Chargers News: NFL Columnist Lists OC Carousel as Biggest Worry for Bolts
The Los Angeles Chargers should have one of the better offenses in the NFL in 2023.
With weapons like Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, game-breaking rookie wide receiver Quentin Johnston, running back Austin Ekeler, and of course, quarterback Justin Herbert all in tow to go along with a solid offensive line, things are definitely set up nicely for the team to succeed this coming year.
They'll have a new offensive coordinator leading the group in Kellen Moore, who came over from the Dallas Cowboys to replace Joe Lombardi, who was fired following Los Angeles' shocking playoff defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Moore made his way west with an impressive resume.
The player-turned-coach spent five seasons on Dallas' staff, four of them as an offensive coordinator under both Jason Garrett and Mike McCarthy.
Under Moore's direction, the Cowboys' offense turned into one of the better units in the NFC, bolstered by a reliable intermediate passing attack and a strong run game under Ezekiel Elliott and, more recently, Tony Pollard.
Moore is certainly worthy of being the Chargers' new OC, but CBS Sports NFL writer Cody Benjamin lists the Bolts' carousel in that spot as their biggest red flag heading into 2023.
As they prepare to make Justin Herbert one of the game's highest-paid quarterbacks, the Chargers are hoping their staff is finally ready to properly elevate him from regular-season starling to playoff difference-maker. While Kellen Moore should open up the pass game, he's Herbert's third coordinator in four years. Head man Brandon Staley, meanwhile, is on the hot seat thanks to his talented lineups folding at some of the worst times.
He has a point there, as the Chargers have had Shane Steichen, Lombardi, and now Moore in the crucial position, and constant OC turnover isn't exactly a quality recipe for young quarterbacks.
But I think Herbert is the exception to that conventional wisdom.
Herbert has developed into one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL since he was drafted in 2019, as he's on the top end of the second tier of quarterbacks, just behind quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
He's been able to overcome that revolving door, and I think Moore is the best coordinator for him, given both his individual skill set and the myriad of weapons around him.
It's not a stretch to see Moore opening up the talented but stunted Charger offense, and under his direction, I can definitely see the Bolts having one of the better units in the AFC.
