After turning the Rams into the NFL’s best defense in just one season, there were expectations that Brandon Staley would have similar results with the Chargers. However, that ended up not being the case.
Los Angeles ended up having one of the worst defenses in the NFL. The team finished 29th in points allowed (27.0), last on third-down (49.54%), 30th against the run (138.9 YPG), and 26th in the red zone (64.18%).
“It just didn’t come along as quickly enough, on defense, as I thought it would,” Tom Telesco said. “We had a lot of stretches this year that the players that are out there did some pretty good things, but we weren’t consistent enough by any means.”
Last offseason’s primary focus was to bring in pieces to put around Justin Herbert. That paid off as the Chargers possessed a top-5 offense. However, neglecting the defensive side of the ball with the exception of Asante Samuel Jr. and Kyler Fackrell ended up hurting them.
Despite having cornerstone pieces with Derwin James, Joey Bosa and Kyzir White, the starters weren’t consistent and the team was forced to rely on its depth down the stretch due to COVID-19 and injuries, which ended up being exploited in games that should have been gimmes, like against the Texans.
The Chargers enter this offseason with five defensive starters set to hit the free agency market – White, Uchenna Nwosu, Chris Harris Jr., Linval Joseph and Justin Jones.
With Telesco’s philosophy being drafting, developing and signing their own, White, Nwosu and Jones all earned the right to be brought back. Only time will tell if the coaches and front office view it that way.
One thing is certain and that’s Telesco and company must use a good chunk of their salary cap space and draft picks to bring in instant contributors along the defensive line, a starting cornerback, and depth at the second and third levels to turn things around next season.
“Some of it is alignment, assignment, and technique. Some of it is personnel, and some of it is just being in the first year of the defense.”