The Los Angeles Chargers’ offense has been under the microscope all season, and a recent quote from offensive coordinator Greg Roman has only added fuel to the fire. NFL scheme analyst Ted Nguyen weighed in on Roman’s approach to the passing game, shedding light on a philosophy that’s long puzzled fans and analysts alike. And now, it turns out, those puzzling elements aren’t by accident-they’re by design.
Roman, speaking with The Athletic, explained that what might look like poor route spacing to the average viewer is actually part of a nuanced strategy. According to Roman, when two receivers appear to be running routes too close together, one of them is often acting as a “shield” to protect the other from a defender. The goal isn’t necessarily to throw to that player-it’s to use him as a buffer.
That concept might work in a vacuum, but Nguyen’s reaction was telling. He pointed out that this very issue-tight, awkward route spacing-has been a defining feature of Roman’s passing offenses for years.
The problem? It’s not a bug.
It’s a feature.
Nguyen noted that Roman’s passing game mirrors his run-game philosophy. In the run game, congestion and physicality are part of the plan.
But in the passing game, where spacing and timing are everything, that same philosophy can become a liability. Defenses aren’t just reacting-they’re anticipating.
The Numbers Tell the Story
From 2022 to 2025, the Chargers’ passing efficiency has taken a noticeable dip under Roman’s system. The pass rate has dropped from 64.9% to 55.96%, while the completion percentage slid from 67.17% to 62.75%.
Perhaps most telling: the offense’s EPA (expected points added) per pass play shifted from a modestly positive +0.018 to a negative -0.031. That’s a clear indicator that the scheme isn’t just stalling-it’s actively hurting the offense’s ability to generate points.
And while Justin Herbert continues to post strong individual numbers-28 touchdown passes this season-those stats don’t tell the full story. The Chargers are struggling when it matters most.
They’re converting just 35.5% of their third downs and rank below 24% in red-zone efficiency. That’s not just inefficient-it’s unsustainable for a team with playoff aspirations.
Personnel Problems and Injury Woes
To be fair, Roman hasn’t exactly had a full deck. Injuries to key offensive linemen like Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater have forced the Chargers to shuffle protections, and free-agent pickups like Mekhi Becton haven’t delivered as hoped.
In some games, the offense has operated as if it had a healthy, fully functional line-most notably in a lopsided 35-6 loss to Jacksonville. The result?
Protection breakdowns, stalled drives, and a quarterback forced to work within a shrinking pocket.
Yet even when the personnel is relatively healthy, the scheme continues to lean heavily on short passes. Over 66% of Herbert’s attempts this season have been under 10 yards.
That’s a staggering figure for a quarterback with a cannon arm and elite downfield accuracy. The deep ball is still in the holster, and defenses are starting to notice.
A System Out of Step with the Modern Game
Nguyen’s analysis cuts to the core of the issue: Roman’s system treats the passing game like an extension of the run game. That might sound innovative, but in practice, it often results in predictable concepts that today’s defenses are well-equipped to handle. In an era where spacing, timing, and vertical threats define the best offenses, Roman’s approach feels like it’s stuck in a different time.
Sure, there are moments when the design can produce a creative play or spring a receiver free. But over the course of a full season, the predictability and spacing issues tend to catch up.
Defenses adjust. Windows shrink.
Drives stall.
And that brings us back to Herbert. One of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the league is being asked to operate inside a system that doesn’t fully leverage his strengths.
He’s still producing, but the offense isn’t thriving. That disconnect is becoming harder to ignore.
What Comes Next?
With the Chargers still in the playoff hunt and the margin for error shrinking, Roman’s scheme-and his ability to adapt-will remain a major storyline down the stretch. The injuries are real, the personnel issues are legitimate, but the core philosophy of the offense is what’s under the brightest spotlight.
If Roman can evolve-if he can open up the spacing, lean into Herbert’s strengths, and modernize the passing concepts-there’s still time to turn things around. But if the current trends continue, the Chargers risk wasting another season of elite quarterback play in a system that’s simply not built for today’s NFL.