Tag: Chargers 2021 season recap

3 Chargers who flew under the radar in 2021

Highlighting the Chargers players whose contributions did not receive the recognition they deserved.

The Chargers had a lot of star power that made their presences known consistently, but there were a few players whose contributions did not receive the recognition they deserved.

With that being said, here are three players who flew under the radar in 2021:

TE Stephen Anderson

Jared Cook and Donald Parham spotlighted the tight end room. But the unsung hero of the group was Anderson. While he made the most of his opportunities in the passing game – catching 16 of his 19 targets for 165 yards and a touchdown – what stood out the most that may have gone unrecognized was his work as a blocker. Anderson helped open up holes in the run game as a lead blocker and in pass protection.

LB Nick Niemann

The Chargers’ middle-of-the-pack special teams did not have a lot of veterans, and instead, they rolled with their rookie class as the main core. Among the crop, it was Niemann who ended up being a bright spot, finishing with 14 special teams tackles on coverage units, which tied for fourth-most in the NFL.

DT Breiden Fehoko

It was no surprise that the Chargers’ weakness was defending the run. They did not have the talent with their starters to consistently hold their own in this department. However, Fehoko made an impact in the trenches in his limited opportunities. On 65 run snaps, he had a stop percentage of 16.1, which ranked fourth, according to Pro Football Focus.

3 Chargers who exceeded expectations in 2021

Here are three Chargers players who exceeded preseason expectations during the 2021 season.

The Chargers’ season ended heartbreakingly, but there was still plenty of good to take away from 2021, including players who surpassed their expectations.

Here are three players who exceeded expectations:

LB Kyzir White

The Chargers always had a talented player in White, but his undefined role in Gus Bradley’s defense kept his playing time to a minimum. That was until Brandon Staley came aboard, and with his system, it was able to maximize White’s true potential. Manning the middle of the defense with the ability to play freely in space, White was impactful against the run, in coverage, and as a blitzer. He had 144 tackles, seven for loss, three passes defended, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a sack.

OT Rashawn Slater

The Chargers knew that they had their left tackle of the future when they snagged Slater in last year’s draft. However, the team had no idea that he would establish himself as one of the best at his positions in Year 1. Facing the league’s best edge defenders week in and week out, Slater allowed just 26 pressures and four sacks while mauling defenders in the run game en route to being named a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro.

OT Trey Pipkins

Pipkins was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft with the hope of developing into a starter. However, he was being written off amid his struggles in his first two seasons. When Slater was ruled out with COVID-19 in Week 15 against the Chiefs, Pipkins was called on to make the start in place of him. On 42 pass-blocking opportunities, Pipkins allowed just three pressures. Two weeks later against the Broncos, he started at right tackle in the absence of Storm Norton. He did not surrender a single pressure on 32 opportunities. While it was a small sample size, Pipkins is a prime example that scheme and coaching are significant factors in the development of mid- late-round offensive tackles.