Tag: 2020 Chargers season

4 Chargers players worthy of a 10-year contract

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out four players who are worthy of signing to a 10-year deal.

The Chargers’ AFC West rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, locked up their star quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a whopping 10-year contract extension worth nearly half a billion dollars earlier this week.

Mahomes has established himself as one of the best players in the NFL in a short period of time, and the team knew that they could have success with him for a handful of years to come.

There probably isn’t another player in the league at the moment that will get a contract that looks like that because it’s a very rare occasion, as there’s been only five other players in NFL history to get a deal of 10 years or more.

Nonetheless, let’s have some fun and lay out four members of the Chargers who have solidified themselves worthy of keeping around for the next decade.

RB Austin Ekeler

Ekeler received a $5,000 signing bonus as an undrafted free agent and far outplayed his minimum contract. This offseason, the Chargers inked Ekeler to a well-deserved four-year extension.

Running backs are replaceable, right? Well, Ekeler is more than a running back. He is an offensive play-maker. Give him the ball on the ground, and he will produce. Distribute the wealth to him through the air, and he will produce.

Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey is the best pass-catching back, but Ekeler has shown that he might be the second best. In 2019, Ekeler finished with 92 catches for 993 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

At age 25, the best has yet to come for the former Western Colorado product.

EDGE Joey Bosa

Bosa has already played his way into a monstrous contract, which could be the largest for a player at his position either before or after the 2020 season.

A dominant force at wreaking havoc in opposing backfields, Bosa has 40 sacks in 51 career games, which makes him the 10th player since 1982 to total 40 or more sacks in his first 50 games. He has recorded 10-plus sacks in three of his four pro seasons thus far.

The former Ohio State product has been a difference-maker on the defensive side of the ball for Los Angeles, and at age 24, he has yet to reach his prime. There aren’t many players that are on or will likely reach his level.

WR Keenan Allen

After being hampered by injuries near the beginning of his professional career, Allen has flourished against opposing secondaries, finishing this past season with his third consecutive 1,000-yard season en route to Pro Bowl honors.

There have been a handful of young receivers that have proven themselves throughout the years, but there aren’t many that have the skillset that Allen does. The 28-year old is king at route-running and getting separation, which doesn’t come around that often with players at his position.

Allen is heading into the final year of his contract, and he will be sure to be at the top of the Chargers’ priority list, as they look to lock up one of the key pieces to their offense.

S Derwin James

James is a rare breed.

Listed as the top safety from that draft, James has lived up to his expectations and much more in just two seasons. The do-it-all defender has thrived as a safety, slot corner, linebacker, and even as a pass rusher off the edge.

James played in the Pro Bowl and was voted first-team All-Pro in 2018. And while he didn’t see the field much in 2019 due to a foot injury sustained prior to the season, his impact was felt upon returning to the starting lineup.

In 21 games played and started, James has posted 139 tackles (98 solo), 14 passes defensed, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and three interceptions.

These are the type of players that don’t come around that often.

Pro Football Focus lays out best, worst case scenario for Chargers in 2020

If everything goes in their favor, what will the Los Angeles Chargers’ record look like in 2020?

The Chargers are hoping for a different outcome in 2020 after finishing with a 5-11 record and last place in the AFC West in 2019.

After breaking down each game, I believe that Los Angeles is capable of going 9-7 this upcoming season. But what do other media outlets believe they’re going to do?

Pro Football Focus is the latest to make their predictions, and they listed the best and worst case scenarios for each team by using their analytics system. For L.A., their best case scenario is finishing with a 9-7 record.

This defense stifles opposing offenses, and Taylor looks more like the guy who had success with the Buffalo Bills than the one we last saw in Cleveland. This is no doubt one of the more talented secondaries in the NFL. Getting back a healthy Derwin James and Nasir Adderley and adding a talent like Chris Harris Jr. does wonders for a group that allows very little through the air. Meanwhile, Taylor’s ability to improvise via the scramble helps assuage some of the offensive line concerns. His care with the football — just 34 turnover-worthy plays during his three-year stretch as a starter with Buffalo — is a welcome addition after Rivers’ carelessness in 2019 (32 turnover-worthy plays), as well.

If everything doesn’t go to plan, PFF believes that the Chargers could finish worse than they did last year, listing their worst case scenario with a 4-12 record.

Tyrod Taylor opens the season with a few poor performances — just as he did in Cleveland in 2018 — and the calls for Justin Herbert begin. Relying on Herbert as the starter this season could lead things to go off the rails quickly, particularly with the questions surrounding the left side of the Chargers’ offensive line.

In terms of PFF wins above average, Herbert’s 2019 season with Oregon ranks 18th among 20 first-round quarterbacks taken since 2015. He beat out only Jordan Love and Josh Allen. The college-to-pro projections developed by PFF’s research and development team weren’t overly favorable to Herbert, either. He may develop into a solid quarterback given time, but it seems unlikely that will be the case if he’s called upon early as a rookie.

PFF has similar views as I do when it comes to what is ultimately going to determine how Los Angeles’ season shakes up. Health of key players, quarterback and offensive line play, and third-down defense will be crucial if they wish to have success.

It will be difficult to fend off the Chiefs for the division title, but if everything goes in their favor, the Bolts are more than capable of making the playoffs, especially with their being another postseason spot added starting this season.

QB Tyrod Taylor working out in new Chargers helmet

The Los Angeles Chargers are going to have the freshest uniforms in the NFL.

The Chargers broke the internet when they released their new uniforms earlier this offseason.

It won’t be long until we see Los Angeles suit up in them, with the regular season slated to start as scheduled despite the coronavirus outbreak.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor gave a small preview of what to expect with their new threads, as he was spotted working out in their new helmets.

Check it out:

Third down defense needs to be point of emphasis for Chargers in 2020

The Los Angeles Chargers have a talented defense, but they need to be better on third down.

While the Chargers finished with a top-10 defense in 2019, they struggled to stop opposing offenses on third-down situations and in the red zone on crucial possession downs, ranking 29th and 30th in the league, respectively.

A big reason why Los Angeles was unable to get off the field in those situations was because of the lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks and conservative coverage.

L.A. finished 26th in quarterback pressures with 125. The number doesn’t come as a surprise as the unit blitzed only 75 times, which ranked last in the league.

However, it’s inexcusable when the Chargers have arguably the best pass-rushing duo with defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.

Gus Bradley’s scheme from previous seasons, a Cover 3 system that involves a lot of zone coverage, forced them to play conservative and did not allow many opportunities to attack downhill.

To ensure they have more success on third downs moving forward, Bradley is going to incorporate more split safeties and tighter coverage, which could lead to more takeaways.

This offseason, the Chargers brought in more personnel to help, signing cornerback Chris Harris Jr. to add to the room that consists of Casey Hayward, Michael Davis and Desmond King. They also signed defensive tackle Linval Joseph and drafted linebacker Kenneth Murray.

Having safety Derwin James for a full 16-game slate will also be beneficial. James made a major impact on third-down situations in his rookie season. Unfortunately, he was limited to a few games in 2019 due to a foot injury.

The team is hopeful that defensive tackle Jerry Tillery takes a step forward after an underwhelming rookie campaign. Drafted for his ability to get after the quarterback, Tillery is working hard this offseason to improve his game.

The bottom line is that more pressure and different coverage alignments will hopefully be the solution to improving Los Angeles’ third-down defense in 2020.

Where did Chargers’ AFC West rivals improve the most in offseason?

The Chargers, Broncos and Raiders look to keep pace with the Chiefs in 2020.

The AFC West is one of the more polarizing divisions in the NFL as there appears to be a slew of headlines from each team on a consistent basis, and it contains the reigning Super Bowl champions – Kansas City Chiefs.

In order to keep up with the Chiefs, the Broncos, Raiders and Chargers had to do some retooling to their roster this offseason. Where did each team improve the most with the hopes of keeping up?

Let’s take a look.

Chiefs: Backfield

Kansas City’s offense was among the league’s best, where they averaged nearly 30 points per game. However, the majority of their points came through the air, as quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his pass-catching weapons carried the majority of the load. On the other hand, the running back group wasn’t much of a help, averaging only 101.5 yards per game on the ground, which ranked No. 22 in the league. That area should improve drastically with the arrival rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who was the team’s first-round pick (No. 28 overall). Edwards-Helaire joins Damien Williams and Darwin Thompson, but the former LSU product will likely become the workhorse back.

Broncos: Wide receiver

In 2019, the Broncos boasted a top-10 defense, only allowing 19.8 points per game. On the other side of the ball, however, there wasn’t much of a compliment. As Denver transitioned from Joe Flacco to Drew Lock, they were near the bottom of the league in points per game scored with 17.8. General manager John Elway figured in order to fix their offensive woes he would go out and get Lock some more weapons, which is exactly what he did. In the draft, the Broncos selected Jerry Jeudy, who was pegged as one of the top offensive players to many, in the first-round. The work didn’t stop there, as they drafted K.J. Hamler in the second-round. The route-running savvy from Jeudy and speed from Hamler makes out to be a deadly combination to go alongside the ascending Courtland Sutton.

Raiders: Back seven

Oakland had a fine run defense last season, giving up only 98.1 yards per game on the ground. But to ensure that their production remained at a high level in that area they went out and signed linebackers Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkowski, both of whom were tabbed as some of the best at their perspective position in free agency. Their pass defense, on the other hand, was among the league’s worst as they gave up the fifth-most passing yards per game in 2019. General manager Mike Mayock addressed their glaring need to shore up the unit with the signings of veterans Prince Amukamara and Damarious Randall in free agency. In the draft, they selected Damon Arnette in the first-round and Amik Robertson in the fourth-round. Arnette and Robertson should be major contributors in their rookie seasons.

Who is the Chargers’ biggest X-factor in 2020?

The Chargers’ success in 2020 could be determined by the quarterback play.

Arguably the biggest question heading into the upcoming season for the Chargers lies at the quarterback spot.

Many are wondering if positive results will come from the position after having the luxury of Philip Rivers being the starting under center for 14 seasons.

Tyrod Taylor and rookie Justin Herbert take over. However, all eyes are on Taylor, who is the signal-caller expected to have the keys to the offense to start the 2020 season.

The way that Taylor performs this year will have a significant impact on the team’s results. For that reason, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox named him Los Angeles’ biggest X-factor.

The Chargers had better hope to get more out of Taylor than the Browns because rookie quarterback Justin Herbert is not a pro-ready prospect. He has as much potential as any quarterback taken in April’s draft, but he’ll need time to adapt to the nuances of being an NFL signal-caller.

“His inconsistency can be maddening, and his decision-making must improve, but you can’t doubt his talent,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. wrote of Herbert in January.

The Chargers need Herbert on the sideline for most or all of the 2020 season. Taylor was a Pro Bowler in 2015 and led the Bills to the playoffs two years later. If he can play at that level, Los Angeles has a talented enough roster to make a serious run at the postseason.

Despite having an offense which features a handful of the league’s top skill players, there’s no guarantee for offensive success if the quarterback play is not up to par.

While Taylor has the athleticism to beat defenses with his legs – which is a plus since the offense will become more run-heavy – there is still some questions surrounding his ability as passer.

Even though he doesn’t throw a lot of interceptions, Taylor struggles with accuracy and seeing the middle of the field well, which is where key players in tight end Hunter Henry and wide receiver Keenan Allen shine.

If Taylor struggles then the Chargers will likely have to lean on Herbert. Herbert is viewed as the hopeful long-term answer, but there’s no guarantee that he will be able to succeed in his rookie season.

With that being said, how Taylor does could either make or break Los Angeles’ season in 2020.

6 Chargers who could be key reserves in 2020

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lists six players who could be key reserves in the upcoming season.

The Chargers have one of the most talented rosters from top to bottom, which will make it quite difficult for some players to see the field as frequently.

With that being said, here are six Chargers players who could be key reserves this upcoming season:

LB Uchenna Nwosu

Since entering the league in 2018, Nwosu has primarily backed up Melvin Ingram at LEO, getting snaps when Ingram would come off the field, which has not been very often. However, the former USC product has made his presence known on a consistent basis in the limited capacity. In two seasons, Nwosu has totaled 59 tackles, 17 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Even though the 23-year old has only played a role as a rotational pass-rusher, his impact has gone a long way towards the team’s defensive success. Heading into the new year, Nwosu isn’t expected to have an expanded role due to the presence of Ingram and Joey Bosa, but if one were to go down, he could be counted on as the next man up.

DE Isaac Rochell

Another key piece to the Chargers’ dominant defensive line that may go unnoticed is Rochell, the team’s seventh-round selection from the 2017 NFL Draft. Rochell has served as Joey Bosa’s backup, which is why he rarely gets playing time. But he has made the most of his limited opportunities, posting 45 tackles, nine tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits and seven sacks within the past three seasons, with the majority of those coming in 2018, which is when he saw an uptick in snaps after Bosa missed some time due to an injury. Rochell has proven himself as a viable pass-rusher and run defender. In 2020, he will have the same role, but will see the field more should either Bosa or Ingram go down with an injury.

DT Damion Square

Square was re-signed last week, and for a very good reason. The 31-year old nose tackle has been a valuable rotational piece in the middle of the defensive line. In 2019, Square recorded 27 tackles (15 solo), a tackle for loss and two passes defended. Whether it’s rushing the passer or stopping the run, Square has almost aways been a part of the action. In six seasons with the Chargers, Square has posted 96 tackles, 15 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss and eight passes defensed. The former Alabama product will backup newly acquired Linval Joseph, but his playing time will increase if an injury occurred.

FS Nasir Adderley

Had Adderley not been injured during his rookie season, there’s a good chance that he could’ve been the starting free safety. But the coaching staff’s trust in Rayshawn Jenkins in that role likely indicates that it’ll be difficult for him to win the job this season. However, with the defense expected to show more two-deep safety looks and there being a hole at the dimebacker position, Adderley could see the field in Year 2. Should Adderley stay healthy and carve out a spot, the former Delaware product supplies the backend of the defense with another talented player, one of whom has the range, speed, tackling ability and ball skills to consistently make plays.

OL Scott Quessenberry

The offensive line wasn’t particularly a bright spot for due to injuries that occurred throughout the 2019 season. But when one man (Mike Pouncey) went down, another stepped up. Quessenberry made an impact early on that many may have not been expecting from him when handing him the starting duties. But you could tell that he benefited from learning from a four-time Pro Bowler. The former UCLA product was consistent in pass protection and in the run blocking department. If Pouncey experiences another injury or if one of the guards goes down this upcoming season, Quessenberry supplies the unit with a solid player that can be counted on at any of the interior slots.

WR K.J. Hill

The Chargers had no desire to pick a wide receiver in the seventh-round of the draft, according to general manager Tom Telesco. But when they saw Ohio State’s reception leader still on the board, they couldn’t pass up on him. Hill joins a talented wide receiver room, which features Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. He will be in contention for the No. 3 job with Andre Patton, Jason Moore, Darius Jennings and Joe Reed. I believe Hill could win the spot, but the coaching staff may bank on the experience with Patton at first. However, the route-running savvy and great hands of Hill should eventually enable him to carve up a role. If Allen was to go down with an injury, Hill would be the front runner to fill his shoes as the starting slot wideout.

Identifying Chargers’ toughest four-game stretch of 2020 season

The Los Angeles Chargers will face a trio of elite quarterbacks in beginning of the season.

The Chargers have one of the easier schedules during the upcoming season. However, they could run into some trouble when they get into a certain portion of their 16-game slate.

NFL Media’s Cynthia Frelund revealed the toughest four-game stretch for Los Angeles, along with the other 31 teams in the league.

Frelund has the Bolts’ toughest four-game stretch starting in Week 2 with their home opener against the Chiefs and ending with their Monday Night bout against the Saints.

In between those is their Week 3 matchup at SoFi Stadium against the Panthers, followed by a trip to Florida to take on quarterback Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in Week 4.

Using her model, the Chargers have a win probability percentage of 39.4 against Kansas City, 52.8 against Carolina, 41.7 against Tampa Bay and 39.8 against New Orleans.

Right out the gate, Los Angeles has a favorable matchup, as they’re set to face off against the Bengals, who finished with the worst record in the league last season.

But after that, it gets a bit tricky for coach Anthony Lynn’s team, going toe-to-toe with a crop of elite quarterbacks in Brady, Patrick Mahomes and Drew Brees.

In my game-by-game score predictions, I have L.A. going 1-3 during this stretch with their only win coming against Carolina.

4 Chargers players that fans are most excited to see in 2020

The Los Angeles Chargers boast an enticing roster of players.

Things in the sports world have been crazy as the coronavirus pandemic has put the action to a halt. Minicamp should be going on right now, but it’s not. However, great news keep on coming as training camp, preseason and the regular season should start as scheduled.

With that being said, we wanted to get an idea of which members of the Chargers fans are most excited to see this year as the team looks to turn things around after a dud of a season in 2019.

I went to our official Twitter and Facebook accounts to ask fans who they’re looking forward to the most. Below is a look at what the majority of the bunch said:

LB Kenneth Murray

Murray was the team’s second first-round pick after trading up 14 spots to snag him. The aggressiveness to ensure the former Oklahoma product was in the blue and gold goes to show that the coaching staff believes he could give the defense a huge boost immediately. Slated to start as the Will linebacker, Murray has rare instincts, combined with closing speed quickness and ability to cover a large amount of ground, which should contribute in coverage, stopping the run and rushing the quarterback. The combination of his skillset and intangibles could earn him the responsibility of calling out the plays on defense as early as Year 1.

S Derwin James

Fans were eager to see James in his sophomore season, but that was put a halt after he sustained a foot injury in training camp. The injury wiped out the majority of his season, but he still managed to play in five games, where the do-it-all defender was a force to be reckoned with. Ensuring James is on the field in 2020 will be critical. James gives the Chargers a rare defender who can cover wide receivers, the best tight ends in the NFL, stop running backs at the line of scrimmage and put pressure on quarterbacks, all of which are key elements in stopping the reigning Super Bowl champions – Kansas City Chiefs.

LB Drue Tranquill

It didn’t take long for Tranquill to get a strong grasp of the defense and make an immediate impact in his rookie season. The former Notre Dame was given a larger role as the year went on, finishing as the Chargers’ second-leading tackler with 75 total tackles, along with being tied for the most special teams tackles by any rookie (11). Heading into Year 2, Tranquill is expected to take another step forward as the team’s middle linebacker. Denzel Perryman may start, but Tranquill will come onto the field in passing situations. Eventually, he should be the permanent starter alongside Murray.

QB Justin Herbert

It’s no surprise that fans are electrified to see their first-round pick take the field, especially when it’s the replacement to veteran quarterback Philip Rivers. It remains to be seen how much playing time Herbert will receive this upcoming season since he’s in a position to sit and enhance his game while 30-year old Tyrod Taylor is under center. However, it might be the most optimal situation for the former Oregon product, who could benefit from learning from quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton before taking the reins. Herbert has all the physical tools and arm talent in the world, but he needs to develop his instincts and decision-making. If he does, the sky is the limit for Herbert.

2020 expectations for Chargers’ newest free agent signings

A handful of them will play a significant role in the upcoming season.

With the need to bring in more veterans to an already talented roster, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco didn’t shy away from adding a few earlier this offseason.

With that in mind, here is what fans can expect from each of Telesco’s acquisitions heading into the upcoming season:

WR Darius Jennings

The special teams department has been a major concern for the Chargers the past few seasons, and it’s clear that they made it a priority to shore up after the Jennings along with rookie Joe Reed. Over the past two seasons, he returned 31 kickoffs for 894 yards, including a 94-yarder for a touchdown. Jennings has a chance of making the roster. And while he will unlikely see the field on a consistent basis on offense, but he will be in contention for the starting kick returner job. At most, he will be a special teamer in 2020.

LB Nick Vigil

The Bolts released Thomas Davis prior to the start of the new league year and they lost a few key special teamers in free agency, which left some spots that needed to be filled. Vigil offers positional versatility, which is highly coveted in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s defense. With Denzel Perryman, Kenneth Murray and Kyzir White projected to be the starters, Vigil will provide depth, and would likely see the field on obvious passing downs since he has earned a strong reputation for his play in coverage. Despite not being a starter, Vigil will make his money on special teams right out of the gate.

DT Linval Joseph

Joseph projects as the Day 1 starter in the middle of the defensive line. It remains to be if he will play all three downs, given the fact that he played only 553 snaps last season which was just over 50%. Known for his ability to defend the run, Joseph will be on the playing field on rushing situations, while Damion Square rotates in or Justin Jones and Jerry Tillery slide in on obvious passing situations. However, Joseph has the capability of staying on the field in those situations as he finished top-4 on the team in quarterback knockdowns in three of his first four seasons with the Vikings, recording 41 in total along with 11 sacks.

CB Chris Harris, Jr.

According to NFL.com research, the Chargers allowed nine yards per slot target last season, which was the fifth-highest average in the league. They also ranked No. 30 in completion percentage to slot targets. Harris Jr., 30, is one of the NFL’s polished cornerbacks in that he can play outside corner and shadow a No. 1 wide receiver but also excel as a slot cornerback. Harris projects as the starting slot corner, overtaking Desmond King in that role. Harris is capable of playing on the outside along with some safety, but we can expect to see him primarily on the inside. His coverage skills and open space tackling will be key as the team looks to stop the Chiefs’ high-powered offense.

OT Bryan Bulaga

The right tackle position produced inconsistent results for the past few seasons, but that will quickly change after the signing of Bulaga, who will start from Week 1. Bulaga reunites with former offensive line coach James Campen from their playing days with the Packers, which is a nice to have familiarity on the roster. One of the better pass protecting tackles in the league, and very capable in the run game, Bulaga provides the trenches with a huge boost. If all goes well and he stays healthy, the 10-year veteran could earn a trip to the Pro Bowl, finally.