The Chargers went big and bold when they hired Jim Harbaugh as their coach, ushering in a new era in time to move into their new permanent address in El Segundo. Smiles and optimism accompanied the team north on the 405 Freeway from its temporary headquarters in Costa Mesa.
Finally, after departing San Diego in 2017, the Chargers were rooted in Los Angeles, and with an experienced and successful coach to guide them into the future.
Here are five questions, with the answers to come, for the 2024 Chargers:
Can the Chargers put the past in the past at long last?
Conventional wisdom suggested during this past offseason that since Jim Harbaugh was successful at every single one of his coaching stops, from the University of San Diego to Stanford to the San Francisco 49ers to the University of Michigan, that he could transform the Chargers into consistent winners. It’s not going to happen magically, with a snap of the fingers, or something equally preposterous. These are the Chargers, after all, and things are bound to go haywire at one point or another. How they respond to defeats and setbacks will determine their success or failure.
What have Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz created?
Pundits raved about Harbaugh’s hiring in January, and rightfully so. Harbaugh is the most successful coach, the biggest name coach, the Chargers have ever hired. He follows Brandon Staley, Anthony Lynn and Mike McCoy, a trio of novices who achieved only limited success before they were shown the door. Joe Hortiz, the Chargers’ new GM, worked for decades in the Baltimore Ravens’ scouting department before he was hired. Together they have set a new, hopeful tone.
How stingy can the Chargers’ defense be this season?
No question, the Chargers have an embarrassment of riches at the edge rusher position, starting with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. Bosa’s health has been an issue in recent years, including and not limited to this past training camp, when he was sidelined for three weeks after suffering a broken left hand that required surgery. Mack went a little nutso last season with a career-high 17 sacks. Not bad for a man in his 10th season in the NFL and at the age of 32. Can he do it again?
Can the Chargers keep quarterback Justin Herbert healthy?
Herbert suffered damaged rib cartilage in a Week 2 game against the Chiefs in the 2022 season and didn’t look right until December, rallying the Chargers to a wild-card playoff berth. Last season, he smashed his finger on a Broncos player after throwing an interception and foolishly, as it turned out, attempting to move into position to make a tackle. Then he sat out for nearly three weeks during this past training camp because of a right foot injury described by the team as a plantar fascia injury. The Chargers took no chances and had him wear a boot for two weeks.
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How effective can the ground game become in 2024?
Harbaugh’s teams at Michigan were run-focused and, after the Wolverines went 15-0 and won the national championship in the 2023 season, who would be dumb enough to argue with his success in Ann Arbor? But how does that translate to the Chargers and the NFL? Hortiz signed Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins to replace versatile and productive running back Austin Ekeler, who departed via free agency in the offseason. Neither played in the exhibition games, so it was difficult to gauge how effective they would be running behind what looks like a standout offensive line with the additions of Bradley Bozeman at center and Joe Alt at right tackle.
