Week 2 featured the LA Chargers vs the Dallas Cowboys and it was nothing short of a disaster. The Chargers ended the game with 12 penalties totaling 99 yards with 2 touchdowns coming off the board because of it.
So what do the LA Chargers need to change heading into Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs?
The first improvement that needs to happen is better discipline, Head coach Brandon Staley needs to emphasize this. The refs made some ticky tac calls on Sunday (other than that egregious sack) and it is important that the Chargers play disciplined enough that the game is not decided by the refs.
The Chargers need to be near perfect next week in Kansas City and that starts with limiting penalties.
The next improvement needs to be on the defensive line and the run defense, specifically Jerry Tillery and the run defense. Tillery needed to step up with Justin Jones out, and he got manhandled by the Cowboys, and Joey Bosa has yet to make the impact on quarterbacks that he has in past seasons.
Topped off with multiple missed tackles by everyone on the team including Derwin James and second-year linebacker Kenneth Murray. Murray got cooked all day in pass coverage. The Cowboys ended with 198 yards on the ground and that kind of yardage will destroy the Chargers in Kansas City.
Red-zone offense is an area of concern for the Chargers this season. In Week 1, the LA Chargers went 2-6, this week they went 1-4. Turnovers have been a big reason for the lack of efficiency and one would have to imagine these numbers will get better as the season goes on and the team starts to gel.
This is something that needs a huge improvement going forward, this should start showing signs next week.
The last improvement is quarterback Justin Herbert's decision-making. While it is still early in the season the second-year QB has just 2 touchdowns for 4 interceptions. I expect this to dramatically change as he had 2 passing touchdowns called back due to penalties.
With all of these improvements the Chargers will be a much better team and put up a much better fight against the Kansas City Chiefs. If the Chargers are prepared and healthier then there could even be a shocker at Arrowhead.