Nick Canepa grades the Chargers following Saturday’s 32-12 playoff loss to the Texans in Houston:
Quarterbacks: F
Chargering at it’s worst. Two good touchdown opportunities were squandered early, although Justin Herbert was on his game for a moment. But things slowed quickly. Got picked on one of his worst throws of the year, and after holding a lead for 29 minutes, went to halftime down by four points. He felt pressure, lacked accuracy, and his wideouts weren’t separating vs. the 29th-ranked D. Some bad luck, but it might have been his poorest game. Four picks?
Running backs: Incomplete
J.K. Dobbins came out running with a purpose. Backup Gus Edwards returned and did decent work. But the run calls were few — un-Harbaugh-like.
Receivers: D
Tight end Will Dissly dropped a perfect first-down at a bad time and of course had the big drop near the end. After a near-perfect game last week, Quentin Johnston dropped the first thrown to him, and the last. Ladd McConkey, the un-rookie, is good finding openings, but he let a high go through his hands that became a pick-six. He made up for it with a 86-yard run and catch TD (9 catches, 197 yards).
Offensive line: F
Tackle play was to be the key, what with Houston having a strong edge rush on both sides. Which meant Rashawn Slater and rookie Joe Alt had to be at their best, which they were not.
Defensive line: C-
The defense played great vs. the run in the beginning, but there were some lost kids by the end of the first half. Poona Ford was good.
Linebackers: C
Joey Bosa had a first-quarter sack. Bookend Khalil Mack had one a quarter later. Some pressures the QB turned into successful scrambles.
Secondary: F
One of the great safeties, Derwin James didn’t get that huge pick in the end zone, but he earlier recovered a fumble. Alohi Gilman forced that fumble. Dean Leonard had a big pick off an awful C.J. Stroud second-quarter throw. Corner Cam Hart is a great rookie find (he hurt his shoulder in the third quarter). Kristian Fulton got beat for the TD that first put Houston ahead. Tony Jefferson caused and recovered a big fumble as the second half began, later a tackle-for-loss.
Special teams: F
Cameron Dicker The Kicker, back-to-back AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, opened scoring with a 35-yard field goal — and, following a turnover, a 39-yarder. He had a PAT blocked and returned for two. JK Scott had a punt partially blocked that didn’t do much damage, then he kicked it to the one, then a bad 37-yarder.
Coaching: F
Luck wasn’t on Jim Harbaugh’s sideline when Stroud fumbled, recovered, lobbed a third-and-16 that was caught for 34 yards near the end of the half. Looked like he came out running, but he soon jumped on Herbert’s arm. An embarrassing loss.
Next opportunity — offseason: A
Harbaugh did a wonderful job taking over a five-win team. They need help, especially at receiver and interior offensive line.
