Nick Canepa: Jim Harbaugh’s next hire must move Chargers into modern era

Sez Me …

You could hear the heavy hoofbeats of failure coming.

Greg Roman was a knight in shining armor. In football years, a 15th-century knight in dull armor riding an old swayback nag.

Roman was long past his days of coming to the rescue. More like a knight error, bringing a blunt sword to the Clark Street Garage on Saint Valentine’s Day.

I’m sure Roman is a good football man, an expert. But football has become a game of keeping up, of innovation, of adjustments, more than blocking and tackling — attacking, especially when you have the weapons for it, and he has misused his arsenal.

As we have seen from him the past two years as offensive coordinator of the NFL Team That Used To Be Here — you know, the Judases/L.A. Lodgers — he has not always been able to clear paths through The League’s muddled, ever-changing defenses (such as the very good D in his own garage).

It came as no surprise that coach Jim Harbaugh, his old bud, fired Greg (and offensive line coach Mike Devlin) following last Sunday night’s putrid 16-3 playoff defeat at New England.

OK. We’ve been over this. The team was without its two starting offensive tackles — not just regulars, but of Pro Bowl caliber, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. And their replacements weren’t good and the middle three linemen weren’t either — except for occasional moments from guard Zion Johnson.

Center Bradley Bozeman says he was proud of how he played. Guard Mekhi Becton says there were a lot of things in Roman’s system he never got used to. You mean like blocking? They both stunk. The O-line ranked last in the NFL.

You can’t win this way. Except they did — 11 times during the regular season. They made the playoffs, but the playoffs offer up a different video. They couldn’t protect Justin Herbert, even against the Patriots, who did not have a historic pass rush, and Herbert had his worst game as a pro.

His receivers, while not bad, were of no help. I hear they were open quite a bit. I didn’t see it. Neither did the Pats. Neither did the receivers.

Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane said J’s players came up to him afterward and said they had no idea what defense New England was running. This has to mean Roman didn’t know either, or maybe he would have adjusted.

The defense didn’t allow a touchdown in the season finale, at Denver, which was trying. The defense allowed one TD at New England, which was trying.

As daddy always said, “Can’t win if you don’t score.”

Herbert has had four play-callers in six seasons. The Judases need an offensive coordinator who can find ways to score that Woody Hayes didn’t draw up.

What Harbaugh, a quarterback whisperer, supposedly, must avoid is turning Herbert into John Hadl, Dan Fouts and Philip Rivers. A tough, gifted man with no ring. …

Say what you want about Norv Turner — and much can be said — but if he were coordinating the Judases’ offense, Herbert wouldn’t have the bandage market cornered. No coach has been better with protections. …

Jesse Minter is an outstanding defensive coordinator. Can he make it as a head coach? We’ll see. Soon. …

Is it wise to hire a veteran championship coach? Remember, no head coach has won a Super Bowl with two different franchises. Winning one is hard enough. …

The Raiders are searching for a head coach for the sixth time since 2021. The Steelers? Their fourth since 1969. …

Al Davis thought head coaches ran out of gas after 10 years. His son Mark? Ten months. Tops. …

Given the circumstances, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ awkward, desperate, remarkable fourth-quarter pass to Rome Odunze vs. the Packers has to be among the best in playoff history. But remember, Caleb is a magician, and at times he’s not fair. …

Matt LaFleur can coach. Matt LaFleur can’t kick. …

The Steelers and Ravens have a similar problem. Living in the past. The Judases don’t even have that. Their past stinks. …

Saw something the other day saying the J’s were better off when papa Alex Spanos was running the franchise instead of son Dean. Bobby Beathard forced out the old man. Not that he’s been Paul Brown or Al Davis, but Dean was in charge when the team went to the Super Bowl. …

Aaron Rodgers isn’t finished because of his age. He’s done because he’s done. Everybody goes to Tom Brady. There has been only one. …

Saw a film of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase playing craps in Vegas. So? Who cares? They were looking good, but probably lost. …

I can’t even begin to contemplate the number of college football teams that have cheated the system over the years. I won’t start now. If you think Indiana is cheating — a natural thing when weak programs or athletes suddenly strengthen — there is no proof. I have a list of choirs you can preach to. …

Would Indiana be where it is without NIL and the portal? Not a chance in hell. …

College football players now will be able to appear in nine games — instead of the current four — and keep their redshirt year. Great. So you can play nine great games, win the Heisman, and redshirt. …

Miami reportedly offered Ty Simpson $6.5 million in NIL loot to forego the draft and become a Hurricane. The Simpson Thing. I don’t understand it. …

Husan Longstreet, a 5-star quarterback recruit, has gone through the transfer portal to LSU, leaving USC because he doesn’t want to sit behind Jayden Maiava (who turned down the draft and portal) for another season. So now he gets in line behind Sam Leavitt in the Louisiana swamp far from the Hollywood stars. Go figure. …

Lincoln Riley is a quarterbacks coach. If he thought Longstreet better than Maiava, Jayden would be gone. …

Rodgers says the sounds of dolphins (no, not Miami players) making love helps his body heal. So that’s why Aaron has moved into a tent at Sea World. …

Fifty-six percent of the 10,000-plus college football players entering the transfer portal found new teams. The Portal To Nowheresville closed Friday. …

If you want to know what a joke the portal is, Google-up Duke QB Darian Mensah, who entered the portal and will likely transfer to Miami for millions, screwing the Dukies at the 11th hour. He earlier had announced he was staying, so another QB wasn’t pursued. …

Duke won the ACC title and didn’t make the College Football Playoff. Miami, which plays Indiana Monday night for the championship, did, and gets $20 million for itself. Maybe half of that will be used to get Mensah. …

Bakers’ dozens of college basketball players are being accused of point shaving. Gambling, which is feeding and keeping the golden goose afloat, could be sinking sports. …

Know why there won’t be baseball in 2027? One word: Dodgers. …

I don’t know if baseball can survive the Dodgers. They have money and they’ve beaten the system. …

The Bills are selling off urinal troughs from their old stadium. I’m considering getting one. I already have five from Qualcomm, but they’re continuously in use. …

Just found out Harper Lee willed me her Pulitzer.