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The Chargers’ J.K. Dobbins (27) is upended near the goal line by the Chiefs’ Chamarri Conner (27). After a great start to the season, the Chargers’ ground game was upended in Weeks 3 and 4. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Chargers players dressed and equipment managers tidied up the locker room after the team’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at SoFi Stadium. J.K. Dobbins sat motionless in his locker. The running back covered his head with a towel.
“I haven’t been in a place where I lost a lot, so I’m not used to it yet,” Dobbins said later. “And I won’t get used to it.”
The Chargers offense that emerged early as one of the most punishing running attacks in the NFL has faded into a two-game losing streak. Hampered by injuries and haunted by mistakes, the Chargers have scored just two touchdowns in their last 25 offensive drives entering Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.
“We gotta play cleaner football, that’s all, and we will,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. “You go through these little stretches sometime, and you just want to make them a little stretch, you don’t want to let that extend.”
Known for his wizardry in the run game, Roman had the offense humming behind 395 rushing yards in the first two games. He and coach Jim Harbaugh preached the importance of a balanced offense that could be quarterback Justin Herbert’s “best friend,” but the Chargers have averaged just 2.6 yards per rush in the last two games.
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Injuries and self-inflicted wounds have hamstrung the offense, Roman said. The Chargers (2-2) haven’t shown everything they’ve worked on in practice because of in-game blunders, including seven offensive penalties against the Chiefs and two against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Saddled with negative plays, the Chargers have faced third down with 10 or more yards to go 17 times in four games. Roman said he’s never been…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-chargers-attack-running-off-020848750.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-10-11 02:08:48
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