Tom Krasovic: Did Chargers' stay at USD move the needle?
Published in Football
SAN DIEGO — Every NFL player would love to train in weather like Los Angeles Chargers players enjoyed this week in San Diego.
Ocean breezes swept in from Mission Bay and across the University of San Diego’s campus to Torero Stadium.
The crowds weren’t so hot, either.
Some 3,300 active servicemembers and their families attended Tuesday’s padded workout, followed by about 3,600 season ticket holders Wednesday. Admission was free.
Comparison: Several crowds of 4,500 to 6,000 paid to watch either the San Diego Loyal or San Diego Wave soccer teams in the same place.
Sure, the Chargers’ relocation to L.A. has been felt here. Anvils landing on one’s head will do that.
But on the margins, I’d guess Dean Spanos and family’s clumsy handling of the relocation further dimmed the lightning bolt here.
The Spanoses seemed to allow their frustration with local power brokers — notably, then-mayor Kevin Faulconer — to harden their hearts toward Chargers fans. They could’ve taken a mulligan there and made a sincere decent effort to comfort those folks.
Instead, they moved on. Not a great choice, I’d guess.
Talented enough
In preparing for the bus ride back to El Segundo, no one packed excuses. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh doesn’t believe in them.
The NFL punditry class, on the other hand, seems to have an endless supply of excuses to serve up on behalf of Chargers teams. My favorite came during a national telecast from the Kroenke Dome. “Things just seem to happen to this franchise,” said the ESPN announcer, as if wayward asteroids, rather than suboptimal stewardship and performance, have caused L.A.’s struggles.
The experts’ excuse about this year’s Chargers team centers around the team’s uninspiring pass-catching group.
Behind Ladd McConkey, there are several question marks among the receivers. The tight end group has a lot of proving to do, as well.
But the offense has large strengths, meaning it should complement a defense that led the NFL in fewest points allowed.
Tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt make many NFL quarterbacks envious of Justin Herbert.
Know this: compared with any Chiefs tackle duo that’s blocked for Patrick Mahomes in his five Super Bowls, no pair is as good as Slater and Alt. And they’re improving.
How good is McConkey?
He’s better than any Chiefs wide receiver — either this year or last year. (Yes, Travis Kelce is a de facto large receiver who’s still lethal in the red zone.)
Oh my, Omarion
In rookie Omarion Hampton, the Chargers have a true running back who’s a realistic home run threat.
Mahomes never has had one of those.
There are two bottom lines here.
One, if the Chargers continue to lose to the Chiefs, it’ll be time to wonder whether Herbert can play close enough to Mahomes’ NFL-best level when it counts the most and whether Chargers coaches can match the great Andy Reid — described by Harbaugh as “the best” — and his staff.
Two, there’s enough talent (including, perhaps, two rookie receivers) to atone for the offense’s poor showing seven months ago in the much-deserved playoff loss at Houston.
Greg Roman sees it similarly. And then some.
“We definitely have the ingredients,” said L.A.’s offensive coordinator, who with Harbaugh helped the 2012 49ers go to the Super Bowl. “Full transparency, we’ve got to stay healthy. Like every other team in the NFL, right?”
Alt and Slater?
“A lot of people would probably say we have the best tackle combo in the league,” Roman said.
“I’m telling you, Joe Alt, watch what he does this year,” the coach added. “He’s on his way to being a special, special player.”
This week, Hampton’s speed in pads jumped out.
Safeties will be wary of the 221-pounder, enhancing Herbert’s long-ball options.
“Omarion definitely is going to have a lot of opportunities to hit those home runs,” Roman said. “But we’ll take the singles, doubles, triples, too.”
If Mahomes had tackles like Alt and Slater and a 221-pound running back with Hampton’s speed, it would be a different story.
But the AFC West title isn’t a longshot — either for Team Spanos or the Broncos.
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