Tag: Chargers safety

Chargers’ Alohi Gilman primed for bigger role in 2023

Alohi Gilman has earned the right to be starter next to Derwin James.

Alohi Gilman is entering the final year of his rookie deal, where he will be auditioning for another contract, whether for the Chargers or another team.

Gilman has an excellent opportunity to show his worth with extensive playing time, as he is set to be the starting safety alongside Derwin James.

“He’s a guy that’s consistent,” James said about Gilman. “Everyone here counts on him. Everyone knows that he’s going to be where he needs to be. He’s getting better. He’s making calls. He’s confident. It’s exciting being out there. It’s been a lot of fun, a lot of energy out there, honestly.”

Gilman is coming off his best year as a pro. He started for Nasir Adderley down the stretch of the season and made the most of his time on the field, finishing with career highs in tackles (58), passes defended (three) and fumble recoveries (two) while notching an interception.

Gilman has built off his previous campaign, as he was a standout during OTAs and minicamp.

Los Angeles hopes that 2022 third-round pick JT Woods can develop into the deep safety opposite James. The team could also sign someone between now and the start of training camp.

But for now, it’s Gilman’s job to lose.

With his great instincts, cover skills and open-field tackling ability, Gilman should be a vital piece in the back end of the Bolts’ defense this upcoming season.

Chargers’ Alohi Gilman ready if called upon to start at strong safety

The Los Angeles Chargers’ 2020 sixth-round could be the team’s starting strong safety.

Chargers rookie safety Alohi Gilman was strictly seen as a player who would be a special teams player and sub-package defender in Year 1.

But now, Gilman has the opportunity to play a role much larger in his rookie season. After the big loss of Derwin James, there’s a possibility that Gilman could be the starting strong safety for Los Angeles.

“This is a great opportunity for me to step into a role where I can play a little more early on in my career,” Gilman said. I got a lot of room to grow. A lot of room to work at. But that’s a day-by-day process. When my number is called, I’ll be ready for sure.”

Gilman had been working as the backup strong safety the past couple of weeks of training camp prior to James’ injury, while having the luxury of learning from one of the best safeties in the league.

James lauded Gilman as “one of the best athletes that he’s been around.”

Even though it’s always a bit worrisome to throw a rookie into the fire, Gilman has the skillset to do fine at the position.

The former Notre Dame product is stout as run defender and he can blanket tight ends, showing the competitive skills to be disruptive at the catch point.

It remains to be seen if that’s the direction L.A. will go to fill James’ void.

The team could move Rayshawn Jenkins to strong safety, let Nasir Adderley or Desmond King play free safety while Gilman plays the dimebacker role.

They could also sign a free agent like Jahleel Addae.

There isn’t much time to figure out how the Chargers will replace the star safety, but they must act quickly as there is only 13 days until the season opener against the Bengals.

HC Anthony Lynn shuts down idea of Chargers signing safety Earl Thomas

It doesn’t appear that the Chargers will dip into the free agency pool to sign the seven-time Pro Bowler.

The Chargers are figuring out how they’re going to go about playing without safety Derwin James after he injured his right meniscus in practice on Sunday.

Among the ways that Los Angeles could address the situation, which has garnered a lot of attention, is by signing free agent Earl Thomas.

However, coach Anthony Lynn put those assumptions to bed when asked by a reporter at today’s media availability, stating he has confidence with the players that are on the roster.

“Since you guys are constantly telling me how stacked my secondary is, why the hell would I be looking anywhere else?” Lynn told reporters Monday, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.

The murmurs started because Thomas played for defensive coordinator Gus Bradley with the Seahawks years ago.

This was said before a report came out that said there is mutual interest between L.A. and safety Jahleel Addae, whom played with the team for six seasons.

If the Chargers choose to go into the season with their in-house options, I laid out a few options on how they can line up the defensive backs in the absence of James.

Projecting the Chargers’ safety depth chart

The Los Angeles Chargers will have a healthy Derwin James back for the 2020 regular season.

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

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Offensive line

Defensive line

Linebacker

Cornerback

Today, we examine and project the safety room for Los Angeles heading into the 2020 season.

FS: Rayshawn Jenkins

The battle for the free safety job last season was between Jenkins and 2019 second-round pick Nasir Adderley. Adderley showed some immense flashes of earning the starting role. However, injuries kept him off the field, which left Jenkins as the starter.

In his first season as a full-time starter after making the transition from strong safety to the single-high role, Jenkins had an up-and-down season. Even though he led the team in interceptions (3), blown coverages and missed tackles were scattered throughout Jenkins’ campaign.

According to Pro Football Focus, among safeties that played at least 80% of their team’s snaps in 2019, Jenkins was 30th among 37 safeties with a 63.1 overall grade.

Despite the inconsistent results, Jenkins was still highly praised by the coaching staff. Earlier this offseason, coach Anthony Lynn said that he believes Jenkins will breakout in 2020.

Since Jenkins earned the trust of the coaching staff, it may seem like an uphill climb for Adderley earn snaps, but a systematical change might make it easier than originally expected.

The Chargers are expected to show more two-deep looks and man coverage and less Cover 3. This will mean that both Adderley and Jenkins would be on the field. But Jenkins will get the majority of the snaps.

According to defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, Adderley, Jenkins, along with Desmond King are candidates for the dime linebacker role, the position formerly played by Adrian Phillips, which is the sixth defensive back in dime packages.

Backup(s): Nasir Adderley

SS: Derwin James

The Chargers are getting the dynamic defender back for a full state after his sophomore season was short lived to a foot injury that he sustained prior to the regular season.

James is not only being inked as a prime Comeback Player of the Year candidate in 2020, but projected as Defensive Player of the Year.

The former Florida State product will go back to being a difference-maker on the defensive side of the ball, where he will resume his duties as a coverage player, run defender and additional blitzer.

James should see the field for nearly every snap, which will make it extremely difficult for his backups to earn playing time.

Roderic Teamer, who started in James’ absence last season, should make the roster. He will primarily serve as a special teamer, but he could earn some playing time as the dime linebacker.

The Chargers’ sixth-round pick Alohi Gilman should also be among the final 55, but nearly all of his playing time will be on special teams, where he will have to prove his worth in order to draw consideration of being on the field as a dimebacker.

Backup(s): Roderic Teamer, Alohi Gilman