Tag: Chargers 2020 season

Final stat leaders for the Chargers in 2020

Taking a look at the Chargers’ final stat leaders from the 2020 regular season.

All attention has been shifted to what the offseason and 2021 season will hold, but it’s still appropriate to reflect on this past season for the Chargers.

With that, here are the final stat leaders from the 2020 regular season:

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Offense

Touchdown Passes – QB Justin Herbert (31)

Passing Yards – QB Justin Herbert (4,336)

Rushing Yards – RB Austin Ekeler (530)

Rushing Touchdowns – QB Justin Herbert (5)

Receptions – WR Keenan Allen (100)

Receiving Touchdowns – WR Keenan Allen (8)

Yards From Scrimmage – RB Austin Ekeler (992)

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Defense/Special Teams

Sacks – DE Joey Bosa (7.5)

Tackles – LB Kenneth Murray (107)

Interceptions – CB Michael Davis (3)

Passes Defensed – CB Michael Davis (14)

Forced Fumbles – DT Jerry Tillery (2)

Punt Return Yards – WR KJ Hill (83)

Kick Return Yards – WR Joe Reed (435)

Chargers 2020 end of season awards

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez hands out end of season awards from the 2020 campaign.

The Los Angeles Chargers came up short this season, failing to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

While many fans are ready to put 2020 to bed, it’s still only right to reflect and hand out the season awards.

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Justin Herbert

Had the Chargers’ team doctor not accidentally punctured QB Tyrod Taylor’s lung in Week 2, who knows if we would have been able to see all of the greatness unfold. The accident, however, led to Los Angeles finding their quarterback of the future. In 15 games, Herbert shined, completing 66.6% of his passes for 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. The 22-year-old set rookie records in touchdowns (36), passing touchdowns (31), completions (396), multi-passing touchdown games (10), games with 300 yards passing (eight), and three-passing touchdown games (six). He fell just 38 yards shy of passing Andrew Luck’s rookie record of 4,374 yards passing.

Honorable Mention: WR Keenan Allen

Defensive Player of the Year: EDGE Joey Bosa

After becoming the highest paid edge defender in the NFL, Bosa showed why he was worth every single penny. Despite missing four games due to various injuries, he ended his 2020 campaign with 39 tackles (29 solo), 7.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. Bosa was a major factor of the passing game, as he logged 41 quarterback pressures and 27 hits. He also came up clutch on multiple occasions against the run. The outcome was him being named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl.

Honorable Mention: CB Michael Davis

Breakout Player of the Year: CB Michael Davis

After originally signing with Los Angeles as an undrafted free agent in 2017, Davis has shown that he is capable as a starting cornerback in the NFL. The former BYU steadily contributed the past three seasons outside of Casey Hayward, but he really came into his in 2020. He was on the field for 92% of the team’s defensive snaps, logging 64 tackles, 14 passes defensed and interceptions. He took out some of the league’s best wide receivers and came up with big plays in critical situations.

Honorable Mention: WR Tyron Johnson

Biggest Disappointment: CB Casey Hayward

Hayward was touted as one the Chargers’ best defenders heading into the season after consistently performing at a high level the past few seasons. However, Hayward wasn’t one that was able to be relied on every Sunday. This past season, Hayward allowed 36 catches on 75 targets for 610 yards (16.9 yards per reception). A reason for the decline in his play could be the various lower body injuries he sustained throughout the year. But regardless, the production was not there and now he faces potentially being cut this offseason.

Honorable Mention: OG Trai Turner & OT Bryan Bulaga

Most Underrated: NT Linval Joseph

The Chargers signed Joseph last offseason to replace Brandon Mebane as the clog of the defense. Playing 725 snaps this past season, which was nine shy of a career-high, Joseph not only contributed as someone who commanded double teams, but he made high effort plays against the pass and run. Moving like someone lighter than 6-foot-4 and 329 pounds, Joseph finished with 62 tackles, 12 quarterback pressures, three tackles for loss and two QB hits. No matter how the game was going, the 32-year old was always around the football.

Honorable Mention: S Rayshawn Jenkins

Let’s Agree or Argue: Chargers need to keep Melvin Ingram for another season

We took the most unpopular Chargers opinions and argued or agreed with them.

The Chargers’ 2020 season is winding down and the offseason is approaching. This is where the hottest team debates start to arise.

With that being said, we went to Twitter and Facebook to ask fans to list their hottest unpopular opinions about the current and future state of Los Angeles.

Let’s dive in!

Edge defender Melvin Ingram is slated to hit the free agency market after this season. While Ingram has been a key piece of the defense for years now, his time in the blue and gold should be coming to an end. 2020 will be the first season in Ingram’s career in which he did not record a sack. His season was cut short after being placed on the injured reserve twice. That is a bad combination for a player entering free agency: injured and unproductive. Given the 31-year old’s production throughout his career, he will have a market. Sure, the injuries might make the market limited and the Chargers could sign him cheap, but I believe he will get more money elsewhere. Plus, Los Angeles has other unrestricted free agents that have proven themselves as worth keeping. Looking ahead, L.A. can roll with Uchenna Nwosu as a full-time starter at weakside defensive end. Or, the team can draft someone in Round 1 like Gregory Rousseau or Kwity Paye to compliment Joey Bosa.

I wrote up why the Chargers could fire general manager Tom Telesco. However, I believe the chances of that are slim compared to them firing coach Anthony Lynn. I do like the idea of putting wide receiver Mike Williams on the trade block. Williams hasn’t shown to be consistently  healthy. But would there be much of a market for him? Williams is playing under his fifth-year rookie option in 2021 that is worth a whopping $15.6 million. It’s unlikely the compensation would be a lot, as well. If they decided to cut him before June 1, there is no dead cap hit. While Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson have shown flashes, I still wouldn’t past Los Angeles to consider taking a pass-catcher as early as the first round, with someone like Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith or even Kyle Pitts.

Man, the Chargers haven’t had a consistent positional group all season. They have a lot of bodies at the running back position, headlined by Austin Ekeler. It’s unfortunate that Justin Jackson has been injured and Joshua Kelley, the 2020 fourth-round pick, has barely flashed. Kalen Ballage has been a decent midseason pickup and Troymaine Pope has done a fine job in a limited capacity. They rank near the middle of the pack in yards per game with 111.4. However, they might benefit from better play up front in that department, as Los Angeles ranks near the bottom in team run block win rate (67%), per ESPN. L.A. is hopeful that Kelley can be more productive in Year 2 and Jackson can stay healthy. They might better success with more efficient blocking by potentially a couple of new hog mollies acquired either via free agency or the draft.

Chargers CBs Casey Hayward, Chris Harris Jr’s best days could be behind them

The Chargers need to be in the market for corners after this season.

While the Chargers had a pair of defenders that had solid performances in Sunday’s win over the Falcons, the team also had two defensive backs that struggled.

Wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage combined for 13 receptions, 206 yards and a touchdown, which were allowed primarily by cornerbacks Casey Hayward and Chris Harris Jr.

Harris got beat by Ridley on a touchdown, which came from Gage on a trick play while Hayward was beat on multiple occasions. The two were also poor as tacklers, one of which was attempted by Harris that led to a touchdown by wide receiver Laquon Treadwell.

Ridley and Gage ran freely for the majority of the contest. This was all without Julio Jones, who was out with an injury. If Jones was active, I can only imagine what the outcome would have been.

This season Hayward has allowed 32 catches on 67 targets for 547 yards while Harris has allowed 17 receptions on 25 targets for 291 yards, in just six games.

Both players have dealt with their perspective injuries this season even though Harris experienced one much longer. Nonetheless, Los Angeles isn’t getting great production out of these players, who they expected to be key contributors this season.

Whether it’s due to injuries, the bottom line is that L.A. needs to be in the market for more reliable cornerbacks, whether that be through free agency or the early rounds of the draft.

If signs regression continue to be evident with Hayward, the Chargers could elect to release him before he becomes a free agent after the 2021 season. With Harris, they could choose to restructure his contract.

Chargers announce team captains for 2020 season

The Los Angeles Chargers have announced their team captains for the 2020 season, which includes quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

The Los Angeles Chargers have selected their leaders for the 2020 season.

The Chargers today announced their team captains for the upcoming season, which opens up on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Those selected were quarterback Tyrod Taylor, center Mike Pouncey, cornerback Casey Hayward, defensive end Melvin Ingram and tight end Hunter Henry.

Henry, who came as a surprise to many, said being voted a captain is “a huge honor, man.”

Los Angeles’ season opener is on Sunday, Sept. 13 and will kickoff at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Chargers’ Mike Pouncey will likely be a game-time decision for Week 1 vs. Bengals

The Los Angeles Chargers could be without their starting center this weekend for the season opener.

There’s a chance that the Chargers could be without their starting center for the season opener against the Bengals.

According to coach Anthony Lynn, center Mike Pouncey will likely be a game-time decision on Sunday. Lynn added that Pouncey’s injury is not related to the season-ending neck injury he suffered last season.

Pouncey missed some of the final practices last week, but his injury is unknown.

If Pouncey is unable to, Dan Feeney is next on the depth chart at center. That would mean Forrest Lamp would likely get the start at left guard in the meantime.

Another player who will be a game-time decision is wide receiver Mike Williams, who is dealing with a shoulder injury.

Lynn said Williams is slowly being worked in this week at practice.

Chargers name Sam Tevi as starting left tackle

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn named who will be protecting quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s blindside.

One the Chargers’ most compelling position battles was for the starting left tackle job.

We officially know who will be protecting quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s blindside after a few weeks of auditioning.

Coach Anthony Lynn confirmed that Sam Tevi is the starting left tackle to begin the 2020 regular season, adding that he felt Tevi improved a lot in the offseason and loved the way he performed in training camp.

Tevi was in a competition with second-year Trey Pipkins, but the team chose to roll with the more experienced player.

Lynn did say that he felt like Pipkins strung together a good camp.

Familiarity with the offense and experience is key to the coaching staff, and Tevi possesses that. A sixth-round pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, Tevi has started 30 games in his career, with 29 of those coming at right tackle.

Even though Tevi has had his highs and lows throughout his career, the team is hoping that a shift in their offensive scheme and mentorship from one of the best offensive line coaches in the league will help optimize his play.

Chargers announce initial 53-man roster for 2020 season

The Los Angeles Chargers cut 27 players to get their initial 53-man roster for the 2020 season.

The Los Angeles Chargers have announced their initial 53-man roster heading into the 2020 season, which kicks off next Sunday against the Bengals.

The Chargers can make additional roster moves in the coming days via waiver claims and free agent signings. They’ll also look to construct a 16-man practice squad, a six-player increase from previous seasons.

Breaking down the Bolts’ 53-man roster by position alphabetically:

Quarterbacks (3): Tyrod Taylor, Justin Herbert, Easton Stick

Running backs (3): Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Justin Jackson

Tight ends (4): Hunter Henry, Virgil Green, Donald Parham, Stephen Anderson

Wide receivers (6): Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton, Jason Moore, K.J. Hill, Joe Reed

Offensive linemen (10): Sam Tevi, Dan Feeney, Mike Pouncey, Trai Turner, Bryan Bulaga, Trey Pipkins, Forrest Lamp, Storm Norton, Scott Quessenberry, Tyree St. Louis

Defensive linemen (9): Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Linval Joseph, Justin Jones, Jerry Tillery, Damion Square, Isaac Rochell, Cortez Broughton, Uchenna Nwosu

Linebackers (6): Denzel Perryman, Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill, Nick Vigil, Emeke Egbule, Kyzir White

Defensive backs (9): Rayshawn Jenkins, Nasir Adderley, Casey Hayward, Desmond King, Michael Davis, Chris Harris, Jr., Brandon Facyson, Alohi Gilman, Tevaughn Campbell

Specialists (3): Michael Badgley, Ty Long, Cole Mazza

Chargers announce uniform schedule for 2020 season

The Los Angeles Chargers unveiled the uniform schedule for the 2020 regular season.

The Chargers announced the uniform schedule for the entire 2020 season Thursday.

Los Angeles will be donning their new highly coveted threads, which emphasizes the franchise’s iconic powder blue. The other jersey will be white.

Two color rush uniforms will also be worn – one in all navy and another in royal blue.

Here’s a look at when the Bolts will wear each uniform, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter account.

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler praises Joshua Kelley, talks Justin Jackson’s injury

There continues to be high praise for Chargers rookie Joshua Kelley.

Chargers running back Austin Ekeler talked to the media on Thursday, which marked the last player press conference of the preseason.

Ekeler is the lead man in a backfield that will be sure to get a lot of work this upcoming season, now that they’re transitioning to a run-heavy system.

Ekeler will have a significant role, both as a ball carrier and pass-catcher, which is why there was a competition for the second back who would compliment the third-year player.

The competition was between Justin Jackson and rookie Joshua Kelley.

Jackson, who is entering his third season, is looking to have a bounce back year after dealing with a hamstring injury. But it appears there’s another injury that’s holding him back. Ekeler said that he is dealing with a toe injury, adding that he is “pissed off.”

Jackson missed a few practices during the past couple of weeks. While he was out, Kelley – the team’s fourth-round pick – got a handful of reps as RB2, where he impressed.

Ekeler said he sees Kelley is very talented and that he keeps getting better. He added that he will add a new dynamic to the backfield.

It was expected that it would be a committee in the backfield to start the season, but if Jackson can’t go, there could be a 1-2 punch between Ekeler and Kelley.

Regardless if Jackson is ready to go or not, I expect Kelley to warrant more touches. His showing at camp has suggested a good amount of playing time, and he was praised early and often.

It will be exciting to see Los Angeles’ new offense after some major changes. Ekeler said there’s a “new energy” to the Chargers offense this season.