At his introductory news conference last year, Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh was asked about his vision for the offensive system and quarterback Justin Herbert.
"First of all, the quarterback that we have, protect him, protect his environment on the field," Harbaugh replied. "I sometimes tell other players, it's not that I love the quarterback more than anybody else on the team. I love all the players on the team like beloved sons. But the quarterback, he does touch the ball every single play, and that person, that's somebody that we got to protect."
The entire organization, from the top down, was aligned in this priority. Five days later, general manager Joe Hortiz said when he was introduced that he wanted to build a "strong, physical, tough" team and a "great offensive line." Later that month, offensive coordinator Greg Roman said his goal was to form a "strong, powerful identity." He added that "the quarterback can't do everything on his own" and has "got to get protection." In April, tight ends coach and run game coordinator Andy Bischoff said the Chargers had created an "O-line-centric building."
"Some people don't value offensive linemen," Bischoff said. "We do."
There were no questions about what brand of offense Harbaugh wanted. And that is what made the Chargers' wild-card round loss to the Houston Texans so jarring. The Texans defense dominated the Chargers at the line of scrimmage. Run game, pass game, it did not matter. The Chargers were overmatched. They did not bring the requisite physicality to handle the Texans' various front players, from edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter to interior defensive linemen Denico Autry and Mario Edwards Jr.
Herbert was pressured on 52.8 percent of his dropbacks, according to TruMedia. The Texans finished with 25 individual pressures. Anderson had six. Hunter had five. Autry and Edwards had four apiece. The Chargers lost pass protection battles in every conceivable way.
They were blown back in one-on-one situations, sometimes in lopsided fashion, like when Autry planted right guard Jamaree Salyer on his backside with a bull rush late in the first half. The Chargers struggled to identify and pick up stunts and twists, an issue that plagued the group all season.
On one play in the fourth quarter, the Texans rushed four players without any schematic wrinkles. The Chargers had six blockers in protection, including running back J.K. Dobbins. Edwards rushed directly up the middle between center Bradley Bozeman and guard Zion Johnson. He was untouched and teed off on Herbert. Bozeman and Johnson were both left blocking nobody.
In the run game, the Chargers rushed for just 50 yards on 18 designed carries, and their minus-0.32 expected points added per designed rush was their lowest rate in any game this season. The Chargers run blockers, including offensive linemen and tight ends, lost repeatedly at the point of attack.
Herbert played poorly. But it is impossible to assess what happened in Houston without acknowledging the offensive line play.
It was so far removed from the vision the Chargers explicitly laid out in the offseason. In April, tight end Hayden Hurst said, "That's the mantra of this place: We're going to be physical, we're going to come at you. When you see us pop up on the schedule, it's going to be a long Sunday." In the biggest game of the season, it was the Chargers who had the long day. Not the Texans.
How this game unfolded now sets up an interesting offseason.
The Chargers must add receiving weapons. That is very clear. Rookie Ladd McConkey is a star, but he is the only pass-catching matchup advantage the Chargers have.
The Chargers struggled against man coverage all season, and that is not a coincidence. Outside of McConkey, their pass catchers couldn't create consistent separation against these looks. Herbert finished with the lowest EPA per dropback against man coverage of his career, according to TruMedia. He ranked 21st among passer rating-qualified quarterbacks in that metric.
In the loss to the Texans, Herbert went 3-for-11 for 47 yards and an interception against man coverage, according to TruMedia. He was also sacked once. The Texans played man on five of Herbert's eight third-down dropbacks. Herbert did not complete a single pass on those snaps.
Receiver is a need. So is a pass-catching tight end. Will Dissly had two massive drops in the game, including one that led to an interception. In Dane Brugler's two-round mock draft that published earlier this week, The Athletic's draft expert had the Chargers taking Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the 22nd pick. The fit makes sense, especially considering Loveland played for Harbaugh at Michigan.
Still, it is hard to believe Harbaugh and Hortiz watched the tape from the Texans game and came away satisfied or comfortable with the state of their offensive line. Weaknesses are exposed in the playoffs. The Chargers had a weakness on the interior of their offensive line all season, and the Texans exposed it overwhelmingly.
Rookie right tackle Joe Alt also had his worst game of the season in Houston. Left tackle Rashawn Slater, who tweaked his knee during pregame in Week 18 and was battling an illness, had a down game. But both of those tackles are capable players. The Chargers really need to upgrade on the interior.
Right guard Trey Pipkins III missed the Texans game. He battled numerous injuries late in the season, including a hip issue and an oblique issue. Those became too much to play through. Salyer replaced him. The Chargers were already considering a rotation between Salyer and Pipkins at right guard before Pipkins' oblique injury ended his season. Salyer was not up for the challenge in Houston.
Bozeman led the Chargers in offensive snaps this season, but he is not the long-term answer in the middle of the line. Johnson has not lived up to his draft slot of the 17th pick, and it is not clear he ever well. His flashes are elite. But he lacks consistency. His lack of awareness is alarming at times.
The Chargers will be linked to offensive weapons through the pre-draft process. Harbaugh, though, said it himself after the Chargers drafted Alt with the fifth pick last spring: "Offensive linemen, we look at as weapons."
Don't be surprised if the Chargers use their premium capital -- in the draft and in free agency -- to continue building the offensive line. They have stated their vision.
"Let's make everyone around Justin better," Hortiz said this week at his and Harbaugh's joint end-of-season news conference, "and Justin's going to keep getting better himself."
The Texans game will likely inform their roster-building heading into Year 2 -- even if Hortiz and Harbaugh would not admit it this week.
"You can't make a snap judgment on any one situation," Hortiz said.
Harbaugh added that he thought the offensive line "improved in every area."
But Roman said it best earlier in the season.
"Everything is on the film," he said in December. "All the answers are there."
The offensive line film from Houston was ugly.
The Chargers want to have a dominant offensive line.
Within that disconnect is the answer for how they will likely approach this offseason.
"Nobody does more for this organization than Justin Herbert," Harbaugh said. "At all times, we are inspired to do anything and everything we can to put him in good positions."