Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert doubles down on his teammate who can't get out of his own way
The Los Angeles Chargers were the worst team against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. And, that's okay. I think it's important to still remind ourselves that this is a rebuilding year. No one had the Chargers sitting at 7-4 at this point in the year. They are an improved team, but Monday Night […]
The Los Angeles Chargers were the worst team against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. And, that's okay. I think it's important to still remind ourselves that this is a rebuilding year. No one had the Chargers sitting at 7-4 at this point in the year. They are an improved team, but Monday Night Football showed how long they still had to go. And yet, they still only lost by a score to one of the league's best teams.
But ultimately, it comes down to this team still shooting themselves in the foot over and over. The penalties, the missed assignments, and the drops. Oh, the drops. But, that's still a bit of the stink of former head coach Brandon Staley. Jim Harbaugh already has this team better, but there are things to clean up.
You go to bed on Monday night, and the fan base is in flames about one player who just continuously shoots himself in the foot. You wake up the day after and it's still the same thing. It's safe to say that the fan base is just about done with wide receiver Quentin Johnston, who is in his second year but is still having the same rookie problems.
Late in the game against the Ravens, he had a drop that would have converted into a big play and moved the Chargers down the field when they needed it most. And, he was wide open, with no one within ten feet of him.
"I think that's the tough part about the NFL," Justin Herbert said after the game. "He's a playmaker. He's done an incredible job all year. You never want to see that. Just like when I throw an interception or when I miss a throw, he's going to come up to me and tell me, 'Hey, it's the next play'. And that's the way it is. Everyone in that locker room is professional. Q will do a great job. I can give him better placement, and better balls. It's on all of us. It's not just on him, it's on me for the way I have to deliver the ball.
"I have to make sure we're all on the same page. He's an incredible player and I'm going to keep throwing him the ball. He's a fighter. You trust him. And I'm going to keep throwing him the ball. That's what we did out there. Unfortunately, it didn't go our way tonight. But I know he's going to be the first one in the building and he's going to do everything the right way. He's a truly great teammate and, a great guy. And he's going to go make some plays. He's got a lot of good football left in front of him."
The Chargers still believe in Johnston. And I don't see that going away anytime soon. He's still so young, and we saw that he could be a top-tier receiver from what he showed in college at TCU. These issues that he keeps having, to me, are all confidence issues. And the moment Justin Herbert, or anyone else on the team, shows that they aren't confident in him, that can be the end of his time with the Chargers, and maybe his career.
When you're a young player, and I feel like especially a young wide receiver, confidence is everything. It can make or break you. And while we are all frustrated with Johnston, we don't want that. The Chargers haven't given up on him, and for Herbert to double down on who Johnston is as a player and person says it all.
They have the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and Las Vegas Raiders left. They can still make a 7-4 record turn to a 10-7 record, at least.
Young Chargers playmaker must improve in 2024 in order for a postseason return
Needs to bounce back.
