Tag: Asante Samuel Jr.

Brandon Staley on defensive disaster vs. Dolphins: ‘I didn’t do a good enough job’

Brandon Staley shouldered the blame for the Chargers’ loss to the Dolphins.

Ahead of their Week 14 meeting in 2022, the Dolphins were terrorizing opposing defenses with their high-powered offense. But when the Chargers came to town, Miami had no response to the defensive game plan that Brandon Staley put together.

In that game, Tua Tagovailoa finished 10-of-28 passing, with four of his completions coming on the Dolphins’ final drive, for 148 yards, a touchdown and a quarterback rating of 65.3. Los Angeles held Miami to 219 total yards. This all came about while being down six defensive starters.

Fast forward nine months later, with all their stars on the field, including the addition of Eric Kendricks, and it was an entirely different outcome. Tagovailoa and company amassed 536 yards of total offense, with the majority coming through the air as Tagovailoa threw for 466 yards, 215 of which went to Tyreek Hill.

“You have to give credit to Miami,” Staley said. “Sometimes games like this happen in the NFL. The last time we played these guys, it was the other way.

“Sometimes, you’re going to have a game where you light it up and sometimes, in a game with that type of skill over there, you can get lit up,” Staley added.

In last year’s matchup, the Bolts had success against the Dolphins’ passing offense by challenging the wide receivers at the line of scrimmage, which messed with their timing and rhythm. Additionally, linebackers dropped back in coverage and closed the middle of the field.

What went wrong this time around?

The Dolphins used more pre-snap motion to allow Hill and Jaylen Waddle to get free releases, which resulted in them dominating the middle of the field because the Chargers’ cornerbacks could not keep up with their speed and the safeties were playing too deep to help with those passes.

“I don’t think that we played the right leverages in the secondary and I didn’t think that we rushed the quarterback effectively enough,” Staley said. “Give credit to Miami. They had a really good game plan and they made a lot of plays.”

Among the culprits in the secondary was J.C. Jackson, who made his return since rupturing his patellar tendon in Week 7 of last season. Jackson struggled to keep pace and he was hit with an inexcusable pass interference penalty in the final seconds of the first half, which led to a field goal to Miami retaking the lead, 20-17.

Even when Jackson made a positive play, it turned into a negative. On his interception, he returned it out of the end zone instead of kneeling and taking the touchback. The Chargers went three and out and J.K. Scott had to punt from their end zone. As soon as the Dolphins got the ball, Tagovailoa found Hill deep for a 35-yard touchdown, with Jackson being the one in coverage.

That was the last time Jackson saw the field. Los Angeles brought in Ja’Sir Taylor, who played in the slot, while Michael Davis and Asante Samuel Jr. played on the outside. Even after the personnel change, the cornerback play was still lackluster.

The pass rush was not any better. After missing most of last season with a groin injury, Joey Bosa failed to make an impact, as did his partner-in-crime Khalil Mack. Tagovailoa wasn’t sacked a single time and he was hit just twice. While he did get the ball out quickly, there was no pressure whatsoever, even on money downs.

“I didn’t do a good enough job today, getting us adjusted throughout the game,” Staley added later. We tried. Our adjustments just didn’t take shape today. It turned into a track meet in the passing game.”

At the end of the day, this circles back to Staley, the defensive guru who was seen to be the one to put together a prolific unit. In his first season, Staley did not have the proper personnel to fit his system. In Year 2, his group was riddled with injuries. But still, there was plenty of talent available. Now, in his third season with everyone healthy, it is still a glaring issue.

The Chargers offense, under new coordinator Kellen Moore, showed that they can light up the scoreboard and keep the team in the game, putting up 34 points on Sunday. But the jury is still out on whether Staley can get them to mirror the success of the 2020 Rams, which is when he coordinated the best defense in football that season.

“We do have a good group of guys,” Staley said, “and we just got to come back.”

Brandon Staley gives more details on the Chargers’ cornerback plans

Brandon Staley talked extensively about some of the Chargers’ plans in the secondary.

At his media availability, Brandon Staley talked extensively about some of the Chargers’ plans in the secondary. First on the docket was the status of J.C. Jackson. He was left off the teams’ Wednesday injury report and is officially on track to play Sunday. Jackson said he’s not putting “any limit” on his knee when speaking in the locker room. Staley wasn’t quite as adamant when asked if there would be limitations on Jackson’s performance.

It’s to be determined. He has practiced well. We’ll see how it goes in the game.

On what he needs to see from Jackson, Staley said this:

Just seeing him through a game. We’ve seen him in practice, now we get to see him in a game. We’re excited. He has practiced well. We’ll see how it goes.

I’m not sure Jackson will be on a snap count per se, but the Chargers will likely approach the situation conservatively. Jackson never quite got his feet under him last season after he returned from ankle surgery in Week 2 against the Chiefs. The last thing Staley or the team would want to do is overwork Jackson as he continues his rehab process. Jackson did take occasional practices off during camp to manage his knee recovery.

Staley’s cautious optimism ties directly into his vision for cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. on Sunday. On his projected slot role, Staley said:

It’s fair to say that Asante will be there sometimes, but we’re going to play a lot of guys there. You’re going to see Asante outside, too. He had a really, really good training camp. I’m excited to see him play.

If the Chargers want to load manage Jackson’s snaps here and there, shifting Samuel outside is the easiest way to go about it. If he’s needed outside occasionally, Ja’Sir Taylor and Derwin James can also play the STAR role in the slot. It also fits into Staley’s training camp vision for Samuel. The goal was to cross-train him inside and out, but the team wants to maintain its versatility. While he will play a healthy amount at slot corner, Samuel will not be pigeonholed into that role alone.

Staley followed up his thoughts with some praise for Samuel:

Since he has been here, one of Asante’s top qualities is his toughness. He is physically tough, mentally tough. He is a competitor. He has improved each year as a player here, in all always. He has had an outstanding training camp. I think he’s been able to showcase, inside, that he has top Star ability in there. We’re expecting a big year from him.

When asked whether Derwin James factors into a STAR rotation by The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, Staley didn’t deny that he could be in that mix with Samuel and Taylor on occasion.

How Staley’s defense weaves together its secondary pieces in Week 1 against Miami will be pivotal. Michael Davis will likely get a rematch in most 1 on 1 situations vs. Tyreek Hill, but the rest of the secondary design is a little less clear. How much will James be used as the Swiss Army knife? How many snaps will the coaching staff let Jackson play? And finally, how often will Samuel diversify between the slot and the outside? Staley indicates that everything is on the table and “to be determined” for Sunday.

Projecting Chargers’ defensive depth chart for Week 1 vs. Dolphins

Here’s how we project the Chargers defensive depth chart to look for the start of the regular season.

The Chargers are just days away from their season opener against the Dolphins

The positions are set after finalizing their 53-man roster, but the team has yet to release the official depth chart.

So let’s dive into how the defensive side of the ball could shape up heading into the 2023 season, highlighting who is likely to start and serve as depth pieces behind them.

Defensive line

Starter Backup Reserve
DT Sebastian Joseph-Day Christopher Hinton
NT Austin Johnson Nick Williams
DE Morgan Fox Scott Matlock

Johnson will start the season on the active roster after fracturing his left knee and injuring his MCL, while Otito Ogbonnia is on the reserve/PUP list. It remains to be seen if Johnson will be a full-go. If not, Williams, Hinton and Matlock should see split-up snaps.

Edge defender

Starter Backup Reserve
EDGE1 Joey Bosa Tuli Tuipulotu
EDGE2 Khalil Mack Chris Rumph II

Bosa and Mack will be the starters. There is plenty of excitement around that tandem after Bosa missed most of the 2022 season with a groin injury. Tuipulotu should see the field in third-down situations. Rumph will be mixed in too, but he will primarily be a special teamer.

Inside Linebacker

Starter Backup Reserve
ILB1 Eric Kendricks Tanner Muse Amen Ogbongbemiga
ILB2 Kenneth Murray Daiyan Henley Nick Niemann

Kendricks and Murray are the starters in the middle of the defense. As for the rest of the group, they will be making their money on special teams.

Cornerback

Starter Backup
CB1 J.C. Jackson Deane Leonard
CB2 Michael Davis
Nickel Asante Samuel Jr. Ja’Sir Taylor

The biggest question that still looms is whether or not Jackson will be ready for Week 1. Luckily, the Chargers have the depth regardless of the outcome. If Jackson is not ready, Samuel will start on the outside opposite Davis with Taylor in the slot. If Jackson is ready, Samuel was the slot corner battle over Taylor and would start there with Jackson and Davis on the outside.

Safety

Starter Backup Reserve
FS Alohi Gilman JT Woods AJ Finley
SS Derwin James Raheem Layne

James and Gilman are the starting safeties. Woods will be the third safety behind them. When James is playing “Star” or “Money” in sub packages, a safety must come on to replace him in the deep part of the field, which will be Woods. He flashed in the summer, showing off his coverage skills and improvement as a tackler. Can it materialize when the games matter?

Chargers CB J.C. Jackson non-committal on playing Week 1 vs. Dolphins

J.C. Jackson was non-committal on whether he would play in the regular season opener after he was asked for a projection.

Chargers’ cornerback J.C. Jackson was non-committal on whether he would play in the regular season opener after he was asked for a projection. When asked if he’d “project himself to be out there Week 1,” Jackson said this:

I don’t want to put a projection on myself at this time. Like I said, I’m working each and everyday to be ready. Week 1 or Week 3, whatever week it is, I’m going to be ready mentally and physically.

Jackson sat out a few practices over a week ago with “knee soreness” as he continues his recovery from patellar tendon surgery. The former Pro Bowler also expanded on his condition and how he’s feeling:

I’m working each and every day. There are going to be some good days and some bad days, but I just have to keep working, keep going.

On building up strength in his knee, Jackson expanded on the challenge and his mentality:

It’s just work. It’s nothing bigger than a challenge to me. I look at it as just work, becoming who I need to become, coming out here each and every day, being a good teammate, and working my ass off.

Time will tell if the former Pro Bowl corner does play against Miami in Week 1, but his progress to this point is still an incredible achievement. Considering that his knee injury occurred at the end of last October, a turnaround of “Week 1” or “Week 3” would still be quite the feat.

Which Chargers players are you most excited to watch in preseason opener vs. Rams?

The Chargers Wire crew listed the players that they’re most excited to watch on Saturday as Los Angeles’ roster evaluation continues.

The Chargers have been hard at work at Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, CA, the past few weeks fighting for roster spots, and now it’s time to transition to live-game action, where they will open up their three-game preseason slate against the Rams.

The crew at Chargers Wire listed the players that they’re most excited to watch on Saturday as Los Angeles’ roster evaluation continues.

5 position battles to watch in Chargers’ preseason game vs. Rams

Here are five of the biggest competitions to watch when the Chargers take on the Rams this Saturday night.

After seven months of waiting, Chargers football returns on Saturday with a number of new storylines as the team embarks on a new season.

With a matchup against their SoFi Stadium roommates on the docket, which positions have the most on the line?

Year 2 provides more comfort for Chargers CB Ja’Sir Taylor

Ja’Sir Taylor should be a key contributor in his sophomore season.

The chances of a sixth-round pick carving a starting role in their rookie season are rare.

Chargers cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor, the former Wake Forest product, is under that category. Taylor went from a special teams ace to playing meaningful snaps on defense by the end of the 2022 season.

Now entering his sophomore campaign, Taylor is acclimated to the pace of the NFL and he feels like he’s in a more comfortable position.

“Coming out here as a rookie, things move fast,” Taylor said. “You’re on one field, another field, special teams, defense.

“Just being able to be comfortable, know where I’m going, get my feet set,” Taylor added. “That’s what’s easier.”

Taylor was outstanding in his role as a punt coverage gunner at the beginning. As injuries in the cornerback room piled up, it led to Taylor’s emergence in the secondary.

Taylor had some lapses in coverage, especially when he had to play as an outside corner. But his standout performance came in the primetime win over the Dolphins, where he locked down Jaylen Waddle. Additionally, he came on strong as a tackler in open space and a blitzer.

A more prominent role is set for Taylor in his second season. Even though he is in a battle with Asante Samuel Jr. for the starting slot corner, Taylor will still likely see the field depending on the matchup on a week-to-week basis. Plus, his ability to defend the run will be essential to have.

“I’m just trying to come in here and get better each and every day,” Taylor later added. “I’m not sure how the depth chart works. As long as I come here, do what I have to do to improve each and every day, I’m sure I’ll be in a position to help this team.”

Sights and sounds from Chargers training camp: Day 7

A quick roundup of the highlights from Day 7 of Chargers training camp.

The Chargers continued training camp on Friday at Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, CA, marking Day 7.

Training camp can be attended for free, but if you cannot be there, you will still be informed of the action throughout it all.

We will have training camp coverage with updates from practice below, courtesy of media members and fans in attendance.

8 standout performers for Chargers through one week of training camp

Training camp has only been underway for a week, but these Chargers are standing out in the early going.

The Chargers are still a week into their training camp program in Costa Mesa, CA. It’s important to remember that when talking about player stock with plenty of time left in the offseason, plus three preseason games.

That being said, there are some standouts for Los Angeles in the early going.

Asante Samuel Jr. ‘feeling good’ entering Year 3 with Chargers

Asante Samuel Jr. has been a bright spot for the Chargers in training camp.

In the last game cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. played in, he finished with three interceptions as the Chargers were shocked by the Jaguars in the Wild Card game.

Fast forward a few months to training camp, and Samuel has not skipped a beat.

Samuel has been a bright spot on the defense, especially on Wednesday during the two-minute toward the end of practice. He broke up three passes on the final drive in the red zone to seal the deal for the defensive unit.

“I’m just trying to get better and make plays for this team,” Samuel said following Wednesday’s practice.

“I’m feeling good. I feel like our team is getting better each and every day,” Samuel added. “We’re just competing really hard. We’re making each other better.”

Samuel has been impressive in coverage in his first two seasons in the NFL. Those skills have been on display on the practice field, as he has made great plays through the air nearly every day.

Samuel has played both along the boundary and in the slot, having his versatility utilized. With J.C. Jackson returning from his knee injury and Michael Davis handling the other outside spot, Samuel will likely play inside to start out the season and kick out depending on the matchup.

“Asante in his first two years, he has started every single game of his pro career,” head coach Brandon Staley said. “There has not been one game that he has been active for that he has not been a starter. He has earned that. He has gotten better and better both years.

“Going into this training camp, we’ve been able to see the versatility that we know that he has, but because of our depth and quality, we feel like we can put him in there more,” Staley added.

“He’s really improved inside because it’s a position that’s difficult to master, especially the way we play. We put a lot on that position. It’s not an easy position to play for us. It’s a feature position in our defense.

While strong against the pass, one of Samuel’s areas of improvement is in run support. In his rookie season, Samuel had a 20% missed tackle rate. Even though it dropped last season, it was still at 10%. Staley, however, feels like he is getting better in that department.

“He’s playing, from a technique standpoint, a lot better because he’s in there a lot more. I think you’ve seen, throughout these practices, him making plays outside and inside. He has to cover the tough guys in both places. He’s also done a good job in run support. He just needs to keep improving.”