Chargers got history on their side

Chargers lean on shield of opulent optimism amid historic start

By Kenneth Miller | Publisher

The bright hot and humid days have since given way to a dark misty Sunday morning as desperate Chargers fans decorated in yellow lighting bolts and powder blue jerseys plod down an isolated Century Blvd. four hours before their winless team takes the field against division foe Denver Broncos.

Their hope is that this week will be different for the only franchise that has ever overcome such a dismal quarter to a season and then make the playoffs as the San Diego Chargers did in 1992, and even won a game in the post season.

That ‘92 squad had come off back to back losing seasons and there was no such abated anticipation and brewing optimism that the season would be any different especially after starting quarterback John Friesz was lost to injury, thus paving the way for Stan Humphries to pilot the Bolts.

Back then, the Chargers also had  the late great Junior Seau and Leslie O’Neal anchoring a devastating defense for Bobby Ross, who left Georgia Tech to take the Chargers head coaching job.

Gasoline was just $1.13 a gallon, the Disney classic Aladdin was the hit movie and we were jumping around to Kris Kross the Jump.

Ross outfit would finish 11-5 in the regular season in ‘92.

Chargers current coach Jim Harbaugh did arrive from Michigan three years ago off a National Championship, but prior to that was a highly successful NFL coach with the San Francisco 49ers, so the contrast to Ross is not an accurate comparing.

When Harbaugh arrived the Chargers were already a playoff team, he was brought about to take what was a talented roster to the next level of the post season, AFC title games and perhaps a Super Bowl.

After a couple of seasons, ownership determined it wanted more. The Chargers fans wanted and deserved more.

So, this off season was one of change for the Bolts. Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter was hired away by the Ravens in Baltimore and the club fired Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman.

Former Safeties Coach Chris O’Leary was brought in to replace Minter, and former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was hired to replace Roman.

So far both coaching hires have been a colossal disaster. The defense ranks 16th in total defense allowing 333.5 yards per game and is one of eight teams that has allowed 12 or more touchdowns through four games.

The offense under McDaniel has been so abysmal, ranking 29th among 32 teams, that the relentless albeit redundant reporters have questioned whether Harbaugh should fire his play caller.

Amid it all, the culture of the Chargers have steadfastly remained optimistic and positive in the face of unsatisfying results.

The belief in franchise quarterback Justin Herbert could not be greater, with Harbaugh showering him with the highest praise as the best player he has ever coached.

McDaniel can be frequently seen on the sideline displaying his frustration and anger as his vision fails to materialize.

His offensive line, mainly the two stalwarts Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater have been off kilter and out of sync, committing costly penalties.

Speedy wide receiver Quentin Johnston has caught just 7 passes for 108 yards at 15 yards per catch, but has been woefully inconsistent and unreliable creating a lack of trust that was obvious from the get go.

It appears that everybody is now counting the Chargers out. The season is over and the remaining games are just a fruitless exercise in futility.

Their history and the moral fiber of the locker room does not align with such a dire forecast.

Jim Harbaugh rightly explained the NFL is a week to week league. Each week the rosters vastly different from the week before, as attrition and injury take their toll on the most grueling league in professional sports.

So, this week it’s the 2-2 Broncos. That’s all that matters to a team that has played without its best defensive player Derwin James.

Herbert acknowledges that he has not performed close or near his lofty expectations.

This time will be different.

It’s the Chargers. Nothing ever goes according to plan, but always pan out in the end.

History is on the Bolts side.