Gilman became a full-time starter for the first time in his career and took advantage of the opportunity, amassing career-high numbers in tackles (73), interceptions (2), and forced fumbles (3).
Across four seasons, Gilman has 180 tackles, 14 passes defended and four interceptions.
With Gilman sticking around, he will play a key role alongside Derwin James. JT Woods is also still on the roster. Look for the Chargers to fill out the position room with another veteran free agency or late in the draft.
Chargers safety Alohi Gilman has been proving his worth to the coaching staff.
Chargers safety Alohi Gilman, the sixth-round pick of the 2020 NFL draft, was primarily a special teamer and didn’t receive playing time on defense until the final weeks of the season.
Heading into his sophomore campaign, Gilman is looking to assert himself into a role, and through a week at training camp he has been proving his worth to the coaching staff.
Playing with the first team at safety when the unit goes with six defensive backs (dime package), Gilman has displayed a sense of “calmness,” which is why he has earned that role in the early going.
“He communicates well with those guys,” defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill said about Gilman. “Those guys feel comfortable with him right now.”
Earlier this offseason, head coach Brandon Staley said that the team is “really excited” about Gilman.
Up to this point, he and rookie Mark Webb have been showing that they can be relied on outside of starters Derwin James and Nasir Adderley.
At a group that’s lacking depth, they’re both in prime positions to make the 53-man roster.
The Los Angeles Chargers added a disciplined defender with their sixth-round selection.
After addressing the offensive side of the ball with their first two selections on Day 3, the Chargers shifted their attention to the other side in the sixth-round (No. 186 overall) with former Notre Dame safety Alohi Gilman.
Gilman reunites with linebacker Drue Tranquill and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery.
Los Angeles lost a few key special teamers this offseason, including Adrian Phillips and Derek Watt. Gilman will step in as a special teams ace because of his aggressiveness when coming downhill and high-volume as a tackler.
Gilman does his best work closer to the line of scrimmage. There, he shows understanding of pursuit angles and great instincts against the run and in zone coverage. His combination of physicality and all out effort meshes well with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s defensive philosophy.
With Phillips gone to the Patriots, it wouldn’t be surprising to eventually see Gilman step in as his replacement as the team’s dime linebacker as early as his rookie season. If not, I expect him to be a major contributor in his second season.
To get more familiar with Gilman, below is my pre-draft scouting report and highlights of the disciplined defender:
Career: Transferred from Navy. Compiled 244 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 12 passes defended in 40 games.
Red Flags: N/A
Strengths: Solid defender that shows good plant-and-drive ability. His shuffle-and-drive technique in zone coverage, always keeps him in the play. Motor is always running hot, and it shows when he is in pursuit. Strong at the catch point. Highly aggressive and intelligent in everything he does on the football field. Physical tackler.
Weaknesses: Lack ideal and height and length. Doesn’t possess the range, speed or other worldly athleticism to be a deep single high safety. Struggles to turn and run with slot receivers. Limited in man coverage. Too often guys are able to slip his blocks, takes wild angles to the ball.
Final Word: Gilman has the physicality, instincts, high football IQ and tackling ability around the short and intermediate levels, but his lack of athleticism shows in man coverage and the deeper parts of the field, projecting as a strong safety, sub-package defender and core special teamer.
The Los Angeles Chargers addressed the defensive side of the ball in the sixth-round.
The Chargers selected former Notre Dame safety Alohi Gilman with the No. 186 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
In two seasons at Notre Dame, Gilman accumulated 169 tackles, six tackles for loss, three interceptions and six forced fumbles in 26 games played. Prior to his playing days there, he was named the ECAC Rookie of the Year and garnered All-AAC honors as a freshman at Navy in 2016.
He’ll need to clean up his tackling technique, but Gilman projects as a high-upside strong safety or dime linebacker. His feel for the game, physicality and leadership skills is what makes him a potential impact player at the next level.
