to the playoffs, anything can happen.

Like The Viking Age on Facebook.
Follow Dan Zinski on Twitter.