The Chargers need to turn things around NOW.
Not next week. Not next month. Now.
But they couldn’t have asked for a more difficult opponent to pull that off against than the Bills who are led by current MVP-frontrunner Josh Allen.
The defense is not likely to look all that great as the Bills are scoring 38.5 points per game, but it’s the offense who has a shot against a Buffalo defense that is allowing 31 points and 368 yards to their opponents on average thus far.
I know many will not have hope, but
the NFL can be wacky and wild in the weirdest of times, so a Chargers win here would almost be par for the course.
“Any given Sunday,” right?
That said, here are three things that I’ll be watching for when these two teams take the field on Sunday.
1.) Will increased QB meetings help the Chargers offense?
This week, offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel told reporters that he is “much closer to Justin Herbert now than he was two weeks ago.”
That’s because, with the rough start, the Chargers play-caller is now leaving nothing to chance as he’s increased the amount of times Herbert and him are meeting throughout the week to make sure at least those two are on the same page.
McDaniel went on to say he’s much more connected with what his players are most comfortable with running offensively, meaning he’s seemingly cutting back on some of the playbook to make sure his unit is not getting overwhelmed with the amount on their plates while trying to get this new scheme to click.
I take some positives and negatives away from this.
The positives being that McDaniel is willing to change and adapt if things are not working like they should. I also think it’s good to hear him meeting with Herbert more and that relationship could never be “too close.”
On the negative side, it’s not good that he’s been pushed to do such things, or feels like he wasn’t doing enough before. Why weren’t you already meeting with Herbert on an obsessive basis? They’re human and have lives, but at least through training camp and into the regular season, this should have been at the forefront of his priorities.
Secondly, it’s not ideal that there seems to have been an unnoticed divide between what his team was actually comfortable with offensively and what the team has been trying to do out on the field the past two Sundays. It’s been fairly obvious that Herbert does not look like he’s in control of the offense the way we’re used to seeing in years past. Past the initial reads, it does not look like he is ever capable of improvising, and that honestly stretches to his pass-catchers. The plays look “dead in the water” quick and then there’s never a Plan B when it goes sideways.
At this rate, the team just needs to look like they know what they’re doing. They don’t even need to exactly “dominate,” just show that they’re capable of running an offense with all its nuances and adjustments. If the other team is simply that much better and they shut it down, fine! That’s the way it goes sometimes. But right now, it’s the Chargers defending themselves before the other team even gets a chance.
Here’s to hoping the extra time together between McDaniel and Herbert shows some fast results.
2.)How will the Chargers handle the latest injury along the offensive line?
New starting left guard Kayode Awosika unfortunately did not make it through two games with the Chargers before an injury struck him. While he was not placed on injured reserve this week, the team expects him to miss at least this week with a fibula injury. Jim Harbaugh said he’d miss “some time” and my bet is at least two games.
Who is there to play left guard in the meantime?
The backup to start the season there was Trey Pipkins but he missed Week 2 with a knee injury and he has yet to practice in Week 3. When Awosika went out last week, it was veteran Trevor Penning who filled in. Earlier in that game, Penning rotated in with Cole Strange and, funny enough, he played a role in Omariom Hampton gashing the Raiders en route to his second touchdown on the ground.
It’s worth mentioning: When Penning was in for Strange, the rushing attack looked like the unit we expect it to be every week. When Strange was in and Penning was in the game on the other side, things weren’t churning the same. Everyone and their mother knew the Strange signing was going to be a bad move. As a depth piece? Sure, why not. As the immediate starter with no competition? No way.
But here we are.
As things stand, it’ll be Penning at left guard and Strange at right guard against the Bills.
Here’s to hoping stud Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver doesn’t return this week.
3.) Is Chris O’Leary right to keep Marlowe Wax off the field?
This week, defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary fielded questions about keeping second-year linebacker Marlowe Wax off the field on defense through the first two games. Wax was stellar in the preseason and with veteran Denzel Perryman remaining on IR for two more weeks, the expectation was that Wax could see some real snaps next to Daiyan Henley. However, it’s been just Troy Dye and Del’Shawn Phillips with Henley thus far, the latter of which has been the designated starter with Henley.
Phillips and Dye have actually played well through two games. Per Pro Football Focus, each are on pace to have their highest-graded seasons ever. On the other hand, Henley is off to a rough start and is currently on pace for his worst-graded season. He’s been graded harshly in coverage through games, posting a 45.5 mark.
Henley is the unquestioned leader in the middle. He’s not going to lose snaps to anyone, but something has to give if the Chargers cannot defend the middle of the field better. I’m not saying Wax is the answer, but something feels like it needs shaking up. That or Henley, like the rest of the team, needs to shake off this rough start to find their stride again and get back to the standard they’ve made for themselves in the Jim Harbaugh era.
