At this point we need to grade Justin Herbert’s early NFL career on a steep curve if we weren’t doing so already. The Los Angeles Chargers have no business being a losing team at 4-6 through 10 games. They’re in this position due to the ineptitude of head coach Brandon Staley more than anything else.
Sure, you can lay the blame on GM Tom Telesco for Quentin Johnston’s horrendous drop for a multitude of reasons.
In the 2023 NFL draft, the Chargers drafted Quentin Johnston at No. 21 overall
The Ravens drafted Zay Flowers at No. 22 overall pic.twitter.com/efPGV2MCA7
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) November 19, 2023
Let’s not forget that Tom Telesco passed on Jordan Addison and Zay Flowers because Tom Telesco has a ‘type’.
No QB is let down more by their team than Justin Herbert. I genuinely feel bad for him.
The Chargers season officially unofficially ended today. It’s mock draft szn.
— Ryan DePaul (@RyanDePaul) November 19, 2023
And technically, it wasn’t Staley’s fault that Asante Samuel Jr. picked up a defensive pass interference penalty on a 3rd and 20, allowing the Packers to eventually score the winning TD.
Big (play) Bird. 🐦#LACvsGB | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/QuMufpcyGE
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 19, 2023
That said, this is the type of nonsense that happens year in and year out with the Bolts.
Heads gotta roll, because Herbert is a legit top-five-caliber quarterback who’s being totally wasted on a disaster of a franchise. Staley is a defensive head coach whose defense, despite plenty of quality personnel, gets gashed more than any in the sport it seems.
That was the 10th conversion #Chargers have allowed on 3rd-and-11+ this season, including penalties. Most in the league.
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) November 19, 2023
It’s one thing to get ripped up by, like, Patrick Mahomes. To allow Jordan Love to put 300+ passing yards on your head? That’s a whole other level of professional negligence. And I don’t think Love is that bad or as bad as many paint him to be. Still, this was easily Love’s best game as a pro. Another big dent on Staley’s dubious resume.
Usually it can be fun to add “devil’s advocate” takes to any sports debate. But just look anywhere on the Internet. Nobody believes Brandon Staley is qualified to be a head coach after this latest disaster.
After the Chargers defense allowed 38 points and 533 yards against the Lions last week — the Chargers defense followed it up by allowing 424 yards to a team that has struggled offensively. Staley’s guys, Staley’s scheme, Staley’s play-calling.
FIRE BRANDON STALEY. pic.twitter.com/q3XxhudKf7
— Ryan DePaul (@RyanDePaul) November 19, 2023
Justin Herbert saying goodbye to every Chargers defensive coaching staff member after today’s game.
— ًBoltUpYo (@BoltUpYo) November 19, 2023
What the Chargers should do to Brandon Staley after the game 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️ #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/aQjrHA2oiH
— Ryan Ostrander 8 🏁 (@RyanOstrander_8) November 19, 2023
You can always count on a Brandon Staley defense to give you a career day as a QB pic.twitter.com/g5doIcFxGk
— Adrian ⚡️ (@BoltedinAZ) November 19, 2023
Brandon Staley holding his job this long has been wildly impressive… pic.twitter.com/KaxKp4v2si
— Tera Victoria (@ItsTeraTime) November 19, 2023
Don’t let Brandon Staley back on team plane
— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) November 19, 2023
Brandon Staley 🤝 Matt Eberflus
needs to be fired today
— Jeremy Layton (@JeremyLayt0n) November 19, 2023
Brandon Staley trying to get in the building tomorrow pic.twitter.com/SwHdEfRxzI
— fire staley (@LAChargers69) November 19, 2023
3 guarantees in life:
Death
Taxes
Brandon Staley losing a 1 possession game— The Sportsdudeheinz Show (@SdudeHeinzShow) November 19, 2023
Keenan Allen to Brandon Staley in the locker room pic.twitter.com/IsubiSaiMm
— Robert Ellis III (@RobbySoMobby_) November 19, 2023
Jordan Love may have finally buried Brandon Staley.
Also, when are people on this app gonna open up to the idea that Love might not suck?
— Marcus Whitman (@TFG_Football) November 19, 2023
I have no doubt Brandon Staley is a wonderful person, a decent man, an outstanding father & husband. But sometimes decent, wonderful people aren't good at coaching a team with an elite franchise QB. This, unfortunately for us, is one of those times. Time to come to terms.😭😭😭
— HERBIE'S MOMMA! ⚡️💙🙏 ⚡️ (@RiversGirl17_) November 19, 2023
Kliff Kingsbury’s defensive-minded brother, Brandon Staley, shouldn’t be allowed to coach another game for the Chargers.
— Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) November 19, 2023
Bye Brandon Staley. @chargers pic.twitter.com/8QRvMIA63a
— Joey Bofa (@Joosef) November 19, 2023
If virtually all of the players on your team at key positions are good and you keep losing, it’s the coach’s fault.
This is a Brandon Staley tweet.
— Andrew Cooper (@CoopAFiasco) November 19, 2023
brandon staley & tom telesco firings are gunna hit like morphine to my veins dude i might even go into cardiac arrest
— Chargers⚡️Union (@Chargers_Union) November 19, 2023
“coach a top 31 defense or go to outer space”
Brandon Staley: pic.twitter.com/MESBKZBorB
— ًBoltUpYo (@BoltUpYo) November 19, 2023
It really is uncanny how the Chargers keep losing these tight games. Five of their six losses on the year are by three points or less. Do you know how hard that is to pull off with a quarterbacks like Herbert who gives you such a good chance to win any time he steps foot on the field?
Like if it’s close in the final two minutes, there aren’t many QBs you’d take over Herbert to orchestrate a winning drive.
You can’t tell me the defense would do worse with Staley out of the building. No doubt in my mind that unit would improve. Then you install Kellen Moore as the interim coach and keep letting him cook as a play-caller. I’m part of the large chorus who believes Justin Herbert deserves better than Brandon Staley.
