Nick Canepa’s report card: O-line issues mar Chargers’ win over lowly Titans

Nick Canepa grades the Chargers following Sunday’s 27-20 win over the Titans in Nashville:

Quarterbacks: B-

Justin Herbert, maybe looking for fish in a barrel,  threw an awful pick-six on his second pass. Children’s stuff against the NFL’s worst team. The second (scoring) drive, he was splendid. But his line had him in the pressure cooker. He was sacked immediately after Joe Alt’s injury. Had a 30-yard run, later a sliding TD after leading a 99-yard drive. Herbert was sacked a ridiculous six times by a defense that had 16 coming in. He invented the Power Surge, which works.

Running backs: NF (No Factor)

Massive fullback Scott Matlock caught the first 2-yard touchdown. Kimani Vidal had little room. Jaret Patterson found some holes Vidal didn’t. Herbert was by far the most effective runner.

Receivers: B

Oronde Gadsden II is becoming one of the game’s most dangerous tight ends; his 34-yard catch set up the first score. Ladd McConkey got open plenty and made plays. Quentin Johnston, shut out last week, caught the first pass, and later made a great catch in the end zone on a perfect Herbert pass, then another on a terrific pass. Tre Harris, who has size and skills, is coming on. He made a great effort to get a late first down. Keenan Allen had catches that mattered.

Offensive line: Incomplete

Lost both starting tackles, including left tackle Joe Alt, who is No. 1 in The League in fewest pressures allowed per game on the quarterback. Alt got rolled up on late in the second quarter and left on a cart. Nightmare. So you figure out how the rest of the line is doing. Right tackle Bobby Hart was hurt late in the first quarter, when Herbert was pressured and sacked on two straight plays.

Defensive line: B

The defense was gashed on the ground early on, then settled down. Teair Tart had a dumb unsportsmanlike penalty. The D didn’t allow a touchdown.

Linebackers: B+

Khalil Mack applied pressure on the first play. Troy Dye and Daiyan Henley made their presence felt. Denzel Perryman dropped an easy pick, which is easy for linebackers to do. Odofe Oweh had back-to-back sacks.

Secondary: B+

Starting corner Tarheeb Still and backup safety Tony Jefferson were out, chatting with the school nurse. Derwin James’ ankle didn’t seem to affect him one bit. A terrific player. Everybody in Nashville got lost on a 30-yard pass. Elijah Molden was huge on the subsequent goal-line stand.

Special teams: F

Allowed a 67-yard punt return for a score, which means an automatic “F.” Cameron Dicker The Kicker had a 27-yard field goal, then had a kickoff go out of bounds, leading to a field goal, then a 52-yarder. When he had to, JK Scott punted well.

Coaching: A-

Jim Harbaugh has performed some miracles in his time, but to make the playoffs with this offensive line will require bakers dozens of loaves and fishes and walking on water. You can’t put a weight on the loss of Alt.

Next opportunity — vs. Steelers: D

This is a Sunday night game, and Pittsburgh defenders will be waving their Terrible Towels after watching film of this offensive line.