Embarrassed San Diego Chargers must look ahead

SAN DIEGO -- Looking ahead is what the San Diego Chargers are doing and who can blame them?

"We're putting this behind us," head coach Mike McCoy said on Monday.

Yes, looking forward to the Cleveland Browns (1-2), who are up next and the Chargers can't wait to get to Sunday.

Well, in some ways.

It is clear the Chargers want to return to the field as quickly as possible after Sunday's humiliating loss to the Minnesota Vikings, 31-14. The Chargers were manhandled, perhaps not coincidentally, one week after McCoy called them "soft."

The trip to the Twin Cities didn't produce much good. But the Chargers are only three weeks in, although it's no longer early in this young season.

"Everyone has to do their job better," McCoy said.

He's right on that as the Chargers seem to be giving ground in every area. On the subject of why playing so quickly again might not be a good idea: the team is really beat up.

The offensive line has injuries across the board. What was a huge problem last year - health along the line - has already surfaced.

There's no bigger concern the team has going forward, unless you consider the resulting effect on the quarterback's health.

That quarterback, Philip Rivers, looked like a human pinball, as he ricocheted off one Vikings player after another.

McCoy pulled the trigger on Rivers, yanking him with 10 minutes left in the game. It wasn't because of his play, despite two more turnovers, but because he had been sacked four times. Still, Rivers never wants to leave a practice, let alone a game.

"I took him out." McCoy said, when asked if Rivers tired to talk him out of it. "And I'll make those decisions."

It is not surprising the quarterback was roughed up considering the conditions of the offensive line. Left tackle King Dunlap is concussed and missing time. Center Chris Watt has leg injuries. Right tackle D. J. Fluker has leg injuries.

This area general manager Tom Telesco thought he had addressed in the offseason is quickly unraveling.

The run game was also beefed up to preserve Rivers, but it has not surfaced. The Chargers couldn't rush for 90 yards against the Vikings. First-round pick Melvin Gordon hasn't scored.

The defense isn't winning the early downs, which gives it little hope on passing downs. A pass rush shows one sack in three games, zero in consecutive games.

So it's up to McCoy to fix the Chargers. He and his staff must hurry.

"We were not flat," he said. "We got beat by a good football team."

The Chargers thought they were just that -- a good football team -- to start their third season under McCoy.

But as the season's quarter post nears, progress along any unit is difficult to find.

Maybe a Browns visit can fix what ails this team.

The Chargers hope so.

"We've got a lot to clean up," McCoy said.

REPORT CARD VS. VIKINGS

--PASSING OFFENSE: F. Philip Rivers threw two interceptions -- one returned for a touchdown -- but few can blame him. He was harassed the entire game, only finding safe haven when he was pulled early from the game. He was sacked four times and took numerous other shots. He threw a touchdown pass to Keenan Allen; backup Kellen Clemens got one late to Allen as well. But an area that was supposed to be a team strength was anything but.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: D. Few running lanes and few chances for Melvin Gordon to show his stuff to his idol, Adrian Peterson. No blocking and no room for Gordon or Danny Woodhead as the Bolts don't break the century mark.

--PASS DEFENSE: D. For the second straight game, the Chargers weren't able to record a sack. Pressure on way too few occasions in the pocket. Tackling was an issue in the secondary, although the unit was down both its starting corners. But until the pass rush gets fixed -- paging, Melvin Ingram, please -- the back end doesn't stand a chance.

--RUN DEFENSE: F. Maybe it's a plus that Adrian Peterson didn't rush for 296 yards, like the last time the Chargers were in these parts. But the run defense remained on its heels as it allowed 163 yards, with 126 going to Peterson. The inside linebackers are having a tough time, especially with the front three -- save Corey Liuget on occasion -- being dominated.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: F. Another zero here with coverage units not being steady and a big penalty on a field goal. Melvin Ingram was called for holding so the Vikings took the points on the board and kept alive a drive that resulted in a touchdown. That summed up the day for the Chargers.

--COACHING: F. Something amiss with this team and it's too easy to point to the turnovers. Not only have the Chargers lost two of their first three, but going back to last year, it's five of their past seven. Head coach Mike McCoy seems baffled on how to get the running game going or highlight a passing attack that should be a team strength. The defensive brains have yet to figure out how to generate a pass rush; the run defense looks as leaky as it did last year. The Chargers have had two straight stinkers, and maybe being on the road had something to do with it. But the coaches need to get their heads together, quickly, before this season lasts much longer.