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Chargers Mailbag: How the Bolts Can Bounce Back in Week 8

Oct 23, 2024 at 01:01 PM

Eric Smith

Editorial Director

Welcome back to the Chargers Mailbag!

We'll be running one of these every week during the regular season, so send in submissions for the Mailbag here on Twitter or by sending me an email.

Off we go...

do you think if they score on that first drive, it would have been a completely different game? seemed like everything was an uphill battle after that
— BoltSeason ⚡️ (@BoltsSeason) October 22, 2024

Was there any discussion with the coaching staff to the officials about weather or not Jalen Reagor stepped out before the fumble? Is that a challenge-able play? Was there any thought of a challenge.
— Rowan Stander (@sonofthebutcher) October 23, 2024

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Monday night felt like one of those "coulda, woulda, shoulda" games for the Chargers.

As in, they could have won if the turnovers didn't hurt them.

As in, they woulda won if the offense had been able to find the end zone.

As in, they probably shoulda if the defense had been better at tacking James Conner and not allowing Kyler Murray to break free on the long touchdown run.

To answer the first question, yes, I do think the game goes differentially if the Bolts can find the end zone instead of the fumble that turned into a touchback.

To answer the second question, the play was already going to be reviewed and it was clear that Jalen Reagor was still in bounds and that the ball went into the end zone.

To take it even further, I think the lost fumble on Teair Tart's interception was also a big turning point. At worst, the Chargers have the early momentum and the ball near midfield. At best, they recover the fumble and are already in field goal range for Cameron Dicker.

So, instead of the game being scoreless at the end of the first quarter, perhaps were talking about a 10-0 Bolts lead and a completely different game.

Alas, that's not what happened and the Bolts couldn't make enough plays to get the win.

Like I said, "coulda, woulda, shoulda." The focus now is turning the page and getting a win over New Orleans.

Eric, man, talk to me why this loss to the awful Cardinals won’t come back to haunt us end of year
— (3-3) Donnie “Ming” Azoff™️ (@donniezoff0) October 22, 2024

Well, we certainly hope that's not the case once we get to Week 18.

One positive note is that it was a loss to an NFC team so the Chargers didn't lose any AFC tiebreakers on Monday night.

But the Bolts currently sit in the No. 8 seed and out of the playoffs with a long, long, long way to go.

And Derwin James, Jr. brought up postgame what Donnie inquired about here.

"Frustrating. You don't want to lose no games, especially because we know how much they count in the end," James said. "We going to look back at this game and I don't want to just dwell on it [but] we need these type of games.

"We need to win these types of games to position ourselves where we want to be at the end of the season," James added.

If the Chargers can go on a little run here in the next few weeks against New Orleans, Cleveland and Tennessee, the sting of the Arizona loss will fade a bit.

I like to think that's the direction Jim Harbaugh's team will take rather than letting this one affect them for awhile.

I'm not sold things are as bad as we make them out to be. A healthy team looks much better. How much did the Herbert injury in training camp set the team back for the regular season in terms of chemistry?
— Nutthouse (@jtthenutt) October 22, 2024

No, Herbert's absence in camp didn't dramatically alter the chemistry with skill players or along the offensive line.

The group got plenty of work during the spring, before and after Herbert returned in camp and now during the season, too.

I am in agreement with you that things aren't as bad as they seem. Remember the rollercoaster analogy I used a few weeks back?

This is one of those dips after a loss where those outside the building feel like it will be an uphill climb.

From a different standpoint, I tend to believe what we've seen from the Chargers through six games is going to lead to them being right there in contention for a playoff spot at the end of the season.

Justin Herbert is getting healthy and heating up, and if the Bolts run game can find some consistency, the offense has the potential to be potent if they can turn field goals into touchdowns more often than not.

Defensively, the unit still showed flashes despite playing probably their worst collective game of the season in terms of missed tackles.

And special teams continues to be solid, led by Cameron Dicker, who is simply an elite weapon.

Hang in there, Bolt Fam.

The Chargers are certainly at a pivotal moment in their season at 3-3.

An upcoming winning streak feels like the playoffs are certainly a possibility while future struggles mean the Chargers might be in for that uphill battle we alluded to above.

Let's see what the Bolts are made of starting Sunday against the Saints.

I am a big Herbert fan, but I must ask this after Monday nights game. Do the throws that Herbert makes, are they friendly passes to the WR? Or are 10’s throws too hard?
Only asking because I’ve seen it time and time again where the pass catchers let the ball slip away.
— Kev (@rn_gorillapapi) October 22, 2024

Here's a scene for Monday night's postgame locker room that answers your questions.

A bit after the game ended, the Chargers wide receiver group gathered near their lockers and had a chat.

Joshua Palmer, the veteran of the group, later spoke to media members about the huddle.

"We had a couple drops, a fumble," Palmer said. "That's unacceptable in our group. Got to fix it."

While I get what you're asking and fully admit that I wouldn't be able to catch a laser from Herbert, the wide receiver group acknowledged they need to do a better job for their quarterback.

Passing lanes and windows in the NFL are incredibly small. If Herbert were to take some mustard off his passes, they might end up getting intercepted.

So yeah, he's going to keep slinging the ball all over the field and it's up to the skill position players to be a little bit better than they were Monday night.

Still, Hart and Taylor played one hell of a game and have been doing great as rookies. How do you feel about their level of play and do you think this is something they can keep up while Asante is out?
— Seth Walker (@sethhwalker) October 22, 2024

We'll end with this one from Seth on a pair of Bolts rookie cornerbacks who are playing well.

Before we get into Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still, make sure you go check out this great feature that my colleague, Omar Navarro, wrote last week on the pair of fifth-round picks.

I do think the duo can keep up this level of play over the next few weeks. Asante Samuel, Jr. must miss games against the Saints and the Browns before he's eligible to return.

And I'm very encouraged for the future now that Hart and Still are each getting ample playing time. In a year or two, it wouldn't surprise me if they are regular starters in the secondary.

If we look at things from a team building perspective, the Chargers are (rightfully) paying Herbert a ton a money, all of which he deserves.

But in order to counterbalance that hefty salary, you need to hit on draft picks (especially late-round picks), that add cheap and young talent to the roster.

Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz appears to have done that with Hart and Still, along with a handful of other picks, too.