Los Angeles Chargers continue searching for identity

With their defeat to the previously winless Broncos, the Los Angeles Chargers are spinning their wheels, needing both direction and an identity.

The Los Angeles Chargers have always been a franchise that’s always just sort of “been there” in the NFL. They’re a well-run organization and are usually competitive, but never make gigantic splashes — save for one Super Bowl appearance in the 1994 season. While the Chargers may not always be “noisy”, though, they’ve at least had some sort of identity.

In the AFL days of the 1960s the Chargers under Hall of Famer Sid Gillman were known as something of a juggernaut in “the other league” with an explosive offense. That group quarterback John Hadl, Hall of Fame wide receiver Lance Alworth and a balanced rushing attack with Keith Lincoln and Paul Lowe.

They also had a Hall of Fame offensive lineman in Ron Mix and a plethora of Pro Bowlers/All-Pros on all three phases of the defense. With that group, the Chargers won the AFL Championship in 1963 and appeared in the title game in 1960, 1961, 1964 and 1965.

More from NFL Spin Zone

• Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
• Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

The 1970s brought on the “Air Coryell” era with Hall of Fame head coach Don Coryell and quarterback Dan Fouts that would revolutionize offense with their areal assault, which served as the team’s identity. The attack featured two other Hall of Famers in wide receiver Charlie Joiner and tight end Kellen Winslow. This fun in the sun would last all the way throughout the first half of the 1980s.

A vastly improved defense lead by Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau and an offense led by quarterback Stan Humphries characterized the 1990s for the Bolts. Say what you will about Humphries, but he was the quarterback for the aforementioned 1994 team that advanced to Super Bowl XXIX.

The early 2000s would bring on the arrival of “Marty Ball”, led by head coach Marty Schottenheimer. The name of the game was run the ball and play good defense and that’s how the Chargers would be identified. It worked out well, though it helped that the team had Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson in the backfield and the quarterbacks were Drew Brees then Philip Rivers.

Which brings us to now.

Rivers has been the starting quarterback since 2006 and, while the team has had its ups and downs, it hasn’t been until now that the Chargers’ lack of identity has been so glaring. This is a team that, a year ago, was seen as the most complete in football due to their deep and solid roster and potential AFC favorites. Now, they’re handing the 0-4 Broncos their first win — in Los Angeles, no less.

On the field, perhaps the team has too many weapons. Melvin Gordon, Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson in the backfield, in addition to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams at receiver makes for a lot of mouths to feed. Perhaps head coach Anthony Lynn and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt haven’t figured out a way to spread the love to maximize success. Maybe the proven duo is trying too hard to get too many people involved.

The only identity the Chargers seem to have is that of a team that can’t stay healthy with costly injuries, most notably safety Derwin James and tight end Hunter Henry.

The other cog in the identity crisis that was alluded to the recent loss at home. While the Denver game was played at the Chargers’ home stadium, the Chargers never have much of a home-field advantage. The team had a good fanbase in San Diego and the move to Los Angeles absolutely crippled the team.

It was a move that was met with overwhelming negativity, not just in San Diego, but by football fans across the country. Saying “Los Angeles Chargers” out loud rolls off the tongue and hits the ear wrong (even if technically their first season was spent there in 1960). TV analysts constantly slip up and say “San Diego” when talking about them.

There was no need for Los Angeles to have two teams, especially if they were going to stick one (the Los Angeles Rams) in the massive Los Angeles Colosseum and the other in a significantly smaller soccer stadium in the Dignity Health Sports Park.

The Chargers absolutely got the short end of the stick. This has caused the Chargers to seemingly play every matchup as an away game. Rivers has been visibly frustrated on the field too because of it, looking all surly like a late 1990s Dan Marino, with facial expressions at least.

Now, perhaps when the splendiferous SoFi Stadium opens next season that’ll host both the Rams and Chargers, that will help with the home-field advantage problem. But as far as on the field goes, the Chargers are running out of time to figure out what kind of football team they’re going to be for the rest of the 2019 season and beyond.

They have Gordon’s contract to worry about as well as fitting him into their scheme. But the Oakland Raiders are also a game up on them for second place in the AFC West. The Chargers “host” the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, a team seemingly running out of backup quarterbacks, which can maybe serve as a nice bounce-back game for the Bolts.

The NFL season is a long but fast one. If the Chargers don’t find some sort of identity, aside from “our powder blues are the best uniforms in sports”, it may be a while until they can be truly relevant in the NFL landscape without one.