There are two types of grades to judge the Chargers first year in LA. The front office and the moves they made and the teams performance on the field. I'm going to be as anti bias as possible in my conclusions.
Teams way of leaving San Diego
This could not have possibly have been handled any worse. A statement is all that was left to tell the tale of the teams 56 year history in San Diego. It was meant with anger from fans, mocked by national reporters and a national mantra over sports talk radio defending the fans in San Diego over a greedy and cheap owner took over many airwaves. If asked for my recommendation (at the time I was asked often but not in regards to this) would have been differently.
I would have suggested that no way was this going to be easy. But if handled correctly the transition would be accepted by more and more quickly then the alternative. What Dean decided was seen as cowardice and mean. A bought out airtime explaining that the situation has reached an end and sadly the only conclusion to this with the circumstances being weighed was for the team to relocate and in doing so hope to make the change as easy as possible for the fans in San Diego. I've talked to several fans and it was the way it was handled that hurt the fans the most. The announcement which was made 2 hours before the Mayor State of the City address was deemed at political and took all human element of the decision out of it.
I later learned the team had to go all in 100% in LA without looking back at the San Diego fans. That step would began this off season. It was possible to recruit fans in LA while maintaining the majority of fans in San Diego. This was a disastrous decision by the front office.
The new logo and website should have been released at another date even the next day but not at the same time as the statement of relocation. This was not Dean decision but in trusted by him in others in the front office. The way it was handled resulted in emotions spilling over which led to tension amongst the fans in LA and SD. The NFL sent Roger Goodell to meet with execs of the team so often early in the season not because of the move but because it was mishandled so badly that it resulted in the league having a black eye and became a league embarrassment.
The group Save Our Bolts could have been a benefit to the team in the transition period. However, the team choose to stop dealing with the group as a hole and that was an easy decision again that the team choose not to take advantage of. Whether as a group we would have moved forward and accepted this invite I do not know but I do know as a group we were never consulted and instead certain members that already had relationships with certain members of the front office continued.
What also hurt many ex Chargers and media across the nation was the way the employees about 48 of them I believe that worked some for several decades at the complex were treated as they were making their decision to go to LA or not. People like Georgette at the front desk and Bill Johnston who is beloved by so many behind the scenes. The team never regained their footing in LA as a result of how it was handled leaving San Diego. Things will have to improve as they approach year two in LA and establishing themselves into the community as they have had some success in doing later in the year.
Front Office Grade F
With the players looking for new real estate and the feelings and emotions that go with it along with a new coaching staff. I thought Coach Lynn began with 2 hands tied behind his back. He finished with both hands fighting and his team right behind him on the field. A case of bad luck and lack of focus started the season 0-4. A worst start could not have been envisioned by the anyone to start the LA legacy of the Chargers in LA. Lynn preached united and forward and the team seemed to follow as they ended the season of distraction at 9-7. Although one could argue how good or bad the team "really" was. (They were 1-5 against teams making the playoff in 2017.) The team lost to good teams and beat the bad teams is a fact in 2017 but the mojo behind the team leading up to the losses in KC might have projected them deep into the playoffs if the Chiefs game went another way. The future for this team is brighter than that of the front office in their young and most of the talent is signed through 2018.
Teams Performance B-
With Inglewood inaugural season to began in 2020. A almost certain lockout looming in 2021. The Chargers have regained their footing at least on the field. If the front office follows their footsteps or continues to fumble their way in 2018 all remains to be seen.
CHARGERS OUTLOOK IN 2018 B+
INGLEWOOD JANUARY 2018
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