Ladd McConkey paused for a second in entrance of his locker.
“I don’t know,” he mentioned, lower than 24 hours after one other humbling Chargers playoff loss.
“To be sincere with you, it’s like, I don’t know — however you gotta get that monkey off our again,” McConkey mentioned.
A tormenting 16-3 defeat to the New England Patriots within the AFC wild-card spherical despatched the Chargers’ season to an early end Sunday for the second consecutive season. Little went proper in opposition to the Patriots in coach Jim Harbaugh‘s second 12 months in L.A., prompting questions on what wants to vary to make the Chargers a Tremendous Bowl contender.
Harbaugh, basic supervisor Joe Hortiz and the remainder of the staff’s employees may have a full offseason to delve into went awry in opposition to the Patriots and a season that fell wanting expectations.
Towards New England, there have been offensive line woes and Justin Herbert getting pressured on 30 of 44 drop-backs, which, in line with Professional Soccer Focus, was the second-highest stress fee of all the season (behind the Chargers’ Week 14 effort in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles).
Herbert, nonetheless looking for his first postseason victory after his third defeat Sunday, confirmed up in uncharacteristic style in opposition to the Patriots.
Final season, he tossed a career-worst 4 interceptions in a playoff loss to Houston. Towards New England, Herbert struggled to search out open receivers and was sacked six instances whereas the Chargers did not implement a run sport, resulting in questions on offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s future with the staff.
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh walks of the sphere after a 16-3 loss to the Patriots within the AFC wild-card playoffs Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)
Middle Bradley Bozeman, typically on the coronary heart of public criticism over the Chargers’ offensive line, fought again tears when talking about his struggles on the sphere. However the eighth-year veteran obtained choked up probably the most speaking about Herbert.
“It simply sucks that we will’t get him there,” Bozeman mentioned. “That’s what sucks. He’s considered one of my greatest buddies — and it sucks, prefer it simply sucks, as a result of I would like it dangerous for him. I would like it dangerous for myself, I would like it dangerous for everyone, however him particularly.”
Regardless of the repair, if the Chargers have one, the make-up of the franchise will dramatically shift. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is being courted by a number of NFL groups — together with the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders — for head teaching jobs.
Extensive receiver Keenan Allen, linebackers Odafe Oweh and Khalil Mack and defensive lineman Teair Tart are amongst 27 gamers set to hit free company. The Chargers are also set to have greater than $100 million in salary-cap area to take care of for potential additions.
Tart expressed curiosity in a possible extension contract with the staff, as did Oweh: “Hopefully I see Joe Hortiz on my cellphone,” the veteran linebacker mentioned.
Mack, who additionally mulled retirement a season in the past, goes to consider whether or not he desires to come back again for a thirteenth NFL season.
The 34-year-old declined to say whether or not he’d be again with the Chargers if he determined to play.
“Simply attempting to remain as current as attainable,” Mack mentioned. “Decide primarily based on how I’m feeling, how my household’s feeling. … Simply figuring it out day-to-day.”
Exterior linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, who emerged in his third season within the NFL with 13 sacks, was requested if he felt something wanted to shift to show playoff heartbreak into victories.
Tuipulotu repeated a sentiment that defensive again Tarheeb Nonetheless and security Daiyan Henley repeated earlier Monday:
“I simply hope everybody on protection comes again,” Tuipulotu mentioned.
