Tag: Chargers depth chart

3 Chargers make bottom half of NFL’s Top 100 players of 2021

A good portion of the annual player rankings were unveiled, and the Chargers had three players that made the cut.

We’re still weeks away from the start of the regular season, which means national sports websites are still putting out their player and team rankings.

On Sunday, NFL Network released the first part of its Top 100 list with players 100-41. And as far as we can tell, three members of the Chargers were unveiled.

First up, center Corey Linsley checked in at No. 60 overall.

Named first-team All-Pro in 2020, Linsley didn’t allow a sack or a tackle at or behind the line of scrimmage vs. the run. He allowed just four total pressures on 437 pass-blocking snaps — the lowest pressure total in the NFL.

Linsley made quarterback Aaron Rodgers very happy during his time with the Packers, and he’ll now do the same for QB Justin Herbert.

Speaking of Herbert, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year came next on the list, landing No. 56 overall.

Herbert set rookie records for total touchdowns (36), passing touchdowns (31), completions (396), multi-passing touchdown games (10), games with 300 yards passing (8) and three-passing touchdown games (6).

Heading into 2021, Herbert could be in for an even bigger season, given the revamped offensive line, a promising group of skill players and a new offensive coordinator in Joe Lombardi that will cater specifically to him.

Among the weapons that Herbert will have to distribute the wealth to is wide receiver Keenan Allen, who checked in one spot ahead of him, being ranked No. 55 overall.

After dealing with injuries early on in his career, Allen has stayed relatively healthy since then and has shown why he’s one of the league’s most underrated wideouts.

Averaging 100 receptions and over 1,000 receiving yards making four Pro Bowl appearances in the past four seasons, defensive backs have struggled to find an answer to Allen’s crafty route-running.

4 Chargers on roster bubble who helped themselves in preseason opener

With the majority of the starters on the sideline, a few Chargers players on the bubble helped their cases.

The Chargers took care of business to open up the three-game preseason slate, defeating the Rams by the score of 13-6.

For the most part, the presumed starters that did play didn’t see the field all that much, which left more opportunities for players that are fighting for a roster spot to prove themselves to the coaching staff.

With that being said, let’s take a look at four bubble players who helped their cause on Sunday night.

CB John Brannon

The Chargers are set with Michael Davis, Chris Harris Jr., Asante Samuel Jr., but there are a couple spots on the back end that need to be filled, and Brannon made his case with his outing. Heading into the game as the leader in interceptions in training camp with three, Brannon put himself at the top in the category in preseason play after picking off Devlin Hodges on a fourth-down play from the Bolts’ five-yard line that would’ve tied the game.

CB Kemon Hall

Brannon wasn’t the only one who stood out in the secondary. Hall also helped himself by making plays in all phases. Hall and Alohi Gilman caused a fumble. Serving as an additional blizter, Hall also generated a quarterback pressure to Bryce Perkins that forced him to throw the ball away. The play right after, he broke up a pass on third down. It was a great day for both players who head coach Brandon Staley has lauded throughout the summer.

DL Joe Gaziano

Throughout camp, all the attention has been drawn to Breiden Fehoko and Cortez Broughton as the guys fighting for a spot. But Gaziano gave us a reminder that he is not to be forgotten. After playing on the outside in his first two seasons, the move inside highlighted his strengths. Winning with heavy hands, strength and high effort, Gaziano applied interior pressure on a few occasions and a couple run stops behind the line of scrimmage. Undrafted free agent Forrest Merrill also flashed with a tackle for loss.

WR Jason Moore

If the Chargers go into the regular season with six wide receivers, there’s one spot that will need to be filled, assuming the first five are Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Josh Palmer, Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson. Yesterday, it was Moore who helped his stock. With balls thrown to him in tight coverage and out of his reach, Moore still managed to catch all three of his targets for 31 yards.

Takeaways from Chargers’ first unofficial depth chart

The first unofficial depth charts are still to be taken with a grain of salt.

The Chargers have released their initial unofficial depth chart in advance of Saturday night’s preseason opener against the Rams.

While the first depth charts are always to be taken with a grain of salt, here are some of my thoughts.

The advantage for the second running back spot goes to Justin Jackson. Jackson has been taking the majority of the higher-up reps at camp aside from Austin Ekeler. Joshua Kelley, who looks improved this summer, is listed as RB3 and rookie Larry Rountree III, who hasn’t made a lot of noise up to this point, is behind Kelley and in front of Darius Bradwell.

At wide receiver, the big surprise is Joe Reed being as low as he is. Coming in as a guy who could win the last spot, Reed is currently behind Jason Moore. While Moore has steadily been performing well to get placed higher on the depth chart, Reed is no longer even being considered as a return specialist.

Another surprise is K.J. Hill being ahead of Josh Palmer. Palmer has put on one of the best showings at the position this summer.

The veterans receive superiority as seen along the offensive line, with Tyree St. Louis ahead of Brenden Jaimes at the right guard, despite the rookie primarily working with the second team.

The starting five is strong, but the lack of depth on the line is evident, considering Ryan Hunter, who has not played a single NFL snap, is Matt Feiler’s backup.

No surprises along the defensive line or edge defender group. Uchenna Nwosu is listed as a starter over Kyler Fackrell, despite the coaches mentioning that there’s a battle between the two for the spot.

Cole Christiansen and Damon Lloyd are both at the bottom of the depth chart while Nick Niemann is currently listed as Kenneth Murray’s backup.

Asante Samuel Jr. and Brandon Facyson are listed with the second team. Mark Webb is Nasir Adderley’s backup while Alohi Gilman is Derwin James’. Knowing how interchangeable head coach Brandon Staley’s defense is, the places they line up at will vary from player to player.

Michael Badgley is the starting kicker, with Tristan Vizcaino backing him up. During the preseason, we will be able to determine who earns the job based on consistency with extra points, field goals and kickoffs. Nasir Adderley is the starting kick returner and K.J. Hill is the starting punt returner. Austin Proehl, who’s had a great summer, is one to watch for.

Chargers release first unofficial depth chart

The Chargers first depth chart of the 2021 season is out.

In preparation of opening the 2021 preseason slate against the Rams at 7 p.m. Saturday, the Chargers released the first unofficial depth chart on Monday.

Here is a look at the team’s unofficial depth chart going into the first preseason game, which was posted by the team’s Communications department.

Offense

Defense

Special Teams

Chargers sign QB K.J. Costello

The Chargers added a fourth quarterback in the midst of training camp.

The Chargers made a roster move on Sunday.

Los Angeles signed quarterback K.J. Costello, the team announced.

During the pre-draft process, the team met with Costello. Soon after, he attended their rookie minicamp in May.

With Justin Herbert, Chase Daniel and Easton Stick on the roster, L.A. likely made the move to offer competition for a practice squad spot (assuming two quarterbacks make the final 53-man roster).

Costello finished a four-year career between Stanford and Mississippi State with a completion percentage of 62.9%, 7,434 passing yards, 55 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.

Chargers’ Forrest Merrill could grab last defensive tackle spot

The undrafted free agent could fill out the interior part of the defensive line.

The Chargers have had a great amount of success when it comes to bringing in hidden gems that went undrafted, which includes tight end Antonio Gates and running back Austin Ekeler, among others.

Who could be the undrafted rookie that steals the show this year? Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox revealed his top UDFAs for each team and for Los Angeles, he listed defensive tackle Forrest Merrill.

Merrill is purely a down lineman who isn’t going to provide much as an edge-defender. However, he still has the goods to contribute quickly as an early-down run-defender and rotational player alongside defensive tackles like Linval Joseph, Christian Covington, Jerry Tillery and Justin Jones. Look for the Chargers to give Merrill a legitimate shot at a roster spot and then stash him on the practice squad if he doesn’t pass final cuts.

The Chargers’ starting defensive line consists of Justin Jones, Jerry Tillery and Linval Joseph, with Christian Covington set to serve as a backup. Behind those four, the depth at the position is thin, which means Merrill has the opportunity to secure a spot.

Battling Breiden Fehoko and Cortez Broughton, Merrill is an effective one gap penetrator who uses his explosiveness, strength and active hands to slip through tight areas and be disruptive. In addition, he is able to occupy double teams at a high level.

Over the course of his career at Arkansas State, Merrill amassed 106 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, eight sacks and two forced fumbles.

Typically, experience favors the youth, but given the fact that the new coaching staff brought in Merrill, that alone gives him a slight advantage heading into camp. Should he make the 53-man roster, Merrill would serve as a backup to Linval Joseph.

Chargers 2021 Training Camp Position Battles: How will wide receiver room shape up?

Assessing one of the more compelling positions to watch at Chargers training camp.

The Chargers head into camp with the wide receiver room being one of the deeper positions on the rosters, with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams leading the pack.

This season, Allen and Williams can be one of the better 1-2 punches under offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, but the team still needs to identify their compliments.

Below them on the depth chart, Tyron Johnson, Jalen Guyton and rookie Josh Palmer are all trying to prove themselves to the new coaching staff.

Last season, Johnson amassed 20 receptions for 398 yards (19.9 yards per reception) and three touchdowns, with zero drops. Four of his first five receptions in the NFL went for 50 yards or more.

While he managed to put up decent production in his role, with 28 catches for 511 yards (18.3 yards per catch) and three scores, Guyton had six drops, and wasn’t quite as efficient as Johnson.

Palmer didn’t put up gaudy stats at Tennessee, never topping 500 receiving yards in a season due to playing in an offense that did him no favors, but he was a four-year contributor with a polished skill set and impressive size for this league.

However, unlike most teams, Los Angeles won’t likely have a bonafide No. 3 wideout.

The reason for that is because Lombardi’s offense is heavily predicated on matchups. Therefore, different receivers will consistently be rotating in depending on the defensive personnel they’re facing.

If speed is needed, one of Johnson or Guyton will be on the field. If the team needs another physical presence and someone who can get open with their route-running skills, they will roll with Palmer.

Either way, I expect all three to get a fair share of snaps this season.

The Chargers could head into the season with just Allen, Williams, Johnson, Guyton and Palmer, but they might elect to go in with six, which means there will be a battle on the back end for the last spot with Joe Reed, K.J. Hill, John Hurst, Jason Moore, Austin Proehl.

Reed, the team’s fifth-round draft pick of last year and Hill, the seventh rounder, are the presumed ones to beat.

Reed didn’t have many opportunities on offense. Instead, he served primarily as the kick returner. While he didn’t get to prove himself much, Reed’s special teams experience and versatility to work as a receiver and out of the backfield could be his selling point.

Hill, on the other hand, got more time on the field than Reed, but his productivity was nothing to boast about. He posted seven catches on 11 targets for 73 yards. In addition, Hill served as the team’s punt returner.

Proehl is another guy who could emerge. Signed this offseason, this will mark his fifth team since entering the league in 2018. With his surprising speed, ability to get open in all three areas of the field, competitiveness and special teams upside, Proehl might earn a spot.

3 position groups where Chargers should improve in 2021

Three specific position groups for the Chargers have their arrows pointing upwards heading into the 2021 season.

The Chargers addressed a variety of position groups via free agency and the draft, but there were a few whose arrow pointed upwards based on the additions and some of the players that will be returning in 2021.

With that being said, let’s take a look at three units that should see the most improvement in comparison to last season.

Offensive line

The offensive line ranked near the bottom in the NFL last season and a great amount of their success lies in the hands of quarterback Justin Herbert, which is why general manager Tom Telesco made the point to build it from the ground up.

It first started with hiring with offensive line coaches, Frank Smith and Shaun Sarrett. Smith worked with  the likes Jermon Bushrod, Jahri Evans, Ben Grubbs and Carl Nicks, all of whom were named to the Pro Bowl during his time with the Saints while Sarrett spent eight years with the Steelers.

In free agency, Corey Linsley was the biggest splash signing as he is one of the best centers in the league. Guards Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi have proven themselves for their previous teams. Bryan Bulaga, who is coming off an injury riddled season, is back to man the right tackle position.

In the draft, first-round pick Rashawn Slater was one of the event’s biggest steals, solidifying Herbert’s blindside protection. Fifth-round pick Brenden Jaimes is an enticing depth piece who will likely kick inside, but he has versatility to protect the edges in a pinch.

Secondary

The Chargers’ secondary had high expectations entering the 2020 season. But with Derwin James being ruled out injured before Week 1, Desmond King being traded away a few games into the year, Chris Harris Jr. being limited to just over half the season, and Casey Hayward having arguably one of the worst seasons of his career, those expectations weren’t quite met.

This season, however, should be completely different. Under head coach Brandon Staley and defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill, who are two of the best in this league at getting the most out of their defensive backs, the unit has the opportunity to be a solid group altogether.

Michael Davis is ascending into one of the better boundary corners. The usage of Nasir Adderley’s versatility should see him finally come into his own. Rookie Asante Samuel Jr. was one of the nation’s top corners. Mark Webb is an intriguing piece with potential to play a role in Year 1. Harris Jr. is familiar with the defense. James is back and eager to regain his All-Pro status.

Health is key, considering the safety group is top heavy, with the depth being slim. But should they stay injury-free, the sky is the limit.

Special teams

A few of the Chargers’ games from last season were lost due to the poor special teams department. The first step to fixing the unit was hiring Derius Swinton II as the new coordinator.

Swinton has 13 years as a special teams coach under his belt. He previously served as the Cardinals’ assistant special teams coach. Swinton has worked as the 49ers’ special teams coordinator in addition to coaching with the Bears, Broncos, Chiefs and Rams.

The team brought in experienced special teams players via free agency and the draft to give Swinton to work with, including two new kickers to compete with Michael Badgley, with those being Tristan Vizcaino and Alex Kessman.

In addition, proven coverage players were added like veterans Ryan Smith and Kyler Fackrell and the majority of their rookies have experience to aide in that department.

6 Chargers with the most to lose at training camp

Identifying Chargers players who could lose a starting role or a roster spot altogether at training camp.

As it is with every training camp, the Chargers will have a number of position battles to watch. Every summer, there are always players with more to lose than their teammates on the roster.

That could come in the form of simply losing a starting role or it could result in them losing a roster spot altogether. With training camp less than two weeks away, here are six players with the most to lose.

QB Easton Stick

Drafted in the sixth-round of the 2019 NFL draft, Stick has gotten the short end of the stick (no pun intended), having limited experience after not having a preseason last year due to COVID-19. He will battle it out this year with veteran Chase Daniel for the backup spot, but I would not be surprised if he is on the outside looking in since Daniel’s familiarity with the offense and mentorship is why he was brought in to begin with. Assuming the team rolls with two quarterbacks, Stick is still a practice squad candidate.

RB Justin Jackson

Austin Ekeler enters this season as RB1, but the team will need to find his compliments since he will be deployed as a pass-catcher in the slot in addition to his duties in the backfield. Jackson will have to fend off second-year Joshua Kelley and rookie Larry Rountree III. Even if the team decides to keep four backs on the roster, Jackson will be fighting for his role as RB2. While Jackson has proven to be impactful, his time on the field has been limited due to lingering injuries since entering the league.

WR K.J. Hill

The wide receiver room was already deep prior to the draft, but it only deepened after the Chargers took Josh Palmer in the third-round. Assuming that Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton, Tyron Johnson and Palmer are locks, that leaves a battle for the sixth spot. Hill flashed in spurts, but he struggled with drops. He will have to fend off Joe Reed, Jason Moore and John Hurst in camp. In my wide receiver projections, I gave the last spot to Reed because of his special teams experience and versatility to work as a receiver and out of the backfield.

DT Cortez Broughton

The Chargers have a solid trio at the top depth chart with Linval Joseph, Justin Jones and Jerry Tillery. However, the rotational pieces have yet to be shaped, and among the players who will be fighting for their job is Broughton. Had the team not signed Christian Covington, Broughton’s seat would likely not be hot. The fifth and likely final spot may ultimately be given to a nose tackle to back up Joseph, whether that be Breiden Fehoko or undrafted free agent Forrest Merrill. Therefore, Broughton will really have to standout to garner a roster spot.

TE Stephen Anderson

The tight end room was as slim as it got after letting go of Hunter Henry earlier this offseason. But in correspondence, the team signed Jared Cook and drafted Tre’ McKitty in the third-round. Anderson was re-signed, but that doesn’t mean his spot is secure. He would like have to beat out Donald Parham, but Anderson doesn’t offer as much upside as a pass-catcher to keep around.

K Michael Badgley

The Chargers steadily improved the special teams department this offseason, but the final piece to the reconstruction could include a new kicker. Badgley struggled last season, missing nine field goals over 45 yards. Heading into camp, he will have to fight off the two guys that the team brought in this offseason, with those being Tristan Vizcaino and undrafted free agent Alex Kessman.

Projecting the Chargers’ specialist depth chart in 2021

Predicting the specialists the Chargers will roll with into the 2021 season.

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

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver

Tight End

Offensive Line

Edge Defender

Interior Defensive Line

Linebacker

Cornerback

Safety

To round things up, I project what the special teams room will look like heading into this season.

Kicker: Alex Kessman

It doesn’t sound as intriguing as other position battles, but this will be one of the most polarizing in Chargers training camp. This will be a three-way competition between Michael Badgley, Tristan Vizcaino and Kessman. In my opinion, the undrafted free agent out of Pittsburgh comes away with the job. Kessman hit a career long and school record 58-yard field goal this past season and converted 12 of 18 kicks of 50 yards or longer in his collegiate career, which is the best rate in NCAA history. It’s not an easy task to fend off two veterans, but given the new coaching staff, Kessman might have the upper hand as they could be looking to start the special teams unit from scratch.

Punter: Ty Long

Long enters camp in competition with Lachlan Edwards, who was signed earlier this offseason. Even though the special teams department needs some remodeling, Long didn’t do anything last season that should put his spot in jeopardy. Despite having three of his attempted punts blocked, Long still managed to average 47 yards per punt on the season.

Long Snapper: Ryan Langan

Like the kicker position, I project that the Chargers roll into the season with the undrafted free agent. Langan, the former Georgia State product, will be fighting for the job with the third-year Cole Mazza. Over four seasons in college, Langan was a two-time All-Sun Belt player and was a finalist for the Patrick Mannely Long Snapper of the Year Award. Mazza, on the other hand, will be entering the final year of his deal that would owe him $850k. In a stat less position, Los Angeles decides to go with the cheaper option.