Tag: Brandon Facyson

Chargers’ updated 53-man roster

An updated look at the Chargers’ 53-man roster after a pair of moves made.

The Chargers released their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday.

Not even 24 hours passed and Los Angeles began tinkering with the roster, claiming two players on the waiver, thus releasing a pair in correspondence.

With that being said, here’s an updated look at the Bolts’ 53-man roster:

Offense

Quarterbacks (3): Justin Herbert, Chase Daniel, Easton Stick

Running backs (4): Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley, Larry Rountree III

Fullbacks (1): Gabe Nabers

Wide receivers (5): Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton, Josh Palmer, K.J. Hill

Tight ends (4): Jared Cook, Donald Parham, Tre’ McKitty, Stephen Anderson

Offensive linemen (9): Rashawn Slater, Matt Feiler, Corey Linsley, Oday Aboushi, Bryan Bulaga, Trey Pipkins, Brenden Jaimes, Storm Norton, Scott Quessenberry

Defense

Defensive linemen (5): Linval Joseph, Justin Jones, Jerry Tillery, Christian Covington, Eric Banks*

Edge defender (4): Joey Bosa, Uchenna Nwosu, Kyler Fackrell, Chris Rumph II

Linebackers (5): Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill, Kyzir White, Nick Niemann, Amen Ogbongbemiga

Defensive backs (10): Michael Davis, Asante Samuel, Jr., Chris Harris, Jr., Tevaughn Campbell, Kemon Hall, Derwin James, Nasir Adderley, Alohi Gilman, Mark Webb, Trey Marshall*

Specialists (3): Tristan Vizcaino, Ty Long, Matt Overton

*** New addition

Chargers’ 53-man roster shows a strong commitment to fixing shaky special teams

After finishing with the worst special teams in 2020, the Chargers are expecting a major turnaround.

A combination of poor coverage and return skills, bone-headed penalties and  kicking woes led to the Chargers having the worst special teams in the NFL last season.

The first step to fixing the department came with the hiring of Derius Swinton II, who is entering his 14th season as a special teams coach.

While the change in the coaching staff was one thing, the players that make up the 53-man roster shows how a great of an emphasis head coach Brandon Staley and company put on the unit.

“We want to elevate the standard of performance,” Staley said. We’re looking for guys to separate and create roles for themselves. We expect them to do things a certain way.”

The first act of service was finding a starter kicker, which they did by keeping Tristan Vizcaino over Michael Badgley. Staley highlighted Vizcaino as a player who they believe has “real talent,” lauding his leg strength.

The next came when the team established one of their return specialists. Instead of keeping the talented Tyron Johnson, it was K.J. Hill who they decided to roll with as the fifth and final receiver because of his ability to return punts.

Keeping guys that they felt would make an impact on the coverage units was also strongly taken in consideration, which is why bubble players like undrafted rookie Amen Ogbongbemiga, Kemon Hall, Tevaughn Campbell and Stephen Anderson made the cut.

Like the puzzling decision to move on from Johnson, the Chargers didn’t shy away from letting notable names go that they felt didn’t bring much special teams value. That includes Brandon Facyson, who was released on Wednesday in favor of Trey Marshall and eventually Ryan Smith.

The reasoning? Staley called Marshall an “outstanding special teams player.”

Los Angeles wants to be a playoff team in 2021, but they need to see improvement in their special teams unit to make that happen. With the staff and players the team boasts, there is hope this department will be much more competent.

Chargers sign 12 players to 2021 practice squad

The Los Angeles Chargers announced 12 players that will begin the 2021 season on the practice squad.

The Los Angeles Chargers began announcing members of their practice squad on Wednesday, signing the following players:

WR Michael Bandy

RB Darius Bradwell

LB Cole Christiansen

DB Ben DeLuca

EDGE Emeke Egbule

DL Breiden Fehoko

DL Joe Gaziano

G Ryan Hunter

TE Hunter Kampmoyer

WR Jason Moore Jr

WR Joe Reed

In addition, the team officially announced the signings of defensive tackle Eric Banks and defensive back Trey Marshall. To clear room for them, Los Angeles waived nose tackle Forrest Merrill and cornerback Brandon Facyson.

Head coach Brandon Staley said they hope to get Merrill on the practice squad if he clears waivers.

Teams can have up to 16 players on their practice squad, meaning the Bolts will add four more players in the coming days. Stay tuned for more information.

Everything we know about Chargers’ loss to Seahawks in preseason finale

Recapping the Chargers’ preseason finale against the Seahawks.

To cap off the preseason, the Chargers were shut out by the Seahawks by the score of 27-0.

To recap Saturday’s matchup, here is everything we know:

It was over when….

Cody Barton got to Chase Daniel untouched to knock the football loose, and Marquise Blair was there to catch it in the air and take it back for six. Following that, the Chargers had no answer on both sides of the ball.

Keys of the game

It was another lackluster performance by the offense, as they only totaled 157 yards.

The offensive line gave up five sacks.

Only one field goal was attempted, coming in the second quarter by Tristan Vizcaino, which was missed from 47 yards out.

The two teams combined for 19 penalties, some of which were unnecessary.

3 stars of the game

LB Nick Niemann: 13 total tackles, 1 sack, tackle for loss

EDGE Chris Rumph: 4 tackles. 3 tackles for loss, 2 QB hits, 1 sack

RB Larry Rountree III: 6 carries, 27 yards, 2 catches, 8 yards

Quick-hitters

Neither Easton Stick or Chase Daniel did anything standout to separate themselves from one another. Both quarterbacks had their highs and lows, but they weren’t given any favors as the offensive line was manhandled for the majority of the night. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team carry three signal-callers.

When he fully recovers, Justin Jackson will likely resume his role as the second running back to Austin Ekeler but Rountree is the one who did enough to be given a decent-sized role with his performances. Joshua Kelley, on the other hand, was inefficient running the football. Kelley could very well be on the chopping block.

The offensive line struggled as a whole to give both quarterbacks time to throw and create any lanes in the running game. However, it was Trey Pipkins who struggled the most, as he gave up a sack and a few pressures, along with committing a pair of false start penalties. Pipkins didn’t do anything in the summer to help himself to be the swing tackle, which is why he could very well be on his way out.

Looking to solidify the final wide receiver spot, it was Michael Bandy who made his case, catching five of his seven targets for 27 yards. K.J. Hill, Joe Reed and Jason Moore did not suit up for the game.

There wasn’t anyone from the interior part of the defensive line who separated themselves. Undrafted free agent Forrest Merrill flashed here and there, but we didn’t see much action from the other guys up front. Linval Joseph, Jerry Tillery, Justin Jones and Christian Covington but who fills the other two spots remains to be seen.

The lack of push from the defensive line led to the Seahawks having plenty of success on the ground, but neither did the slew of missed tackles from the second and third level.

Speaking of missed tackles, Brandon Facyson had a couple in the open field, as well an underwhelming performance in coverage. Facyson was slated to serve as the main backup, but his showing left a lot to be desired.

Kemon Hall, on the other hand, was a bright spot in the secondary.

The kicking battle was one of the main storylines, but given the lack of offensive production there wasn’t a lot of action in that department. Michael Badgley had the slight leg up entering the game, but Vizcaino’s missed field goal in the second quarter might’ve solidified the coach’s decision.

The score in preseason games does not matter. However, you’re able to evaluate team’s depth charts and for the Chargers, they’re lacking that at vital positions, specifically along the offensive line. It’ll be interesting to see if they dip into the free agency pool.

What’s next?

The Chargers will need to have their 53-man roster finalized by this upcoming Tuesday. Los Angeles opens the regular season against The Washington Football Team on Sept. 12 at 10 am PT.

Chargers CB Tevaughn Campbell impressing coaches

Tevaughn Campbell is looking to solidify a spot on the Chargers 53-man roster.

The Chargers are stacked at the top of the cornerback depth, with Michael Davis, Chris Harris Jr. and Asante Samuel Jr. paving the way.

But given how defensive backs are essential in head coach Brandon Staley’s defense, there are still voids that will need to be filled.

One player that has been making his case to earn one of those spots and be a contributor is Tevaughn Campbell.

Primarily working with the second team defense, Campbell has shined in coverage. Not only is he utilizing his size, speed and movement skills to his advantage, the field intelligence and the technical standpoint are starting to click, especially this past Sunday at practice.

“I thought that he was connected on a lot of the routes,” defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill said. “I thought that he was in great position all day. He played calm and at peace. He wasn’t rushed. He knows that he has a big engine. He knows that he has good size.”

Campbell has also drawn the attention of Staley throughout camp.

“He’s really talented. This guy has real movement. He has really good size,” Staley said.

Signed onto the practice squad 2019, Campbell appeared in 14 games – including four starts – in his first season on the active roster in 2020, totaling 22 tackles, three passes defensed, a forced fumble and his first career interception.

Assuming the starters won’t see the field all that much this preseason, Campbell will have plenty of opportunities to carry his momentum into the three-game slate and solidify a spot on the 53-man roster and possibly garner some snaps during the regular season.

Chargers training camp: CB Asante Samuel Jr. starting to stand out

The Chargers second round pick has back-to-back solid outings.

As the Chargers are in the midst of situating the secondary, big contributions have started to be made by rookie Asante Samuel Jr.

Samuel, the team’s second round pick, began training camp working with the second and third team as an outside cornerback, but the past couple of days has seen him with the first team in the slot.

The former Florida State product’s performances have been compiled of multiple passes defensed and an almost interception that would have been taken back to the house.

While the majority of his work has come inside up to this point, the plan is for Samuel to have the versatility to play on the outside and slot, similar to how head coach Brandon Staley used Rams’ Troy Hill last season.

Samuel has the ability to thrive in multiple looks, which Staley loves to deploy. He’s comfortable in various coverage schemes and can make plays on the ball from any alignment.

“He’s going to play outside plenty whether we’re in four DBs or five or six,” Staley said. “But we’re trying to cross-train him inside so that you’re putting your best combination out there. The fact that ‘Sant has that type of skill set just increases our ability to flexible, multiple.”

Situating the Chargers secondary: Brandon Facyson sees field as starting outside cornerback

Brandon Facyson has the early advantage over Asante Samuel Jr.

The Chargers drafted Asante Samuel Jr. in the second-round, but that doesn’t mean the rookie will be without competition.

Entering Year 4, Brandon Facyson will be pushing Samuel for the starting boundary corner opposite Michael Davis when the team deploys a dime or nickel look, which is the majority of the time in Brandon Staley’s defense.

Through one day of practice, Facyson has the early advantage, as he was manning the outside with the first team when Chris Harris Jr. was in the slot.

This alignment mirrors the one all throughout minicamp and OTAs.  Throughout the spring, the coaches had high praise for Facyson.

Up to this point in his career, Facyson has primarily been used as a reserve corner and primary special teamer, only making four starts in 44 games.

While his professional resume is limited, the coaching staff is appealed by Facyson’s athleticism, measurements and experience in a variety of techniques and coverages and in run support, and they believe his game can be maximized in the new system.

As for Samuel, he has only been a pro for a few months and he is still getting acclimated to the transition from the college level.

There are 16 practices and a three-game preseason slate left, so it’s anyone’s spot to win still. But in the early going, the staff appears to favoring Facyson’s potential in that role.

Chargers 2021 Training Camp Position Battles: Who will play opposite CB Michael Davis?

The Los Angeles Chargers have a battle for the other outside cornerback spot.

The Chargers have two of their starting corners set, with those being Michael Davis and Chris Harris Jr.

Davis will play on the outside, as will Harris but just in base packages, which is what head coach Brandon Staley doesn’t play all that often in.

Instead, Los Angeles will be playing in sub-packages; nickel (five DBs) and dime (six DBs) for the majority of their defensive snaps.

When the unit goes into those packages, Harris will slide into the slot, which means they need to establish who will then line up opposite Davis.

At training camp, it will be a competition between rookie Asante Samuel Jr. and Brandon Facyson.

Drafted in the second-round, Samuel posted 97 tackles, 29 passes defensed and four interceptions over 31 games at Florida State.

His quickness, instincts and ball skills are NFL-ready and he should be able to step into a role right off the bat, but he has to still earn his playing time.

Pushing him for the spot is Facyson, who was in an unfavorable situation in Gus Bradley’s defense. At minicamp and OTAs, the majority of his snaps came with the first-team.

Facyson has excellent athleticism, size and length and experience in a variety of techniques and coverage, which are traits Staley covets.

While he hasn’t been able to put it all together on the field, the coaches believe they can help Facyson unlock his potential in this new system.

Normally, the experience outweighs the youth, but Samuel was taken in Round 2 for a reason. I believe he wins the job, and he will have an expanded role, too.

Like how Staley used Troy Hill with the Rams, Samuel will be in a similar situation, playing inside and outside.

With the newfound coaching coupled with his natural talent, Samuel can be a dynamic piece in this secondary.

Projecting the Chargers’ cornerback depth chart in 2021

Identifying the cornerbacks that the Chargers will start the 2021 season with on the 53-man roster.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been breaking down the depth chart at each position for the Chargers.

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver

Tight End

Offensive Line

Edge Defender

Interior Defensive Line

Linebacker

Next up, I project what the cornerback room will look like heading into the 2021 season.

Michael Davis

After originally signing with Los Angeles as an undrafted free agent in 2017, Davis steadily developed into a quality starter, with 2020 marking his best as a professional. He slowed some of the league’s top receivers and made a few big plays in critical situations en route to logging 64 tackles, 14 passes defensed and three interceptions, all of which were personal bests. Heading into the upcoming season, his versatility in coverage, length and athleticism make him a good fit near the boundary in head coach Brandon Staley’s defense. Only 26 years of age, Davis’ best football is still ahead of him

Chris Harris Jr.

Signed last offseason, Harris Jr. wasn’t as promising as prior years due to an injury that forced him to miss seven games and playing in a system that didn’t favor his skillset, only totaling 37 tackles, two passes defensed and an interception. In Staley’s defense, Harris will have more man coverage responsibilities, which is what he’s more comfortable with as opposed to heavy dosages of zone with former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley last season. He will be tasked with playing his natural position inside the slot on the outside and dimebacker.

Asante Samuel Jr.

Selected in the second round of this year’s draft, Samuel Jr. fell due to size concerns, but that never held him back at Florida State as he stymied top receivers on a weekly basis, where he posted 97 tackles, 29 passes defensed and four interceptions over 31 games. Now in the best situation possible playing for Staley, the coaching coupled with his natural talent could take his game to the next level. His quickness, instincts and ball skills should translate very well in this league. Like how Staley used Troy Hill with the Rams, Samuel Jr. will be in a similar situation, playing inside and outside.

Brandon Facyson

Relegated to a reserve player since entering the league in 2018, Facyson was re-signed earlier this offseason because the new coaching staff liked what they saw from a small sample size and felt like he has the traits they covet at the position. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 197 pounds, Facyson has excellent size and length and experience in a variety of techniques and coverage. While he hasn’t put it all together on the field, he has potential and it’s easy to believe that the coaches could help him unlock it.

Ryan Smith

Signed earlier this offseason after spending the past five seasons with the Buccaneers, Smith was brought in to aide in the special teams department, where he will aide in the coverage units. Last season, Smith appeared in all 16 regular-season games for the Buccaneers and played 78 percent of the special teams snaps (360). He also played at least 73 percent of the special teams snaps in each of the team’s four postseason games. In 2019, he led the team with a team-high seven stops on special teams.

Sleepers to watch at each position on defense in Chargers training camp

Identifying some under-the-radar defensive players who could generate some buzz at Chargers training camp.

Each year, there are a few players for the Chargers who fly under the radar who come to the forefront in training camp.

With that being said, let’s a look at some sleepers at each position on the defensive side of the ball you may want to keep an eye out on this summer.

IDL: Breiden Fehoko

Linval Joseph, Jerry Tillery, Justin Jones and Christian Covington are the presumed interior defensive linemen to make the 53-man roster. There is likely a fifth and final spot that will need to be filled, however. Last offseason, Fehoko was signed as an undrafted free agent out of LSU. Promoted from the practice squad, Fehoko was active for two games during the regular season. While he didn’t record any stats, he still showed flashes. Look for Fehoko to show off his strength and effort to make plays, as well as his infectious energy to be a highlight of camp.

EDGE: Kyler Fackrell

Starting edge defenders Joey Bosa and Uchenna Nwosu have stolen the majority of the headlines. But Fackrell, who was signed earlier this offseason, could be a valuable rotational defender. Since entering the league in 2016, Fackrell has wreaked havoc in opposing backfields. He has 20.5 sacks in five seasons. Fackrell is tall, long, and flexible with athletic range, closing burst and competitiveness to make plays when rushing the passer and defending the run.

LB: Kyzir White

Kenneth Murray and Drue Tranquill are slated to start in head coach Brandon Staley’s defense, but White should still see the field quite a bit. Last season, White started in 10 games in which he amassed 77 tackles, four tackles for loss and three passes defensed. This season, White has the versatility to be flexed in the slot (Star) and fill a sub-package safety-linebacker hybrid role (Money). His skillset should allow him to cover tight ends and support the run, which is what he did well coming out of college.

CB: Brandon Facyson

Michael Davis, Chris Harris Jr. and Asante Samuel Jr. make up the starters, but Facyson is not to be forgotten. This spring, Facyson impressed the coaching staff, as he worked with the first team at outside corner when Harris Jr. would move in the slot. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 197 pounds, Facyson is a long press-man coverage CB, which makes him an ideal scheme fit for Staley’s defense. Facyson is an unfinished product, but he has unlocked potential and it will be intriguing to see if he can put it all together under the new coaches.

S: Mark Webb

Drafted in the seventh-round, Webb’s physical mentality and tackling ability were highly coveted to serve as a key special teamer, but like I’ve said before, don’t be surprised to see him make an impact on defense early on in his career. His versatility, athleticism and traits in coverage and against the run will serve him well in the secondary, whether that be in the deep parts of the fields, as a dimebacker or lined up in the slot. Seeing how he’s utilized at camp is something I’m looking forward to.