LA Chargers: Team grades from Justin Herbert’s explosion against the Jags

Special teams and final grades

As far as I’m concerned, the special teams unit can sit right next to the secondary in the doghouse. They nearly blew this game, as Michael Badgley tried his hardest to choke this game away. A missed field goal and PAT cost the LA Chargers four points. His regression has indicated that the Chargers should bring in competition, pronto.

Blocking on field goal kicks and punts? Forget about it. Ty Long had been playing awesome this season until he got blocked because the Chargers just gave up trying to block for him. Add seven points to the four-point swing I mentioned earlier.

Desmond King should no longer have punt returning duties. Strip it from him. He hasn’t been consistently serviceable at punt returning since 2018. Give someone else on the roster a chance to prove their worth there.

Tevaughn Campbell‘s forced fumble saved special teams from being a total disaster. If it wasn’t for that, I’d give the unit an F. There’s no reason George Stewart still deserves to be special teams coordinator.

Offense: A-

Defense: C-

Special Teams: D-

Herbert and the offense carried the squad again. The offense really gets this A- on the backs of Herbert and Allen alone. The run game was pretty putrid, but the ball was well spread around. Passing on early downs helped dramatically. Give credit to the offensive line for improved pass protection.

The pass-rushing and linebackers’ performances were fine, but man, the secondary and rush defense were horrible. Chris Harris and Derwin James are sorely missed. Unfortunately, I’m not sure there’s a solution for the secondary in sight without either of them coming back in the next few weeks.