Tag: 2020 Chargers season

Potential Chargers QB Tua Tagovailoa shows off healed hip in passing drills

Tua Tagovailoa appears to be way ahead of schedule.

Former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa shared a series of videos updating his recovery from hip surgery where he was dropping back, shuffling and throwing on the run.

“Practicing social distancing with the long ball today. Feels good to spin it again,” Tagovailoa said.

This marks the first on-field footage that Tagovailoa has shared since being medically cleared to resume football activities after he sustained a posterior wall fracture and dislocated hip back in November.

Tagovailoa was scheduled to hold his own pro day on April 9 to show his progress in front of NFL teams ahead of the draft. However, in-person pre-draft evaluations have been cancelled as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Chargers possess the No. 6 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, and with a need for a future at the quarterback position, Tagovailoa should certainly be on the team’s radar.

However, it might require a trade up knowing the Dolphins, who are picking one spot ahead of them, are likely targeting him, too.

The draft kicks off on April 23.

How tough is the Chargers’ schedule in 2020?

The Los Angeles Chargers will have a bit of an easier schedule in 2020 compared to 2019.

Although we won’t know the order of opponents until the regular season schedule is released in a few months, we do know who the Chargers will be playing in 2020. But how will they stack up against their opponents?

The Bolts have 23rd-hardest schedule of 2020, based on the 2019 win percentages of 2020 opponents. Their upcoming opponents posted a combined 126-130 (.492) record this past season.

The Chiefs (.500), Raiders (.496) and Broncos (.512) all have tougher schedules than Los Angeles.

It is hard to gauge where opponents will stack up after acquisitions via free agency and the NFL draft, so anything can happen throughout the campaign. For the Chargers, they are eager to bounce back after finishing with a 5-11 record.

Here is the strength of schedules across the NFL:

1. New England Patriots: 137-118-1 (.537)

2. New York Jets: 136-119-1 (.533)

3. Miami Dolphins: 135-120-1 (.529)

4. San Francisco 49ers: 134-120-2 (.528)

T5. Buffalo Bills: 134-121-1 (.525)

T5. Detroit Lions: 134-121-1 (.525)

T5. Atlanta Falcons: 134-121-1 (.525)

T8. Arizona Cardinals: 132-123-1 (.518)

T8. Houston Texans: 132-123-1 (.518)

T10. Los Angeles Rams: 131-123-2 (.516)

T10. Minnesota Vikings: 131-123-2 (.516)

12. Denver Broncos: 131-125 (.512)

T13. Seattle Seahawks: 129-125-2 (.508)

T13. Chicago Bears: 129-125-2 (.508)

15. Green Bay Packers: 128-126-2 (.504)

T16. Indianapolis Colts: 128-127-1 (.502)

T16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 128-127-1 (.502)

T18. Carolina Panthers: 127-127-2 (.500)

T18. Kansas City Chiefs: 128-128 (.500)

20. Tennessee Titans: 127-128-1 (.498)

21. Las Vegas Raiders: 127-129 (.496)

22. Jacksonville Jaguars: 126-129-1 (.494)

23. Los Angeles Chargers: 126-130 (.492)

24. New Orleans Saints: 125-130-1 (.490)

25. Philadelphia Eagles: 124-131-1 (.486)

26. New York Giants: 123-132-1 (.482)

27. Cincinnati Bengals: 122-134 (.477)

28. Washington Redskins: 118-136-2 (.465)

29. Cleveland Browns: 118-138 (.461)

30. Dallas Cowboys: 117-138-1 (.459)

31. Pittsburgh Steelers: 117-139 (.457)

32. Baltimore Ravens: 112-144 (.438)

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Offseason reset should bring plenty of hope for Chargers in 2020

If the Los Angeles Chargers nail this offseason, they should be in great standing for the 2020 season.

The Los Angeles Chargers didn’t have the season that they were hoping for in 2019. After going 12-4, which included a trip to the playoffs, it was followed up with a 5-11 record, the worst in the AFC West.

You can point to the slew of injuries, the midseason coaching change, the in-game problems that led to the close losses all year as the reasons why they were unable to string more wins together.

The bottom line is that they can now only look towards the next season. The Chargers will have the offseason to add more talent to an already impressive roster to ensure that they can have a campaign similar to 2018.

That is why Bleacher Report’s Chris Roling identified offseason reset as Los Angeles’ best reason for hope for next year.

Things didn’t pan out the way the Los Angeles Chargers envisioned in 2019—a slight understatement for a team that put up just five wins a year removed from 12.

The question that’s hanging over Philip Rivers’ time with the team isn’t fun, either, as the 38-year-old faces free agency and skills decline. But what is? The No. 6 pick and $56.4 million in cap space.

In the draft, the Chargers could be in a position for a top-flight passer such as Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa. And generally speaking, the front office has been money in the first round, having selected Derwin James, Mike Williams, Joey Bosa, Melvin Gordon III and Jason Verrett.

Free agency will present an interesting opportunity, too, with guys such as quarterback Marcus Mariota and otherwise. Regressions of seven wins don’t happen often, and the Chargers have plenty of resources capable of spurring a similar rebound.

Sitting atop of the priorities for the Chargers this offseason is deciding the future for 15 of their own players whose contracts are expiring. Among the group is quarterback Philip Rivers, running back Melvin Gordon, tight end Hunter Henry and guard Michael Schofield.

The team is sitting pretty with $56.4 million in salary cap space to bring back some of these key contributors. But they will have to make some tough decisions by letting go of those that hurt them this past season and bring in talent from the free agency pool to set them up for success moving forward.

After signing in-house players and soon-to-be free agents at positions of need like a plug-and-play offensive lineman, the 2020 NFL draft will be the perfect outlet to find the future face of the franchise early on, and talent on the offensive line, wide receiver, cornerback and defensive tackle position.

If the Chargers nail their offseason, they will be in great standing when they start their new journey in their new stadium. The biggest thing during the 2020 campaign is making sure that the majority of the roster can stay healthy throughout the full slate.