Chargers gamers dressed and gear managers tidied up the locker room after the workforce’s loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at SoFi Stadium. J.Ok. Dobbins sat immobile in his locker. The working again coated his head with a towel.
“I haven’t been in a place where I lost a lot, so I’m not used to it, yet,” Dobbins mentioned later. “And I won’t get used to it.”
The Chargers offense that emerged early as one of the vital punishing working assaults within the NFL has pale right into a two-game dropping streak. Hampered by accidents and haunted by errors, the Chargers have scored simply two touchdowns of their final 25 offensive drives getting into Sunday’s sport towards the Denver Broncos.
“We gotta play cleaner football, that’s all, and we will,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman mentioned. “You go through these little stretches sometime, and you just want to make them a little stretch, you don’t want to let that extend.”
Identified for his wizardry within the run sport, Roman had the offense buzzing behind 395 dashing yards within the first two video games. He and head coach Jim Harbaugh preached the significance of a balanced offense that might be quarterback Justin Herbert’s “best friend,” however the Chargers have averaged simply 2.6 yards per rush try within the final two video games.
Accidents and self-inflicted wounds have hamstrung the offense, Roman mentioned. The Chargers (2-2) haven’t proven the whole lot they’ve labored on in follow due to in-game blunders, together with seven offensive penalties towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and two towards the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Saddled with destructive performs, the Chargers have confronted third down with 10 or extra yards to go 17 instances in 4 video games. Roman mentioned he’s by no means been related to an offense that has handled so many third-and-long conditions.
The Chargers are twenty first within the NFL in third-down conversions (36.4%) and simply seven-for-24 (29.2%) on third-down alternatives in the course of the two losses.
“We haven’t played the way we want to, but there’s never a time to panic,” Herbert mentioned. “Panicking doesn’t help. … We got the right guys out there. It’s a new offense. It’s a tough offense. We’re gonna get it picked up.”
With the working sport’s struggles, Harbaugh is sensing the questions that may persist because the offense crawls alongside. The pinnacle coach minimize off a reporter Wednesday earlier than he might end asking whether or not the workforce would attempt to throw extra with Herbert.
Chargers working again Gus Edwards (4) is upended and tackled by his face masks by Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) within the first half. Edwards is averaging 3.0 yards per carry.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
The previous Professional Bowler has but to cross for 180 yards in a sport this season and is averaging 22.8 cross makes an attempt after throwing practically 40 instances a sport throughout his first 4 seasons.
“If we throw it 500 times or 50 times, we just have to be executing as an offense,” Herbert mentioned. “Selfishly, I’d love to throw the football, but I want to get this offense to be as best as we can. And what that looks like, it changes week to week.”
The passing plan began to disclose itself towards Pittsburgh, Roman mentioned. Herbert threw 16 instances in the course of the first half for 125 yards and one landing because the Chargers led 10-7. However an harm to left sort out Rashawn Slater left a gaping gap in cross safety and led to Herbert reinjuring his proper ankle. The plan went out the window.
Though Herbert returned to start out towards the Chiefs, the lingering harm affected the sport plan, Roman mentioned. With the advantage of the off week, Herbert has returned to some workforce drills throughout follow for the primary time because the preliminary harm, and Slater (pectoral) additionally returned in a restricted vogue.
Proper sort out Joe Alt was a full participant in follow Thursday for the primary time since he injured his knee towards the Steelers, probably giving Herbert much-needed safety to jump-start the offense.
“I love it when Justin Herbert‘s back there and is able to throw the football. We all do. It’s a thing of beauty,” Roman mentioned. “But we’re trying to build something here that’s sustainable, that can win in a lot of different conditions under different circumstances. … But there are definitely going to be some days where we’re able to let Justin go to work, throwing the football. Those days are coming.”
And so on.
Linebacker Junior Colson (hamstring) and proper sort out Joe Alt (knee) had been full contributors in follow Thursday. Colson practiced totally for the primary time since being injured towards the Carolina Panthers. … Linebacker Joey Bosa (hip), working again Gus Edwards (ankle) and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) didn’t follow Thursday. … Defensive again Deane Leonard (hamstring) was restricted.
