EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Identity questions have been the main topic when describing the Los Angeles Chargers offense. They could be a team that takes whatever the opposing defense gives them.
It is a boring answer, but that is what quarterback Justin Herbert has seen in the season's first seven games.
"It fluctuates from week to week," Herbert said. "If we throw the ball a bunch, or if we have to run the ball bunch, we're going to do whatever we can to win the game."
The four wins by the Chargers have been different.
In week one, the run game powered their victory when they faced the Raiders. In the first half, they scored six points, and the offense looked flat. In the second half, they turned it on with two big runs from JK Dobbins, one of 61 yards and a 12-yard run that turned into a touchdown. Herbert threw for 144 yards and a touchdown to rookie Ladd McConkey to put the finishing touches on the game.
In week two in Carolina, it was another of Dobbins's games, with 131 rushing yards and a 43-yard touchdown. In the passing game, Quentin Johnston scored two touchdowns and had 51 yards receiving.
Week six in Denver was the awakening of Herbert's passing game, throwing for a season-high (at that point) 237 passing yards with multiple passes on third down. Dobbins did add 96 rushing yards plus a touchdown. Also, rookie running back Kimani Vidal had a 38-yard wheel route to highlight the game.
Sunday's win against the Saints was sloppy in the first half, with a score of 9-5 that seemed like a World Series game. The second half was more of Herbert picking apart the Saints' defense and the emergence of McConkey, who had six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
McConkey is someone the team is very high on, especially head coach Jim Harbaugh. He even compared the rookie receiver to a former teammate when he was a Carolina Panthers quarterback: Steve Smith.
"It's like they both had this ability and this skill to almost look one way and then catch it just a few feet the other way," Harbaugh said. "It's really subtle, it's really good."
That is high regard because Smith is one of the greatest receivers to ever play in the NFL. McConkey will face a lot of talent this weekend against the Cleveland Browns.
"He's a complete receiver," Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said. "For him to be able to line up inside, outside we've got a true ball player on our hands."
The three losses have all been the same, as a matter of fact, with the Chargers offense not being able to score more than 15 points in each of the games. The consistency part has been an issue.
They are starting to get healthy on offense, with the team hopeful that Quentin Johnston and DJ Chark can return as soon as this weekend. Johnston was playing well before the ankle injury in Denver.
Chark has yet to make his 2024 debut, but the Chargers activated his 21-day window 15 days ago, so he doesn't need to be activated this weekend. They have until next Wednesday, but they could use him.
During camp, Herbert and Chark were developing a relationship until the quarterback's injury. They crossed routes and passed that pushed the ball down the field, which is something the offense needs.
"He's a physical receiver," Herbert said of Chark. "He's very athletic and he's one of those guys that goes up and gets the ball. I think it adds a lot of dimension to our offense. We thought really highly of them in camp and especially in OTAs."
The offense lacks consistency, but it has a good formula. When it works, it works, but it is missing a true number of offensive targets. Herbert is doing the most with the weapons he has, which is impressive, especially in the last three games.
GM Joe Hortiz could shake things up before next Tuesday's deadline with a trade, but who knows what positions he would deem fit to need an upgrade. He has brought in Teair Tart, Elijah Molden, and Taylor Heinicke before the season started, so he is willing to make moves.
Nuts N’ Bolts
Harbaugh felt like Browns QB Jameis Winston had a great performance during their week 8 performance against the Ravens. He threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns, “Top flight quarterback.”
Former Chicago Bears receiver Wendell Davis caught the first touchdown of Harbaugh’s career in Cleveland against the Browns on October 23, 1989. The Browns beat Harbaugh’s Bears 27-7.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh lost to the Browns last weekend 29-24. Jim was asked if he called his brother to ask for advice, “It’s brother to brother. We don't talk much football during the season.”
When asked about the potential return of cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. Harbaugh said that they will discuss when he can return. Samuel is eligible to come off IR next week, but is unknown if he has recovered from his shoulder injury.