Tag: chargers news

Chargers acknowledge Jesse Minter might not be in Los Angeles for long

Jesse Minter has transformed the Chargers’ defense into being one of the best units in the NFL in 2024.

The Chargers have undergone a complete identity change in 2024. It starts with head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has always been known to have physical football teams.

Los Angeles has prioritized winning in the trenches, which was evident when they selected Joe Alt fifth overall over an elite wide receiver talent. Beyond Harbaugh, though, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has also played a large role in the team’s identity change.

The defense has looked much better in 2024 under Minter, who is in his first year in the NFL. Harbaugh acknowledged Minter may not be with the team for long.

“We’re probably gonna have to just enjoy Jesse Minter while we have him because I have a feeling he’s gonna be a head coach next year. We’re gonna be competing against him,” Harbaugh said on The Pat McAfee Show.

If things continue as they are, Minter will undoubtedly be a prime coaching candidate this upcoming offseason. A few obvious spots around the league will have an opening, and the young DC will likely get a few interviews, at minimum.

In 2024, the Chargers are the league’s lowest-scoring defense. In fact, they have allowed 28 fewer points than the next-best defense, the Steelers. Minter’s unit ranks in the top 10 in both run defense (9th) and pass defense (9th).

“He’s just intuitive. He knows offensive football almost as well as defensive football. He knows how an offense is going to try to attack. There’s some playcallers that just have ‘it’ too, he has it,” Harbaugh said of Minter.

Suddenly, the Chargers seem to have one of the best coaching staffs in the league. That’s not something we could have said in past seasons, and it has completely transformed this team.

Game Balls: 5 standouts from Chargers’ win over Titans

It was another dominant team effort from the Chargers in Week 10, which included seven sacks from the defense.

Folks, the Los Angeles Chargers are hot. The team has now won three straight and four of their last five after their victory over the Titans in Week 10.

Jim Harbaugh has been persistent about the fact that it’s been a total team effort, and that couldn’t be more true. Here are five players who were key to the team’s 27-17 victory over the lowly Titans this past Sunday.

WR Derius Davis

Davis provided an impact all over the field on Sunday. After the Titans cut to 13-10 early in the third quarter, Davis had a 56-yard kick return into Titans territory. It set the offense up with prime field position, and they were able to capitalize with a touchdown to take a 10-point lead. Davis added a 16-yard catch and seven-yard run to a busy, effective day for him.

OG Zion Johnson

The Chargers have improved their offensive line play in 2024, and Johnson has been a big reason for that. The offense finished with 145 rushing yards, and quarterback Justin Herbert wasn’t sacked once. In a season that has provided many bright spots, Johnson’s progression has been crucial to the offensive line’s success.

RB Gus Edwards

For awhile, it seemed that Edwards had lost his backup job to Kimani Vidal. He missed over a month due to injury and was largely ineffective when he was active this season. Vidal wasn’t effective in the team’s last few games, which led to him being a healthy inactive against the Titans. On Sunday, Edwards was the team’s most efficient ball carrier. He finished with 55 rushing yards on ten carries, over two yards per carry better than starter J.K. Dobbins.

LB Daiyan Henley

Henley was all over the field on Sunday. He had his ups and downs in 2024 but was solid against the Titans. Henley finished the day with 10 total tackles and his first sack of the season. The Chargers’ defense continues to be much improved this season, and the linebacker play has been a big reason for that.

EDGE Bud Dupree

The Chargers’ backup edge rushers have stepped up in a huge way recently. This week, Dupree broke out with two sacks and a forced fumble. The defense finished the day with seven sacks, which included two more from Tuli Tuipolotu. The defensive front continues to wreak havoc, and Dupree was the most significant contributor.

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 10

Jesse Minter’s defense is elite, but where does the offense rank after Week 10?

The Chargers improved to 6-3 after beating the Titans in Week 10.

Justin Herbert showed off his legs. Gus Edwards came back from injury and provide a spark on the ground. The defense, which produced seven sacks on the day, continued to dominate.

With Week 11 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 20.7 ppg 19th
Passing offense 196.4 ypg 22nd
Rushing offense 117.9 ypg 19th
Total offense 314.3 ypg 22nd
3rd down conversions 39.84% 13th
Red zone scoring 54.17% 18th
Sacks allowed 24 12th
Turnovers 4 T-1st

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 13.1 ppg 1st
Passing defense 191.6 ypg 9th
Rushing defense 110.6 ypg 9th
Total defense 302.1 ypg 6th
3rd down conversions 32.76% 5th
Red zone defense 38.89% 2nd
Sacks 31 T-4th
Takeaways 13 11th

 

This stat shows how good Jesse Minter’s defense has been

Jesse Minter has the Chargers’ defense playing at an elite level.

Jesse Minter has the Chargers’ defense playing at an elite level.

Since the start of the season, no team has scored over 20 points on the Bolts. This is the fourth time since 1990 that a defense has limited its opponents to that mark, per NFL Media’s Peter Schrager.

Los Angeles ranks No. 1 in scoring defense, allowing just 13.1 points per game.

Minter’s coaching has the defensive unit firing on all cylinders.

In the trenches, they’ve been stout against the run and the pass rush is finally starting to come alive. The linebackers are rallying to the football. The coverage has been tight, and the scheme has confused opposing quarterbacks.

Minter is just in the first season as the team’s defensive coordinator, but it might be his only stint in this role.

“We’ve gotta enjoy Jesse Minter while we have him because I think he’s gonna be a Head Coach next year,” Jim Harbaugh said in his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.

Chargers PFF grades: Best, worst performers in Week 10 win over Titans

Spotlighting Pro Football Focus’ highest and lowest-graded Chargers players from the win over the Titans.

In Week 10, the Chargers defeated the Titans, 27-17.

En route to victory, there were some standout performers and others who did not contribute as much.

That said, here are the best and worst performers from Sunday’s contest, according to Pro Football Focus’ player grades.

Top 5 Offense

QB Justin Herbert — 91.6

FB Tucker Fisk — 73.8

OL Zion Johnson — 72.8

TE Will Dissly — 72.6

OT Joe Alt — 72.0

Top 5 Defense

EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu — 71.2

EDGE Bud Dupree — 69.1

CB Cam Hart — 67.4

DT Poona Ford — 67.3

DT Morgan Fox — 67.1

Bottom 5 Offense

WR Quentin Johnston — 55.7

RB J.K. Dobbins — 52.8

WR Jalen Reagor — 50.9

OL Foster Sarell — 50.0

FB Scott Matlock — 49.6

Bottom 5 Defense

S Alohi Gilman — 57.3

LB Denzel Perryman — 52.7

EDGE Joey Bosa — 51.1

DT Otito Ogbonnia — 45.0

DT Teair Tart — 34.2

Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Titans

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 27-17 win over the Titans.

The Chargers beat the Titans on Sunday afternoon, improving to 6-3.

Here’s our recap of the Week 10 win.

It was over when…

The Chargers scored their third touchdown in the fourth quarter to go up by 17 points.

Notable number

Of the Chargers’ six wins, five have come by double digits.

3 stars of the game

  1. QB Justin Herbert: Herbert only passed for 164 yards but still looked sharp in that department, finishing 14 of 18, with two going for over 30 yards and no turnovers. He also did an excellent job of using his legs when needed to pick up yards.
  2. RB Gus Edwards: Edwards returned to the field and was efficient on the ground after missing the last five games with an injury. He had 55 yards on ten carries.
  3. Defense: 7 sacks

Quick hits

  • Herbert failed to surpass 200 passing yards for the first time since Week 4. But he was still effective by navigating the pocket well, avoiding sacks, making crisp throws to his receivers, and continuing to take care of the football.
  • Herbert was also impressive as a runner, juking multiple Titans defenders, including former Chargers Kenneth Murray and Sebastian Joseph-Day.
  • The ground game came alive after taking a backseat the past few weeks, and Edwards provided the jolt as he averaged 5.5 yards per carry on ten attempts. J.K. Dobbins had 15 yards on 50 rushes.
  • Jesse Minter’s unit lived in the backfield and compiled seven sacks. Credit goes to Joey Bosa, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Bud Dupree for stepping up with Khalil Mack on the sideline for nearly the entire game.
  • Daiyan Henley led the way with 14 tackles.
  • Speaking of tackles, the Chargers struggled with missed tackles, which has been a slight issue on the defensive side of the ball this season. The Titans averaged 6.3 yards per carry.
  • Derius Davis provided the special teams spark with a 56-yard kickoff return.

What’s next?

The Chargers host the Bengals next Sunday night, Nov. 11, at 5:20 pm PT.

Chargers highlight: Quentin Johnston outruns Kenneth Murray for touchdown

Kenneth Murray’s return to SoFi Stadium has not gone the way he hoped.

Kenneth Murray’s return to SoFi Stadium has not gone the way he hoped.

After signing with the Titans this offseason, Murray was juked by Justin Herbert on a first half scramble up the middle and has struggled to contend with tight end Will Dissly in coverage. With the Chargers up 13-10 in the third quarter, Los Angeles lined up with 3rd and 8 from the Titans 16 yard line.

Herbert dropped back to pass with a solid pocket, waiting for a receiver to come open. Quentin Johnston ran a crossing route that was not picked up until Murray drifted back outside the right hash, chasing after Johnston as they entered the end zone.

Murray was a couple steps too slow, however, and Herbert hit Johnston in stride for a 16 yard touchdown to extend the lead to 20-10.

The drive was set up by a 56 yard kickoff return by Derius Davis that put the Chargers on the Titans 43. A 15 yard pass to Ladd McConkey and 9 yard run by Gus Edwards to open the drive brought the Chargers within striking distance of the end zone.

https://x.com/chargers/status/1855746898885488747

Chargers highlight: Justin Herbert makes magic happen, scores vs. Titans

Justin Herbert has a way of making the Chargers offense right.

Justin Herbert has a way of making the Chargers offense right.

Los Angeles stalled out in the red zone on their first two scoring drives, settling for two field goals from Cameron Dicker. The Chargers threatened on their fourth drive of the game quickly, moving to the Titans 25 on a flea flicker to Joshua Palmer that gained 36 yards.

But LA again hit a bit of a snag, grinding down to a fourth and 1 from the Titans 4 yard line. The Chargers lined up to go for it out of shotgun, motioning JK Dobbins out to the slot and leaving Herbert in empty.

Normally, that would signal a pass, and Herbert’s roll to the right after the snap certainly seemed to indicate he’d try to deliver a throw. Instead, Herbert tucked the ball on a designed run, juking past Titans defensive lineman and former Charger Sebastian Joseph-Day and weaving his way into the end zone to score LA’s first touchdown of the game.

It’s Herbert’s first rushing touchdown of the year and 12th of his five-year career. The score gave the Chargers a 13-7 lead in the second quarter.

https://x.com/chargers/status/1855734923380109411

Will the Chargers-Titans matchup be on in your area?

Find out if you will get the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans on national television.

The Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) are set to get Week 10 underway against the Tennessee Titans (2-6).

Those in the green area on the TV map will get the game on FOX, courtesy of 506 Sports.

If you’re in the red area, you will get the matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

If you’re in the blue area, you will get the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints.

If you’re in the yellow area, you will see the Minnesota Vikings play the Jacksonville Jaguars.

If you’re in the orange area, you will get the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears.

Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma will have the call.

Los Angeles is currently a 7.5-point favorite. Sunday’s matchup will begin at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Staff predictions for Chargers vs. Titans in Week 10

Find out who the Chargers Wire staff is picking between Los Angeles and Tennessee in Week 10.

The Los Angeles Chargers kick off Week 10 against the Tennessee Titans.

Who is going to come out victorious?

Here is a look at the predictions from each of our writers at Chargers Wire:

Gavino:

The Chargers look to extend their win streak to three games as they face another below-average opponent. Los Angeles’ passing offense should benefit from the absence of defensive backs L’Jarius Sneed and Quandre Diggs. On the flip side, the defense, which ranks atop the league, should have its way against a turnover-prone Will Levis, who has missed the past three weeks with a shoulder injury. Chargers 21, Titans 10.

Alex K:

Tennessee getting Will Levis and Tyjae Spears back from injury may help their offense a bit, but Levis also grew infamous for hilariously backbreaking turnovers earlier this season before missing time with a shoulder injury. On defense, the absence of cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (quad) and safety Quandre Diggs (foot) should open up room in the passing game for Justin Herbert, who’s been on fire over the past three weeks of the season. Chargers 27, Titans 13