Nick Canepa: Chargers’ O-line a concern despite terrific start

Sez Me …

Now playing to rave reviews, the NFL Team That Used To Be Here — you know, the Judases/L.A. Lodgers — has opened a superstore on Rodeo Drive. And although I can afford to go in and buy there, I’m just window-shopping.

For now.

The Judases, as was their namesake, are a cautionary tale.

Coach Jim Harbaugh, “The Great Resurrector/Potentate of Hyperbole,” has done what he always has done —  his thing, win, and in this case, trying his best to erase “Chargering” from the whiteboard.

His Judases are 3-0 — three division wins, which is important — as they prepare to meet the Giants on Sunday in New Jersey, and that’s terrific. But all were difficult, and I wasn’t overly impressed with their performance last week at their L.A. rental vs. Denver.

The Broncos’ offense is neither very good nor dangerous, and yet the Judases’ much-improved defense got away with some bad lapses on deep passes. They easily could have lost that game, but they didn’t, coming from behind to win. So there’s a Harbaugh difference.

My biggest concern is the depleted offensive line, which was stand-up through the first two games, but awful vs. Denver’s fine defense.

Justin Herbert, up there now among MVP favorites, was pressured an astonishing 29 times, hit 14 (the most times one of their QBs has been hit in 20 years) and was fortunate to be sacked just five times.

Herbert is terrific, but this team isn’t going to do much if he’s horizontal. The loss of left tackle Rashawn Slater for the season was huge. Guard Mekhi Becton missed time vs. Denver with a concussion, and now he’s out vs. New York (and center Bradley Bozeman is questionable). Left tackle Joe Alt, who had been superb, is coming off his worst game as a pro.

This is what The League has to worry about, and why mobile QBs have become the vogue. Joe Burrow, as good as anybody, is already lost for the year.

Good offensive linemen have become similar to common sense. Not nearly enough to go around.

I see a day sometime soon when the NFL changes O-line holding rules to “Grab Whatever You Can” to protect the QB.

Clearly, it’s coming down to this: Offensive linemen must serve as the banks that protect NFL money, which is the quarterback. Without a good O-line, you can’t win.

And this team, promising as it is, won’t be contending with the one that played last week. Harbaugh or no Harbaugh.

Can the Padres beat the Cubs without Chicago’s best pitcher? Of course. Will they? MLB schedule-makers went into the Pads’ suite, turned down the bed, left chocolate on their pillow, Dom Perignon champagne on the table, and they still couldn’t overtake the Dodgers, who were at their most vulnerable in years. They should have won the NL West by five games. …

And, still, they have a chance. After all, it is, remember, baseball. …

At least Fernando is warming. …

According to the Umpire Auditor (I swear, some people can’t find better things to do), home plate umpires missed 1,025 calls last weekend. Umps have made baseball a hard watch for me. The ghost runner doesn’t help. …

What good will two challenges next year on balls and strikes do? You can’t have 1,025 of them. Waste. …

NFL special teams coordinators have found a way to stop the rash of 90-yard field goals. Block them. …

It’s bad enough prima donna receivers drop passes with those Gorilla Glue gloves, but why is it they can’t run routes past the first down sticks? Elementary, my dear Lombardi. Genius coaches have to teach. …

The worst is how they get away with offensive pass interference. The Rams’ Davante Adams’ shove to shake an Eagles’ defender was far too obvious for the zebras to call. As was A.J. Brown’s in the same game (which was worse). …

I’m not going to be surprised if Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola becomes the best QB in this college class. …

The Eagles’ first two tush pushes? Two false starts not called. And officials were instructed to watch closely. Sure. …

Officials in every sport do not like to be told what to do. They are invincible. …

System quarterbacks. Every quarterback is a system quarterback. Except those on teams without systems. …

Baltimore again has the best defense in history. Last in the NFL. Detroit gobbled its crab cakes. …

Don’t ask the Rams’ Sean “Nikola Tesla” McVay the time. Just stupid clock management at the end of the half vs. the Eagles, who were playing like finches. You’re doing a John Wayne on the champs in their corral. Jugular, coach. Probably cost you a win. .…

McVay coached a bad game and Matthew Stafford wasn’t good. Jalen Hurts wins. …

Athletes don’t always win in the Big 10. USC got bullied at Illinois. And outcoached. Lincoln Riley’s defense couldn’t stop the Illini (who stopped themselves), and everyone but him knew he scored too soon. …

Ryan Day has to take the cuffs off of Julian Sayin. Mistake. Kid can sling it. …

Know why I’m not a football coach? Because if I had a great player, I’d use him. Decoys rarely make great plays. …

Saquon Barkley calling Tiger Woods asking for advice on how to retain excellence from year to year was a waste of a dime. Tiger didn’t have to rely on a team to remain great. …

After watching an emotional scene from “Schindler’s List” (was there one that wasn’t?), John Williams told director Stephen Spielberg, “You need another composer.” Spielberg’s reply: “I know, but they’re all dead.” …

For two straight weeks, Andy Reid and Travis Kelce have had it out on the sideline (even bumping one another). Seems Travis hasn’t been himself, his mind being elsewhere since Taylor Swift demanded he get involved with the wedding registry. …

Pernicano’s Ristorante in Scripps Ranch, a reminder of George Pernicano’s iconic Casa Di Baffi, was closed for good Friday by his son, Larry, who opened it in 1976 and followed his father’s great menu (oh, the pepper chicken). George, forever a part (and charter) owner of the NFL Team That Used To Be Here, was an original, my friend, who loved family, food, drink, and conversation. …

RIP, Claudia Cardinale. One of the all-time beauties of film, with acting chops. A big screen presence. …

Up to Thursday, the top 18-ranked programs on TV since the start of the season were NFL games/NFL-related shows. Gamblers have become showrunners. …

I don’t think running backs get “skinny.” I just think they don’t get tackled. …

I’ve decided that from now on, for sound medical advice, I’m no longer going to doctors, the brilliant experts with dozens of years of schooling and study who have saved me more than once, but to a politician. Perhaps Ribbon Cutter Mayor, who is precise with sharp objects. …

I get no jingoistic goosebumps from the Ryder Cup. Maybe it’s because I don’t see Europe as an enemy. …

My daughter-in-law looked into buying a puppy. Passed on the $5,500 tag. Of course, it was Lassie. …

Oh, and if you’re looking into a good mattress, get a second job.