Nick Canepa’s report card: Secondary, running back, coaches flunk in inexcusable loss to Packers

calico 11/19/2023

The Union-Tribune’s Nick Canepa grades the Chargers following Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Packers:

Quarterbacks: ACL (Another Close Loss)

Chargering at its finest (or worse). A beyond horrible defeat to a bunch of babies. Maybe Justin Herbert’s most ridiculous regular-season loss. He was playing poker without a full deck of receivers, but no matter. Justin had a huge 28-yard run leading to a field goal, and ran like a back all day. Basically lost to a college team.

Running backs: F

Austin Ekeler had a terrific 37-yard run to set up a field goal, but later slipped and fumbled it away on the Pack’s 2, ruining a go-ahead drive. He later slipped again.

Receivers: DAD (decimated and drops)

Rookie No. 1 Quentin Johnston had a pitiful drop of a long pass on the last drive in at least field goal range. Just brutal, like everything else. Doubtful with that shoulder before the game, at least Keenan Allen was activated, unlike No. 2 wideout Jalen Guyton and top tight end Gerald Everett. Donald Parham Jr. dropped an early, fourth-and-4 pass, then made plays. Allen, clearly not himself early, dropped a big one near the goal line, turning a likely 7 into 3, and again, on the goal line later, then caught a missile TD pass. Backup tight end Stone “Double T” Smartt followed with an unlikely 51-yard TD; he also had a bad offensive PI and dropped a ball in the end zone.

Offensive line: D

With Pro Bowl center Corey Linsley out (heart), they couldn’t afford an injury to backup Will Clapp. They got a scare in the second quarter, but Clapp returned after going down. Not their best effort vs. kindergartners.

Defensive line: D

Helped because the Pack were down to Paul Hornung at tailback. Later injuring his foot, Sebastian Joseph-Day had a sack, and Austin Johnson came right back with a facemask.

Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa walks with a boot and crutches on the sideline during the second half.

Linebackers: C-

Joey Bosa hurt his foot on the first series and left on the dreaded cart, returning to the sideline in a boot. Khalil Mack was active when his bookend fell off the shelf, and had a nice game, including a big sack that took Green Bay out of FG range, and a strip sack. Freshman Tuli Tuipulotu, who will be a player, missed what would have been an important sack. He later made a big red-zone play, had a tackle-for-loss and then a batdown. Eric Kendricks has a coverage impairment.

Secondary: F

Played against nobodies and flunked. Alohi “Goodbye” Gilman had a huge fourth-down stop, halting the first drive. Michael Davis returned and blew a tackle near the end and then allowed the go-ahead touchdown. Everyone stunk.