Let me set this up with some quick background.I thought this team would be 8-9.
Harbaugh obviously exceeded those low expectations and 11 wins is insane for this roster to achieve.
However, going into the playoffs, there were very obvious weakness in the roster.
Pretty much all of those chickens came to roost today.
But here is what it comes down to.
The Defense lived up to their side of the bargain and the offense did not.
And a big reason why is that Justin Herbert had one of the worst games of his career.
Again, the rest of the offense did him no favors tonight.
Free pressures seemingly every other play and WRs dropping passes left and right.
So is Herbert a player that just can’t win big games?
I don’t know.
This game he still didn’t get any rushing help but he also didn’t score off those turnovers.
So now, where to the Chargers stand?
They’ll have a pick in the low 20’s and a lot of room to work with.
So what is the priority?
In no order:
1.
Zion-Bozeman-Pipkins have been a BAD trio in pass protection and didn’t help much in the run game either.
You saw this game.
It’s clear they need a dependable outside WR.
McConkey is a slot demon but they need someone with hands.
Will Dissley is a fine blocking tight end.
He can’t be TE1 and neither can Hayden Hurst or Stone Smartt.
This is gonna be a near-empty room next year and they need skill and speed to compliment Tuli.
I don’t know what the deal is with Junior Colson but he was a no-show this year.
You might think your college HC and DC coaching you in the NFL would help but apparently not.
Perryman is aging and they need someone opposite Henley, who really came alive this year.
Is there a world where Harbaugh dumps Greg Roman, Marc Trestman and co and modernizes the offense?
I don’t think so.
The fact that they got 11 wins mid-rebuild will give them a grace year.
Is there a world where Minter gets a HC gig this offseason?
Hopefully not but what he managed to do with this defense roster was nothing short of a miracle.
To give this season a true post-mortem, I’ll sum it up in one sentence.
