The Los Angeles Chargers have gone down two different offensive philosophies during this season thus far. One of which is explosive play hunting, the other being the utilization of the short passing game. To analyze how important the quick passing game is, different games were tracked and studied to show the major difference in the Chargers offense when using the short passing attack and when they were not.
Utilizing the Screen and the Short Passing Game
The Chargers offense struggling in the quick game was not something that I thought would come up after the Chargers offensive masterpiece this season against the Minnesota Vikings. In that week three game, Herbert had one of his best performances, and this was completely due to the perfectly executed screen game, as well as the quick passing attack drawn up from Offensive Coordinator, Kellen Moore. Herbert went 14/14 for 59 yards on passes behind the line of scrimmage. For passes 10 yards and under, Herbert went 19/24 for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
That Vikings game showed exactly what a strong short passing game can do for an NFL offense. Granted, the Vikings are a team that is very susceptible to a good short passing game, but even just having a good plan that is executed well is a step forward compared to what the Chargers are doing currently.
In the last three games, Herbert in the short game has not been the same, which has led to a big part in the offensive regression we have seen develop in the last few weeks.
So, to compare as evenly as possible, we will take the Charger’s last three victories besides the latest victory against the Jets, comparing these victories to their last three games in general, where they have struggled offensively in all three. This will show the formula: A good short passing game correlates to a better offensive performance and more confidence-inspiring victories.
Last Three Games (NYJ, CHI, KC) – Passes Behind The Line of Scrimmage: 16/17 for 129 yards and a touchdown.
After the Joe Lombardi disaster, the last thing Charger fans would expect to want is more short passes. Unfortunately, Lombardi was right about one thing: throwing the ball short is crucial in today’s NFL, though he forgot in his scheme that a short passing game should only be a singular part of a game plan. Not the entire game plan.
On paper, the presented stat line looks great, but considering this stat line is across three games, that is a little under six behind-the-line-of-scrimmage passing attempts per game. That is simply not enough to sustain drives in the NFL. A strong screen game is very important, especially when you have very good yards after catching targets like Austin Ekeler, Gerald Everett, and Quentin Johnston.
Three Offensive Victories (MIN, LVR, CHI) – Passes Behind The Line of Scrimmage: 28/28 for 174 and a touchdown.
The ability to sustain drives and run the clock is crucial in winning football games. In the Chargers’ three wins before the Jets, they averaged little over nine passes behind the line of scrimmage, nearly a 33% increase from their last three games average.
This increase gave the Chargers offense more time of possession and sustainability on offense, using the short passing game as an extension of the run game.
Note: Both ends of this statistic include the Bears game.
Last Three Games (NYJ, CHI, KC) – Passes 10 Yards or Less From The Line of Scrimmage: 33/43 for 255 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Once again, on paper, this looks acceptable, but in contrast to the other side of the equation, this does not come close. The one victory in the last three games, where the Chargers offense seemed to do okay, was the one game where the short passing game stood out. The Bears game alone accounted for 17 of the 33 total completions, 136 of the 255 yards, and both the touchdowns.
Against better defenses; the Jets and the Chiefs, the Chargers offense did not even really attempt to get a short passing game going. Only totaled 16 completions, for 119 yards, and no touchdowns. Predictably, the Chargers offensive totals for both of those games were extremely lackluster, and this was majority due to the lack of sustainability you gain from having a quick passing game.
Three Offensive Victories (MIN, LVR, CHI) – Passes 10 Yards or Less From The Line of Scrimmage: 41/76 for 326 yards and 5 touchdowns.
In the three victories against Minnesota, Las Vegas, and Chicago, Kellen Moore called an offense that relied less on explosive play hunting and instead relied upon setting up the deep ball with a barrage of quick concepts.
Knowing that the offensive line without Corey Linsley has struggled makes staying ahead of a strong pass rush, as well as staying ahead of the chains even more important. To do so, utilizing Keenan Allen’s route-running prowess and Justin Herbert’s quick processor to its full capacity is a great way to minimize weaknesses and maximize strengths. This philosophy has shown up in the win column.
Note: Both ends of this statistic include the Bears game.
Long Story Short
If the Chargers want to get back on track and stampede their way into the playoffs, they must go back to their first victory over the Vikings and use that game plan as a basis for their next opponents. All in all, The formula is simple. To win football games, you have to utilize the short passing game.
Main Photo: Kevin R. Wexler-USA TODAY NETWORK
