Tag: Corey Linsley

Chargers rookie Rashawn Slater receives high praise from veterans

Chargers tackle Rashawn Slater is far and away ahead of his years.

The precocious nature of tackle Rashawn Slater has earned him a reputation as a sharp, technically sound blocker and a tough player at the line of scrimmage, who’s already capable of stymieing one of the league’s best pass rushers.

Only months into practice and some of his fellow brothers in the trenches have already taken note of how the rookie is adapting to the NFL and how he’s applying it in on the field

“He’s a hard worker. He’s got grit. He wants to learn. As a tackle – an offensive lineman, really – that’s what you need to do. You need to learn from your mistakes and ask questions. He’s asking all the right questions,” Matt Feiler said.

The revamped offensive line is capable of having plenty of success this season but in order for it to all come to fruition, the unit must be on the same page at all times, which is why Slater’s communication skills have been above par.

He’s been asking questions. I know he has been talking to Bryan [Bulaga] a bunch about playing tackle. There is only so much communication that the interior guys can help with. He’s received all of that. He’s a great dude and works hard. He’s a great player,” Corey Linsley said.

It’s not an easy task protecting the blindside from Day 1 in this league, but from a mental, physical and technical standpoint, Slater is tailor-made for the NFL, with potential to be an All-Pro player down the road.

Chargers’ Linval Joseph believes Corey Linsley will help him get another contract

The Chargers nose tackle is entering the final year of his deal.

As the saying goes, iron sharpens iron.

As the pads have officially come on at Chargers training camp, nose tackle Linval Joseph expressed what it’s like to be able to battle against All-Pro center Corey Linsley in the trenches.

“Oh, it’s been great, man. It’s been great. I feel like it may give me the opportunity to get another deal. I’m going to come out here every day. He’s going to give me his all, I’m going to give him my all.

Hopefully, I come out on top. He’s fast. He’s smart. I’m glad he’s on our team. I’ve played against him for six years in a row, twice a year, and we had some good battles,” Joseph said.

The Bolts signed Joseph last offseason to replace Brandon Mebane as the clog of the defense, which ended up paying dividends in 2020.

Playing 725 snaps this past season, which was nine shy of a career-high, Joseph not only contributed as someone who commanded double teams, but he made plays against the pass and run.

Moving like someone lighter than 329 pounds, Joseph finished with 62 tackles, 14 quarterback pressures, three tackles for loss and two QB hits.

Heading into this season, Joseph should not only benefit from being able to practice against one of the league’s best centers, but play in a system that will put him in favorable matchups to make plays.

If he produces like he did last season, the 32-year old should garner another contract next offseason. If not with Los Angeles, some other team would be happy to have him in their defensive line room.

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.

Where Chargers’ offensive line ranks in projected pass protection

ESPN recently projected and ranked the Chargers offensive line entering the 2021 season.

One of the Chargers’ priorities this offseason was to get the pieces up front to put quarterback Justin Herbert in the most optimal position to succeed.

General manager Tom Telesco did so by signing Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler, Oday Aboushi and drafting Rashawn Slater and Brenden Jaimes to go along with Bryan Bulaga.

On paper, the unit looks the most stout that it has in years, but how will they perform when they actually step on the field this fall?

ESPN recently projected and ranked the best and worst offensive lines in the league according to pass block win rates, which takes every projected starter’s individual pass block win rate over the past two seasons.

Players who did not play in either or both seasons (including rookies) were assigned a below-average PBWR for their position, and anyone who failed to meet the qualifying threshold had their win rate regressed toward that below-average target.

After finishing No. 31 last season, Los Angeles checked in at No. 22 heading into the 2021 season.

This is already a dramatic improvement over 2020. The Chargers ranked 31st in PBWR last season, so the addition of Linsley, the possibility of a healthy year from Bulaga, and a first-round rookie in Slater offer significant promise for this line.

The model is not going to assume immediate success for Slater, however, and Feiler struggled last season in Pittsburgh, hence the middling rank.

The organization did a good job of bringing in veteran offensive linemen that have proven themselves in this league along with a young player with plenty of talent.

The team is certainly hoping that promising things will happen this season with this new-look offensive line, which could dictate a decent portion of the offense’s success. They certainly have the pieces to make it come to fruition.

Now it falls in the coaching staff’s hands to put them in the best position to succeed and the players themselves to ensure that they can stay go through the entire season injury-free.

Chargers need bounce-back season from Bryan Bulaga in 2021

The Chargers need the veteran right tackle to step up this upcoming season.

In order for the Chargers to have a successful 2021 season, all cylinders need to be firing. That means players from last year, who either underachieved or missed some time due to an injury need to step it up this fall.

Among the few who need to have a bounce-back season is veteran offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga.

Arguably the biggest free agent acquisition last offseason was the signing of Bulaga, who inked a three-year deal. Bulaga was expected to be the heart and soul on a fairly inexperienced offensive line, but instead, he spent the majority of the season on the sidelines.

Bulaga made 10 starts, but he only played 37.87% of the offensive snaps. Without him, the Chargers were forced to play backups Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton, leading to a disastrous outcome up front, especially on the right side where guard Trai Turner was exploited.

On the year, Bulaga earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 66.1, which marked a career-low.

Heading into the new season, Bulaga will be playing next to better players after general manager Tom Telesco upgraded each spot on the line this offseason with Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler, Oday Aboushi and rookie Rashawn Slater, but ensuring his durability is essential.

The talent of Bulaga is there, but his injury history is concerning. If he’s unable to stay on the field, the team will be forced to shuffle the group, likely shifting Matt Feiler from left guard to right tackle and plugging rookie Brenden Jaimes at LG, or playing Pipkins or Norton at RT.

During his rookie campaign, quarterback Justin Herbert excelled under pressure. While there’s no denying Herbert could perform under the same circumstances, continuity upfront could ultimately determine how far the Chargers can go this season.

Communication key for Chargers new-look offensive line

Chargers OT Bryan Bulaga talks about the core quality of the offensive line in 2021.

The Chargers boast one of the most talented offensive lines that the team has had in years after the offseason acquisitions of veterans Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi, as well as rookie Rashawn Slater.

On paper, the group looks capable of giving quarterback Justin Herbert plenty of time to distribute the wealth and clear holes in the running game. But to make it all come to fruition, the unit must be on the same page at all times.

Right tackle Bryan Bulaga stressed the importance of communication in order to achieve success this upcoming season.

“First things first, with us up front, it’s all about communication,” Bulaga said. “I think when you can have good communication in the offensive line room, that’s only gonna help the group perform better on Sundays.

Obviously, throughout a game week or throughout training camp or what we’ve been in right now, especially with the new scheme, we’re installing things and seeing it for the first time, so being on the field with it for the first time, there’s gonna be a lot of questions.

There’s gonna be things that we don’t have the answers to right now because this is new to all the guys, but having a coach who’s able to communicate those things and be clear about what we need to do and make sure there’s no gray area is great.”

Offensive line coach Frank Smith’s philosophy of “clear, consistent, concise communication,” is what he wants to engrave to build the group’s culture and vision as they adjust to working together and getting accustomed to the new offense and blocking schemes.

By understanding each other, making the right calls, being able to read defenses, tell how they’re going to play certain ways and how they’re going to take on certain blocks should see it all work out.

During the spring in classroom sessions and OTAs, the line began the gelling process. Heading into training camp later this month, the group will throw on pads and get live reps, which should enhance their communication skills ahead of the regular season.

Last season, Pro Football Focus had Los Angeles ranked as the worst offensive line in football, and the run blocking was far too inconsistent.

The Chargers are certainly hoping that good things will happen in 2021 for this new-look offensive line, which could dictate a good portion of the offense’s success.

The NFL’s top 11 centers

Rodney Hudson, J.C. Tretter and Corey Lindsey top Touchdown Wire’s list of the best in the middle.

The relationship between a quarterback and his center is one of the most critical in all of football. It is a bond forged through sweat, hard work, hours of practice, and more sweat.

A lot more.

Honestly as a former quarterback I’m very envious of those coming up playing the position now as both the shotgun and the pistol formations are becoming standard operating procedure. Would have made some summer mornings in Middletown, Connecticut a lot more enjoyable…

But as we have seen with guards, centers are critical to modern offenses. From handling pass protection responsibilities to the various ways centers are needed in the run game, it is hard to assemble a top-flight NFL offense without a stud in the middle.

Here are the NFL’s 11 best centers.

Projecting the Chargers’ offensive line depth chart in 2021

The Los Angeles Chargers have a solid starting five up front. But what about the depth?

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be breaking down the depth chart at each position for the Chargers.

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver

Tight End

Next up, I project what the offensive line room will look like heading into the 2021 season.

LT: Rashawn Slater

Many, including myself, did not expect Slater to see a slide to where the Chargers were selecting at No. 13. After he did, it was a no-brainer for the team who needed a franchise left tackle. While there are some who still believe he will be a better guard in this league due to his lack of height and arm length, given how he fared against Chase Young along with other elite edge defenders in college and his traits at the position, I think Slater will be just fine at protecting the blindside.

Backups: Trey Pipkins, Storm Norton

LG: Matt Feiler

One of the best value moves made by Los Angeles was signing Feiler. He started 40 games for the Steelers since joining them in 2016, including 29 games in the last two seasons – 26 at right tackle and 13 at left guard. During his time with Pittsburgh, he was a contributor to holding opponents to the fewest sacks in the NFL over the past three seasons. His consistency and durability and ability to fill in at multiple spots along the line will go a long way at maintaining competency up front.

Backups: Brenden Jaimes, Scott Quessenberry

C: Corey Linsley

Among the plethora of offseason acquisitions made by the Chargers, arguably the best one was signing the All-Pro center. 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. With Linsley, L.A. now has a dependable and consistent presence to anchor the offensive line.

Backups: Scott Quessenberry

RG: Oday Aboushi

The team released Trai Turner and went out and signed Aboushi in correspondence. Aboushi stepped into a starting role in the second half of the year for the Lions in 2020 and thrived. On 1,875 total snaps, he has only blown 33 blocks (19 pass, 14 run). Aboushi will have some competition in training camp with fifth-round pick Brenden Jaimes. But given the fact that he is coming off his best season yet and is more experienced, Aboushi should lock up the starting spot.

Backups: Brenden Jaimes, Scott Quessenberry

RT: Bryan Bulaga

Bulaga is the only returning member on the offensive line. After signing with the Chargers last offseason, the 34-year old was hit with a variety of injuries, limiting his time on the field to just 10 games. According to Sports Info Solutions, Bulaga surrendered 10 pressures (7 pass, 3 run) on 418 total snaps. If Bulaga is dinged up again, the team could move Feiler to right tackle and slide Jameis into the left guard spot or vice versa.

Backups: Trey Pipkins, Brenden Jaimes, Storm Norton

What we learned about Chargers rookie OT Rashawn Slater during spring practices

The Los Angeles Chargers’ first-round pick made a good early impression.

The Chargers landed a gem in offensive tackle Rashawn Slater with their first-round pick in this year’s draft.

How did Slater do during the offseason workouts the past couple of months? ESPN’s Shelley Smith was in attendance for the team’s organized team activities, where she was able to see him firsthand.

Slater is solid, if not a bit smaller than you would expect. Nicknamed “The Wall,” he opted out of the 2020 season at Northwestern, but in 2019 he allowed zero sacks and was awesome against Ohio State’s star pass-rusher Chase Young, the No. 2 overall pick last year. There were some pre-draft questions about Slater’s arm length, which didn’t seem to pose a problem in shorts and cleats.

Smith highlights Slater’s physical traits, which were seen as a potential issue for him to stick at the tackle at this level throughout the pre-draft process. However, he has appeared to defy the odds in the early going.

While there may still be concerns with Slater’s long-term outlook at tackle, he is technically sound, very intelligent, physical and consistent which shows both in the pass- and run-blocking department to stick around there.

During OTAs, Slater was with the first-team offense, with the rest of the line consisting of Matt Feiler at left guard, Corey Linsley at center, Oday Aboushi at right guard and Bryan Bulaga at right tackle.

Even though there wasn’t any contact, it’s good to hear that Slater did well this spring. Onto training camp next month, where he will really get to show his worth in one-on-ones against edge defender Joey Bosa.

OL coach Frank Smith’s experience with Saints should pay dividends with Chargers

Chargers offensive line coach Frank Smith had the pleasure of working with four Pro Bowlers.

Part of the Chargers’ revamp of the offensive line included hiring new offensive line coach/run game coordinator Frank Smith.

Smith most recently served as the Bears and Raiders’ tight ends coach, but prior to that, he was an assistant offensive line coach for the Saints from 2010-14.

Smith worked the likes Jermon Bushrod, Jahri Evans, Ben Grubbs and Carl Nicks, all of whom were named to the Pro Bowl during his time with New Orleans.

Smith benefited from coaching in a system that will be similar to the one offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi is enforcing.

He talked about his experiences in that role, elaborating that he was able to get a “Ph.D. in football.”

“What a lucky guy I was,” Smith said. “To step back now —I always kind of look at, ‘What did you learn from every experience?’ If you don’t learn and grow and affect your next day, I think that’s our failure, whether it’s a coach, player, or really anyone. I was lucky.

I got there two months after they had just won the Super Bowl —the pinnacle of football. I learned the why. [Saints Head Coach] Sean Payton has that big-picture vision of how to build a Super Bowl-caliber winning team, and then how you build a team, again, that got as close as you can get.

I was lucky to develop a relationship with Joe [Lombardi] in my time there. He taught me a lot of things. I was young in the NFL. Just how things worked and why, and how the systems worked.

[Former Saints coach] Aaron Kromer was there my first couple of years. He’s a top-level line coach. I can’t say enough. I’m so lucky that I was able to work for him. He taught me how the NFL works.”

Smith joins Los Angeles alongside assistant offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett and a great group of players, Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler, Oday Aboushi, Bryan Bulaga and Rashawn Slater.