Originally Posted by Chiefspants (Post 15186509)

Herbert could also be Drew Lock, and benefitted from a lack of scouting/preparedness on the KC side.

Originally Posted by htismaqe (Post 15186514)

They played last year's worst team in the league in Week 1. They played the defending SB champions and division rival in week 2.

Suggesting that their energy level was all because of Herbert is just freaking silly.

Originally Posted by Detoxing (Post 15186511)

Of course he thinks Taylor gives him the best chance. It's part of the reason Rivers is gone and why he wanted to bench Rivers last season.

That doesn't make him right.

It's loyal to a fault. You and i both know that that kind of shit runs rampant in the league.

He was NEVER, EVER going to bench Taylor after an injury, the man he appointed to lead this team, the man who he wanted leading this team since last season. And judging by Hard Knocks, the captain and leader of that offense.

He'll bench his ass for poor performance though, especially now after seeing what the rookie can do, his hand will practically be forced.

Ya'll who are remembering Taylor as some competent game manager are thinking back to his Buffalo days....but dudes that was 4-6 years ago.

Lately he's been a freakin' 50% career passer.

I'm telling you right now man, that Chargers offense in week 1 vs week 2 looked like an entirely different animal. And that's with the rookie running a Tyrod game plan.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 15186230)

I think the idea that Mahomes was more of a work in progress has been pretty well established as a farce at this point. Even with the benefit of hindsight, his Broncos game makes it clear that his improvisational and playmaking abilities were simply innate.

But I'm not trying to discuss that sit/start decision at all - it's not germane here at all, IMO.

As for Taylor's performance in Cleveland - look at his career and tell me which season is the outlier. He played poorly in Cleveland but it was also well outside the trend he'd established as a starter the 3 seasons prior. Additionally, you cite the switch to Mayfield as the catalyst for the Browns improved performance, but let's not forget that the Browns went 1-4 w/ Baker Mayfield under center and Hugh Jackson as the HC (and Todd Haley as the OC). It wasn't until Greg Williams and Freddie Kitchens took the reigns that the Browns showed any life.

But a 1-1-1 record w/ Taylor is what kept them out of the playoffs? I think not. Especially not when the tie was to a Steelers team that started the season 7-2-1 and a 13-3 NOLA squad. No, starting Taylor made no impact on that playoff season. And ultimately Baker's lack of forward progress makes you question how much help he actually provided in that late season push to .500 for Cleveland.

Taylor was a good, solid, game-manager of a QB in Buffalo. That's who he'll be in SD. They can make the post-season with that, especially if Taylor acts as a band-aid that allows Herbert to gain a more fundamental understanding of the offense in the process.

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501 (Post 15186539)

I'll disagree on Mahomes. I was not a fan of starting him early. I remember him sailing simple screen passes because of lousy footwork, trying to bowl over defenders or take hard hits instead of getting rid of the ball. Really bad habits I wanted him to be coached out of. I don't know that herbert has those other than learning to play under center.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 15186532)

The Chargers would've had a better record w/ Taylor than Rivers. By a lot.

Lynn is trying to force this team into a particular mold, yes - because that's the talent he HAS. Of course he's trying to build a hard-nosed, defense first identity because that's where most of his talent is.

Why shouldn't he be doing that? He has to win games with his defense and that's damn near impossible w/ someone like Rivers giving opponents the ball with short fields.

Yes, he wants an offense that won't take anything off the table. With that team, in this division, why is that such a stupid thought process? He's trying to put the assets he has to their best use.

And again, if Taylor IS the 50% passer he demonstrated in Cleveland as opposed to the 60% guy he was in Buffalo, Lynn still has the Herbert card to play.

He doesn't have to play it yet and no, Herbert didn't force his hand last week. Herbert COULD have. Make another throw after the throw to Allen to get it into the end zone rather than settle for 3. Run for the first and finish THAT drive instead of throw a pick. Don't !@#$ up the direction on a hand-off inside the 4 yard line on 3rd down.

There are things he could've done to make this choice a lot harder for Lynn. Making one truly good throw and then just otherwise not puking on your shoes (often) doesn't really qualify.

Originally Posted by gold_and_red (Post 15186641)

How much of the debate is because of playing Mahomes close? If the Chargers had lost similarly to a bad divisional rival like the Broncos I wonder if Herbert would receive the same support.

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball (Post 15197601)

Sounds like back 2 back "Rivers" like losses to me

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 15197576)

Chargers lost by 5 to a really mediocre Panthers squad.

Herbert threw another really bad interception in Panthers territory at the end of the 2nd quarter that was returned about 70 yards to set up a FG as time expired on the half. That was a 6 point swing. In a game they lost by 5.

That's EXACTLY the sort of concern that Anthony Lynn has with Herbert, fellas. That's another game where you just don't throw that pick or if you just pick up the dude on the blitz that forced the fumble, you probably win.

50 passes attempted and 16 points to show for it against a rebuilding squad w/ a new coaching staff that had been giving up 33/gm prior to the game.

It's moot since it appears Taylor's not playing again for quite some time, but we saw again why Lynn is nervous about Herbert out there. He's not moving that offense up and down the field and he IS making some pretty brutal mistakes at key times that have arguably cost his team both of the games he's started.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 15197576)

Chargers lost by 5 to a really mediocre Panthers squad.

Herbert threw another really bad interception in Panthers territory at the end of the 2nd quarter that was returned about 70 yards to set up a FG as time expired on the half. That was a 6 point swing. In a game they lost by 5.

That's EXACTLY the sort of concern that Anthony Lynn has with Herbert, fellas. That's another game where you just don't throw that pick or if you just pick up the dude on the blitz that forced the fumble, you probably win.

50 passes attempted and 16 points to show for it against a rebuilding squad w/ a new coaching staff that had been giving up 33/gm prior to the game.

It's moot since it appears Taylor's not playing again for quite some time, but we saw again why Lynn is nervous about Herbert out there. He's not moving that offense up and down the field and he IS making some pretty brutal mistakes at key times that have arguably cost his team both of the games he's started.