Tag: Chargers offseason

Chargers’ Corey Linsley among ESPN’s biggest offseason upgrades

Signing the All-Pro center was the Los Angeles Chargers’ best move of the offseason.

Among the plethora of offseason acquisitions made by the Chargers, arguably the best one was signing All-Pro center Corey Linsley.

ESPN’s Mike Clay recently graded the 25 biggest veteran position upgrades during the 2021 offseason and Linsley landed at No. 4 on the list.

Offensive line has been a problem for the Chargers for quite a while, but the franchise made big improvements during the offseason by signing one of the league’s best centers in Linsley and drafting tackle Rashawn Slater in the first round. Linsley is the focus here, of course, as he’s a known commodity.

The former Packers star ranked sixth in pass block win rate and first in run block win rate among centers last season. He also graded out as the best center in the NFL at PFF. Feeney, meanwhile, had the worst PFF grade among non-rookie centers, and the 2017 third-round pick is now with the Jets.

After having some of the worst production at the position last season from Dan Feeney, Los Angeles now has the cream of the crop with Linsley.

Named first-team All-Pro and rated Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 center from 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 last season on 437 pass-blocking snaps — the lowest pressure total in the NFL.

L.A. now has a dependable and consistent presence to anchor their offensive line. Linsley made quarterback Aaron Rodgers very happy during his time Green Bay, and he’ll now do the same for QB Justin Herbert.

What else is there for Chargers to accomplish this offseason?

Bleacher Report lists what else the Los Angeles Chargers need to do this offseason.

For the most part, the Chargers have finished all of their offseason acquisitions, and now they must put all of the pieces together on the field in preparation for the 2021 season.

In order to have a formidable team, Los Angeles still needs to take care of some business. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport jotted down every NFL team’s to-do for the rest of the offseason, listing three things for the Bolts.

  • Coach Up the Offensive Line
  • Implement Brandon Staley’s Defense
  • Pick a Starter at Right Guard

The Chargers now have a competent offensive line for quarterback Justin Herbert after adding Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler, Oday Aboushi and Rashawn Slater to join Bryan Bulaga.

All of the starting spots are solidified, with the exception of the right guard position, where Aboushi will have to fend off fifth-round pick Brenden Jaimes for the job.

With the talent in place, there’s no reason why the unit should underperform this season. But it requires that they’re all in-sync, which is why the coaching from offensive line coaches Frank Smith and Shaun Sarrett will be vital.

On the other side of the ball, Los Angeles will have a different look to their defense under head coach Brandon Staley. After playing in a 4-3 scheme with a heavy dose of Cover 3, they will shift to a 3-4 look with multiple fronts and constantly revolving coverages.

The new defense should benefit a lot of members that stalled under defensive coordinator Gus Bradley like Jerry Tillery, Justin Jones, Uchenna Nwosu, Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill and Nasir Adderley.

How the players look in Staley’s system will be one of the most monitored storylines this summer.

What else is there for Chargers to accomplish this offseason?

Bleacher Report lists what else the Los Angeles Chargers need to do this offseason.

For the most part, the Chargers have finished all of their offseason acquisitions, and now they must put all of the pieces together on the field in preparation for the 2021 season.

In order to have a formidable team, Los Angeles still needs to take care of some business. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport jotted down every NFL team’s to-do for the rest of the offseason, listing three things for the Bolts.

  • Coach Up the Offensive Line
  • Implement Brandon Staley’s Defense
  • Pick a Starter at Right Guard

The Chargers now have a competent offensive line for quarterback Justin Herbert after adding Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler, Oday Aboushi and Rashawn Slater to join Bryan Bulaga.

All of the starting spots are solidified, with the exception of the right guard position, where Aboushi will have to fend off fifth-round pick Brenden Jaimes for the job.

With the talent in place, there’s no reason why the unit should underperform this season. But it requires that they’re all in-sync, which is why the coaching from offensive line coaches Frank Smith and Shaun Sarrett will be vital.

On the other side of the ball, Los Angeles will have a different look to their defense under head coach Brandon Staley. After playing in a 4-3 scheme with a heavy dose of Cover 3, they will shift to a 3-4 look with multiple fronts and constantly revolving coverages.

The new defense should benefit a lot of members that stalled under defensive coordinator Gus Bradley like Jerry Tillery, Justin Jones, Uchenna Nwosu, Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill and Nasir Adderley.

How the players look in Staley’s system will be one of the most monitored storylines this summer.

NFL to have unified start date for training camps, fans expected to return

This is great news, as the NFL inches closer to normalcy.

For the first time in NFL history, all 32 teams will be starting training camp on time, according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.

The start date will be Tuesday, July 27, which is 47 days before Week 1 of the regular season.

The Cowboys and Steelers are eligible to report as early as July 21 since they will be facing off in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 5.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers can report as early as July 24 due to them playing in the regular-season opener against Dallas on Sept. 9.

According to the report, the NFL plans for league-wide practices and fan events on Saturday, July 31, as well.

The league told teams it expects spectators to return to training camps, which is subject to state and local COVID-19 guidelines

30 of 32 teams have approval to open at 100% capacity before the preseason begins. The remaining teams seeking approval are the Colts and Broncos.

Rules pertaining to face coverings and vaccinations will be determined by teams tied to state and local guidelines.

All in all, this is great news, as the league inches closer to normalcy.

HC Brandon Staley talks what he wants Chargers to accomplish at OTAs

The Los Angeles Chargers returned to the practice field on Monday. Find out what the sessions will look like.

The Chargers returned to the field, as the team kicked off their organized team activities (OTAs) on Monday.

This is the first time since the summer of 2019 that the team is on the practice field because the offseason of last year was done virtually due to COVID-19 putting everything to a halt.

For the next nine days, Los Angeles is allowed to do on-field drills, including 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. However, any form of contact is not permitted.

Head coach Brandon Staley made it clear that safety and ensuring that no one gets hurt are the main priorities, which is why they won’t be doing any competitive drills during OTAs.

Even though the sessions are all walk-throughs, Staley wants to create that same game-like mental intensity without doing anything physical.

On Monday, Staley said the Chargers were able to run 65 plays over two 20-minute 11-on-11 periods, as well as two special teams periods.

What we really wanted to do was create our standard for the offseason moving forward. The big thing from a sports science/sports performance standpoint is, all of our individual periods … that’s going to be full speed. But we are not going to have any competitive one-on-ones in this camp. We’re not going to have any competitive 11-on-11, it’s all going to be walkthrough.

What we’re trying to do is create a game-like environment from a mental standpoint, where our guys can learn what to do, how to do it, (and) why it’s important. We can have great tempo before the snap, but then after the snap, there isn’t that pace that exists when you put shoulder pads and helmets on. That was a big goal of ours. We worked as a coaching staff extensively with our leadership council, and we really feel this is the model moving forward that’s going to best-fit the Chargers.

5 Chargers players with roster spot in jeopardy after 2021 NFL draft

There are a few players from last season who might no longer be a part of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021.

The roster-building process is nearly complete for the Chargers, as players will soon hit the field in preparation for the 2021 regular season.

After the moves that the team made, specifically from the 2021 NFL draft, there are a few players that see their roster spot in early offseason jeopardy.

Here’s a look at those five:

6 things to know about Chargers DL Christian Covington

Get familiar with the newest member of the Los Angeles Chargers, defensive lineman Christian Covington.

The Chargers signed defensive tackle Christian Covington to a one-year deal on Monday.

To get familiar with him, here are six things to know about the 27-year old.

Dad was a stud in the CFL

Covington’s father, Grover, was a star defensive end for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1981-1991. He is the league’s all-time sack leader (151). In 2000, he was inducted to the CFL Hall of Fame.

Collegiate career

Covington, the Canada native, played college football at Rice. He posted 78 tackles, 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in three seasons, and was named to the All-Conference USA team after his sophomore year. Covington was then drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth-round of the 2015 NFL draft.

Played out his rookie contract

It doesn’t happen that often where a sixth-round pick stays on the same team throughout his entire rookie contract, but Covington was among the few. Appearing in 50 games over four years, he had 65 tackles, 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble in those appearances. His best season came in 2018, a year where he posted eight quarterback hits and 3.5 sacks in 12 starts.

Bounced around the league

After experiencing his best football with the Texans, Covington has not been a mainstay. The past two years, he’s played for the Cowboys, Broncos (practice squad) and Bengals.

What he brings to the table

Covington is a long-armed interior defender who possesses great lateral quickness and burst to jump off the snap and get up field in the snap of a finger. When double-teamed, he utilizes his length to his advantage and strength & leverage to dominate them. Covington is versatile, capable of playing inside and outside of the tackles.

Could be in for a big year

Given the fact that his best playing days came with Houston in their 3-4 scheme, Covington could make an impact for the Chargers and their defensive system that features a three-man and hybrid fronts, even if it’s just as a rotational role.

Chargers announce 2021 offseason workouts, OTA dates

Find out when the Chargers rookies and the rest of the roster will be hitting the practice field.

The start of the 2021 regular season is still four months away, but preparation for it is set to get underway.

The NFL released the schedule for each team’s offseason workout programs, including the Chargers’ dates.

Below is the team’s official news release on the program schedule.

  • Rookie minicamp: May 14-16
  • OTAs: May 24-25, May 27, June 2-4, June 7-8, June 10
  • Mandatory minicamp: June 15-16

Starting next week, the drafted and undrafted free agents will get to hit the field as a pro for the first time.

Shortly after, the rest of the roster will all come together to get ready for a new era under first-year head coach Brandon Staley.

Chargers announce 2021 offseason workouts, OTA dates

Find out when the Chargers rookies and the rest of the roster will be hitting the practice field.

The start of the 2021 regular season is still four months away, but preparation for it is set to get underway.

The NFL released the schedule for each team’s offseason workout programs, including the Chargers’ dates.

Below is the team’s official news release on the program schedule.

  • Rookie minicamp: May 14-16
  • OTAs: May 24-25, May 27, June 2-4, June 7-8, June 10
  • Mandatory minicamp: June 15-16

Starting next week, the drafted and undrafted free agents will get to hit the field as a pro for the first time.

Shortly after, the rest of the roster will all come together to get ready for a new era under first-year head coach Brandon Staley.

Better or Worse: Evaluating Chargers offense ahead of NFL draft

The Los Angeles Chargers offense will have a different look, primarily in the trenches.

The Chargers lost a few of their starters from last season, but added some in correspondence via free agency.

But how do they compare now to after the 2020 regular season?

Let’s break it down by position, starting with the offense.

Quarterback

Offseason moves: Signed Chase Daniel as an unrestricted free agent from the Lions. Lost Tyrod Taylor as a UFA from the Texans.

Summary: The Chargers are locked in with their quarterback of the future, Justin Herbert. After losing Taylor to Houston, they turned their attention to Daniel, who’s familiar with offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s system. Daniel isn’t as enticing as a player as Taylor, but he has been considered an ideal veteran mentor for young quarterbacks, which is what he will be, a preceptor to Herbert. Easton Stick, meanwhile, has gotten the short end of the stick, as he has limited experience after not having a preseason last year due to COVID-19. He will battle it out this year for a spot, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he is on the outside looking in, relegated to practice squad role or being released.

Verdict: Slightly better

Running Back

Offseason moves: Lost Kalen Ballage as an unrestricted free agent to the Steelers.

Summary: Ballage was serviceable when he was on the field last season, but despite the loss, the group remains in good shape. Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson are a solid one-two punch when they’re healthy and Joshua Kelley just needs to find his mojo. Ekeler will remain a do-it-all back. Jackson can be a threat in both the running and passing game as long as he can stay on the field. Kelley was a bright spot in training camp last year, but he dealt with fumbles and just couldn’t find a groove. I expect him to bounce back. The team might look to draft one late or bring in an undrafted free agent for competition.

Verdict: Same

Wide Receiver

Offseason moves: N/A

Summary: This group remains the same. The Chargers did the right thing by paying Keenan Allen last offseason after proving himself as a top-10 wideout yet again. Mike Williams is entering the final year of his contract. The team chose not to let him play on the fifth-year option because he’s thought highly of, both as a person and a player. Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson are ascending deep threats. Guyton is the No. 3 but after experiencing spurts of drops, Johnson could emerge in that role. After quiet seasons from Joe Reed and K.J. Hill, their contributions remain to be seen. Hill is the fifth wideout and Reed is hoping to establish himself as the kick returner and gadget piece offensively. Los Angeles could address the position in the draft, bringing in an explosive element.

Verdict: Same

Tight End

Offseason moves: Signed Jared Cook as an unrestricted free agent from Saints. Lost Hunter Henry as a UFA to the Patriots. Re-signed Stephen Anderson.

Summary: It wasn’t long before Henry was gone, being picked up by head coach Bill Belichick. In correspondence, the Chargers got Cook, who’s another guy familiar with Lombardi’s offense. Cook’s best playing days are behind him, but he stills offers a reliable option for the time being. While he’s more of a liability as a run blocker, he will offer some upside as a pass-catching option. Even before the signing of Cook, Parham likely wasn’t seen as someone capable of manning the full-time starting role. While he’s an intriguing receiving option and a mismatch in the red zone, his blocking still leaves a lot to be desired. That’s why the team re-signed Anderson, who’s the most superior blocker out of the bunch. Los Angeles could use one of their two third-round picks to take a guy like Notre Dame’s Tommy Tremble, Miami’s Brevin Jordan, Duke’s Noah Gray or Georgia’s Tre McKitty.

Verdict: Slightly worse

Offensive line

Offseason moves: Signed Corey Linsley from Packers, Matt Feiler from Steelers and Oday Aboushi from Lions. Lost Dan Feeney to Jets, Sam Tevi to Colts, Cole Toner to Texans.

Summary: The Chargers knew their offensive line ranked near the bottom in both the pass and run-blocking departments and a good amount of their success lies in the hands of Herbert, which is why they made the point to build it from the ground up. Linsley was the most expensive signing, but he was the most vital as he is one of the best centers in the league. They have two new starting guards in Feiler and Aboushi. Bryan Bulaga is back to man the right tackle position. All that’s left is filling the left tackle void. Trey Pipkins is penciled in as the starter. Pipkins, the team’s third-round pick of 2019, has shown flashes but he’s still quite a bit away from being relied on in that role. Los Angeles also has Storm Norton on the roster, but he I believe he is nothing more than a swing option. In my opinion, it’s going to come down to Christian Darrisaw, Rashawn Slater, Alijah Vera-Tucker and potentially Teven Jenkins with their first-round pick.

Verdict: Much better