For many fans of the NFL, Pat Mcafee may be a flawed pundit who was somehow blessed with one of the biggest sports platforms in the world. However, every once in a while, he says something that a large consensus of people can agree on. This week, what he has said about Justin Herbert is right on.
In a segment on the Pat Mcafee Show where he answered several viewer submitted questions, Mcafee wholeheartedly agreed with one viewer’s sentiment: that the Chargers would be worlds better if both Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater were both healthy.
“I actually agree with that,” McAfee said. “Watching that game, they were on a smaller screen up here, [Justin] Herbert was just running for his life the entire time. And then all Chargers fans kept saying was ‘yes, this is what it has been, basically.’”
While a lot of fans will be shaking their heads in disagreement due to the fact they may not like the Chargers all that much, it is the cold, hard truth that the offensive line is just not good enough without the sum of its parts. Statistically speaking, the Chargers don’t just have one of the worst O-lines in football, but THE worst O-line in football.
Injuries or Institutional Failure? The Chargers’ Offensive Line Dilemma
When you look at the defensive side of the ball, that is where the Chargers’ strengths shine. The fact that the defense is playing at such a high level is a testament to defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. That then begs the question: if the Chargers just had a decent O-line, would that make them the Super Bowl contenders they deserve to be with a quarterback like Herbert at the helm?
“They drafted offensive linemen, they get injured, they try to fix it, they get injured,” McAfee continued. “Jim Harbaugh says the only thing that matters is protecting Herbert. For some reason, they just can’t get the golden goose any protection.”
There are two sides of the coin here: one in which fans can chalk the issues up to injuries, or one in which fans can look at this as a sign of unpreparedness on behalf of the Chargers. In fact, while the Chargers have brought in several guys to try and fix the problem, they have not panned out. They even overpaid Trey Pipkins, even though he is just a swing tackle in this team.
What Pat McAfee Got Right About Justin Herbert’s Ceiling
The fact of the matter is the mismanagement of the O-line comes down to the interior. The fact that both Alt and Slater have been injured countless times doesn’t add any sense of positivity to the Chargers’ situations. Mcafee also pointed out that Herbert has done a commendable job, but cannot win a Super Bowl by himself.
Chances are in the offseason, the Chargers will take another look at the infrastructure of their squad with ample cap space to spend money, address the issue. Still, it’s safe to say that until they do, they have a pretty clear ceiling and floor as well.
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