If We Aren't Top 6 This Year, The Four People Or Reasons I'll Likely Blame - List Yours

[YAC]

This team should be really good and I'm excited for the season. But I've got stomach-burn about a few things that undercut my enthusiasm.

1. Madison Beer. A year or two ago I said I didn't like her and you all came at me for my statements. I didn't want her as Justin's girl. I saw here as fake. Mental. Fragile. Narcissistic. Needy. Etc. etc. It's played out exactly as I feared. And all this public-display-of-affection during Charger practices is only going to set things up where players (understandably) lose respect for Justin and the leadership permitting her to be on the field. If Justin is suddenly "off"...if players don't rally to their leader... I blame her and her supporters. 101%.

2. Jim Harbaugh's sudden aging. He seems like a guy who has aged 12 years in the past three. Few were a bigger fan of his signing than me, but I fear medical/life issues are wearing him down fast. I just don't see him as a strong motivational voice at this point, which grieves me to my bone. He seems slow to hear, slow to register, and slow to "uh-uh" respond. I would never blame Jim if health is letting him down. I will, however, blame his health.

3. Harbaugh's odd obsessions and loyalties (perhaps related to #2). The fact that Matlock is (in some way) on the roster at this point only makes me wonder how mis-judgments bleed into other decisions. I suspect Jim thinks we can get .6 of a FB and .6 of a DL player...and that makes Scott Matlock a 1.2 player. Memo to coach: that math won't fly. As for odd loyalties: we might need new special teams players. We might need a new special teams coach.

4. O-line decisions. We all know the off-season decisions that riled so many in the fan base, but the latest decisions make me question things even more. While I agree with the idea of going into the season carrying depth at o-line...in no universe do I view Harkey, Penning or Logan Taylor as meaningful depth pieces--merely hopeless dreams. I've spent a lot of time defending the Chargers o-line decisions with others and with my own mind. Now three stupid roster assignments. I lust can't do it anymore.

[richpjr]

I find it odd to have scapegoats and blame lined up if we don't hit the nebulous top 6 in the NFL this year with zero context. What if the pass rush or secondary are wiped out by injury and we can't stop anyone? What if our DC isn't ready for prime time? What if the league has caught up with McDaniel and the O isn't as potent as we think it will be? What if Dicker's preseason struggles continue and he costs us a few games with missed kicks? What if Scott continues to suck at punting and costs us a game or 2 with bad shank punts at crucial times? What if our RBs are wiped out and we can't run? What if our WR corp is wiped out by injury and nobody can get open?

Is that Harbaugh's or Beer's fault?

What if Herbert just isn't clutch? According to many here, he isn't. If he doesn't suddenly become clutch is that Beer's fault too?

[Whydachargers?]

This team should be really good and I'm excited for the season. But I've got stomach-burn about a few things that undercut my enthusiasm.

1. Madison Beer. A year or two ago I said I didn't like her and you all came at me for my statements. I didn't want her as Justin's girl. I saw here as fake. Mental. Fragile. Narcissistic. Needy. Etc. etc. It's played out exactly as I feared. And all this public-display-of-affection during Charger practices is only going to set things up where players (understandably) lose respect for Justin and the leadership permitting her to be on the field. If Justin is suddenly "off"...if players don't rally to their leader... I blame her and her supporters. 101%....

Madison Beer? Really? She's in her 20's. She's supposed to be a little fake at her age and she's in L.A. If she wasn't a little fake she wouldn't be fitting in. Right? She doesn't owe us anything as Justin's girlfriend.

[Factotum]

Thank goodness that the Rams and the Cowboys are back to being the darlings so we just have to deal with these sorta things mostly internally here 🙄

- the world of pro sports and pop artists had collided ions ago so it's not like #10 and Maddison B just invented it. If the "newly wed" kinda PDA is bit too much cringe for you, look away and don't get emotionally vested if you can help it. Justin seems like a well grounded young man who I believe is able to manage both personal and professional life. I don't want to name names but we had plenty of past highly respected players and HOFers on our team who used to club excessively even during the season and also chase skirts constantly, and that was back when in San Diego!

- yeah some people age more suddenly than others specially in stressful jobs, what ya gonna do? Jim has had a couple or few medical situations and also appears to be in need of another. I wouldn't worry as much about an aging coach as I would about a suddenly aging roster!

- FWIW per Mat Money's last podcast, the last 3 on the 53 were DD12, Logan Taylor and Trevor Penning. I rather let the professionals and those wishing the confines of the building make decisions than any one of us speculators and outsiders.

Edited: I had meant to quote Money mentioning Harkey not L. Tylor above.

[Boltx]

I feel you on #2. Don’t get me wrong, I still think he’s a great coach but it’s kinda like watching a family member age in front of you. Reminds us of our own mortality.

As far as Beer, the whole thing seems super cringey but maybe this newfound happiness will unlock some new level within Herbert.

[DerwinBosa]

Respectfully, I don't understand the need to come up with a list of reasons for why this season will fail. A lot of stuff can go wrong. Personally, I think that, even with Slater out for the year early in 2025, we would have been at least 13-4 if Joe Alt had been able to play a full season. Shit happens, though, and we were down to our eighth-string offensive tackle at one point. I don't know what will derail this season if it occurs, but I don't see the point in trying to find out right now.

As for Madison Beer, I do get annoyed when she is discussed in football threads on this forum. If I really wanted to know more about her, I would go to a different forum. While my favorite current player is obviously Derwin James, I couldn't tell you anything about his wife, and I don't care to know what she is like--as long as she's not ruining his life. Although I get that Beer is a pop star right now, I still don't understand why she needs to be discussed at such length on this forum. That's not her fault, though, nor is she to blame for the fact I don't want to listen to her music or watch her videos (not my genre, and never will be). I don't think she has in any way created a negative effect on Herbert or the team, so I don't mind her at all.

I don't think Harbaugh is a problem at all. He and Hortiz inherited a huge mess of a roster that needed to be fixed, and they have been going about it the right way. It takes time to get to the point where you have your best team in place, but I fully believe we're getting there.

Logan Taylor and Alex Harkey are rookies, sixth-round picks, who are developing. Branson Taylor, another sixth-round pick, didn't offer much of anything last season, but he looked like he took a big step up before he got injured this preseason. In my opinion, Harkey and Logan Taylor are being kept more for their potential down the road than for what they can offer now. I'm not sure what the problem is with keeping Penning. He's not a starter, but I can think of much worse backups.

[Boltjolt]

This team should be really good and I'm excited for the season. But I've got stomach-burn about a few things that undercut my enthusiasm.

1. Madison Beer. A year or two ago I said I didn't like her and you all came at me for my statements. I didn't want her as Justin's girl. I saw here as fake. Mental. Fragile. Narcissistic. Needy. Etc. etc. It's played out exactly as I feared. And all this public-display-of-affection during Charger practices is only going to set things up where players (understandably) lose respect for Justin and the leadership permitting her to be on the field. If Justin is suddenly "off"...if players don't rally to their leader... I blame her and her supporters. 101%.

2. Jim Harbaugh's sudden aging. He seems like a guy who has aged 12 years in the past three. Few were a bigger fan of his signing than me, but I fear medical/life issues are wearing him down fast. I just don't see him as a strong motivational voice at this point, which grieves me to my bone. He seems slow to hear, slow to register, and slow to "uh-uh" respond. I would never blame Jim if health is letting him down. I will, however, blame his health.

3. Harbaugh's odd obsessions and loyalties (perhaps related to #2). The fact that Matlock is (in some way) on the roster at this point only makes me wonder how mis-judgments bleed into other decisions. I suspect Jim thinks we can get .6 of a FB and .6 of a DL player...and that makes Scott Matlock a 1.2 player. Memo to coach: that math won't fly. As for odd loyalties: we might need new special teams players. We might need a new special teams coach.

4. O-line decisions. We all know the off-season decisions that riled so many in the fan base, but the latest decisions make me question things even more. While I agree with the idea of going into the season carrying depth at o-line...in no universe do I view Harkey, Penning or Logan Taylor as meaningful depth pieces--merely hopeless dreams. I've spent a lot of time defending the Chargers o-line decisions with others and with my own mind. Now three stupid roster assignments. I lust can't do it anymore.

Wow, ...harsh to say about someone you do not know. I am not a fan of her music at all and dont give her a 2nd thought really, but thats irrelevent. I certainly dont feel that way about her tho. Other players wives and GFs are permitted on the field after practice all over the league, They just arent anyone to speak that gets publicity.

2. Harbaugh just seems to be looking for the correct answers to the press. There are times im like, spit it out but i dont think he has mental issues lol.

The OL has been a lot of additions. Yes the Cockroach is still here which idk why. Hasnt shown shit to us but i trust the coaches and Hortiz. There has been plenty more good than bad and i think JH learned something from last year keeping Blozman and Bectin being awful. And that was, needing to do more for Herbert. I hope this is cockroaches last season with us.

Sorry to say i feel a bit of a roast coming

[Boltjolt]

Thank goodness that the Rams and the Cowboys are back to being the darlings so we just have to deal with these sorta things mostly internally here 🙄

- the world of pro sports and pop artists had collided ions ago so it's not like #10 and Maddison B just invented it. If the "newly wed" kinda PDA is bit too much cringe for you, look away and don't get emotionally vested if you can help it. Justin seems like a well grounded young man who I believe is able to manage both personal and professional life. I don't want to name names but we had plenty of past highly respected players and HOFers on our team who used to club excessively even during the season and also chase skirts constantly, and that was back when in San Diego!

- yeah some people age more suddenly than others specially in stressful jobs, what ya gonna do? Jim has had a couple or few medical situations and also appears to be in need of another. I wouldn't worry as much about an aging coach as I would about a suddenly aging roster!

- FWIW per Mat Money's last podcast, the last 3 on the 53 were DD12, Logan Taylor and Trevor Penning. I rather let the professionals and those wishing the confines of the building make decisions than any one of us speculators and outsiders.

Edited: I had meant to quote Money mentioning Harkey not L. Tylor above.

Seems Harbaugh has a limp. Another hip or knee?

[northerner]

I find it odd to have scapegoats and blame lined up if we don't hit the nebulous top 6 in the NFL this year with zero context. What if the pass rush or secondary are wiped out by injury and we can't stop anyone? What if our DC isn't ready for prime time? What if the league has caught up with McDaniel and the O isn't as potent as we think it will be? What if Dicker's preseason struggles continue and he costs us a few games with missed kicks? What if Scott continues to suck at punting and costs us a game or 2 with bad shank punts at crucial times? What if our RBs are wiped out and we can't run? What if our WR corp is wiped out by injury and nobody can get open?

Is that Harbaugh's or Beer's fault?

What if Herbert just isn't clutch? According to many here, he isn't. If he doesn't suddenly become clutch is that Beer's fault too?

message boards love blame. i don't like it, but it can't be fixed.

[Factotum]

Seems Harbaugh has a limp. Another hip or knee?

Yes the noticeable gait is most likely from his other hip.

[Bolt-O]

So tempted to rename this thread: 'YAC's Scapegoats"... Season hasn't even started.

[CanadianBoltFan]

So tempted to rename this thread: 'YAC's Scapegoats"... Season hasn't even started.

I know lol, a little early for this during pre season optimism time.

1 Madison Beer lol. Don't most people perform their best in the workplace when they are really happy human beings? Never seen Justin Herbert happier and looser. Loves his fiancee, loves his new OC, loves his HC, loves his team mates.

What does DMac say? MVP season loading!