Tag: Chargers 2020 season

What would ‘successful’ 2020 season look like for Chargers?

How can the Los Angeles Chargers have success in 2020?

For many, winning a Super Bowl is the only way a season can be labeled as “successful”. However, not hoisting the Lombardi Trophy doesn’t mean that it’s not a successful season.

Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon identified what a successful campaign would look like for each of the NFL’s 32 teams. For the Chargers, Gagnon believes that consists of making the playoffs and creating an energized fanbase.

Here is what he had to say:

As they christen the new stadium they’ll be sharing with the Los Angeles Rams, the Los Angeles Chargers will be fighting to win over as many fans as possible in 2020. A Super Bowl run would likely do the trick, but simply getting to the playoffs with an exciting and entertaining squad would probably suffice.

Maybe that means an encouraging rookie season from top-10 pick Justin Herbert or a strong bridge year from veteran Tyrod Taylor. Maybe it just means Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram III and the defense take over. Maybe it means the Chargers sneak in as a wild card while the Rams sink.

Regardless, the key is marked progress and, ideally, an edge over their L.A. competition.

The Chargers are coming off a season that resulted in a 5-11 record and last place in the AFC West after going 12-4 and making it to the AFC Divisional Round the year before that.

As they look forward to the 2020 season, not mirroring the results from 2019 is the low end goal. But this roster is built to accomplish that and more as they move into SoFi Stadium, their new stadium in Inglewood, CA.

On paper, they’re stacked from top to bottom. However, it will be a matter of getting the most from the quarterback play as Tyrod Taylor and Justin Herbert take over, ensuring the offensive line can play at a high level and most importantly, making sure key players stay healthy.

If everything goes well, the Chargers can clinch a playoff spot. Claiming the division title might be tough as they will have to dethrone the reigning Super Bowl champs. But the postseason is well within reach, and they should benefit from having an extra playoff spot added.

Building a larger fanbase might not be an easy task as they’ve struggled to do so since their move from San Diego in 2017. But it may be challenging with the uncertainty that the coronavirus has brought to the NFL, leaving there a possibility of not having fans in attendance this season.

The only way that the Bolts might be able to garner more fans is by doing what we mentioned above: have a productive season which will result in making the playoffs.

Chargers, Rams to be featured on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’

The Los Angeles Chargers and Rams get the spotlight.

It’s official.

The Chargers and Rams are set to be the teams that will be featured in this year’s “Hard Knocks”. The series will begin on Aug. 11.

The HBO television show, which has been a hit for almost two decades, follows team(s) through training camp and preseason.

This will mark the Bolts’ first appearance. For the Rams, this will mark their second appearance on the show. They were last on in 2016.

This is the perfect year to have both Los Angeles teams featured as they prepare to open SoFi Stadium this year, their brand new stadium in Inglewood, CA.

There will be plenty of storylines to follow for the Chargers as this will be the first season in 14 years with someone other than Philip Rivers under center.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the format of the show remains to be seen. If there is no training camp, it’ll be interesting to see how both teams are still showcased while making it entertaining for viewers.

Chargers’ Michael Davis tabbed as one of NFL’s top zone coverage cornerbacks

Surprisingly, Casey Hayward did not make the cut.

A cornerback for the Chargers is being hailed as one of the league’s best, and his name isn’t Casey Hayward.

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar sought out the NFL’s 11 best cornerbacks in zone coverage. After some extensive evaluation, CB Michael Davis was among the crop, being named the 11th-best in a zone coverage role.

According to Farrar, Davis allowed 19 receptions on 34 targets for 254 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions, and a Positive Play Rate of 50% when playing zone coverage.

From Farrar’s breakdown:

The Chargers may go into 2020 with the NFL’s most loaded secondary that’s not based in Foxboro. When you have cornerbacks Casey Hayward and Chris Harris Jr., and safeties Derwin James and Nasir Adderley, that’s a potential nightmare for any enemy quarterback. But the guy who performed best in the Chargers’ league-high zone coverages in 2019 was also the least-known. Davis, an undrafted free agent from BYU who joined the team in 2017, can do everything from taking speed receivers up the chute, to breaking up screens, to deflecting quick slants and drags over the middle. In 2019, Davis allowed 19 receptions on 34 targets for 254 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions, and a Positive Play Rate of 50% when playing zone coverage.

For many, Davis being on the list and Hayward not being among the crop, will be quite surprising. However, Farrar creates his list by logging specific data points, tracking player assignments, and creating deep-dive statistical analyses from it all.

Davis, the undrafted free agent out of BYU, has been overshadowed by premiere defensive backs the past couple of seasons. But he has still managed to play at a high level in 21 starts, notching 89 tackles, 17 passes defensed and two interceptions.

Davis’ play has been scrutinized due to inconsistency in coverage and as a tackler, but Farrar’s breakdown and the coaching staff’s confidence in him in the starting role suggests otherwise.

Los Angeles has the opportunity to boast one of the league’s best defenses in 2020, and Davis will be a critical piece in a secondary that features Hayward, Chris Harris Jr., Desmond King, Derwin James, Nasir Adderley and Rayshawn Jenkins.

ESPN ranks Chargers middle of the pack in NFL in continuity

The offensive side of the ball took the biggest hit this offseason.

The Chargers lost their heart and soul of the team from the past decade after the franchise and quarterback Philip Rivers mutually decided to part ways earlier this offseason.

Other notable players that fled consist of tackle Russell Okung, running back Melvin Gordon, safety Adrian Phillips and fullback Derek Watt. So how much continuity did Los Angeles retain overall coming out of last season?

ESPN ranked all 32 NFL teams based on continuity, and L.A. ranked No. 16 overall.

Here’s how the “continuity stats” shook up:

Offensive snaps returning: 69.6% (27th)
Defensive snaps returning: 77.8% (T-9th)
Starters returning: 17 (6 offense, 8 defense, 3 special teams)

Non-coordinator assistants returning: 14 of 17
Coordinators returning: 2 of 3 (Shane Steichen, 1st full season as OC after 8 games as interim in 2019; Gus Bradley, DC; George Stewart, ST)
Starting QB: Tyrod Taylor, 1st year with Chargers (9th overall)
Head coach: Anthony Lynn, 4th year (26-22)

The offensive side of the ball took the biggest hit, as they lost Rivers, Okung, Gordon, Watt and guard Michael Schofield.

To fill the voids, the team is rolling with Tyrod Taylor and are hopeful that first-round pick Justin Herbert is the long-term answer at the position. Along with that, they gave the signal-callers some help by adding tackle Bryan Bulaga, guard Trai Turner and rookies Joshua Kelley, K.J. Hill and Joe Reed.

The majority of the defensive starters stayed intact with the only losses being Phillips, linebacker Thomas Davis, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane. However, the rich got richer after they acquired cornerback Chris Harris Jr., defensive tackle Linval Joseph and rookie linebacker Kenneth Murray.

“The Chargers made aggressive moves in free agency and the NFL draft to upgrade their roster to contend in the AFC West,” ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry said.

“But two big questions remain in their effort to chase down the Chiefs: Will they be able to form an identity without Philip Rivers, and how quickly can a plethora of new starters meld with the returners with an abbreviated offseason?”

Projecting the Chargers’ cornerback depth chart

The Los Angeles Chargers cornerback room is led by Casey Hayward and Chris Harris, Jr.

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

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Offensive line

Defensive line

Linebacker

Today, we examine and project the cornerback room, which is one of the stronger units for Los Angeles heading into the 2020 season.

CB: Casey Hayward

Hayward piled together 32 tackles, eight passes defended and two interceptions over the course of 16 games last season. His stats may not resemble high level of play, but quarterbacks have learned by now not to test Hayward. The 30-year old has been a key presence in the secondary, earning the highest coverage grade (93.1) among cornerbacks the past five seasons. Lining up across the league’s top wide receivers, “Showcase” has stymied nearly every single one. Heading into this season, he will remain the No. 1 cornerback on the outside.

Backup(s): Brandon Facyson, Quenton Meeks

Slot CB: Chris Harris, Jr.

According to NFL.com research, the Chargers allowed nine yards per slot target last season, which was the fifth-highest average in the league. They also ranked No. 30 in completion percentage to slot targets. Because of the lack of production, a change needed to be made which led to the signing of Harris earlier this offseason. Harris projects as the starting slot corner, overtaking Desmond King in that role. Harris is capable of playing on the outside along with some safety, but we can expect to see him primarily on the inside. For King, he is a bit of mystery now that he won’t be the starting slot corner after he experienced a rocky 2019 campaign. Expect him to play an interchangeable role with snaps coming in the slot and as a sub-package linebacker, along with special teams duties.

Backup(s): Desmond King

CB: Michael Davis

Davis earned the Week 1 starting job in 2019, but he was limited to 12 games after missing two of them due to an injury and the others to a suspension after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He’s appeared in 43 games over the course of the past three seasons with 21 of them being starts. Since then, he’s totaled 107 tackles, 18 passes defensed and two interceptions. Davis will be in competition for this spot with Brandon Facyson, who started here while the former BYU product missed some action. Facyson did show promise in coverage and as a tackler in his four starts. However, Davis is the model that Gus Bradley covets at the position and his experience in the role should ensure he retains his job. Quenton Meeks was mentioned as an underdog who could make the team as a depth piece.

Backup(s): Brandon Facyson, Quenton Meeks

3 underdog players who could make Chargers roster

The Los Angeles Chargers have a talented roster, but there are a few under-the-radar players who could crack the 55-man roster.

With the rosters being expanded to 55 players now, the competition to make the squad becomes even more heated. Every year we see a few make the team which no one projected.

With that being said, here are three players, not including undrafted free agents, that could find themselves on the roster heading into the Week 1 matchup against the Bengals.

OT Storm Norton

The Chargers didn’t sign a proven veteran left tackle in free agency or draft one, which means they are banking on their in-house options to fill the void. Norton, Pro Football Focus’ highest graded XFL offensive lineman, joins Sam Tevi, Trey Pipkins and Trent Scott as members fighting for the job.

Norton possesses a towering frame at 6-foot-8 and 307 pounds with excellent athleticism and movement skills in pass protection and the run-blocking department. He is suited best for a zone scheme, which is what the offense is expected to shift to.

Even though he doesn’t have much starting experience at the NFL level, he is the model that Campen would love to work with and develop just like how he did in Green Bay with their offensive linemen. Norton is capable of serving as a depth piece with high upside to start over time.

DT PJ Johnson

The nose tackle position was addressed after the departure of Brandon Mebane with the signing of Linval Joseph and re-signing of Damion Square. That doesn’t mean the work ends there. Last season, the Chargers carried three on the roster, which means one could be up for grabs.

Johnson was selected by the Lions in the seventh-round of the 2019 NFL draft. He was with the team throughout the preseason, but was released on cutdown day. The former Arizona product was signed to Los Angeles’ practice squad last December.

Johnson, the enormous defensive lineman, has great upper body strength to dispose blockers and make an impact against the pass and run. The 6-foot-4 and 335 pound nose tackle finished his collegiate career with 31 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

CB Quenton Meeks

It was thought that the Chargers were going to bring in a cornerback this offseason to compete with Michael Davis and Brandon Facyson on the outside opposite side of Casey Hayward. However, they came away empty-handed.

After a successful collegiate career with Stanford, Meeks was signed by the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He spent some time on the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster. There, he amassed eight tackles and two passes defensed.

Prior to the 2019 season, Meeks was released by Jacksonville. A month later, he signed to Los Angeles’ practice squad.

Meeks, the 6-foot-2 and 197 pound corner, plays with reaction skills, intelligence and toughness, projecting best in a Cover 3 system. He skillset, on-field demeanor and hustle are all traits that should be highly coveted by the coaching staff to make the team as a depth piece and special teams ace.

Projecting the Chargers’ linebacker depth chart

With the addition of rookie Kenneth Murray, Chargers Wire examines the linebacker corps.

The Chargers have steadily looked to enhance the linebacker room over the course of the past few years. The team looked through free agency and the draft, but the results from the positional group were still average at best.

After a couple key additions, they look to boast a promising unit this upcoming season.

Below, I take a crack at projecting Los Angeles’ linebacker depth chart for the 2020 season:

MIKE: Denzel Perryman

Perryman is entering the final year of his contract, and will have to do a lot in order to stay on the roster beyond the 2020 season. 2019 was the first time since Perryman’s rookie campaign in which he played in 14 or more games, finishing with 68 tackles (50 solo), one interception and one forced fumble. However, his playing time decreased due to the emergence of rookie standout Drue Tranquill, who took a significant amount of snaps away from the former Miami product. Going into this year, Perryman will likely see the field first, but him and Tranquill will split snaps. Perryman will play on rushing downs while Tranquill will play on passing downs. By the end of the year, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the second-year player with more snaps taken.

Backups: Drue Tranquill, Nick Vigil, Malik Jefferson

WILL: Kenneth Murray

The Chargers weren’t aggressive in trading up for Murray in this year’s draft to serve as a depth player. The team clearly had a role for him and that’s to start in the spot that was played by Thomas Davis last season. Murray needs to needs to clean up his overaggressive tendencies and enhance his ability in coverage, but the combination of his instincts, range and closing speed quickness will translate to remarkable production in the running and passing game. With his leadership and football IQ, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the one responsible of handling defensive play calls.

Backups: Nick Vigil, Malik Jefferson

SAM: Kyzir White

White started last season as the starting middle linebacker while Denzel Perryman was nursing an ankle injury for the first two games. White struggled in that role, so Perryman took over. With Thomas Davis serving as the starting WILL, that only left White with one option: SAM. With the Chargers playing a lot of nickel packages, that means the SAM doesn’t see the field as much. Because of that, White didn’t play as much as many were expecting. When White did see the field, he was making plays. The former West Virginia product finished with 40 tackles, two passes defensed and one tackle for loss. Desmond King, Rayshawn Jenkins and Nasir Adderley will likely be the candidates as the team’s sub-package linebacker, which will limit White’s playing time.

Backups: Uchenna Nwosu, Emeke Egbule

Identifying the Chargers’ most underrated position groups

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lists the Los Angeles Chargers’ two most underrated positional groups.

The Chargers have one of the most talented rosters on paper from top to bottom. They’re strong in certain areas, which rank among the best in the NFL, most notably their secondary.

However, there are other positional groups that aren’t getting as much love, but they certainly should as we head into the upcoming season.

On the offensive side of the ball, I believe the running back unit doesn’t get as much attention outside of the talented Austin Ekeler. But with the pieces they have, they could make some noise.

Ekeler has proven to be one of the league’s most dynamic skill players, finishing with 557 rushing yards on 132 attempts with three touchdowns along with 92 receptions for 993 receiving yards and eight receiving scores in 2019.

The former Western Colorado product will again serve as a ball carrier and pass-catcher out of the slot and out wide this upcoming season.

To ensure the team is able to get Ekeler lined up all across the formation, Los Angeles can afford to do so with the tandem of Justin Jackson and rookie Joshua Kelley.

Jackson, a seventh-round pick by the Bolts in 2018, has rushed 79 times for 406 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns in his 20 games (one start) in two seasons.

The former Northwestern product was hampered by injuries last season, but he has shown enough flashes to prove that he can be a threat when he is healthy.

Complimenting him is Kelley, the team’s fourth-round pick. The former UCLA product should see immediate snaps. A well-rounded back, Kelley makes the most of each touch, making it difficult for defenders to bring him down.

Expected to run the ball more so than previous years with their new offensive scheme, the players in this group are capable of becoming the focal point of the offense.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Chargers are strong across the board. But one unit that isn’t being recognized as much as others is the interior part of the defensive line.

Brandon Mebane is no longer a part of the crop, but his replacement – Linval Joseph – is an upgrade. Joseph, the two-time Pro Bowler is an athletic and powerful take-on player with the backfield vision and handwork to make an impact vs. the run, which is an area that was not a strong suit last season.

Justin Jones, the Chargers’ third-round pick in 2018, made a huge leap from Year 1 to Year 2 after using the offseason to shed weight and become more quicker and agile. Even though he missed four games due to an injury, Jones was arguably one of the team’s best interior defenders.

The former North Carolina State product finished the season with 30 tackles, six quarterback pressures, two tackles for loss, one pass deflected and a forced fumble.

Expectations were set high for 2019 first-round pick Jerry Tillery, but he was unable to meet them. However, throughout the course of the season he showed glimpses of untapped potential despite failing to make his presence known on the stat sheet.

Tillery also didn’t have a full offseason heading into his rookie season since he spent the majority of it rehabbing his torn labrum. Now healthy and a full slate ahead of him, Tillery has that to has full advantage to get bigger and stronger.

If he puts the pieces together in his second season, showing he can play with better leverage and out-power interior blockers, he could become the dominant pass-rushing defensive tackle the team was hoping to get.

Los Angeles could look to bring in another player to compliment Joseph at the nose tackle position. Damion Square and Sylvester Williams, both key contributors last season, are still on the market to fill out the room.

Which rookie could be surprise gem for Chargers?

The Los Angeles Chargers have a few rookies that could turn heads in Year 1 and beyond.

While Chargers general manager Tom Telesco has hit some of his early round picks out of the park, but he has also managed to haul in a few late-round gems in the NFL draft.

Telesco is hoping the same is true for his Day 3 selections in this past year’s draft, which include running back Joshua Kelley and wide receivers Joe Reed and K.J. Hill.

For Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski, he believes that Reed could be Los Angeles’ surprise gem, highlighting his offensive versatility.

The Los Angeles Chargers will find ways to utilize fifth-round pick Joe Reed.

“He can do a lot of things for us,” general manager Tom Telesco said, per the Los Angeles Times‘ Jeff Miller. “So we’ll get him in here and see where he fits.”

Head coach Anthony Lynn called Reed a “multipurpose threat.”

If the Chargers are truly creative, the 2019 Jet Award winner can come in and serve in a similar role as Cordarrelle Patterson, Percy Harvin or Josh Cribbs. He may never be a full-time wide receiver, yet he can impact a game through a variety of roles.

During his four seasons with the Virginia Cavaliers, Reed accumulated 1,465 receiving yards, 172 rushing yards, 3,042 kick return yards and 22 total touchdowns, including five on special teams.

Reed will be used as a versatile pass-catcher, lining up in the slot, out wide, and even in the backfield. He will be used in sweeps, shovel passes and slants, similar to the role that the 49ers gave Deebo Samuel last season and the same way someone like Percy Harvin was used.

Even though he wasn’t tasked to push down the field vertically often in college, Reed has the speed to turn into the deep threat that Los Angeles could benefit from. He will just need to refine his separation technique.

Along with that, he should provide an immediate spark in the return game, given his impressive production for the Cavaliers, which included becoming the first player in school history with two kickoff returns in the same season.

“Whatever the coaches ask of me, I have the ability to go out there and do it and just not be a one-dimensional receiver,” Reed said per Draft Wire’s Michelle Bruton.

ESPN FPI predicts Chargers’ win total, playoff chances in 2020

ESPN believes that the Los Angeles Chargers will finish under .500 in 2020.

The Chargers are looking to turn things around after a disappointing 2019 season that resulted in a 5-11 record and last place in the AFC West since 2016.

Los Angeles made to sure to stack the deck this offseason to help their case, acquiring notable veterans such as cornerback Chris Harris Jr., tackle Bryan Bulaga, guard Trai Turner and defensive tackle Linval Joseph.

Along with that, they added talent through the draft, bringing in Philip Rivers’ replacement in Justin Herbert and giving him weapons – running back Joshua Kelley and wide receiver Joe Reed and K.J. Hill. A defensive player who should make a difference is linebacker Kenneth Murray.

ESPN’s FPI (Football Power Index) projected win totals and playoff odds for every team. The Chargers came in at No. 20. The FPI set their projected wins at 7.7 and gave them a 37% chance to make the playoffs.

The betting odds for the Chargers’ win total is set at 7.5, which makes it fair to see the projected wins be at 7.7.

On paper, they’re stacked from top to bottom. But it will be matter of getting the most from the quarterback play as Tyrod Taylor and Herbert take over, ensuring the offensive line can play at a high level and most importantly, making sure key players can stay healthy.

If all goes well, they could be back in the playoffs. Claiming the division title might be a tough task as they will have to dethrone the reigning Super Bowl champions, but the Chargers should benefit from having an extra playoff spot added.