How Jim Harbaugh wants Chargers backup QB to 'tighten up' after two-turnover game

The Los Angeles Chargers are 0-2 this preseason and have recorded zero touchdowns. The Chargers lost 16-3 to the Seattle Seahawks in the opener and 13-9 to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. 

Part of the Chargers' offensive struggles coincides with the output of their quarterbacks. Easton Stick has been the starter this preseason with QB1 Justin Herbert recovering from a plantar fascia injury in his right foot that occurred over two weeks ago.

Stick was 8-of-13 for 85 yards with an interception and also fumbled a snap with the Chargers just a yard away from a touchdown. Stick's ball-security woes occurred in Week 1 as well, where he was 5-of-13 for 31 yards and an interception. 

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said Stick will start the final preseason game next Saturday versus the Dallas Cowboys. However, Harbaugh wants progress to be made and no longer delayed. 

"We're not gonna lighten up, we're gonna tighten up," Harbaugh said. "I'd like to see another week of improvement from Easton that I saw this week." 

Harbaugh felt the Chargers offense moved the ball better against the Rams, but also knows the team must score more points. 

"Points per possession. That's the major stat," Harbaugh said. "We get it all the way down to the one, we fumble the snap, or turnover in the red zone, those are the kinds of things you just can't do. We gotta control the controllables."

Stick's now in his fifth NFL season and has an 0-4 record as a starting quarterback. If he is to remain the backup to Justin Herbert, it'll be imperative for him to take care of the football next week and generate touchdown drives.

"If you're the quarterback you can't throw interceptions in the red zone or fumble snaps. He knows that," Harbaugh said. "Expect that to be front of mind at all times with the quarterbacks."

While Stick played the entire first half, it was Luis Perez who handled QB duties the entire second half, going 13-of-20 for 78 yards while also losing a fumble. 

This isn't the start of the preseason that the Chargers wanted offensively, but all that matters is they correct miscues and make improvements before their season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders. 

"We've got to get out of our own way a little bit and obviously it starts with me being cleaner," Stick said.