Chargers vs. 49ers: The good, the bad and the ugh
By Dennis J. Hassell
A look back at the Los Angeles Chargers’ Week 4 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
The bad
#3: Pass coverage was sloppy . An epic interception return by Trevor Williams saves the secondary’s reputation. Grade = C-
#2: Pass rush was very inconsistent. When they did get a rush on rusty C.J. Beathard, they got success. Chargers’ rookie safety is their best pass rusher? That’s novel, but other teams will pick up on that. Corey Liuget gets back next week. Joey Bosa will get back after… Christmas? Grade = C-
#1: The prior two combined would be an F except for the 4th quarter.
The Ugh-lee
Jahleel Addae
Watch the tape of the 49ers’ touchdowns, and you will see why Jahleel Addae wears his dreads so long. It’s to hide the No. 37 on his back from the cameras as he jogs after the latest receiver to make a touchdown. He doesn’t just take bad angles, he turns in circles until he gets dizzy and falls down. I don’t want Addae.
Grade = F
Caleb Sturgis
The kicking game is unacceptable. For a college team. This is not an “F” only because Sturgis made a 50-yarder. If the 49ers had made one more field goal, the Bolts would have lost by a point, due to TWO missed point-after-touchdowns. Sturgis needs to perfect his technique. In latte designs. Because he’s not employable as an NFL kicker.
Grade = D+
Personal Fouls: Dumb and Dumberer
Can somebody tell us where the Chargers are in penalties compared to other teams at the quarter-season mark, in personal fouls and taunting?
Grade: C-
The good
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Run defense was good and gooderer.
Against a good rushing team, the Bolts made Matt Breida and Alfred Morris look ordinary, with only 76 net yards rushing. The No. 2 rusher was their quarterback, and Beathard fortunately was not Cam Newton.
Grade = A
Melvin Gordon is still getting better.
His YPC is better than last year, so far, and several of his runs were a combination of beast mode and ballet. As Anthony Lynn and Philip Rivers said, Gordon inspired his offense.
Grade= A
The Chargers came back
They re-took the lead with less than five minutes remaining. Defense and offense made some great plays when they absolutely needed to. Wide receiver Keenan Allen at last consistently making key catches, like last season.
They won the turnover battle and time of possession
True, they won by less than a field goal against a backup quarterback. But by finishing the first quarter of the season at 2 – 2, they are demonstrably, significantly, ahead of last season, where at this time last year, they were four games below .500.
They came back to win a close game, but there is room for improvement.