Tag: Chargers defense

Third down defense needs to be point of emphasis for Chargers in 2020

The Los Angeles Chargers have a talented defense, but they need to be better on third down.

While the Chargers finished with a top-10 defense in 2019, they struggled to stop opposing offenses on third-down situations and in the red zone on crucial possession downs, ranking 29th and 30th in the league, respectively.

A big reason why Los Angeles was unable to get off the field in those situations was because of the lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks and conservative coverage.

L.A. finished 26th in quarterback pressures with 125. The number doesn’t come as a surprise as the unit blitzed only 75 times, which ranked last in the league.

However, it’s inexcusable when the Chargers have arguably the best pass-rushing duo with defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.

Gus Bradley’s scheme from previous seasons, a Cover 3 system that involves a lot of zone coverage, forced them to play conservative and did not allow many opportunities to attack downhill.

To ensure they have more success on third downs moving forward, Bradley is going to incorporate more split safeties and tighter coverage, which could lead to more takeaways.

This offseason, the Chargers brought in more personnel to help, signing cornerback Chris Harris Jr. to add to the room that consists of Casey Hayward, Michael Davis and Desmond King. They also signed defensive tackle Linval Joseph and drafted linebacker Kenneth Murray.

Having safety Derwin James for a full 16-game slate will also be beneficial. James made a major impact on third-down situations in his rookie season. Unfortunately, he was limited to a few games in 2019 due to a foot injury.

The team is hopeful that defensive tackle Jerry Tillery takes a step forward after an underwhelming rookie campaign. Drafted for his ability to get after the quarterback, Tillery is working hard this offseason to improve his game.

The bottom line is that more pressure and different coverage alignments will hopefully be the solution to improving Los Angeles’ third-down defense in 2020.

Bleacher Report ranks Chargers defense in 2020

The Los Angeles Chargers should be higher on this list.

The Chargers defense has finished in the top-10 the past few seasons, boasting one of the best players in the league at their perspective positional groups.

However, Bleacher Report’s Martin Fenn doesn’t believe that Los Angeles’ defense isn’t worthy of being in that tier heading into the upcoming season. In Fenn’s defense power rankings, the Bolts rank No. 14 overall.

Here’s how he broke it down:

The Los Angeles Chargers have talent on the edge and in the secondary, but they needed an inside linebacker. They got one with their first-round selection of Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray.

Murray had 102 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss, to go along with four sacks last season. the 6’2″, 241-pound linebacker is a big and athletic guy who can close the distance in the running game and plug the gaps, and he chases the ball to make plays all over the field.

Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley might ultimately be dialing up more blitzes despite his heavy Cover 3 scheme, especially because Murray is at his best when he can hunt ball-carriers and get into the backfield.

Los Angeles also made a couple of veteran additions, signing cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and defensive tackle Linval Joseph in free agency.

Harris has been on the decline in recent years, but he should benefit from playing with a loaded secondary with Desmond King, Casey Hayward and Derwin James.

Speaking of James, he will return healthy for the start of the year after missing 11 games in 2019. The same can be said for Melvin Ingram III, who missed only three games but was hampered by a hamstring injury. Ingram’s abilities as a pass-rusher and cover man are especially valuable in Bradley’s scheme, particularly now that they have Murray.

Joey Bosa can focus on terrorizing opposing quarterbacks even more with Joseph expected to be a run-stuffer in the middle.

As frequently seems to be the case, the Chargers have one of the most talented defenses in football. But the question remains: Can everyone stay healthy?

The Chargers lost linebacker Thomas Davis and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, who were both released, along with safety Adrian Phillips. But they made up for the losses, signing cornerback Chris Harris Jr., defensive tackle Linval Joseph and drafting linebacker Kenneth Murray.

They join elite company which features defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, cornerbacks Casey Hayward and Desmond King, safety Derwin James and an ascending linebacker in Drue Tranquill.

Last year, Los Angeles ranked No. 6 in total defense. However, they ranked near the bottom in takeaways. To ensure they force more turnovers, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is going to start mixing up the looks, deploying more two-deep safety looks and man coverage.

With the players on the roster, the sky is the limit for the defensive side of the ball. If all key members can stay healthy, they’re capable of finishing within the top-5 in 2020.

Chargers looking to bring more heat on opposing quarterbacks

Gus Bradley is hopeful the scheme change will help this upcoming season.

Despite having one of the more talented rosters on the defensive side of the ball in the league last season, the numbers didn’t reflect that in a specific category.

The Chargers ranked No. 6 in total defense, but they finished second-worst in takeaways with a -17 turnover differential.

A big reason why Los Angeles was unable to produce more turnovers was because of the lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

L.A. finished 26th in quarterback pressures with 125. The number doesn’t come as a surprise as the unit blitzed only 75 times, which ranked last in the league.

“Yes, you’ve got to stop the run,” defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. “Yes, you’ve got to eliminate explosive plays. But you have to find ways to affect the quarterback. We didn’t do a good enough job last year in doing that.”

When a team has arguably one of the best pass-rushing tandems in the NFL, the expectations to generate more pressure is a lot higher. Defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram contributed for 18.5 out of the team’s 30 sacks, which ranked 28th overall.

Bradley’s scheme from previous seasons, a Cover 3 system that involves a lot of zone coverage, forced them to play conservative and not allowing many opportunities to attack downhill.

To ensure they’re getting more quarterback pressures moving forward, Bradley is going to start incorporating more two-deep safety looks and man coverage.

This offseason, the Chargers also brought in more personnel to aide in this department, signing cornerback Chris Harris Jr., defensive tackle Linval Joseph and drafting linebacker Kenneth Murray.

Having Derwin James for a full 16-game slate will also be beneficial. After finishing his rookie season with 11 quarterback pressures and 3.5 sacks, the do-it-all defender was limited to only five games in 2019 after sustaining a foot injury last offseason.

There are also high hopes that second-year defensive tackle Jerry Tillery takes a step forward after an underwhelming rookie season. Drafted for his ability to get after the quarterback, Tillery is working hard this offseason to get bigger and stronger.

The motto this upcoming season on the defensive of the ball will be more pressure, more takeaways.

What Chargers’ Gus Bradley said at media availability

Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley touched on handful of topics.

Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley spoke to the media on Wednesday via Zoom teleconference.

Going into the 2020 season, Bradley will have more pieces to utilize which include cornerback Chris Harris Jr, defensive tackle Linval Joseph and rookie linebacker Kenneth Murray.

Harris, the four-time Pro Bowl selection, brings a proven veteran presence to the cornerback room. Bradley said he met him at the Pro Bowl in 2019, and loves how competitive he is and feels like he will be a good addition to the defense.

To fill the void after Thomas Davis released earlier this offseason, Los Angeles traded up 14 spots to snag Murray with the No. 23 overall selection in this year’s draft. Bradley said his intensity, leadership, and length were some of the reasons why they picked him.

The Bolts released Brandon Mebane, too. To fill the nose tackle spot, the team signed Joseph. Bradley hasn’t met Joseph yet, but said that he has heard a lot about the leadership he brings, highlighting his spirited nature and feels like has a chip on his shoulder.

Bradley said that he wants to be more active at the position as a whole.

He believes Justin Jones will benefit from the changes that the team is making with the defensive scheme. As for Jerry Tillery, who didn’t wow as many people in his rookie season, Bradley highlighted his flashes. But the one thing needed to be improved upon was his strength and simply getting bigger. He said Tillery has been working hard this offseason.

A couple of the bigger questions heading into training camp is what role is Desmond King going to play after the signing of Harris, and how will Nasir Adderley see the field more as he showed a lot of promise before having his season come to an end after sustaining a hamstring injury.

Bradley said that King could play safety in their dime package. He said they may move him to the outside. King is going to have a lot on his plate heading into the final year of his contract, but he is a versatile player that they could move around.

Adderley was in the mix for the starting free safety spot, but the injury kept him off the field nearly the entire season. Heading into Year 2, Adderley could earn a job at the position, especially because Bradley said he wants to implement more two-deep safety looks and man coverage this season as opposed to just his Cover 3 system that relies heavily on zone coverage.

Rayshawn Jenkins, the team’s starting free safety from last season, showed have the same role. But Bradley thinks Jenkins might play more linebacker and strong safety this season to help with the dime linebacker void after Adrian Phillips left in free agency.

Bradley said that he could see Adderley, Jenkins or rookie Alohi Gilman in that spot.

One of the biggest goals this season is creating more takeaways. He said the defense didn’t do a good enough job of taking the ball away last season. The unit ranked second-worst in the league with a -17 turnover differential.

The bottom line is that we can expect the majority of the players on the defensive side of the ball to be moved around quite a bit this upcoming season, and a possible change to the scheme could benefit the group as a whole.

Derwin James talks expectations for Chargers’ defense in 2020

The Los Angeles Chargers have the opportunity to boast a top defense in the 2020 season.

Chargers safety Derwin James is entering his third season as a professional.

After finishing his rookie season with Pro Bowl and All-Pro accolades under his belt, the expectations were high for the former Florida State product going into the 2019 season.

Unfortunately, a foot injury sustained during training camp of last year wiped out nearly all of his sophomore campaign. Upon returning in Week 12, James reminded all how much of a difference-maker he is.

In five games, he finished the season with 34 tackles, three tackles for loss and passes defensed.

Now completely healthy, James is eager to turn heads once again this upcoming season.

The only difference between this year and last year is that Los Angeles will have more reinforcements on the defensive side of the ball to help become one of the top units in the NFL, including four-time Pro Bowler cornerback Chris Harris Jr, who was acquired in free agency.

“I know Chris,” James said. “I knew of Chris before we traded for him. I always thought that he was a great player and I feel like he still has a lot in the tank – and I feel like just adding him will allow the defense to be very multiple.”

In addition, the Chargers traded up for linebacker Kenneth Murray in last week’s NFL draft. Murray joins the company of rookie standout from last season, LB Drue Tranquill.

“He a dog,” James said about Murray. “Sideline to sideline he makes plays that jump out.” James expects Murray to make an “immediate impact.”

Although the pieces to becoming an elite defense are in place, the thing that matters the most is what they do on the field. James believes that forcing turnovers will be the most crucial this season, as they ranked second-worst in 2019 with a -17 turnover differential.

“Takeaways. I feel like we gotta get the ball. It’s all about the ball. Last year we were down in the takeaways margin, and I feel like getting more takeaways and the ball. Whether it’s sacks, interceptions or fumbles, we just need to get the ball more,” James said.

2010-2019 All-Decade team for Chargers: Defense/Specialists

Introducing the defense and the specialists of the Chargers’ All-Decade team for the 2010s.

The decade is coming to an end. Even though the Chargers haven’t had a lot of success in the past 10 years, making the playoffs only twice in that timespan, they possessed a slew of players that helped them along the way.

With that said, here is my Chargers 2010-2019 All-Decade team on the defensive side of the ball, as well as the specialists:

Defensive end: Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram

Bosa and Ingram are easily one of the most deadly pass-rushing tandems in the league. Bosa has 40 sacks in 51 career games, which makes him the 10th player since 1982 to total 40 or more sacks in his first 50 games. Ingram’s 49 sacks is the fifth-most in franchise history. He also has more tackles for loss than any other Charger this decade (252).

Defensive tackle: Brandon Mebane, Corey Liuget

Liuget was a key component in the trenches for eight seasons. Liuget recorded a total of 275 tackles and 24 sacks as a Charger. Mebane has been a  steady contributor up front and a key locker room presence since he was signed.

Linebacker: Denzel Perryman, Shaun Phillips, Donald Butler

You could’ve gone a couple different ways with this position. Among the notables in consideration were Takeo Spikes and Manti Te’o. Phillips registered double digits in sacks three times, including the 2010 season when he earned a Pro Bowl selection. Butler had 373 tackles, seven sacks and three interceptions in five seasons. When he is on the field, Perryman shows that he is one of the best run defenders the team has had, totaling 23 tackles for loss in five stints.

Cornerback: Casey Hayward, Quentin Jammer

Jammer, who surprisingly never made the Pro Bowl, had 28 passes defensed from 2010-13. He has the most passes defensed in team history with 138. Hayward will go down as one of general manager Tom Telesco best signings. His 58 passes defensed are the most by any Chargers in three-plus seasons. Along with that, he has 13 interceptions.

Free safety: Eric Weddle

Weddle had 15 interceptions, two of which were returned for a touchdown and five forced fumbles. As a result, he was a two-time first-team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler.

Strong safety: Derwin James

It’s only been two seasons, one of which wasn’t a full 16-game slate and James has already shown to be one of the best players of the past decade, making impact plays in coverage, against the run and as a blitzer.

Kicker: Nick Novak

This would go to Michael Badgley, who was the one that ended the team’s kicking woes, but there’s not a large enough sample size. Novak is the sixth-leading scorer in franchise history. He made 110-of-130 field goals from 2011-17.

Punter: Mike Scifres

Scifres racked up the most career punting yards in team history with 33,797. He’s tied for No. 12 in NFL history, averaging 45.2 yards per punt over his career.

Chargers defense needs to exploit Jaguars’ Gardner Minshew’s weakness

The Chargers need to make it a struggle for Gardner Minshew to get a grip.

In order to win on the defensive side of the ball, one of the things the Chargers will need to do is make it a struggle for Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew to get a grip, literally.

In eight games as the team’s starter, Minshew has been efficient, tossing 14 touchdowns and only five interceptions. But like any rookie, there’s going to be some growing pains and for Minshew it’s ball security.

The former Washington State product has fumbled the ball 12 times and has lost seven of them, which is tied for the second-most in the league.

There’s no denying the athleticism of Minshew. He will look to extend plays with his legs quite frequently, ranking sixth in yards rushing among quarterbacks this season. But while he can break some ankles from time to time, he will also run and lose the football.

Despite possessing one of the league’s best defenses, Los Angeles hasn’t been able to take the ball away out of their opponent’s hands. The unit is tied for last in forced fumbles this season with only six.

That could very well change this weekend.

It all starts with the pressure up front. They can’t allow Minshew to leave the pocket too soon, which is what he susceptible to doing. Defensive end Joey Bosa and company should benefit from facing an offensive line that gave up five sacks last weekend.

Next, they have to actively be looking to strip the ball by swiping it away and utilize hard tackling at the second level of the defense to dislodge the football if he does manage to escape the pocket.

If they can do that, they will keep Minshew and company off the field, eliminating their opportunities to score on Sunday.

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Chargers defense’s stout effort all for naught in loss to Chiefs

The Chargers defense forced Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to one of the worst performances of his career.

The Chargers knew that they would have their hands full facing a Chiefs team, who has one of the best offenses in the league.

Even without safeties Derwin James and Adrian Phillips, who were both key components to the success when the two teams met last season, the defense did what most teams haven’t been able to do.

The unit held quarterback Patrick Mahomes to 182 passing yards, which was his lowest in a full game so far in his career. Mahomes had a 72.7 passer rating, which was his second-lowest mark.

Mahomes was nearly a non-factor in the first half of the game, as he was held to less than 100 total yards.

Kansas City lost wide receiver Tyreek Hill early on to a hamstring injury, and he finished with no catches and zero yards. Running backs Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy were also banged up throughout the course of the game.

But they still limited the other handful of playmakers the Chiefs possess.

It all started up front with defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. The two both did an excellent job against a stout offensive line by generating pressure, making Mahomes feel uncomfortable.

Ingram came in clutch in the fourth-quarter by stopping the Chiefs on three consecutive third-down plays, which all resulted in punts.

Defensive tackles Damion Square and Justin Jones, who returned from an injury, were solid against the run, recording a handful of stops at or behind the line of scrimmage.

The line’s efforts benefited the rest of the members on the defensive side of the ball as Mahomes, who was under constant duress, didn’t have much time to push the ball downfield and was forced to throw nearly everything underneath.

When Mahomes did try to go deep on one play, he was picked off by free safety Rayshawn Jenkins, who jumped in front of a ball on a pass intended to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson and came up with an interception.

Outside of a few crucial missed tackles and blow coverages, including tight end Travis Kelce’s touchdown in the third-quarter, the linebackers and cornerbacks stayed true to their assignments and kept everything in front of them.

Thomas Davis has really come into his own as a run stopper, leading the way with the team-high 12 tackles and Casey Hayward continues to show he’s one of the best corners in the league by not giving up a single reception.

The defense did what they needed to, but unfortunately, quarterback Philip Rivers and company were unable to pick them up in a must-win game on Monday night.

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Chargers’ weakness becoming a strength

There’s one area that the Los Angeles Chargers have really made strides at improving this season.

The Chargers’ strong suit hasn’t always been stopping the run. Just three weeks ago, the team ranked No. 22 in the NFL, allowing 117.1 rushing yards per game.

Since then, the unit has made strides, giving up only 95 yards per game on the ground, which ranks them as the ninth-best in this category the past three weeks. Had they not allowed a couple big carries, this number would be significantly lower.

The running backs that Los Angeles has slowed down happen to be among the best at their position in the NFL — Titans’ Derrick Henry, Packers’ Aaron Jones and Raiders’ Josh Jacobs.

Their success all starts up front in the trenches. Despite missing starting defensive tackles Justin Jones and Brandon Mebane, Damion Square and recently acquired Sylvester Williams have done a phenomenal job filling in.

Williams, the 6-foot-2 and 313 pounder, was picked up to fill the role of Mebane. Whether it’s clogging holes or forcing double teams to allow other members of the front seven to make plays, Williams has shown to be a solid acquisition.

Last year it was Darius Philon who was the unsung hero in the trenches, but this year it’s been Square, who has been a huge contributor to the defense.

Defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram have been a dominant force at getting to the opposing quarterback, but running backs as well.

The rest of the front seven and backend of the defense was notorious for missing their assignments and missing tackles in the open field, but the group has really come into their own in those areas.

Whether it’s diagnosing where the football is going, avoiding blocks, or tackling with sound technique, they haven’t allowed many explosive plays like they used to in the past.

The Chargers will have to keep this same energy in this department the rest of the way out, as they will face Vikings’ Dalvin Cook, Jagaurs’ Leonard Fournette and Jacobs once more.

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