Now that the season is only eleven weeks old, that optimism has dimmed. There isn’t much optimism among fans of the Chargers that things will improve anytime soon, as they currently have an unimpressive 4-6 record that puts them last in the division. This raises the question of where the Chargers went wrong in the whole process.
There was hope at the start of the season that this would be the year the Los Angeles Chargers finally found peace. In year three under Brandon Staley, injuries would fade, Justin Herbert would advance under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and the defense would keep getting better.
After his success with the Los Angeles Rams, Brandon Staley was considered one of the NFL’s brightest young defensive minds when he was first hired by the Chargers. Staley has not performed well in his defensive duties as head coach, even though he may still have excellent defensive instincts.
Brandon Staley on if he will continue to call the Chargers plays on defense:
“You can stop asking that question. I’m going to be calling the defenses, okay? So we’re clear. So you don’t have to ask that again." pic.twitter.com/eno5OOSvOw
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 19, 2023
In all three of Staley’s seasons, they have allowed more points than 11 in the bottom 11, despite the fact that they have continuously invested in the team’s improvement. In addition, the team is currently last in the league in terms of passing yards allowed per game, despite the fact that Staley’s strength has always been his pass defense.
Sometimes, nothing is right in the situation. The team members and the fit don’t function. The truth is that the two are not a good fit. Furthermore, it was evident from Staley’s postgame press conference following a humiliating loss to the Green Bay Packers that the head coach was aware of the shortness of his time in the City of Angels.
Although Brandon Staley is largely to blame, general manager Tom Telesco should also take some of the blame for the team’s construction during his leadership. The Chargers never stopped using flashy moves to chase the big fish, but over time, they were unable to establish consistency and depth.
It’s not as simple as it sounds. The Chargers, on the other hand, have struggled to stop the run because they have focused on cornerback and edge rushers while neglecting the trenches and effectively supporting the defensive line.
