Bolts From The Blue
For the second game in a row, the Chargers offensive line was — for lack of a better word — offensive.
The rest of the team wasn’t much better, either. What was one of the best defenses in the league the four weeks of the season allowed 27 points and had zero answers for Jayden Daniel and the Washington offense. They ran it at will and were able to get massive chunk plays in the most crucial moments. If the Chargers were in anyway on top of their business, this game probably ends much differently.
Anyway, let’s go ahead and dive into the best and worst grades given to the Chargers from Pro Football Focus this week.
Best (min. 20 snaps)
QB Justin Herbert – 84.1
WR Keenan Allen – 75.7
RB Omarion Hampton – 74.9
OG Zion Johnson – 67.0
WR Ladd McConkey – 63.7
Based on Herbert coming in as the team’s top offensive player, it doesn’t look like PFF faulted him for his interception otherwise his grade would have taken a larger hit. Allen led the team in both receptions and yards, so his placement by Herbert makes sense.
Johnson had the best pass blocking grade on the day with an 83.7. His 58.8 in run blocking as the second-best among the seven offensive linemen who played against the Commanders.
Worst
OT Trey Pipkins – 28.6
OT Austin Deculus – 42.3
WR Tre’ Harris – 46.3
TE Oronde Gadsden II – 53.3
TE Tyler Conklin – 53.4
Pipkins and Deculus were just horrendous on Sunday. Pipkins was called for three penalties and allowed a sack. Deculus allowed five pressures and three sacks just one week after allowing six pressures (three hits) to the Giants.
Harris’ day was fine outside of an abysmal run block grade. He’ll need to improve in that area if he wants to see his snap count rise throughout the year.
Best
DT Teair Tart – 93.1
S Alohi Gilman – 70.5
DT Justin Eboigbe – 69.3
CB Tarheeb Still – 64.2
EDGE Bud Dupree – 57.8
Tart was elite against the Commanders. He nearly pushed the Bolts back into things when he forced and recovered a fumble on Washington running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
Outside of Tart, everyone was pretty ho-hum. Eboigbe posted his second sack of the season which is another positive step in his progression after starting low as a rookie.
Worst
EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 38.9
LB Daiyan Henley – 44.9
S Derwin James – 47.6
DT Jamaree Caldwell – 48.4
EDGE Caleb Murphy – 50.9
I truly don’t know how this happened.
The defense’s three best players ended up as the worst-graded players in their side of the ball.
Both Tuli and Derwin missed three tackes (tied for team high). Henley allowed six-of-seven passes to be completed his way. This was just an overall terrible outing for the trio against Kill Kingsbury’s offense. The former Cardinals head coach had them their heads spinning all day long....
