Tag: Asante Samuel Jr.

Projecting the Chargers’ cornerback depth chart in 2023

Here is what the Chargers’ cornerback room could look like heading into August.

As training camp continues, the Chargers will be making some difficult but necessary roster decisions moving into the pre-season.

Here is what the cornerback room could look like heading into August – and the rest of the season:

J.C Jackson

The return of Jackson is something that all Chargers fans have been waiting for. After an ankle surgery leading up to the 2022 season, Jackson was slow to settle into Staley’s defense before ultimately having his season cut short with a tear to his patellar tendon. Jackson underwent surgery and immediately set his mind on recovery, posting occasional updates on his personal social media. Jackson has been present at camp and participating in team drills but there is still a question mark looming over his head as we move into the season.

Michael Davis

With Jackson’s return up in the air, Michael Davis might stay in his current starting position at the start of the season – as currently stated on the depth chart. Davis had an extraordinary 2022 season stepping in for Jackson after his injury. We should see Davis continue to excel and make a massive impact on the Chargers’ secondary either at the CB1 position or at the very least CB2.

Ja’Sir Taylor

A fascinating storyline to keep your eye on is the rise of Taylor. After a standout final game in the 2022 season, Ja’Sir solidified himself as a key element of the secondary. Chargers fans should watch out for a battle for this starting role between Taylor and Asante Samuel Jr. as head coach Brandon Staley has the utmost confidence in Taylor’s abilities.

Asante Samuel Jr.

Samuel currently hovers slightly lower down than expected as we head into training camp season. The young Chargers cornerback had a successful season and a miraculous first half in the Wild Card game against the Jaguars, snagging an impressive three interceptions. Samuel will be competing with Taylor for the final starting spot.

Deane Leonard

Leonard proved himself valuable on the Chargers’ special teams unit in 2022. His efforts helped secure a couple of games during the regular season and now he has the opportunity to fight for a starting position on defense. However, it is most likely that Leonard will continue his journey on special teams and just add some depth to the cornerback room.

Kemon Hall

Hall will continue his NFL career on the Chargers this season as a depth piece for the secondary unit and should occasionally see the field when needed or on special teams.

Sights and sounds from Chargers training camp: Day 4

A quick roundup of the highlights from Day 4 of Chargers training camp.

The Chargers continued training camp on Monday at Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, CA, marking the fourth day of it and the first day in pads.

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

I will have training camp coverage with updates from practice below, courtesy of media members and fan posts.

 

Chargers CB J.C. Jackson continues to make strides in return from injury

One of the most encouraging takeaways as the Chargers kicked off training camp was seeing J.C. Jackson participating in team drills.

One of the most encouraging takeaways as the Chargers kicked off training camp was seeing cornerback J.C. Jackson on the field.

Jackson participated in seven-on-seven on Day 1 before sitting out of team drills Thursday. He then participated in 11-on-11 drills for the first time Saturday.

Head coach Brandon Staley commented on Jackson’s road to recovery, stating that it’s all part of the ramp-up plan as he continues to work his way back from his season-ending knee injury in October.

He got a little bit more work than he did the first couple of days. As long as he keeps progressing, then that’s going to be the plan. [Director of Player Health, Wellness and Performance] Marco Zucconi and [Head Athletic Trainer] Sal [Lopez] are doing a really good job working him back into practice. He has looked strong and healthy. He’s been on top of his assignments. We’re a much better team with him out there.

Before the injury, Jackson struggled in his first season with the Bolts, as he allowed a 149.3 passer rating when targeted through five games. They hope he can return to his 2021 All-Pro form when he was with the Patriots.

That year, Jackson finished with eight interceptions (second-most) and a league-leading 23 pass deflections.

If Jackson is healthy when the regular season starts, he will start on the outside alongside Michael Davis. Ja’Sir Taylor or Asante Samuel Jr. will play in the slot, depending on the matchup, on a week-to-week basis.

5 position battles to watch during Chargers training camp

While many starting spots are locked up before the Chargers take the field, here are a few that will be contested throughout the next month.

The Chargers officially begin training camp Wednesday with their first practice of the season.

With two new coordinators in Costa Mesa, things could look much different than they did last season as LA looks to finally turn a talented roster on paper into a legitimate contender.

While many starting spots are locked up before the Chargers take the field, here are a few that will be hotly contested throughout the next month.

Chargers player overall ratings for ‘Madden NFL 24’

Here are the individual overall ratings for every player on the Chargers virtual roster.

EA Sports has been unveiling its complete launch ratings for the upcoming video game, “Madden NFL 24.”

From safety Derwin James’ 95 overall to offensive tackle Foster Sarell’s 55 overall, here are the individual rankings for all Chargers players on the virtual roster.

Predicting the Chargers’ starting defense before training camp

Predicting what Brandon Staley’s defense will look like come the first week of the regular season.

Training camp is usually when teams begin finalizing their depth charts. This year, however, it seems as though the Chargers have largely set their starting lineups before players even report to camp.

Let’s run through the starters, continuing with the defense.

Chargers HC Brandon Staley on Asante Samuel Jr: ‘We’re going to keep training him in multiple spots’

Brandon Staley was asked about Asante Samuel Jr.’s role heading into the 2023 season.

Brandon Staley was asked about cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.’s role at his Wednesday press conference:

Asante is a starting-caliber corner in the league. He has made a lot of big plays for us in his first two years. I think that he has proven himself against the top receivers in the league. We’ve trusted him that way. We’re going to try and keep training him in multiple spots because we know that he can play inside, too. Now that we have a healthy J.C. Jackson and Michael Davis, it’s going to allow us to try him out at some new spots, too, where in the first two years, that probably wasn’t the case.

Samuel’s role will be slightly different, with J.C. Jackson and Michael Davis healthy. His snap counts last year were heavily concentrated on the outside, considering the injury to Jackson and the significant role Bryce Callahan played last year.

The Staley defense tends to be multiple, so Samuel not starting on the outside shouldn’t be viewed in the binary. When the season kicks off, there’s a decent chance he’ll log snaps both outside and the slot depending on the look or opponent.

Not to mention, injuries, unfortunately, can still happen. Being deep at cornerback to the point where the Chargers are struggling to pin Samuel’s exact role on the field is a good thing while it lasts, but it’s the NFL. Positional units are deep in the offseason until they eventually aren’t.

Staley also pointed to Samuel Jr.’s work ethic:

“He had a really good season for us last year. Like a lot of our guys, he just needs to keep making improvements. Asante really cares. He’s a competitor. And we have a ton of confidence in him.”

Something worth pointing out is the difference in Samuel’s training this offseason vs. his role in previous seasons:

Samuel vs. Ja’Sir Taylor in the slot has been somewhat publicized as a positional battle for playing time, but it’s worth pointing out that Samuel hasn’t been cross-trained for slot play until now. As pointed out in the tweet above, Samuel has taken less than one percent of his career snaps in the slot to this point.

As Staley has alluded to, Samuel’s role is to be determined, but he will still be a significant part of the Chargers’ secondary. Besides, as mentioned earlier, there are worse issues to have than Los Angeles being perceived to be too deep at cornerback. The longer they have more options and can stay multiple, the better. That’s true for both Samuel and the team.

Chargers 2023 roster review: CB Cam Brown

A crowded cornerback room awaits Cam Brown in Los Angeles.

A former four-star recruit at wide receiver, Cam Brown switched to cornerback before even arriving on Ohio State’s campus. Stuck behind former first-round picks Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette for much of his Buckeye tenure, Brown didn’t get his own chance to shine until 2021.

While a leg injury in 2018 and torn Achilles in 2020 threatened to cap Brown’s potential, that 2021 season resulted in an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection. Those same results didn’t persist into 2022, however, and Brown became one of the few Buckeye corners in the modern era to go undrafted.

A crowded cornerback room awaits Brown in Los Angeles, with JC Jackson, Michael Davis, Asante Samuel Jr., Ja’Sir Taylor, and Deane Leonard set at the position. The Chargers were also active in signing undrafted free defensive backs, signing four others alongside Brown.

There are worse bets to make than gifted athletes from NFL factory programs, so it’s hard to immediately write Brown off as an afterthought. But with the way the depth chart stacks up in front of him, he’s likely fighting for a practice squad at best.

Contract: 3 years, $2.7 million with a $5,000 signing bonus, signed this offseason. Base salary of $750,000 with a $1,666 prorated bonus. $751,666 cap hit.

Acquired: After going undrafted in the draft, Brown signed with the Chargers as part of the 2023 UDFA class.

Quote: Former Ohio State teammate and current Rams safety Jordan Fuller on Brown’s growth as a corner in 2019:

“He’s always been a great athlete — a freak, basically. He’s super fast. He was kind of raw when he came in — new to the position at corner. His work ethic and focus have propelled him into a great position right now. If he keeps going he’ll be the next name you’re talking about.”

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Chargers 2023 roster review: CB Kemon Hall

Kemon Hall will have to justify his inclusion on the Chargers roster with strong showings in training camp and the preseason.

Training camp is approaching and with a few more weeks of dead time in the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is documenting each of Los Angeles’ players before it kicks off.

Cornerback Kemon Hall was undrafted out of North Texas in 2019. He signed with the Chargers and played with the team through the preseason before going on the practice squad early in the regular season.

After being released by Los Angeles, Hall bounced around the league and spent time with the Vikings, Saints and Cowboys.

Hall was brought back in 2021. In the past two seasons, Hall appeared in 18 games, combining for eight tackles and a fumble recovery. He has primarily been used as a special teamer.

With such an influx of talent at the cornerback position, it isn’t a stretch to think that Hall could be on the fringe during roster cutdowns in August.

He will need to produce strong showings in training camp and the preseason to warrant his continued inclusion in the Chargers organization.

Contract (2023): $940,000 base salary, no prorated bonus, $940,000 cap hit.

Acquired: Hall was claimed off waivers by the Chargers in 2021.

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Chargers 2023 roster review: CB Deane Leonard

Deane Leonard will be another valuable special teamer this season.

Training camp is approaching and with a few more weeks of dead time in the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is documenting each of Los Angeles’ players before it kicks off.

Cornerback Deane Leonard is entering his second season with the Chargers after being selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft out of Ole Miss.

Leonard’s college career began at the University of Calgary, where he appeared in 23 games, recording 47 tackles, 13 passes defended, and six interceptions.

After transferring, in two seasons with the Rebels, Leonard appeared in 18 games, posting 63 tackles, 14 passes defended, and one fumble recovery.

While he won’t be pushing for a starting job in Los Angeles’ secondary, Leonard should continue to be a special teams ace and provide depth in case of an injury.

Contract (2023): $870,000 base salary, $24,916 prorated bonus, $894,916 cap hit.

Acquired: Leonard was taken by the Chargers with the 236th overall selection in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Quote: Cole Topham on Leonard’s special teams upside:

“Leonard’s tape demonstrates a dependable coverage piece and asset in the run game. His tackling form and aggressiveness are prominent and does not let ball carriers drag him for extra yards. He wraps up well and rarely whiffs on his approach.”

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