Wobbly Los Angeles Chargers Reach Bye With No Identity, Other Than Being A Team In Search Of One

The Los Angeles Chargers say “hello” to their bye week, set for their push for the playoffs.

Or are they really poised to make this season special? Is this actually an outfit with the look of someone primed to play in mid-January?

The Chargers (4-3) were locked and loaded when the season was christened, fortified with play makers on both sides of the football.

One needed a deep breath to rattle off the impressive weapons L.A. had at its disposal: quarterback Justin Herbert, outside linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, running back Austin Ekeler, safety Derwin James and cornerback J.C. Jackson.

That sounds more like a Pro Bowl squad than an NFL one, which meant the hopes were high that the Chargers would make hay this year.

It was especially critical for L.A. to shine as the time continues to dwindle on Herbert’s value with him being on his rookie contract.

But instead of steamrolling rivals the Chargers have looked, and played, like a run-of-mill team. You are what your record says you are — thank you, coach Bill Parcells – but some could argue that’s not the case with the Chargers.

The Bolts are one game over .500, but a deeper dive shows they might be fortunate to be there.

Consider that their four triumphs have been at the expense of the Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos. That’s hardly a conquest of murder’s row, with their combined record being 7-14-1.

While the Chargers have yet to notch a signature win to prove they belong among the elite teams, they’ve also played down to lesser opponents. How else to explain face-plants, at home, against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks?

“We’re a work-in-progress,’’ coach Brandon Staley said. “I think we haven’t played our best football, for sure.’

The reasons?

Injuries can’t be discounted but playing that card is know as the first exit on the highway of excuses in the NFL. When players get hurt and an organization doesn’t have solid depth, that’s on Chargers general manager Tom Telesco and the personnel department.

The Chargers’ list of those ailing is startling. Bosa, Allen, Jackson, Pro Bowl linemen Corey Linsley and Rayshawn Slater are missing, or out, for the year.

Even Herbert is biting the bullet when he takes snaps, his torn rib cartilage compromising his play. He enters the bye failing to throw for 300 yards in his last three games.

“I think he is experiencing a lot of tough stuff that happens in the NFL,’’ Staley said. “I know there is no one that cares more than he does.’’

Just like no one cares about the Herbert’s, or any of the other Chargers’ health shortcomings.

“It’s the NFL,’’ Staley said. “You have to figure it out.’’

That’s Staley’s job, and to date, he hasn’t stood out.

The Chargers are seven games into the season and they can’t rush the ball consistently, have trouble protecting Herbert, have challenges in stopping the run and can’t get to rival quarterbacks often enough to aid a struggling secondary.

Staley likely isn’t on a hot seat but much more was expected from the Chargers’ brass, which envisioned being the second straight L.A. team to reach the Super Bowl.

Maybe the data-driven Staley, who is 13-10 in one-plus seasons, is in over his head.

Maybe Staley is a work-in-progress as well, and he should be afforded a longer leash to gain the experience to go toe-to-toe with the NFL’s brightest minds.

Maybe the Chargers are paying the price for going cheap. They’ve long gone the inexpensive route in hiring rookie NFL head coaches, which makes the rumors of now-retired coach Sean Payton landing in L.A. a pipe dream.

The Chargers, since 1992, have hired nine head coaches to start a season and only two, Marty Schottenhemier and Norv Turner, had NFL head-coaching experience.

Schottenheimer pointed them to a 14-2 record in 2006. He got canned and then Turner guided the Chargers to the 2007 AFC Championship Game.

Otherwise it’s been a parade of men trying to earn their NFL stripes: Bobby Ross, Kevin Gilbride, Mike Riley, Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn and now Staley.

While Ross, the only coach to take the Chargers to the Super Bowl, was in his first stint as an NFL head coach he gained his head-coaching chops in the college ranks at The Citadel, Maryland and Georgia Tech, where he won a share of the national championship.

No one is calling for Staley’s facility key. But the Chargers were ready to unlock the door to the postseason, and seven games in, they look like they need a fresh locksmith.

Still, there’s time for the Chargers to right their ship. It’s Staley’s task — regardless of the boatload of injuries – to make it happen.

“We have to keep it moving,’’ Staley said, and hopefully that beeping sound of his charges in reverse will cease. “Our guys are seeing that it may not be pretty when you are figuring it out.’’

There’s no such thing as an ugly NFL win and the Chargers are all-in for those. But they aren’t passing the eye-test of a team with visions of being in the postseason.

During the Chargers’ current hiatus they need to find their footing. Otherwise, they will continue to run in place as the sand in the hour glass of Herbert’s inexpensive rookie contract continues to diminish.