For the Los Angeles Chargers, what was supposed to be a run at their first-ever Super Bowl title dissolved into a cesspool of injuries and mismanagement on offense.
They still made the playoffs with a respectable 10-7 record, but once there, they blew a 27-0 lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card round.
It led many fans to call for the firing of head coach Brandon Staley, but the team instead axed offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.
On Monday, it brought in Kellen Moore to replace him.
welcome to LA, coach!
we've agreed to terms with Kellen Moore to become our offensive coordinator. pic.twitter.com/KDeTPnvnFv
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 30, 2023
It may not be the big splash fans were hoping for, but they may be the potential for improvement with Moore at the helm of the team’s offense.
Los Angeles boasts one of the game’s best quarterbacks in Justin Herbert, a man who stands 6-foot-6, weighs nearly 240 pounds and seemingly has a bionic rocket for a throwing arm.
Yet, the team didn’t play much of a vertical game, and instead had him throwing plenty of check-down passes for minimal gains in yardage.
The Chargers ranked a disappointing ninth in total yards and 13th in points scored despite boasting threats such as Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and dual-threat running back Austin Ekeler.
Their run defense needs even more improvement, as it ranked just 30th in yards this season.
The biggest change they need offensively is to take more shots downfield, a la the Chargers of the early 1980s under late head coach Don “Air” Coryell and Hall of Fame QB Dan Fouts.
As the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys the last three years, Moore oversaw a unit that ranked fourth in points scored this season and first in 2021.
They won 12 games in each of the last two seasons, and they were able to maintain much of their offensive production despite the departure of four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper.
NEXT: 1 Stat Proves Why Justin Herbert Has To Be Excited
