Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden believes the Los Angeles Chargers' winless start to the season stems from a fundamental issue between quarterback Justin Herbert and his coaching staff.
Appearing on "Wake Up Barstool," Gruden told host Dave Portnoy that a team's early-season struggles often begin with the coach and quarterback. "Well, I’ve been 0-2 before, and when you’re 0-2 and lose in the way they’re losing, you’ve got to point the finger at the coach and the quarterback. That’s always where it starts," Gruden said.
Gruden pointed to specific plays from the Chargers' recent loss to the Raiders, noting dropped passes on early offensive drives that led to an interception. "The Chargers look bad. And they look bad on defense, they look bad as a team. They’ve lost to two teams that were in last place last year, at home," he observed.
"But to answer your question, Herbert is completely out of rhythm," Gruden continued. "He doesn’t even look normal sitting on the sidelines; he and [Chargers offensive coordinator Mike] McDaniel look like people that met in France. The wires are crossed! It doesn’t look like there’s any communication."
Gruden also speculated about head coach Jim Harbaugh's approach, suggesting that Harbaugh's interactions with Herbert might be contributing to the problem. "I see [Chargers head coach Jim] Harbaugh banging on Herbert before the game. Maybe that’s the problem, maybe the guy is just beat into the ground," he quipped.
The Chargers' 0-2 record places them in a difficult position. Historically, only 15% of teams that start the season with two losses go on to make the playoffs. The team faces a challenging upcoming schedule, with their next seven opponents all considered among the league's top teams.