The Chargers offense will have a slightly new look now that Philip Rivers won’t be the one under center anymore.
Even though the unit could benefit from the scheme change, there are certain individual players that need to do well in their roles to help the team succeed.
Whether they had a down year last year or simply have a new job going into the 2020 season, there are four offensive players that need to step up this upcoming year.
QB Tyrod Taylor
Even though the Chargers drafted Justin Herbert in the first-round, I believe that Taylor will be starting the majority, if not, every single game this upcoming season. Taylor will have big shoes to fill after having Rivers man the position for over the past decade. The 30-year old Taylor is not Rivers by any means, but there are a few things going for him that could put him in position to succeed. Taylor is familiar with coach Anthony Lynn’s philosophy, which has always been a run-heavy approach. That leads to his biggest strength, which is his athleticism and ability to win with his legs. As a passer, Taylor is one of the best at not turning the ball over. Taylor should also benefit from the position players around him, as well. Things that could get him in trouble consists of his accuracy and not seeing the middle of the field well, which is why he tends to take the cautious route and limits his chances of being picked off. Everything is tailored for him to succeed, but now it will be a matter of putting it all together to thrive in the starting role with a team that’s capable of contending for the postseason.
OT Sam Tevi
Not only does a new era begin at the quarterback position – it does at the left tackle position after Russell Okung was traded to the Panthers. Rather than signing or drafting one to replace Okung, the team is banking on their in-house options to fill the void. The signing of Bryan Bulaga indicates that the right tackle spot is filled for the next three seasons, which means one of two things for Tevi – he will be a swing tackle or move over to the left side. Recently, offensive coordinator Shane Steichen mentioned Tevi as options at left tackle. Given his experience in the starting role, I believe he is the frontrunner for the job. It won’t be an easy task going from the right side to protecting the blindside, especially after finishing 2019 as the 61st highest graded offensive tackle in 2019, per Pro Football Focus. Since coming into the league, Tevi has fared well in the run-blocking department, but has struggled as a pass protector. The thought process could be that since the offense is shifting to having a mobile quarterback, it could mask the deficiencies with Tevi’s game. They could be hoping that the hiring of Campen will help with it, too. Nonetheless, if Tevi is indeed the starting left tackle, he will have to do a lot better job than his previous seasons.
OT Trey Pipkins
There’s no guarantee that Tevi has the starting job locked up. Instead, I expect it to be a tight competition between him and Pipkins. Selected in the third-round of the 2019 NFL draft, it wasn’t expected that he would see the field in his rookie season. However, Pipkins was forced into the action when Okung was sidelined. In the games he played, he did experience some growing pains, but he also flashed as a solid blindside blocker, especially against some stiff competition like the Chiefs. Campen said he’s watched tape on Pipkins dating back training camp last summer. “He’s a very intelligent young man. He gets what you’re asking him to do. I think he has a lot of potential.” There is a plan in place for Pipkins, but he will have to still take the necessary steps on his own to succeed, which include getting stronger and developing his technique, particularly with his hands. Like Tevi, Pipkins should benefit from a zone scheme, where his athleticism is put to good use.
RB Justin Jackson
Melvin Gordon is no longer a Charger, which leads to the opportunity for someone in the backfield to take on a larger role. Joshua Kelley was drafted in the fourth-round to fill out the backfield, but the ball is in Jackson’s court as he has two years of experience with the team. In 20 games played, Jackson averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 79 touches. Jackson was held back by an injury, limiting him to just seven games in 2019. Entering his third campaign, the team is still “very high” on Jackson despite the durability concerns. With the offense expected to shift to a run-heavy approach, Jackson needs to take a leap. If he can stay healthy, the former Northwestern product can be dangerous.