The Los Angeles Chargers continue to deal with growing concerns along their offensive line as the team prepares for what they hope is a stiff playoff run. At 29 unique combinations so far this season, they’re third in the NFL for the most lineup shuffling. The off-field instability has created concerns about the effectiveness of the offensive line to protect franchise quarterback Justin Herbert. He has been under pressure all year, as Jyoti highlighted. As the playoffs loom, the Chargers must find a way to solidify their line to enhance their chances of success.
The issues stung early and often in the campaign. When Rashawn Slater sustained a crushing left patellar tendon tear in training camp, the team went from couched line strategy to immediately needing a new direction. Joe Alt’s season was cut short after just six games due to a high right ankle injury, leaving the Chargers scrambling for solutions. Despite bringing in new talent through trades and signings, the offensive line’s problems persist, raising questions about whether these efforts will be sufficient for a playoff run.
Line Changes and Adaptations
Unlike prior years, the Chargers are attempting to address those issues directly. They’ve successfully traded for linemen and are simply getting more value out of their practice squad players. These latest moves speak to the repeated and desperate attempts to fix a spot that has constantly been in flux all season long. Yet despite the team’s attempts to strengthen the offensive line, the efforts have backfired catastrophically.
Mekhi Becton signed a two-year, incentive-laden deal that can be worth as much as $20 million. He’s been key to anchoring the offensive line’s success. He has the 46th worst pass block win rate of all guards at 91.2%. Sadly, he ranks 61st out of 62 qualifying guards in run block win rate, at a pathetic 63.4%. This performance further highlights the battles that have defined the Chargers’ offensive line this year.
“We all feel it hasn’t went the way we wanted to go, but I feel like we’ve adjusted well as best as we can,” – Mekhi Becton
Along with Becton, center Bradley Bozeman has been a trustworthy presence, as he’s played all but 1.3% of snaps. His reliable play has turned him into one of the few bright spots on an otherwise abysmal unit. At the same time, Zion Johnson has just begun to prove his mettle on the ground, ranking second among guards in RBWR at 79.3%. His PBWR grade of 87.4% ranks him fifth-worst among guards in PBWR. This illustrates the spread of good and bad among the Chargers’ linemen.
Pressure on Herbert
Justin Herbert, for one, has been pressured at a dizzying clip so far this season. He’s been pressured 268 times, most for any quarterback in the NFL. Only his fourth game this season with 20 or more pressures and five sacks. This relentless pressure can be detrimental not only to Herbert’s performance but to the overall success of the Chargers’ offense.
“When we talk about a–, we mean this offensive line here,” – Pat McAfee
The cumulative result of these pressures makes you worry about Herbert’s ability to follow through on plays and finish throwing motions. Jim Harbaugh provided insight into Herbert’s challenges, stating that “he’s got to be able to finish a throwing motion.” Moving deeper into the playoffs, the Chargers need to continue finding ways to take pressure off of Herbert. This will be critical for their prospects of moving forward.
Future Outlook
If the Chargers want any hope of making a long playoff run, it starts by owning up to their concerns across the offensive line. The streaky play, injuries and a search for the right combination all put this at a tipping point. The coaching staff is still working to find the best options available and should look to make more bolder tactical changes to get more consistent results.
Despite this progress and signs of growth and adaptation on the part of their team, the struggle is still deep and fierce. Coach Jim Harbaugh acknowledged that “there’s a lot of good things to go along with and things that can be improved,” emphasizing the need for continued development as they head into high-stakes games.
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