Tag: Chargers defense

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 14

The Chargers held the Chiefs to less than 300 yards of total offense, so how did that impact them in the rankings?

The Chargers fell to 8-5 after losing to the Chiefs on Sunday night.

Los Angeles’ defense held its own, limiting Kansas City to less than 300 yards of total offense and containing Patrick Mahomes for most of the game. Offensively, the Bolts couldn’t get anything going in the first half but had a surge in the second half.

With Week 15 coming up, how do the Bolts compare to the rest of the NFL? Here is where Los Angeles ranks:

Offense

Category Stat Rank
Points per game 21.3 ppg 20th
Passing offense 198.1 ypg 25th
Rushing offense 111.5 ypg 19th
Total offense 309.5 ypg 24th
3rd down conversions 38.37% 15th
Red zone scoring 54.55% 19th
Sacks allowed 38 23rd
Turnovers 6 1st

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 15.9 ppg 1st
Passing defense 206.1 ypg 8th
Rushing defense 117.6 ypg 14th
Total defense 323.7 ypg 11th
3rd down conversions 35.03% 7th
Red zone defense 41.94% 1st
Sacks 39 5th
Takeaways 17 10th

 

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 13

The Chargers only mustered 187 yards of total offense, so how did that impact them in the rankings?

The Chargers improved to 8-4 after beating the Falcons in Week 13.

Los Angeles’ defense, which compiled four interceptions on the day, was why they won the game. The offense only managed 187 yards of total offense and allowed five sacks to a Falcons defense with just ten entering Sunday.

With Week 14 coming up, how do the Bolts compare to the rest of the NFL? Here is where Los Angeles ranks:

Offense

Category Stat Rank
Points per game 21.7 ppg 18th
Passing offense 198.4 ypg 24th
Rushing offense 112.9 ypg 18th
Total offense 311.3 ypg 24th
3rd down conversions 37.74% 18th
Red zone scoring 53.33% 21st
Sacks allowed 30 21st
Turnovers 5 1st

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 15.7 ppg 1st
Passing defense 206.4 ypg 10th
Rushing defense 119.4 ypg 14th
Total defense 325.8 ypg 14th
3rd down conversions 33.33% 2nd
Red zone defense 42.86% 2nd
Sacks 35 T-6th
Takeaways 13 14th

 

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 12

The Chargers allowed a season-high 30 points, so how did that impact them in the rankings?

The Chargers fell to 7-4 after losing to the Ravens in Week 12.

Los Angeles’ defense was dominated by Baltimore’s ground game, which accrued 212 yards, the most given up in Jim Harbaugh’s coaching career. After not allowing more than 20 points in the first nine weeks of the season, the Bolts gave up 27 and 30 points in the past two weeks.

With Week 13 coming up, how do the Bolts compare to the rest of the NFL? Here is where Los Angeles ranks:

Offense

Category Stat Rank
Points per game 22.1 ppg 18th
Passing offense 204.5 ypg 20th
Rushing offense 118.1 ypg 13th
Total offense 322.6 ypg 21st
3rd down conversions 38.51% 16th
Red zone scoring 57.14% 13th
Sacks allowed 30 21st
Turnovers 5 1st

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 15.9 ppg 1st
Passing defense 203.9 ypg 13th
Rushing defense 119.7 ypg 15th
Total defense 323.6 ypg 13th
3rd down conversions 34.46% 8th
Red zone defense 45.83% 4th
Sacks 35 T-6th
Takeaways 13 14th

 

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 11

Even after allowing 27 points, the Chargers still have the No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL.

The Chargers improved to 7-3 after beating the Bengals in Week 11.

Justin Herbert was lights out in the first half until he wasn’t. He and the rest of the offense stalled in the second half before engineering a game-winning drive. The defense allowed more than 20 points for the first time this season.

With Week 12 coming up, how do the Bolts compare to the rest of the NFL? Here is where Los Angeles ranks:

Offense

Category Stat Rank
Points per game 22.0 ppg 18th
Passing offense 204.8 ypg 19th
Rushing offense 121.6 ypg 12th
Total offense 326.4 ypg 18th
3rd down conversions 38.81% 15th
Red zone scoring 53.85% 21st
Sacks allowed 26 19th
Turnovers 5 T-1st

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 14.5 ppg 1st
Passing defense 206.6 ypg 12th
Rushing defense 110.5 ypg 11th
Total defense 317.1 ypg 11th
3rd down conversions 32.33% 2nd
Red zone defense 40.91% 2nd
Sacks 34 T-4th
Takeaways 13 13th

 

Early signs pointing to Derwin James wearing green dot for Chargers during 2024 season

Derwin James was spotted wearing what appeared to be a communications device at voluntary veteran minicamp.

The Chargers uploaded a series of photos from their voluntary veteran minicamp to the team’s website. Perhaps most interestingly, a picture of Derwin James wearing a communications device was uploaded.

Historically, players wearing an earpiece are usually relaying signal calls from the defensive coordinator. In this case, James would be the primary green dot play caller for Jesse Minter.

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James has worked as the team’s green dot previously. Last season, Brandon Staley handed the signal-calling responsibilities to a newly signed free agent in Eric Kendricks entering 2023. After an injury to Kendricks and an early defensive tailspin for the team, the green dot role went back to Kenneth Murray.

James had signal-calling responsibilities in both 2021 and parts of 2022. In 2022, Staley wanted to free up James’ ability to make plays by giving green dot responsibility to former Charger Drue Tranquill early in the season. It was a change of philosophy for Staley relative to how he talked about James’ role when he first was hired.

It’s still too early to suggest that James is getting the green dot role back relative to other options. With the draft quickly approaching, one has to wonder if the Chargers take a linebacker fairly early. Los Angeles publicly met with Michigan’s Junior Colson and Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper in Top 30 visits.

While we’re still a long way away from August and September, James’ contentment with being Minter’s signal relayer is nonetheless interesting and a potentially marked change.

Chargers DC Jesse Minter ‘excited to unleash’ Derwin James

Jesse Minter revealed how excited he is to work with the star defensive back.

In a sitdown interview with the Chargers’ Senior Writer Eric Smith, Jesse Minter was asked about the vision for safety Derwin James thriving in his defense. In a rather lengthy response, Minter revealed his excitement to work with the star defensive back.

On his usage, Minter said:

I’m excited just to sort of try to try to unleash Derwin. No. 1, put him in positions to best utilize his skills and — he can do a lot of stuff — but I also think there’s a fine line. Like, ‘Let’s try to maximize Derwin and allow him to do the things that he’s really, really good at as much as possible.’ Sometimes you can get a guy like that and you can almost do too much with him and move him around too much. I want him to understand the concepts of the defense so that there’s certainly times that we can maximize his skillset.

James struggled at points last year when more was placed on his plate in reference to Brandon Staley’s STAR position. He had his slot cornerback snaps slashed in the last two weeks while his proportion of box and free safety snaps increased. The result? James had his highest PFF-graded game of the season against the Broncos and turned in a solid performance against the Chiefs.

The Chargers should still use the athletic versatility of James when they have the opportunity to, but it should be less heavily relied upon in the context of the whole defense.

Minter continued by mentioning James’ eagerness to get to work.

An elite cover guy, particularly on tight ends. And then he’s a physical presence over the middle of the field at the safety position. We want to put him in a position to use his strengths and do all that stuff to the best of his ability But really just most excited about his leadership skills, his eagerness. I feel like he stopped by my office every day the first couple of weeks I was here. He just wanted to talk and wanted to kind of get to know me and what we were trying to build. I like it to look at it as a partnership with these guys. Now we’re in this thing together, we’re building this thing together. Really excited about Derwin and the capabilities he has.

Chargers’ Derwin James has snaps significantly reduced vs. Bills

The future role of Derwin James is one the biggest questions.

Chargers safety Derwin James had a reduced role against the Bills.

With a large majority of snaps that took place at slot corner and near the box, James played the fewest snaps of his career, excluding injuries/ejections. 41 snaps was the fewest played for the former All-Pro in a game since he was ejected against the Colts.

Earlier in the week, interim head coach Giff Smith did talk about potential changes to Brandon Staley’s defense. On Tuesday, Smith did hint at personnel changes:

We’re going to put the best guys out there in the best position to have the opportunity to stop Buffalo and give us a chance to win.

James played over 50% of his 41 snaps at slot corner specifically. It’s the continuation of a gradual trend of having him play fewer of the deep aspects of the safety position, effectively limiting him to the box. James also registered his third consecutive game with a PFF grade lower than 45.0.

Notably, he was on the sideline on a 3rd and 8 play when Essang Bassey was playing the slot against Stefon Diggs. The Bills would convert against Bassey and effectively ice the game from there.

The firings of Tom Telesco and Staley will produce a domino effect of roster decisions going forward. One has to wonder where that leaves James in the shuffle if his snaps were immediately reduced the game after Staley’s ouster. Not to mention, is James comfortable with a slot majority role? The constant changes in his role this year are not something generally seen with the highest-paid players at their respective positions leaguewide.

From the Chargers’ standpoint, is it worth it to pay James as the most expensive safety in the league when they’re no longer using him as the Swiss Army Knife-esque key to their defense anymore?

New Chargers leadership will have many questions to answer, but the future role of James remains perhaps the biggest question regarding defensive roster construction.

Brandon Staley on Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack: ‘When we’re healthy, that’s how we’ll rush’

The Chargers’ pass rush was unrelenting at MetLife Stadium.

The Chargers’ pass rush was unrelenting at MetLife Stadium. Los Angeles’ defense finished the game with 31 pressures and seven sacks out of true passing sets for the Jets. Six players finished with pass rush win percentages over 20%, including Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.

Brandon Staley was asked after the game about seeing both of them on the field together, given availability issues previously.

When we’re healthy, that’s how we’ll rush…When they’ve (Bosa and Mack) been healthy together, that’s how they’ve played…The reason why we’re able to rush the way we are is the way we’re playing against the run.

Bosa has missed time in previous seasons and 2023 with injuries. The Chargers’ star missed one game this year with his fractured toe and hamstring. In the four games since the bye, Mack and Bosa have each registered 70+ PFF defensive grades in each contest.

The Chargers will look to keep up their positive pass-rush momentum against the Lions. It might not come easy: PFF ranks the Lions’ offensive line 1st in the league entering Week 10. Detroit is third in pass-blocking efficiency.

Hopefully, with Mack, Bosa, and Tuli Tuipulotu increasing their volume and staying healthy, the Chargers’ pass rush can stay hot down the stretch.

Chargers’ three-headed monster dominates in win over Jets

The Chargers have one of the best edge defender trios in the NFL.

The Chargers’ defense reigned supreme in the victory over the Jets on Monday.

In total, they amassed eight sacks, four tackles for loss, three takeaways, seven passes defended and did not allow a single touchdown.

While they were strong at each level, the edge defender unit, comprised of Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and rookie Tuli Tuipulotu, meant business.

They combined for 6.5 sacks, which is tied for the most players with 2.0 or more sacks in a game in Chargers franchise history.

Bosa, who dealt with multiple injuries early in the season, had a phenomenal performance with 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and tackle for loss. 

Mack and Tuipulotu posted two sacks each. Tuipulotu got his first sack since Week 3, yet the rookie has helped create several sacks rushing on the inside this season. 

Tuipulotu, who is having one of the best rookie seasons, is now up to 29 quarterback pressures, four sacks and a 12.2% pass-rush win rate.

“Those guys are beasts out there, Alohi Gilman said. “Makes me smile, makes my job easier back there when you got guys like that up front. Super grateful to be a part of this team, a part of them, being a part of this. A bunch of Hall of Famers up front.”

This was the Bolts’ fourth game with five-plus sacks this season, which puts the team in a tie for second-most sacks in the league with a total of 31. 

Every player on the Bolts’ defense did their job in primetime, but the three-headed monster gave the Jets the most problems. If they can maintain this level of play, it should aid with high-powered offenses, like the Lions and Ravens on the horizon. 

Chargers’ causes for concern vs. Vikings

Reasons why the Vikings could beat the Chargers in Week 3.

The Chargers meet a spiritual equal on Sunday, facing a Vikings team well acquainted with the sort of heartbreak Los Angeles’ fans have come to expect.

With both teams standing at 0-2 despite productive offensive performances, something has to give.

Here are four reasons to be concerned about a 0-3 start for L.A..