Chargers Talk After 27-24 OT loss to the Titans

Adam Auslund on Chargers talk after they lose 27-24 in OT on the road to Tennessee and Daniel Popper joins the show, plus you'll hear from callers, Brandon Staley + Justin Herbert.

Episode Transcript

(00:04):
We dass. We were going,what the on the right place's body?
Follow me, little boys. We'vebeen playing this game. We're still getting
to do it. It is pandemonium. I was on the outside. Look
he's stirring up the platow when I'mcooking. It is so touchdown, Chargers.
This is LA Chargers talk. Herbertis off the charts. Good your

(00:25):
chance to react to everything, Chargers. Now your host of LA Chargers talk.
We're gonna have to pass do thetalking, Isaac low The Chargers are
owing two and it feels even worsethan that. Welcome in everyone, This
is Charger's talk. I'm at aMoslin in for Isaac Lowen Cron after your

(00:46):
LA Chargers fault twenty seven and twentyfour to the Tennessee Titans. Yeah,
starting off oh and two. Itis brutal. Right now, we'll take
your phone calls. Eight seven sevenfive two zero eleven fifty eight seven seven
five two zero eleven fifty is thephone number. You can also get to
me at follow out of may OnSchwitzer. Let's see what's trending here.

(01:10):
Oh, hashtag fire Stalelyn wonder whothey're talking about. We'll address that we'll
get to all of it. Ithink that's a little bit of an oversimplification.
It's not a cure all, butthe seats I'm sure getting at least
lukewarm right now after the last twoseasons and now they ended, and now
a start to this season where theChargers are now lost in consecutive weeks,

(01:33):
two teams they beat in consecutive weekslast year, first the Dolphins, then
the Titans. They've lost by combinedfive points. This team not only had
expectations of making the playoffs this year, but making a run and now they're
in an O two hole to startoff the year in two very winnable games

(01:57):
that kind of ended in similar fashion, both of them today. It was
a Nick Full forty one yard fieldgoal in ot that takes them down,
but it was a lot more thatwent on before that, and self inflicted
wounds by this team, as wehave been seeing and saying and talking about
for a long time now. Ithink I was in for Ilo three or

(02:19):
four times last year for Chargers Talk, and it's the same old story you've
seen this movie before, which isn'toverplayed and over said phrase at this point,
but it's applicable to the Chargers.They just can't seem to make the
winning place when you have to havethem, whether it's on offense or defense.
They failed today, they failed inthat area last week. It has

(02:45):
been unbelievably discouraging for Charger Nation.I know that. And look the big
plays in the passing game that theygave up, and it was just a
few of them, but they're backbreakingplace like the Chargers going up eleven nothing

(03:06):
and then the Titans scorn in aminute oh seven after a seventy yard bomb
and then a Derrick Henry run fora touchdown. Chargers had all the momentum
and they gave it right back ina minute oh seven in the first half.
But it's the penalties that are costingthem. Last week, it was
J C. Jackson, Today DerwinJames Sebastian, Joseph Day, Kenneth Murray,

(03:32):
inexcusable late hits on a quarterback,low i Q football plays, and
a team that continues to look undisciplinedout there. One of that, Yeah,
it points of the head coach.The margin for air in the NFL,
it's too small, it's razor thin. Games are usually decided by a

(03:57):
touchdown by a score. And that'swhat separates the good teams from the bad
teams, the good teams from thegreat teams. It's always the little things
leading to big things. And noteam underscores this more than the LA Chargers.
With all the talent they have,they just have no business being owned
too. And the two third downsthe Titans converted off of Chargers personal fouls

(04:25):
in this game that led to thatTannehill touchdown in the third quarter putting them
up seventeen to fourteen. That stuffcan't happen. Clean it up. Yeah,
Derwin James, he arrived at thesame time as the past lad with
his shoulder. It's bs. It'sthe NFL nowadays. I get it.
It's unfortunate. He timed it perfectly. It was third and thirteen, though,

(04:49):
and they said the receiver was defenseless. There was nothing more he could
do. The NFL just air uson the side of caution when it comes
to protecting players, and a lotof the time it's at the expense of
the game. But later in thatsame drive, a late hit on an
incomplete pass on third and six onTannehill by Sebastian Joseph Day. It was

(05:13):
obvious that flag was going to bethrown mental errors, and then Tannehill eventually
runs it in It's seventeen fourteen,after the Titans were down eleven nothing in
the ball game. He just completelyflipped the script. The Chargers gave all
that goodwill back the sacks that theyhad on third downs and fourth downs.

(05:39):
Like starting off the Titans first drivein the ball game where Murray gets a
huge sack on fourth down, youthought, okay, the defense is coming
around. Here we go didn't havea sack last week against two Tunkavaloa,
who was probably having the game ofhis life, and then Mammi Dolphins.
They're gonna be a playoff team.They're very good, potent offense, probably

(05:59):
gonna finished top five in points scoredon the season, but this Titans team
won't. They were bottom five lastyear, average just seventeen and a half
points per game. And today,eventually, after everything transpires, Chargers defense
gives up twenty seven points to ateam that has been inept at times to
score. They didn't have a touchdownin Week one against the Saints. They

(06:24):
scored fifteen points all field goals,and it was a fuel goal in overtime
that took down the Chargers twenty sevento twenty four today in a road game
that felt like a must win situation. I don't know if the Titans are
good enough to make the playoffs.They just snapped in eight game losing streak

(06:46):
after the Chargers beat him last seasonwith a game winning drive, the last
game winning drive by Justin Herbert,his thirteenth of his young career so far.
Tannehill got hurt in the game.They went into a tailspin. They
lost seven in a row, andthen they lost Game one to the Saints
of this season. But now theChargers they got their own losing streak to

(07:11):
worry about. They just lost toa team that had lost eight straight.
Now the Chargers have lost four straightgoing back to the end of last season,
going back to the Jacksonville game,in the Denver game before that.
It is carried over. They haven'tbeen able to get that clean slate to
say, new season, different team. We're gonna fix it. We're gonna

(07:38):
hear what ails us with these mentalmistakes, with not getting it done at
the end of ball games. Theypicked up right where they left off.
And this goes back with the Chargersof course, for decades their entire existence,
they have been very unfortunate and unlucky. But they were lucky to get
Justin Herbert got one of the youngquarterbacks in the league, just got paid

(08:01):
two hundred and fifty million dollars.Much is expected more on him coming up,
But all I'm saying is, yeah, that seat's getting a little bit
warm for Brandon's Staley. I'm notcalling for anyone's job, but he knows
what the expectations are. He knowsit's a results driven league. And if

(08:24):
this team gets off to an oldand three start when they're in Minnesota taking
on a team that's gonna be desperateand hungry, just like the Titans were.
Because Minnesota's owing two, then yougot a Raiders team that you get
at home, but we know Raiderstravel. They are ubiquitous here in southern
California. That's gonna be tough andowen two start. Though to this year,

(08:50):
I don't think anyone would have firstseen that given the schedule. Yeah,
I think the Dolphins could be elite, one of the best teams in
the league. You still scored thirtyfour points. It was a winnable game.
You had the ball, last down, two, plenty of time left,
minute forty five, two time outsand justin Herbert and it just falls

(09:15):
apart the seams, a couple ofsacks, an intentional grounding call, and
guess what happened today with a chanceto punch it in and take the lead
instead of letting it go to overtime, he gets sacked on a third down
in the red zone at the endof regulation and then you leave it up

(09:39):
to the football gods and oteen.Look they got the coin, flip they
want it and go three and outand just looked absolutely inept and they had
the ball in overtime. I don'tknow what was happening on that third down
where Daniel Jeremiah called it out onthe radio with Matt money Smith saying they
weren't lyned to. It looked likeHerbert snapped the ball early, looking probably

(10:05):
pouring him down the field and hehad already cut off his route. They
looked like a disorganized bunches that fallon the head coach, I think.
So, I know he's really thedefensive coordinator, not technically, but he's
calling the place an offense is handledby Kellen Moore. Now, who I
really like I'm gonna talk a littlebit about a little bit more about him

(10:28):
coming up. There are positives,but overall, when you're owing two,
it's just brutal. It's hard tomake sense of this. You're in,
you're out. I mean Herbert evenon that two minute drive to get them
into field goal range with Dick orthe kicker to tie up the ball game
at twenty four at the end ofregulation, he went seven of eight sixty

(10:52):
three yards. They didn't run it, but still can't make the play or
the Chargers weren't able to on athird and three where he gets sacked,
doesn't even get the throw off,give his guys a chance in the end
zone. The great teams they finda way to punch it in there to

(11:13):
get seven close out the ball game. Chargers are still trying to figure that
out. It's just a few playshere and there in the NFL that decide
your fate, and the Chargers aren'tmaking them. They aren't turning a corner.
It looks like they're regressing right now, considering they beat these two teams
in consecutive weeks last season. InRouts are going on a four game winning

(11:37):
streak before losing to the Broncos andthen the Jaguars. They got to figure
this stuff out, because if it'snot one thing, it's another. When
the offense is doing enough and scoringtwenty four points isn't bad, the defense
is giving up too many. Onthe other side, when the defense is

(11:58):
getting sat, the offense isn't scoringtouchdowns. Their last four possessions on offense
today against the Titans score just threepoints. Those three to get them into
overtime. But this is a teamthat had eleven old lead. And again,
when you're up like that and youhave a strangle holding the ball game

(12:22):
and you give up a seventy yardpass to Burks from Tannehill when the Titans
had nothing going on. First threedrives three yards total and then Henry runs
it in for one yard three plays, minute oh seven. That was the
scoring drive that got them right backinto it. It's eleven seven. Titans
are feeling good, and that's kindof the ball game they want to win.

(12:46):
Just a knockdown, drag out slugfest. Beat you up in a phone
booth, old school football. Runthe ball with Derrick Henry with spears.
He made some plays, two opportunisticpasses, gashes down the field, a
couple of big throws here and there, the past to Chris Moore for forty
nine yards that eventually ended in thatWestbrook a keen a touchdown that got them

(13:11):
the lead up twenty four, twentyone. It's just a couple of plays,
but it's the difference in the gameand Tannehill. Look, this is
a completely different quarterback and completely differentteam, polar opposite of what they saw
last week, diametrically opposed to theDolphins. Tannehill holds onto the ball too
long. I believe you had threepicks against the Saints in Week one.

(13:35):
Tugovlo was getting the ball out quick. It was hard to get to him.
Chargers had five sacks on Tannehill,but they need one more or they
needed someone to step up in coverage. DeAndre Hopkins a couple of big plays,
including a fifteen yard catch down thestretch to help get them into fueld

(13:56):
goal range in overtime. And itwasn't Derwin James on them. There was
another safety. I don't know whysafety's on them, their best receiver in
that situation. Just inexplicable, strangebizarre lapses on the defensive end. Two
weeks in a row. Last week, Matt money Smith was talking about why

(14:18):
aren't they pressing Tyreek Hill a littlebit? Get your hands up on them,
push them off the line, checkthem, get them out of rhythm,
off schedule, just let them runfree, get behind guys, get
behind the coverage. Going one onone against JC Jackson Is that a formula
to win? Are you putting yourguys in a position to win or to

(14:39):
be at their best? I'm notseeing it. Again. Chargers now have
lost four in a row going backto last season. Even more confounding,
I can't even believe this stat TheChargers are plus seven in the turnover margin

(15:01):
in their last three games. Now, no turnovers in this once. You
could just say it was over thelast two Jacksonville and then last week against
the Dolphins. But they're plus sevenin the turnover margin in their last three
games, and there's somehow oh andthree. That is a statistical anomaly.
I seriously doubt in the history offootball over a three game period a team

(15:22):
has ever been plus seven in theturnover department and yet don't have one win
in there. That's impossible. SoI was trying to find something about that
Chargers are the thirty six team sincenineteen sixty to score fifty plus points and
turn the ball over zero times atleast in the first two games of this

(15:43):
season, and they are the onlyteam to do that and start oh and
two. So the turnover margin forthem to be on the right side of
it and still losing. I don'tknow how you explain that. Teams in
the NFL that win the turnover marginthroughout history win the game sixty nine point

(16:07):
six percent of the time. Nice, I mean it's even better. When
you get a plus two or more, you're winning eighty four percent at the
time. Ninety percent of the timeyou're winning when the margin is plus three
or more. Chargers are plus sevenope for the last three games, and

(16:30):
it doesn't matter. They're o andthree now, I believe. Before we
take a break here, because Idid talk to him off the air and
promised we gotta get a calling.I got more to rant about. Of
course, we'll talk about Brandon Staleyand everything else. This is Chargers talk.
Eight seven seven five two zero elevenfifty. We'll bring him on.

(16:52):
Salomon Lake Balboa, you called inearly here on the Patriot AM eleven fifty
after the Chargers falling OT seven ortwenty four to the Titans. Sell them
And what's good you're on with Adamass Well? I wish there I could
say there was something good. Thanksfor having me on, Adam. I'm
going to put the game in.I'm going to sandwich the game between my

(17:15):
opening comment about the Chargers in generaland then my closing comment about the coach,
and then I'll and then I'll addressthe game in between, and I'm
just you know, I'll do itas quick as I can first and foremost.
And by the way, you've hiton so many things. You are
you are absolutely spot on about theChargers this game, this season. You
know the four game losing streak,You've nailed it, and you know you're

(17:40):
you're you're shaking your head. Though, what is it with the Chargers?
I told Ilo last week the Chargerscannot play between the ears. They come
up with the most creative ways toshoot themselves in the foot and do it
better than any team in the NFL. There are other teams in the NFL
that have less talent that screw upand you go, OK, hey,

(18:00):
they're not a talented team. TheChargers. I don't know if the team
that's that is as talented as theChargers that managed to come up with the
most creative ways to lose. Sothere's your Chargers, this game, same
thing, and you nailed it.They were clean, They had a clean
first half, no penalties, andit was like they went, oh man,
we have no penalties. You knowwhat, let's let's have a few

(18:22):
penalties here. They killed them.They led to at least seven points,
if not fourteen. That game shouldnot even even come down to, you
know, that close at the endof it, and certainly not even going
into overtime. But again, leaveit to the Chargers, and you name
the plays that you know, thehelmet to helmet that that was unfortunate,
that's a tough one, but thatwas shoulder to helmet. Derwin James led

(18:47):
with his shoulder. But you knowthey're calling that in today's game. I
don't blame him, it's just whatit is in today's NFL. No.
But the roughing the pastors, thoseare agreed justus. Those are just stupid.
I mean, that's how the Raidersused to play. We're gonna be
so tough and have penalties. Wedon't care. We're still gonna win.
No, you're not not in today'sNFL. So that's the game, same
result, same problem, a winnablegame, but leave it to the Chargers

(19:11):
to snatch defeat from the jaws ofvictory. And finally, about the coach,
I'm going to have to say it. I don't think he is has
the capacity to be a head coach, maybe a defensive coordinator. I don't
think he coordinates all three aspects ofthe game. And the mental errors,

(19:32):
like you said, that's coaching.His teams are undisciplined, and you know,
I guess management is going to haveto do something or leave it to
the Charger. They'll probably turn itaround this season and then you know,
kill us in the playoffs with someagain some some stupid loss that this shouldn't
have occurred. Oh, don't giveme hope. As Hawkeye would say in
Avengers, I appreciate the phone callSolomon eight seven seven, five to zero

(19:57):
eleven fifty. As the Chargers startoff this season oh and two. Since
nineteen ninety, only thirty one ofthe two hundred and seventy ball clubs that
began a season and two advanced tomake the playoffs. That means they get
about twelve percent chance. Now it'sa little bit different. It's more wild

(20:18):
card teams. Seven teams get in. There's seventeen games. Now gives you
more of a cushion, more ofa buffer, slightly more room for error.
But to say next week is amust win game is in understatement.
Chargers losing ot and heartbreaking fashion.I ever heard that before twenty seven to
twenty four in Tennessee to the Titans. Eight seven seventy five two zero eleven

(20:42):
fifty is the phone number. Moreof your phone calls coming back, and
Daniel Popper from the Athletic will joinus here on Charger stock. I'm out
of Moslin and you're listening to thePatriot am eleben fifty. Now you get
hit again. This is La Chargersfootball, intercepted course by the Chargers squire

(21:07):
and they will turn it over toisaaclow Cron and for Ilo. I'm atam
Oslins. After the Chargers fall bythree n ot in Tennessee to the Titans
twenty seven to twenty four. Thisis Chargers talk. Eight seven seven five

(21:30):
two zero eleven fifty eight seven sevenfive two zero eleven fifty is the phone
number. If you'd like to geton or you can get to me on
Twitter at follow Adam A coming upback to your phone calls. I'll talk
a little bit about Kellen Moore searchingfor positives and a team that is starting
OZ and two with high expectations.But right now, for a little bit

(21:52):
more clarity on what's going on withthis team, we bring in the man
from the Athletics senior writer, DanielPopper. I believe he's in Tennessee.
Daniel, what's popping? You're onCharger stock with Adam Males and how are
you doing? Great? Yeah,in Tennessee currently looking out the field here
at Nisan Stadium, is anybody workingon any third down plays or pass protection

(22:15):
or anything like that right now?I know, like I go to miss
Enter next week, so there's notime. We've actually got some peewee football
going on. Okay here and notgonna make a job protecting a little bit?
Yeah, pass protecting a little betterthan the Chargers did today. What
is it specifically that you have seenwhere the breakdowns have happened at the most

(22:37):
inopportune times the last two weeks,first two weeks of this season. Now
where they have a chance for agame winning field goal last week and it
falls apart. You have a coupleof sacks, intentional grounding call on Justin
Herbert, and then this week,instead of punching it in, they have
to settle for a field goal afterHerbert gets sacked on third down, where

(23:00):
it would just look like they gotambushed, like they got blissed. They
didn't know what was coming. Whatis it about these plays in these big
moments where they're not able to getit done, even an offense that had
been very potent at times. Yeah, and I think you're right on it,
like on a broad level, likethis off season, Brandon Staley,
the head coach, his biggest talkingpoint was finishing games because everyone obviously saw

(23:22):
what happened in Jacksonville. They hadAntonio Gates come in and talk to the
team and talk about starting fast andfinishing. And through two weeks here we've
seen a team that's been unable tofinish. And you talk about, you
know, not coming up in thesebig moments, you know, you know,
I think you're talking specifically about theoffense, but you can really attribute
this to both sides of the ball. I mean, you had the defense
today with three personal fouls on threedifferent third downs. You had them get

(23:48):
beat over the top on two playsthat twice got the Titans back into this
game. Brandon Staley's defense revolves aroundputting a roof over the coverage. That's
what he talks about, taking awaythe deep part of the field. Over
his three seasons now, no defensehas given up more plays of thirty or
more yards in the air, andso you just have these issues where they're
not coming up in the big moments. You know, you talked about at

(24:10):
the end of the game there that'sa third down in the red zone and
the past protection breaks down. Thesame thing happened, you know in overtime
there on that three and out thatwas you know, ended up being the
Chargers last possession. I mean,I think in this game specifically, you're
talking about a really, really,really good Titans front, and that was
my key to the game coming inwas how the offensive line was going to
play both in the running game andin pass protection. But this is now

(24:33):
a problem across the team. They'rejust not making the key plays when you
need to make the key plays.And it's really inexcusable for a roster that
has this much talent, and Ithink that's what's so frustrating. They show
flashes, they're consistent for a while, but then it just falls apart in
the biggest moments when you have tohave it, and that has been something

(24:55):
that's been going on with this teamfor some time now. But do you
think it is still a mental hurdlefor them coming off what happened against the
Jacksonville Jaguars the biggest comeback in NFLhistory in the second half, unless it
was still the Bills over the Oilersback on the day. I can't remember.
Chargers fans want me to forget theexact stat But is it still them
figuring out You mentioned them talking aboutit and being a talking point before the

(25:18):
season how to close out games,But is that still in the back of
your mind? Do you think theyhave ghosts and demons to overcome from that
Jacksonville loss? I think it's impossibleto talk about to start to this season
without talking about that. Now.You're not gonna get anyone in that locker
room, and certainly not Brandon Daleyat the podium to admit that that's happening.
It's just not going to happen becausethey're going to focus on this season.

(25:42):
And I even asked a few guysin the locker room after the game
and they didn't even want to gothere. But you have to talk about
it, because that was a questionheading into the offseason. How does a
team respond from a loss that isthat cataclysmic? And I kept telling people,
I won't know how the team isresponding until I see the product down
the field. Because guys are goingto say all the right things during the

(26:02):
offseason. They're gonna say that it'smotivating. They're going to say that they
never want that to happen again.But these guys are human beings, right,
And when it gets to those moments, those key moments late in games
and you are one on one withthe receiver running down the field, or
you're an offensive lineman in past protectionagainst Jeffrey Simmons, or you're Mike Williams
in this case on third down andyou need to get the rights to the
right spot on a third down playcall and you can't do it, Like,

(26:26):
does that enter into your mind inthose moments? Are you a killer
in those moments or are you thinkingback to Jacksonville into the fact that this
team has just not been able toget it done in those situations. And
what I see on the field isthat it absolutely is infiltrating their minds.
Now that I don't know if they'lladmit it, but from what I've seen
so far, you just see playersthat are shrinking in these big moments,

(26:51):
and you can't have that in theNFL. You're not going to win a
lot of games, and you're certainlynot going to be a postseason contender.
And you wonder if almost they shouldjust face it head on. I remember
when LAFC kept losing to the Galaxyand they said, yeah, it's a
mental hurdle, it's a mental block. We have to figure it out.
We have to overcome this. Idon't know if not talking about it thinks
we don't speak of like the villageis really a solution for this Chargers team.

(27:12):
Maybe they should admit to it.But I saw you put this post
up from this quote from Justin Herberton your Twitter feed. Daniel R.
Popper with two p's at Daniel R. Popper on x Now, and he
was asked on what went wrong onthe three and out in overtime, which
just looked like a disaster by theway, especially on that third down where

(27:33):
I don't think guys were even linedup. Are ready for that play to
be executed? You tell me?But he just came back with, yeah,
probably three incompletions, just bluntly,that's what went wrong. What is
his I guess what do you thinkhis psyche is at right now? He
got two hundred and fifty million dollars, he's expected to lead this team.
There's so much on his plate andthings are going wrong yet again, how

(27:56):
do you think Justin Herbert's going tobe able to navigate this? Yeah?
I mean that's just kind of howJustin Herbert is after losses. Doesn't particularly
like talking to the media or answeringquestions after losses, And so I asked
that question what specifically happened there onthree and out? And that's how he
answered it. I followed up andhe said just poor execution, in which

(28:17):
I think was a little more illuminating. You know, But you know,
it's tough to say that a playershould act a certain way after a loss.
Obviously you're feeling a ton of emotions, and I certainly understand where that's
coming from. But you're dead onin terms of that third down. I
mean, for whatever reason, KellenMoore wanted to go up tentho there.
They called it their their cheetah wherethey're basically getting to the line and snapping

(28:37):
it as soon as possible. ButMike Williams is not set. You can
go rewatch the play. He ranto the wrong side of the formation.
He's running to the right side ofthe formation to try and get to his
position when Justin Herbert snaps it andlike at you know, when you're on
a rookie deal in your quarterback,sure you can make mistakes like that,
but once you get the contract andyou're the franchise guy, like you have

(28:59):
to be in control of the gameand you have to see in that situation
that your guy is not set andyou have to not snap the ball in
that situation or take a time outor whatever. Like these are the things
that Justin Herbert has to start doingin these stages of the game. And
there aren't really any more excuses,you know, considering what they paid him
and the expectations that come along withthat contract. That's just the reality of

(29:22):
it. Yeah, and you goback to last week with what happened,
taking those sacks and having the intentionalgrounding call at the worst time possible,
and then third down where you getsacked at the end of regulation. Today
it's just those little things, wellbig plays, but one play here and
there that can swing a game inthe NFL, and the Chargers aren't making
them. And Justin Herbert, whohas thirteen game winning drives, he hasn't

(29:47):
made them so far this season.Feels like it's going back to that Jacksonville
game. Still is they lose andgive up twenty seven points of the Titans.
That twenty seven numbers still sticking outto me. But let's talk a
little bit more in death here,Daniel about Brandon Staley. I know it's
not his offense, but he wasbrought in to be that defensive wizard after
coming off that one season as thecoordinator with the Rams, and it hasn't

(30:10):
materialized yet. And I've heard alot of people this week talk about whether
or not guys are having some paralysisby analysis. They're overthinking things out there
because his schemes are too complex insteadof just playing instinctually. Do you see
that? Is that the problem withthis defense? I think there's certainly an
element to that that's existing right nowwith the charges, because at the end

(30:34):
of last year, if you're acall, they won four straight games and
played the best defense of the brandsDalely era, starting with that Week fourteen
win over the Dolphins. And Italked to guys in the locker room trying
to figure out what's happening here?Why is it all coming together? Now?
Some of that is the opposing quarterbacksthey were facing, but some guys
said, listen, we've consolidated,we've simplified things. We're not running as

(30:55):
much stuff. We really focused inon the things that we do well,
and we're running those things. Theybelieve that's a big reason why they were
able to play that kind of footballdown the stretch. Now, you know,
it's early in the season and obviously, like there is a discovery process,
but I think there's there's some ofthat too to the defense. And
I think the biggest area of concernfor me is that it's the same issues.

(31:17):
It's the same issues, like,if you like with Brandon Philly's defense
and his philosophy, like he believesin taking away the deep part of the
field, everything about the defense revolvesaround that central philosophy, and they can't
do it like repeatedly, game aftergame after game, they're giving up these
explosive completions. Like like I saidearlier in the in the in the interview
here like no defense since the startedtwenty twenty one has given up more passes

(31:38):
of thirty more yards than the Chargers. And that's all they're trying to do.
That's the priority of the defense.And then you even go to the
beginning of overtime, get an outsiderun sinceaj spears that went for fifteen yards
and got that drive rolling for theTitans, Like that is a play that
was you know that the Chargers gaveup time and time and last year where

(32:00):
the edge rusher is getting crack blockedand they need a cornerback there to tackle
and replace that player that got blocked, and these not there, and you
Dick running back is getting to theedge and creating an explosive play. And
so you have to start wondering,it's your three first two years. You
understand they're trying to get the piecesin place. They invested a ton of
money in the defense, and lastyear they had eight new starters. It

(32:22):
has to happen here at some pointwhere the message has to get through to
the players where you see like,hey, these are the things that we
believe in. These are the areasneed to improve, and you see the
improvement, but you just don't seeit through these first two weeks. You
just don't see it. And thathas to be immensely concerning for everyone involved
with the organization. And I can'tignore the elephant in the room. You

(32:42):
talk about the organization and how frustratingit is fans right now, hashtag fire
stalely is everywhere. This is ateam that somehow is plus seven in the
turnover department their last three games,and they have not won one of them.
I don't think there's been an instanceof this ever happening in the NFL,
at least I can't find one.How hot do you think that seat

(33:05):
is getting for Brandon Staley? Look? I like the guy. I'm not
calling for his job men of afew different times. Good guy. I
like his philosophy about going aggressive onfour downs. I think he's a trailblazer
in that area and other teams havefollowed, but the results just haven't been
there. How disastrous could this getif they start oh and three for him?

(33:25):
Yeah? You know, I don'tthink that the Chargers are going to
make a moving season. Like Iwould be very very surprised if they do
that. It's not something the organizationhas really ever done. And so I
believe they're going to give Brandon Staleythe full season to get this thing figured
out. Now, if they're owingseven, like that might change my opinion,
but right now, like, Ithink he's gonna get an opportunity to

(33:47):
get this thing on the tracks.Now, with that being said, like
you start owing two and your chancesof making the playoffs decreased significantly. Like
if you look over the last youknow, two decades, is about eleven
percent of teams that start owing tomake the playoffs. Since the NFL expanded
to seven playoff teams per conference,only one team out of twenty three has
made the postseason after starting owing two. So they're Bengals last year. Yeah,

(34:09):
right right, And so you knowit's not over. Obviously the percentage
chances have decreased, But Brandon Sillyis going to get his opportunity here to
turn this thing around. And Ithink he's going to get a full season
to do that, and then they'llsort of evaluate things from top to bottom
after the season. But I thinkit's a little bit too early to start

(34:29):
going down that path. She is. Daniel Popper of the Athletic does great
work covering the Chargers there. Aseveryone knows. He's got forty two thousand
followers on x at Daniel R.Popper with two p's if you are not
one of them. Daniel, thanksfor coming on and answering the tough questions
that I don't have any answers for. After the Chargers losing OT twenty seven

(34:50):
to twenty four in Tennessee, myfriends, safe travels. We'll probably talk
to you later this season. Soundsgood. Thanks for having me coming up
next. Back to your phone callseight seven seven five two zero eleven fifty.
After the Chargers with all the expectations, with trying to get the sour

(35:10):
taste out of their mouth of whathappened in Jacksonville in that wild card game,
they still are owing to start offthis twenty twenty three season. I
still know there's some positives. Idon't know if the phone calls are going
to get to them, but Iwill at some point. Your phone calls
next though again eight seven seven fivetwo zero eleven fifty. This is Chargers
talk I'm out of Oslin and you'relistening to the Patriot Emblem fifty. This

(35:44):
is the LA Chargers on the ground, stripped up by the Chargers. The
LA Chargers heard right here now ZikloAndron bo bo bo bo bo bo.
You judgment sad hip hop me.It's Chargers lost in overtime twenty seven to

(36:10):
twenty four in Tennessee to the Titans. I'm in a Maslin in for Isaac
Loehm Cron here on Chargers talk onthe Patriot AM eleven fifty if you'd like
to get on eight seven seven fivetwo zero eleven fifty eight seven seven five
two zero eleven fifty top with DanielHopper of the Athletic. Last segment had
some good insight on the team.Where thinks stand with Brandon Staley at the

(36:32):
moment. Want more of your phonecalls, Let's start with Tim in National
City. Tim, what's up hereon Charger stock without am Maslin? High?
Tim? How are you doing?What's up? Tim? All?
Right? Well, you know I'vebeen watching the Chargers because I still love
them. Man. The team didn'twant to move, just the owner,

(36:53):
and I've been watching them since sixtyeight when I first moved here from a
paper Lion, the Lions in Michigan, and I love the Chargers. And
you know this is on the coachagain, it's on Staley. I can't
believe I was crying literally two yearsago or was it last year where we
went to the we could have cometo the playoffs. Well, he called

(37:15):
the time out with like thirteen secondsor six seconds and then weren't even gonna
call one. Tim, can Icut you off for a second and I'll
let your ransom more. But youjust brought up something and I wanted to
make sure I got it out beforeI forgot. You mentioned that time out
against the Raiders two years ago,and that basically play in to see who
makes the playoffs. Environment in thatgame and how things got boshed and disorganized

(37:39):
at the end. Well, ona third and two in ot Tennessee Titans
with the football in this one,Derrick Henry was out of the ball game
and Brandon Staley called his time out. They put him back in. He
runs for the first down, barelygot it, but did so, and
that would lead to the eventual gamewinning kicks. So great point there,

(38:00):
Tim, It happened again today.No, it happened again today. He
called a time out. We hadsix set, we had thirteen seconds,
we could to run a freaking play, and then called the time out.
That's a bad coaching. Clock managementis so important in this league, and
Brandon's day at times has been goodat it. I don't understand the thought

(38:23):
process there. They want a differentpersonnel on the field, just like what
happened against the Raiders. That wasa weird convolutive situation where teams maybe we'll
take the time and we'll both makethe playoffs. But today Derrick Henry's out
of the ball game, and hewas the one who called a time out
to give the Titans time to say, hey, maybe we should have I

(38:43):
don't know, the best short yardageback of his generation since Brandon Jacobs,
the biggest back, A truck optimist, prime a damn semi. Maybe he
should be in for that third andtwo and they ended up converting it.
Damn anything else. But I justthink we should have not We should not
have called it. We should nothave kicked the ball. We should not
have done the field goal. I'msorry, I'm off face. We should

(39:05):
not have done the field goal withthirteen seconds. We should have We should
have ran one more played then calledin time out was five seconds and we
didn't make that touchdown. We shouldnot you know what I mean, We
should not have done that. It'sbad coaching. We had thirteen seconds to
do one more play before our timeout, before the before our field goal.
Well it was fourth down. Ibelieve on that field goal. So

(39:28):
no, it was third down.It was third down. We could have
run a play. There's thirteen secondsand he called he called the time out
to do the field goal. I'lldevil check on that, Timmy. Maybe
right. Uh. There were alot of inexplicable decisions in this game that
ended up leading to a Charger's lossand costing them this one. Edwyn and
Breya Edwin, what's up here onCharger Stock Without'm awesome? Edwin? Hey,

(39:52):
what's up? What's up? What'sup? Anyways? One of quick
I guess most of the callers gotto the points. What I was gonna
say, it's just I think thelast two games and U I uh,
and of course obviously the last gamein Jacksonville. You know what's Charter fans,
including myself, still remember all theselosses that are happening, like the

(40:17):
key moments, like you know,situationally, when the Chargers either don't come
thorotle or we falter. I agree, it's it's it's it's it's it's uh,
it's it's it's on. It's onthe coach because like, like,
like we said, we're doing greatthings, like last week we ran the
ball for four hundred yards, eventhough I think if we had often Egler

(40:38):
today, I think it would help. And this week we get five sacks,
and you know, we did wedid certain things better defensively, we
still lose. So to me,I don't know what what's going on,
like you know, the entire picture. But to me, what when I
watched the game this and like youknow, when I was, you know,
just seeing the game this and that, it's just situationally, our coaching

(41:02):
staff either you know, or maybeStaley doesn't have the right matchups or it's
not sure what plays to call orjust and that. So it's it is
kind of frustrating. Now, Iwill say on the offensive line, I
think, you know, as Charterfans, maybe we should give a little
couple more weeks because hey, wehave a new offensive coordinator. Kellen Moore

(41:24):
from Joe Lombardi. So and anotherthing is most of our top guys into
playing the preseason, so they're mostmost of their reps are actually get on
the get go started season. Likelast week they did well this week,
it's just you know it, youknow, play calling was a little confusing,
or you know, they weren't sureso it looked look it look a

(41:46):
little off. It boils down tocoaching. It feels like the common denominator
in all of these plays that aren'tbeing executed well enough. He knows it
too. It falls on Brandon Staley. Eventually you're running out of excuses.
And I appreciate the phone call,Edwin. I understand the frustration. You

(42:06):
bring up the matchups, like whyis gilman on Hopkins for that catchy makes
to get them down to the twentytwo in overtime? I don't get it.
Last week j C. Jackson linedup one on one against Tyreek Hill.
Why are they not making adjustments?Why is the other team always getting

(42:27):
the matchup advantage on the Chargers.It doesn't make a lot of sense.
But Brandon Staley is the guy whowas brought in to fix a bad defense
and instead they've been getting worse.The team's regressing. They had their moments
today look like progress at times.Hey, we've got five sacks, couldn't
get any last week against Tuah leadsto an l. Nonetheless, inventing ways

(42:54):
to lose is often what you hearregarding this LA Chargers team and going back
to San Diego as well. We'lltry mentioned New Jersey here before we break.
Mitch, what's up? You're onCharger stock without Muslin? A true
Chargers fan? Mitch who Yes,yes, I'm sorry. How are you

(43:17):
going at him? Just scoring game, great defensive one. I sit there
two sex for Bosa hid it?I mean? And I'm sorry. Just
In Hiven had a great game.He's crazy going like thoughts in and rivers.
No championship. I know what's goingon, and one thing he's worked

(43:39):
on doesn't worked. And sorry it'stold me like this, you know,
Thanks Sigma Coole. It's that easyto understand, all right, match,
Appreciate the phone call in the background. Noise kind of highlights how Chargers fans
are feeling right now. Although Idon't even know if there are tears at

(43:59):
this point, it's just probably numb. You've seen this too many times.
Yeah, just In Herbert threw forthree hundred yards in a loss and didn't
make a couple of plays that wereout there that would have won them the
game. I'm not putting it allon one guy. He had his twenty
third game of his career, passingfor three hundred and more, seven to

(44:21):
forty one, three h five,two touchdowns. You would think those are
numbers that lead to victory. Now, no Austin Ekeler. This week,
we're talking about no kendricks On defense, and they all end up running for
sixty one yards after going for Iwant to say two thirty last week.
Great offensive explosion on the ground lastweek. This week, though, going

(44:45):
up against maybe the best run defensein the league. Historically, they have
been very good in that area.They're old school Tennessee. Mike Rabel may
have the sunglasses on the ray Bands, thinks he's Dion, but they're old
school with the way they play,stop the run, run the ball,
win in a low scoring slugfest.They want to pull you into one of

(45:05):
those mid two thousands Ravens Steelers games. That's where they like it, that's
where they're most comfortable. And theChargers were held at twenty four points not
a bad number, but it iswhen you give up twenty seven to a
team you only gave up fourteen twolast season in a win against them.
Coming up, we'll take a quicktime out. We'll get back to your
phone calls. Eight seven seven fivetwo zero eleven fifty eight seven seven five

(45:30):
two zero eleven fifty. We gotpostgame audio from Staley and Justin Herbert.
Chargers start off this season oh andtwo. I am intrigued to hear what
coach Staley has to say after thisone. They're two or three plays away
from being two and ozer, andthat's what has to make it so excruciatingly

(45:53):
painful for Charger fans. Something's gotto change. Who's gonna turn the tide
for this team and overcome what maybea mental hurdle leading back to giving up
a twenty seven nothing lead to theJacksonville Jaguars last season in that wild card
loss. I'm an Am Moslin infor Isaac Loan Crown, and you're listening

(46:14):
to Chargers Talk here on the paceright am eleven fifty LA. This is
your home of the Volts on theLA Chargers Radio Network. Now, Isaac
Loan Kron now he's a little susane. You gotta Addam Moslin Today after the

(46:39):
Chargers lose twenty seven to twenty fourn OT in Tennessee to the Titans,
This is Chargers Talk. Eight sevenseven five two zero eleven fifty eight seven
seven five two zero eleven fifty moreof your phone calls, Mark Kellen Moore
coming up. We'll hear from JustinHerbert as well as the Chargers lose by

(47:00):
three in OT and they start offthis season oh and two. If you
didn't hear it earlier, teams historicallyI start off the season oh and two
only make the playoffs about twelve percentof the time. Yeah, Chargers in
a bad spot, headed to Minnesota, who's also owing two and desperate for
victory next week. But I dowant to hear of the man of the

(47:22):
hour, be for better or forworse. We've been talking a lot about
Brandon Staley. Here he was postgame. We got him. He's here,
we think in that phase to giveus a chance there in overtime.
How'd you feel like your defense.I thought we had a lot of good

(47:43):
stretches in the game. I thought, you know, the two big passes
were a big story in the gameand then those two third down penalties.
I thought we're a big story inthe game. But I thought we did
a good job on the back.I thought we pressured the quarterback, and
I thought we were connected, youknow, in pass coverage. Outside of
those those two big passes to thosetwo big classes were swinging plays in the
game. Why do you feel likeyou guys are continuing to give up explosive

(48:05):
plays the past? Gem, Yeah, I mean, our guys just have
to respect the deep part of thefield. We're moving the hard downs around,
but you know, our guys gotto win and pass coverage and they
got to respect the deep part ofthe field and they got to know who
on the other team can get there. That's a message you've been giving to
this team since the day You're thissecond. Where the why is that message
not getting great? No, it'sgonna it's gonna get there, Daniel,

(48:25):
It's it's there every single day.And our secondary we got full belief in
and those guys, everybody that playsfor us in the back seven. Uh.
It's early in the season and we'regonna keep getting better. We're gonna
get d win. We saw theway he had an INDI last year,
is that a play he just shouldn'tmake. It's just the bang bang play.

(48:46):
It's a slant. He's coming.He read it beautifully, and you
know those bang bang plays where he'smaking a break and and then the you
know the receiver lowers. You know, I got a low target. Those
are those are tough players on theseplayers in the NFL. And you know,
no no harm for Germ one there, but the passers one Bash one

(49:06):
kind of just yeah, they werecostly placed for us. You know Bash's
was you know in that sequence,we had gave up two third down penalties
on that drive, which was turnedinto points. If if those don't happen,
then we're off the field and wefeel a lot different about our day
two for fourteen on third down?Do you intute that secularier about Coss protection?
Yeah, I mean it really startedwith their front. Their front is

(49:28):
really good. It's off the block, and you know, we just didn't
do a good enough job today.How did you feel about two week plays
limited slas Yeah, man, Ithought, you know, two sacks.
I thought he played aggressively. I'mglad he was out there. It says
a lot about him that he wantedto be out there, and uh,
we definitely have to build out thatoff that. I thought we rushed the
passer well today and I thought hewas a big reason. Why do you

(49:50):
struggles running the ball? Do youintrobude into tennise? Yeah, they've got
a very good front good front seven, and you know, we tried to
stay patient with the run, butwe just weren't aboul to get any of
the splitters today. I want to, you know, start the season.
I'm sure here wherever the percentages youknow, when you start at his backs
back games, but just what's yourmessage to the team as far as what's
left ahead of you. Yeah,we have fifteen games out of us.

(50:12):
We lost two really tough games rightthere at the end, an overtime game
and one that might as well beenan overtime game. So we're doing a
lot of good things out there.The mistakes that are made, we've made
out there. We can correct allof them. We've got a really good
group in all three phases, andwe just have to connect in and really
put together a complete performance in theoff season, you know, and through
the spring summer we talked about finishinggames and the team's documentary you know,

(50:37):
got a twenty year Gates up theretalking about starting the beast and finishing.
That's three games in a row gunBacks last season the last where you guys
have not finished lay in the game. What do you attribute that to and
how do you get this team tobelieve in what you're trying to Yeah,
I mean, we we've got guyswho are finishers. I mean, we've
got a quarterback who's as good asanybody in the NFL, A guy who's
brought us back time and time againsince I've been here and throughout his entire

(50:59):
football playing career. I think defensively, we've got a lot of closers.
We just got to do it togetheras a team. And we've we've had
the tough side of it here,but this group is capable of that.
And you know, it's a groupthat is connected and we're gonna find our
way and this group's gonna show whatit's made of. A lot of people
sort of wonder whether that Jacksonville lossfood. I'm not. I'm not worried

(51:21):
about the Jacksonville loss. The Jacksonvilleloss hasn't carried on to the season whatsoever.
If you've seen our training camp oryou've seen the way we've played in
the first two games. It hasn'thad an impact on our team whatsoever.
Our team has connected, our teamhas played it's hard out in two games,
and we've lost two tough games.But there's has nothing to do with
the Jacksonville game. And if youask anyone in our locker room, it
has nothing to do with the Jacksonvillegame. And that's just the truth.

(51:42):
It's a convenient storyline for you andfor everybody else, but it's not the
truth. We've lost two tough games. But the guys in that locker room,
the men in that locker room,they are finishers and they have what
it takes and we're excited to proveourselves to assist. Yeah, we just
lost a game in overtime, Jeff, So how do you think the mood

(52:04):
is. How do you think themood is? How do you think it
is? It's tough, it's tough. It's a tough it's tough group in
there. There's a lot of pridein that room, Okay, And we
put a lot into this and wegot a good football team. And so
we've lost two tough games. Wegotta bounce back, learn from our mistakes
and be ready for Minnesota. Therewas Brandon Staley post game after the Chargers
lose in Tennessee twenty seven to twentyfour and overtime. Understandably frustration boiling over.

(52:29):
Guy wants to win, who wantsto right the ship, And as
he said, they're doing a lotof things right. But also as he
said there, they got to puttogether a complete performance. They have to
finish games. And sometimes the moreyou talk about it, the more it
gets in your head. And Idon't know. I'm not trying to play

(52:52):
body language psychologist. I'm not tryingto overanalyze things, analyze this what ever.
But he was asked there about Jacksonvilleand if that game and that result
and that comeback is still lingering withthis team's listening to this one more time.

(53:14):
The loss hasn't carried on to theseason whatsoever. If you've seen our
training camp or you've seen the waywe've played in the first two games,
it hasn't had an impact on ourteam whatsoever. Our team has connected,
our team has played it's hard outin two games, and we've lost two
tough games. But there has nothingto do with the Jacksonville game. And
if you ask anyone in our lockerroom, it has nothing to do with
the Jacksonville game. And that's justthe truth. It's a convenient storyline for

(53:35):
you and for everybody else, butit's not the truth. We've lost two
tough games. But the guys inthat locker room, the men in that
locker room, they are finishers andthey have what it takes and we're excited
to prove ourselves. He's right.It is convenient for me to point to
that, to ask that question earlierto Daniel Popper, who you heard asking
questions to coach Staley. It's easy. But that's the game. That's what

(54:00):
it's going to be. It's onthem to prove it. The burden of
proof is on them that they canturn this around. And it doesn't look
like there's some hangover going on fromnot just the Jacksonville game. I mean,
that's the pinnacle of inexcusable losses.They've had many close losses. We

(54:22):
talked about the Raiders game to endthe season the year before. It just
seems like when the going gets tough, they come up short. They don't
make the place today exemplifies that.So just last week you hear it on
the broadcast with Daniel Jeremiah, Mattmoney Smith gratulations on broadcast one hundred money.

(54:45):
But they can feel it. Everygame is like this. They're always
in these close game situations where yournerves are being tested. And yeah,
a lot of that happens in theNFL week to week with teams across the
board, but they seem to happena lot more to the Chargers. There

(55:07):
are no easy wins, there areno easy games, and the losses are
just painful pain. An unbelievable amountof them has been inflicted on this Chargers
fan base and they're trying to figureit out. I know that Brandon Staley

(55:30):
is probably not going to be sleepingwell tonight. This guy wants to fix
this. Maybe he's the right guyto do so, and it turns into
a great story where coach Staley isable to get this team offensively, defensively,
pointed in the right direction at thesame time where they live up to
their talent level. But right now, and he was also asked about starting

(55:53):
going two the odds are against you. Yeah, there's fifteen games left,
seems like there's plenty of time,but the numbers are the numbers in the
NFL, teams that start one twohave about a twelve percent chance of making
the playoffs over a large sample size. Could this Chargers team be unique?

(56:16):
Yeah, they could be like lastyear's Bengals who made it to the AFC
Championship after starting on two. They'rethat talented. That's what makes it so
frustrating. They find new ways towin. If it's not one thing,
it's another. But it's Brandon Stanley'sjob for them to get over this hump.

(56:38):
On this listening, I hope theyaren't thinking about Jacksonville. But you
aren't doing your job if you're notat least going to question if that's a
part of this. When you havea historic collapse as they did, you
got to face it, acknowledge it, and say, yeah, we gotta

(57:04):
figure out a way to win oneof these games and start gaining confidence and
build off of it. So wherewere the team coming back? We're the
team closing you out and applying thepressure right now, the pressures on the
Chargers and Brandon Staley to figure thisout. Chargers lose twenty seven to twenty
four in Tennessee to the Titans quicktime out We'll come right back, Moron

(57:29):
Staley, more on killing more andmore of your phone calls. Eight seven
seven five two zero eleven fifty.I'm out of Oslin, going in for
Ilo here on the Patriot amleven fifty. They give this to you foot believe
and then meet ground the shot justin any we us what grandmother is La
Chargers football? Intercepting by the Chargerssquaw and they will turn it over to

(57:50):
Isaac Glow and crin Chargers lose not. It's twenty seven to twenty four
to the Titans on the road,Madam Oslin in for Isaac Lohan Kron,
We'll come back in eight seven sevenfive two zero eleven fifties of the phone
number. Back to your phone calls, and just a bit. We just
heard from Brandon Staley last segment postgame, and he got fired up when

(58:15):
he was asked the obvious. I'msure he knew it was coming, and
he's trying to nip it in thebutt now and not have this turn into
a story where it's snowballs and everyonekeeps asking him about Jacksonville. But those
questions are gonna keep coming until theywin a ball game. I understand it.

(58:36):
He doesn't want to hear it.He's gonna say, regardless of if
guys are talking about it, thatno, we've moved on. It's not
about that. The Jaguars game isnot lingering and seeping into the back of
our minds and big moments in games. We're living moment to moment, game
to game. You gotta put iton our brave face. He's the leader.

(58:57):
That's what you're supposed to do.He said. Our guys are closers,
they're finishers. Okay, show it. That's what Charger fans are saying.
Brandon Stally was brought in to fixthe defense and take them to another
level. Even in his only yearas a defensive coordinator in twenty twenty for
the Rams, they were second bestwhen it came to points giving up per

(59:22):
game at just nineteen. That's whyhe got this job. They figured,
with the offensive weapons, if theycan just get the defense in order,
if they're just average, Chargers area playoff team and then some because that
season in twenty twenty under Anthony Lynn, they were given up almost twenty seven

(59:44):
points per game. They were twentysix point six. Brandon Staley comes in
his first season and they're right attwenty seven points per game, giving up
on the dot two opponents. Lastyear they were better. Give him got
it down on twenty three point onepoints per game. Seems like a more

(01:00:04):
significant improvement though than it is,because that still means your bottom ten in
the league and points per game givenup. And then they start off game
one this year giving up thirty four. Granted, it might be a top
three offense that the Dolphins have.They are unique in the way they get
their weapons out in space with Waddleand especially Tyreek Hill, who went for

(01:00:28):
two fifteen and two touchdowns and thegame deciding plays down the stretch against the
Chargers last week. Defense gave upfive hundred and thirty six total yards in
that game. Today it was lesssignificantly three forty one, but considered the
opponent in the Titans, and there'sa contrasting style there. Last week it

(01:00:52):
was two. Uh, he's gettingthe ball out quick, one of the
best of the game when it comesto progressing through his reads. Really is
give him credit. That may havebeen his best game as a pro,
that last drive others or second tolast when they ran out the clock where
he had that long throw up thefar sideline of Tyree Hill stepped up in
the pocket. That might have beenthe best throw of the weekend in Week

(01:01:14):
one best i've seen him play,and Mike McDaniel I think he's a great
coach. But it's just not likethe Chargers didn't know it was coming from
Tyree Hill. The defense had toknow. He's not a secret. They
targeted him fifteen times against the Chargers, he had eleven catches. How are

(01:01:35):
you not better prepared to stop him? It's one thing if you get beat
by best on best, but insteadthey had JC Jackson alone on an island
with him for his first touchdown lastweek? Why is he running free off
the line? Nobody putting hands onhim, no one trying to reroute him?
Play some press coverage, put asafety over the top. You have
Derwin James, let e one elsespeech you and you can live with it

(01:02:00):
a little bit easier. I heardMatt money Smith last week say it throughout
the broadcast. Why are the DB'shands on their hips and why are they
not hitting a receiver in the chest? Just slow them down? They were
doing it last year. They didit against the Dolphins. They had their

(01:02:22):
best defensive performance against them without DerwinJames and without Joey Bosa, and then
last week with those guys they gaveup thirty six was at thirty four points
earlier, though, that was whatthe Chargers scored. Thirty six they gave
up to the Dolphins. I don'tknow. They turned into human toast or
ovens. Every defensive back last weekgave up a play of at least twenty

(01:02:45):
eight yards. This week. Youheard it earlier from Daniel Popper. They
lead the league in thirty yard playschunk plays given up. I'm not trying
to pile on Brandon Staley. Iam rooting for him. I've defended his
aggressive play calling, but he isthere to figure this out and fix the

(01:03:07):
defense first and foremost, and ithas not happened yet. It's a problem.
I've heard the speculation over the schemebeing overly complicated. I asked Daniel
about it earlier. He said hethinks there's something too wit. Guys are
overthinking things, maybe instead of justbeing instinctual, plan freely, just using

(01:03:30):
their basic instincts developed over time throughouttheir football careers to go out there and
play. They have talented guys onthat end. They are paying them handsomely.
Is Brandon Stanley's defense too cute togimmicky? Is he trying to be
the mad scientist, the Mike Martzof defense. I don't know. It

(01:03:52):
seems like all the talk is they'retoo sophisticated for their own good. They're
too advanced with the coverages. I'mnot a football savant like Daniel j Amia
or Petros. I can't really judgeit like that. I just know it's
not working. Through two games sofar this season, they're giving up over
thirty points per game. And oneof those teams that just put up twenty

(01:04:15):
seven today was the Titans. Theyaverage seventeen points per game last season,
bottom five in the NFL, andthe Chargers only gave up seventeen points to
the Dolphins last year. So thesame two teams at least in name.
I know there's some differences roster wise, but Dolphins were good last year.

(01:04:36):
Titans fell apart after the loss tothe Chargers. But those same two teams
now they're losing to It feels likethey're regressing. You put up twenty four
points against the Titans, you wouldthink you win that game based on the
averages and what they typically score justfifteen points in Week one, all field

(01:04:56):
goals, didn't have a touchdown.You think you'd win the game. It
doesn't make sense. When is thatturning point coming? We thought it was
last year during that four game stretchwhere they gave up just fourteen to Tennessee
on defense, three points to theColts, just ten to the Rams,

(01:05:19):
and seventeen to the Dolphins. Itwas a four game winning streak spearheaded by
their defense. Was it setting in? I guess not just a nice month
because right afterwards thirty one to Denver, last game to the regular season,
and then thirty one to Jacksonville,all coming in the second half. Thirty
six to the Dolphins in Week onetwenty seven. Today, the bar isn't

(01:05:40):
that high for Brandon Staley to fixthis thing. With how good their offense
can be and Justin Herbert winning yourballgames. Just be average on defense,
Just be disciplined enough not to havea ton of stupid penalties like J.
C. Jackson last week and theroughing the pastor calls this week. That's
all it's gonna take, because goinginto today, Justin Herbert had made fifty

(01:06:06):
career starts. In those fifty startsthe Chargers they allowed twenty seven plus points
in twenty seven of those fifty starts. They're only six and twenty one in
those games and games where they're givingup less than twenty seven points, and
it is apropole that they gave upexactly twenty seven today. In games where
they're giving up less than twenty sevenpoints, the Chargers are nineteen and four

(01:06:30):
with Justin Herbert. But for whateverreason, this defense that Brandon Staley was
brought in the fix, they've givenup given up the fourth most points allowed
in the NFL since he's been therein twenty twenty one at eight hundred and
eighty. I guess now it wouldbe nine hundred and seven. The only

(01:06:53):
team's worse than them over that timedefensively Detroit, Houston, Chicago. Brandon
Staley said it come into the season, he was encouraged by the defense.
You just hurt him post game.He has confidence in this guys. He
has to instill that. He's gotto say it, we're doing the right
things. We'll get there. Keepgrinding, push through it. Things will
turn around. You're seeing the rightthings, but the results have to get

(01:07:15):
there eventually. Two derwin James afterWeek one said just wait till Sunday.
Just wait. He knows the onusis on them to prove it. Talk
is cheap, burden of proof ison them. They're spending too much money
on defense and not get the resultsto match it. And yeah, I
know Derek Ansley is technically the defensivecoordinator, but Brandon Stanley is the one

(01:07:36):
calling the plays out there. Buckstops with him. Chargers not stopping teams
even once with offenses that I thinkat the end of the season, Tennessee
Titans probably gonna be right where theywere last year, bottom five offense.
I don't think they're a playoff team. Last week you could get away with

(01:07:56):
more of Hey, the Dolphins,they look out standing. Who is going
to stop this team? Who elsehas a guy like Tyreek Hill that can
burn you like that. Maybe theChargers gave up their most points of the
season in Week one. It's anoutlier, but today's twenty seven against the
Tennessee Titans. That's too many,especially after you start off eleven zero.

(01:08:21):
You're up, and then you giveit right back with a seventy yard bomb
and a Derrick Henry touchdown, andit's eleven seven, All of a sudden,
in a minute oh seven, momentumswings. I believe those things happen.
Momentum is a thing in sports.Chargers have been on the wrong end
of it for some time. Thingsgonna change. Minnesota not gonna get any

(01:08:46):
easier with that offense, with Jefferson, best wide receiver in the game.
Maybe guy can go for one fifty. You just rolling out of bed.
He's He's gonna be a problem.Next week. Chargers have a chance to
redeem themselves. I guess that's thegood news. You stop that offense,

(01:09:10):
you stop him, you slow himdown. You're feeling much better about yourself.
But the Vikings are just as desperateto win. They're owing two,
and they've had a little more time, a little more time to prepare for
that game because they played what Thursdaynight in prime time where Kirk Cousins typically

(01:09:33):
doesn't play his best, But theystill were in that ball game. They
had some opportunities, didn't didn't getthe victory against the Eagles thirty four,
twenty eight. After they were downbig made a little bit of a comeback.
That's coached twenty eight. Something hasto change, and it starts at

(01:09:56):
the top. It's the head coach. And I'm not saying get rid of
this guy. I'm just saying,if his philosophies are ever gonna work,
it's got to start in week three. Can't start I one three. I
don't even know what the numbers arefrom making the playoffs? Were you start?
I wing three? Is that havinga couple of times in NFL history
of teams still make the playoffs?Charger fans, I'm sorry. It's been

(01:10:23):
rough, let's say the least.And today was another winnable game against the
team and an offense that you justhave to slow down, mental mistakes,
penalties, big plays, and notenough from your own offense and your young
stud quarterback and Justin Herbert to overcomewhat the Tennessee Titans did. Story the

(01:10:45):
ball game, more Charger stock.Next we'll hear from Justin Herbert to close
things out. I'm at a Moslinin for Isaac Longcron here on the Patriot
Amblem fifty LA. This is yourhome of the Bowls on the LA Chargers

(01:11:05):
Radio Network. Now and Crown.What's the difference between me and Ilo A
lot? I'm out of Oslin.Hen fries A Glow and Crown here on
Chargers Talk, they lose an ot twenty seven to twenty four. They
they are on two on this twentytwenty three start of the NFL season.

(01:11:30):
Eight seven seven five two zero elevenfifty is the phone number. Justin Herbert
finishes thrown for three h five twentyseven to forty one two touchdowns, you'd
be rating a one oh four.The numbers are there. Can't find the
w though, didn't make quite enoughplace. Never on one guy, But

(01:11:57):
I'm sure Justin Herber would tell youthe same thing. Not punching it in
at the end of regulation, gettingstacked on that third down and then going
three and out after they win thecoin flip and ot with just a disorganized,
chaotic sequence on that third down inovertime where I don't think guys were
on the same page, but anystretch of the imagination. But here was

(01:12:23):
her Bert Polist game speaking the mediatwo or fourteen on third down today is
what did you see as some ofthe issues like to be I just have
to capitalize them. They're done.You know that's up to us as an
offense execute better. So we're gonnahave to watch a film and get better.
I thought, did you people runanything specifically on those third downs?
Brand? You mentioned that, youknow, credence and pass protection issues.
If anything from you, I mighthave to I'd have to check the film

(01:12:45):
on that. Obviously. You knowthat's not what we're hoping for. We're
even to be higher and better thanthat, and so that's our responsibilities and
offense to be better than that.So you know that's something that we'll have
to focus on this week in practice. How much you have challenged? Was
there front obviously talks about that cominginto the game, Brand obviously mentioned especially
with Jack persons up they were justhow much you a chiel the dealing with

(01:13:05):
that? Yeah, they're very good, you know, they're they're a really
good defense. They had a reallygood uh front selling seven and so it
was up to us to have agood you know, playing and we didn't
execute. So that's on us asan offense and we have to be better
because of it. What the leaderon the team, what do you pay
after a lot to buy five point? Uh? You know, it's part

(01:13:27):
of the NFL. Obviously every wantto be in this position. But I
know that we got the right guysin that locker room. And we're gonna
stay together, We're gonna stay tough, and we're gonna get this thing going
because it's a long season. There'sa lot of football left. We're not
where we want to be right now, but that doesn't mean that we can't
get there in the next couple ofweeks. Three open over time. Anything
specifically that you felt like wrong mefor you guys, probably the three in

(01:13:49):
completions, Oh, any reason forthe incompations. Just didn't execute. So
that's on us as an offense tobe able to complete the bowl, and
that's on me as a quarterback tobe able to complete bowl. Yeah,
frustration they're earling two feels like theycould be two. We No, Daniel
Hopper, Popper, excuse me withthe question there postgame and the follow up

(01:14:12):
to Justin Herbert. Yeah, Iwas gonna be a challenge against this front
seven of the Tennessee Titans. Butplays were there to be made. But
the pivotal place in crunch time,we're not. And those are the ones
that decide ball games in this league. When there's talent everywhere AFC NFC,

(01:14:33):
not as much it used to be, but especially at the quarterback position.
But every week you're running into thebest of the world in some buzz sauce
next week, Justin Jefferson gotta figureout a way to slow him down.
The good news for the Chargers broughtit up earlier. I'm gonna spend it
pausitive. My man, Justin Herbert, I think is paired with the right

(01:14:54):
guy now at offensive coordinator of KellenMoore. Kellen Moore and is were seasons
with the Cowboys. They ranked secondin points per game at twenty seven point
seven. That number twenty seven againsecond in that offensive yards per game,
and they were even better when DakPrescott was available. They were scoring almost

(01:15:15):
thirty per game when he had hisguy. That would be the highest points
per game among all teams and quarterbacksduring that span over four seasons. Kellen
Moore with the Cowboys and Justin Herbert'seven more talented look, they got againt
the defense in order, and Ido believe Kellen Moore is on the fast

(01:15:39):
track to be that next Kyle ShanahanSean McVeigh head coach. He's an up
and coming young offensive coordinator. Creative. They put up thirty four against Miami,
twenty four points. Yeah, theyleft some out there today. But
you saw against the Dolphins. TheChargers rushed for two hundred years. I

(01:16:00):
mean the last time they had atop ten rushing offense was two thousand and
seven with LT with I say,Marty Schottenheimer was still their head coach,
and some of said this is thecurse of firing Marty after they went fourteen
and two. Yeah, well,he had a reputation of not getting it
done in the playoffs and they madesome bad moves against the Patriots, not

(01:16:25):
getting LT the ball. But offensivelineman love to run the football. They're
gonna love Killen Moore and just havinga more balanced offensive attack that commitment to
run it. And I know itwasn't there as much today. They only
had sixty one yards on the ground, but no Austin Ekeler. Somewhat to
be expected against the Tennessee rushed defense. But this is going to be a

(01:16:46):
different offense, and I think they'regoing to optimize Justin Herbert to the best
of his abilities. By pairing himup with Kellen Moore like this, it
makes your top tier quarterback that muchmore lethal when you can run the ball
a little bit and then he dropsback to pass. You saw Rashawn Slater
to his back, brought of freshair last week, held Bradley Chubb to

(01:17:10):
a shutout, didn't have a sack, didn't have a QB pressure. Part
of as you run the ball too, you keep the defense more off balance
and not knowing what you're gonna doand not being able to pin your ears
back all the time. If theythink of the back of their minds,
oh, they could be rushing ithere. It's a good thing because Herbert,

(01:17:30):
I don't think he's been fully unlockedyet. This Charger's offense, they
have a higher ceiling than what we'veseen so far. Herbert, believe it
or not, last season ranked twentyfifth in yards per attempt, thirty second
in air yards per attempt. Theycan dump it down the field more,
They can stretch the field more.They have the guys to do it.

(01:17:56):
Keenan Allen, who was great inthis ball game. By the way,
I should mention two touchdowns one hundredand eleven yards. Mike Williams obviously,
and Quentin Johnson can stretch the field. We saw that with TCU or young
rookie. I still believe the weaponsare there, the town is there.

(01:18:17):
It may just take one game forthem to turn things around and play to
their abilities and to stop the bleeding. Get some positive vibes, as bTB
would say, some confidence. Nextweek they're taking on the Vikings. I'm
outam Olezlin until later this season whenI'm in Prize A Clone Crown. The

(01:18:40):
next time we'll talk to you.Then go Chargers,