Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was the 2024 Chargers' offense. Justin Herbert acknowledged the reality of the team needing more time to find their offensive identity in his media availability on Wednesday:
"It's always tough with a new offense," Herbert said. "You're never going to find it in camp or OTAs."
"(Greg Roman), he's done a great job of putting guys in a position to win [...] running the ball or passing the ball, we're going to do what we need to win."
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman echoed similar sentiments regarding offensive identity at his media availability on Thursday:
Chargers OC Greg Roman on finding offensive identity: "We're going to evolve as the season goes on...I don't think we've nailed it down yet. In order to do that, it takes a real consistency week in and week out. And that's what we're building towards."
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) October 24, 2024
Greg Roman gets brutally honest about Chargers' offense
Roman also commented on the teams' red zone struggles and inability to finish off drives with touchdowns:
"We want to score every drive," Roman said. "Touchdowns are great, we love em. Field goals are good, we like em. Sometimes punts are good too [...] We gotta score points, and it'll come...If you get 400 yards, you're expecting 28 points [...] As an offense, everyone's very frustrated."
Roman was also asked about the timeline on when he expects the Chargers to truly find their offensive identity. Without directly blaming injuries themselves, LA's OC made a mention of player availability:
"You have to be realistic about player availability," Roman explained. "Having said that, everyday you're chasing it...To put a timeline on it, I don't know about that."
Player availability, particularly at the wide receiver position, is certainly hindering the Chargers. Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, and Derius Davis did not participate in practice on Thursday.
Davis and Johnston missed the team's Monday night loss to the Cardinals due to injuries. McConkey clearly was not his usual self with a hip injury. On top of all of this, the Chargers were not able to activate WR DJ Chark as he continues to work back from his groin injury. WR Josh Palmer has battled with arm and lower body injuries throughout the season.
Along with the offensive line injuries that LA dealt with earlier in the season, it certainly does become unsustainable to have so many pieces moving in and out of the lineup on a weekly basis. With the trade deadline less than two weeks away, it will become pertinent that the Chargers bring in some degree of reinforcements on the offense.
While Roman will receive flack for the Chargers failing to score as much as they should, he has realized what works and what doesn't for the offense. On giving Herbert more throwing attempts vs. Arizona, Roman acknowledged that Herbert's improved mobility on his injured ankle resulted in the passing game giving the Chargers the best chance to move the football.
If the Chargers are going to get through an injury-plagued stretch on offense and defense with a middling rushing attack, they'll have to rely more on the hot hand of Herbert that Roman mentions.
The Chargers will look to get better results from the offense as they kickoff against the Saints at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.