ESPN NFL

Following a disappointing 4-12 season, there was speculation that coach Marty Schottenheimer would be in the unemployment line. After all, in his two seasons in San Diego he has won a grand total of 12 games and his record over his last four seasons as a head coach is an uninspiring 27-37. But general manager A.J. Smith was in a forgiving mood and decided there were extenuating circumstances to the team's poor performance.

It was Smith who jettisoned five veteran starters on defense, and it was the defense that was the Bolts' Achilles' heel. The defense surrendered a league-high 36 touchdown passes, ranked last in touchdown percentage in the red zone (70 percent), and allowed more points (441) than every other team but Arizona (452).

Injuries also played a major role. The team should have officially changed their team colors from gold and blue to black and blue. The offensive line had so many bumps and bruises that it was forced to use nine different starting combinations over the course of the season.

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