Jim Harbaugh had no decision to announce on Monday. A day after the Los Angeles Chargers lost 22-6 at Kansas City to fall to 0-6, he was asked again about offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and gave much the same answer he gave at Arrowhead on Sunday. “We’re looking into everything at this point, and that process is ongoing,” Harbaugh said. “Particularly offensively, scoring more points, the different multiple situational ways we need to play more complementary football.”
Asked whether a change had been made, he said: “0-6 does not give the privilege to rule out anything at this point. And we’re looking into everything.”
This is the Chargers’ first 0-6 start since 2000, the 1-15 season in which Harbaugh played quarterback for the club. They are 30th in the league in scoring at 15.0 points per game and did not reach the end zone on Sunday. The bye in Week 7 gives Harbaugh two weeks before the next game.
“Ball at the 1-yard line, we have to get it to the end zone”
Harbaugh said every part of the offense is under review. “Everything that relates to moving the ball,” he said. “Putting ourselves in a more advantageous position, efficient plays on first down, red-zone efficiency. Ball at the 1-yard line, we have to get it to the end zone. Backed up, third down, all situations. Like I said, 0-6 gives nobody comfort. Attacking everything we can.”
The goal-line sequence he meant came in the third quarter on Sunday, with the Chargers down 19-3. Quentin Johnston’s 57-yard catch put the ball at the 1, but a holding penalty, a shovel pass that lost a yard and two incompletions pushed them back, and they settled for Cameron Dicker’s 30-yard field goal.
One option is a smaller playbook. “Definitely looking at volume and where you can make it to where the players can understand it,” Harbaugh said. Asked whether that meant simplifying things, he said: “It’s an option. It’s something that we’re looking into for sure, along with how much that is practiced. Does that need to be practiced more? Taking what’s in the meetings to the install to the practice, and eventually having that show up in the game, that’s one of multiple things we’re addressing.”
“Those should be like layups”
Penalties are part of the review. Harbaugh said the false starts from earlier in the season have been fixed, but he counted two illegal formations, plus one more that was not called. “Those alignments should be like layups,” he said. “So more practice there, more getting in the layup line. Those have got to be non-existent.” He said the staff is also looking at who is making the errors and why, including cases where “a player went out, a new player came in, didn’t think he was going to be in that position.”
“We can’t have them. We have to eliminate them,” he said of the flags. “You look at what you’re doing, the technique of how you’re doing it, the fundamentals of how you’re doing it, and then you continue to coach that. It’s more time on task, extra time on task.”
Herbert’s footwork and the line
Asked whether Justin Herbert’s footwork in the new system is part of the review, Harbaugh said it has already been addressed. “Putting Justin in the most advantageous position, there’s nothing more important on the team,” he said. “Some of those things have been coached through. There have been changes.”
He said the line had been improving before Sunday, when the Chargers ran for 73 yards. “I believe as a unit there was progress being made in both the run game and the pass protection,” Harbaugh said. The run game, he said, “took a step back this week, especially in the efficiency.” Asked about the interior line and the platoon at left guard, he said that position “was a priority, is a priority and always will be a priority,” and noted that the club is “talking about really new players that are playing the position in many of those cases.”
He did not spread the blame to the defense, which held Kansas City to one touchdown in four red-zone trips. Asked about defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary, he said: “He’s doing a great job. The defense is doing a great job.” Then he added: “Not a person in the offensive room, player or coach, is where they want it to be.”
Alt and James getting closer
Asked whether left tackle Joe Alt could be back on the practice field, Harbaugh said: “He’s got a very good chance.” He named Alt, safety Derwin James Jr., cornerback Donte Jackson, receivers Tre’ Harris and Brenen Thompson, guard Kayode Awosika and edge rusher Bud Dupree as players who are getting closer to a return. Alt, James, Jackson, Harris, Awosika and Dupree all missed the Kansas City game. Receiver Ladd McConkey and cornerback Deane Leonard are in the concussion protocol after leaving Sunday’s game.
Asked about the number of soft-tissue injuries, Harbaugh said they are “part of the game,” and something seen “across the league, not just with our team.”
The bye week
The Chargers practice on Tuesday and Wednesday. Players then get a long weekend and return the following Monday. Harbaugh said the time off will help “for health and for mental, physical. It’ll be a positive thing.” He made it clear that he will keep working through the break. “I can’t afford it myself, personally,” he said as he left the podium.
The Chargers play the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, as the road team, on Sunday, November 1, at 4:05 p.m. EST.
No published comments yet. Start the conversation.