Bolts From The Blue
It was a rough one for just about anybody who was tasked with protecting Justin Herbert against the Giants defensive front. That, in turn, made it rough on most of the offense as it’s always a tall task to expect big numbers when your quarterback is getting abused.
Some players managed just fine against New York. Others couldn’t overcome the unfortunate circumstances.
There’s not much more to say than that in regards to the Chargers’ first loss of the season. 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)
RB Omarion Hampton – 79.7
QB Justin Herbert – 65.1
WR Keenan Allen – 62.8
WR Quentin Johnston – 61.7
OT Trey Pipkins – 60.2
Hampton broke out with his first 100-yard rushing game. He was stellar behind a makeshift group of blockers. His grade would have looked a lot better if it wasn’t for a 24.9 pass block grade.
As for the rest of the top five, they were solid in an otherwise unfortunate outing. Herbert did his best as he always does. Allen and Johnston helped keep the offense afloat alongside Hampton. Pipkins was credited for allowing three sacks but somehow managed to still grade out with a very average overall mark.
Worst
OT Austin Deculus – 37.5
C Bradley Bozeman – 38.3
OG Zion Johnson – 41.4
WR Ladd McConkey – 44.1
TE Oronde Gadsden II – 56.0
It was not a good day for the Chargers offensive line as a whole, but the trio of Deculus, Johnson, and Bozeman were at the center of it. Deculus finished with a a team-high six pressures allowed which coincided with a 22.4 pass block grade. Bozeman allowed four pressures and finished with a 24.6 pass block grade.
McConkey dropped his first pass of the game and things never got all that much better. He later dropped a second pass (granted it was a difficult one over his shoulder) and eventually ended up with just one reception on the day, his first career game with such a stat line.
Best
DT Teair Tart – 79.5
DT Jamaree Caldwell – 74.4
EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 72.2
CB Cam Hart – 71.8
S Alohi Gilman – 71.7
Both Tart and Caldwell were solid across the board. They each posted a run defense grade of 76.0 0r better and had tackling grades north of 66.0.
We all saw the day Tuipulotu had against the Giants. Four sacks is incredible and it’s a shame his grade isn’t much better. A 36.1 tackling grade looks to be the culprit holding him back this week.
Hart and Gilman each led the Chargers with a coverage grade of 68.4 and 68.0, respectively.
Worst
DT Da’Shawn Hand – 41.1
LB Daiyan Henley – 49.7
S Tony Jefferson – 55.9
S Elijah Molden – 57.0
CB Donte Jackson – 57.7
It was another rough game for Henley who has put...
