Tag: Dan Feeney

Bleacher Report names starter that Chargers must replace in 2021

The Chargers would be wise to bolster the offensive line this upcoming offseason.

In order to get the most out of star-in-the-making quarterback Justin Herbert for years down the road, the Chargers must do whatever it takes to keep him in good standing, literally.

Based on the production of the offensive line this season, it’s safe to say that Los Angeles could use an upgrade, as they’re allowing 2.1 sacks per game. Among the positional makeovers lies at left tackle, as the future with Sam Tevi is up in the air.

Tevi was identified by Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski as the starter that L.A. needs to replace.

Tevi, who filled the void left by Russell Okung, hasn’t done a bad job this season after moving from the right to the left side. The former seventh-round selection has only allowed two sacks and 29 quarterback pressures, along with being a serviceable run-blocker this season.

Tevi joins guard Forrest Lamp and center Dan Feeney as unrestricted free agents. Given the fact that Tevi hasn’t proven himself as a premiere blocker, L.A. may see this as an opportunity to let him spread his wings and go to another team while they fill the spot in free agency or the NFL draft.

If Los Angeles decided to go the free agency route, 49ers’ Trent Williams, Jaguars’ Cam Robinson and Steelers’ Alejandro Villanueva are among the few that could appeal to them.

The draft, however, seems to be the more reasonable outlet, as Los Angeles could have their choice from Rashawn Slater, Samuel Cosmi, Dillon Radunz, Christian Darrisaw, Alex Leatherwood and Jalen Mayfield, to name a few.

Chargers withstand Buccaneers’ pass rush in 38-31 loss

The Los Angeles Chargers handled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ pressure.

The biggest key matchup heading into the Week 4 matchup between the Chargers and Buccaneers was in the trenches.

Tampa Bay boasted one of the league’s most fearsome pass rushes, and Los Angeles was thin along the offensive line due to the absences of tackle Bryan Bulaga and guard Trai Turner.

The coaching staff knew that it could’ve been the deciding factor of the game, and answered with the perfect plan to slow down the blitzes defensive coordinator Todd Bowles deployed.

L.A. used a large amount of max protection, keeping tight ends and running backs in to serve as additional blockers. But the offensive linemen stayed intact throughout the entire contest.

In total, the unit only allowed two sacks to a defensive group that had 12 sacks in the first three games. To go along with that, only nine pressures were allowed.

A complete breakdown by each lineman, per Pro Football Focus:

Sam Tevi – 1

Forrest Lamp – 0

Dan Feeney – 3

Ryan Groy – 2

Trey Pipkins – 3

When quarterback Justin Herbert was pressured, his pocket mobility and poise helped mask them. Two of Herbert’s three touchdowns came while under duress.

Overall, the coaching staff did an excellent job of scheming the perfect plan against one of the NFL’s top pass rushes. Credit goes to offensive line coach James Campen, who has helped with the development of the guys up front.

While pass protection was strong, the running game was nonexistent, especially after running back Austin Ekeler left the game with a hamstring injury. The Chargers amassed only 46 rushing yards.

Chargers place C Mike Pouncey on injured reserve

The same hip injury from his playing days with the Dolphins appears to still be bothering center Mike Pouncey.

Chargers center Mike Pouncey (hip) has been placed on the injured reserve, ending his 2020 season. In a corresponding move, the team promoted fullback Gabe Nabers to the active roster.

Pouncey dealt with the hip injury prior to the regular season opener, forcing him to miss Week 1. But it appears the injury wasn’t making any progress.

Pouncey was limited to five games with the Dolphins in 2016 because of the same issue.

Pouncey, 31, missed the majority of the 2019 season after undergoing neck surgery following Week 5 and was playing on a one-year, $9 million contract prior the the injury.

To fill the void, Dan Feeney will start at center while Forrest Lamp starts at left guard.

Report: Chargers will be without Mike Pouncey Week 1 vs. Bengals

The Los Angeles Chargers will be without their starting center to open up the 2020 season.

The Chargers will officially be without their starting center to start the 2020 season.

Mike Pouncey is not expected to play in Sunday’s contest against the Bengals due to a hip injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Pouncey did not practice all week.

To fill the void, Dan Feeney will likely move from left guard to center, while Forrest Lamp will slide into left guard.

Pouncey is playing on a one-year deal after missing the majority of the 2019 season with a neck injury. He was cleared to play, but his hip, which was an issue when he played with Dolphins, is now giving him problems.

Chargers’ Mike Pouncey will likely be a game-time decision for Week 1 vs. Bengals

The Los Angeles Chargers could be without their starting center this weekend for the season opener.

There’s a chance that the Chargers could be without their starting center for the season opener against the Bengals.

According to coach Anthony Lynn, center Mike Pouncey will likely be a game-time decision on Sunday. Lynn added that Pouncey’s injury is not related to the season-ending neck injury he suffered last season.

Pouncey missed some of the final practices last week, but his injury is unknown.

If Pouncey is unable to, Dan Feeney is next on the depth chart at center. That would mean Forrest Lamp would likely get the start at left guard in the meantime.

Another player who will be a game-time decision is wide receiver Mike Williams, who is dealing with a shoulder injury.

Lynn said Williams is slowly being worked in this week at practice.

Could Chargers’ Forrest Lamp emerge as a surprise starter in 2020?

Does Forrest Lamp have what it takes to start this upcoming season?

Chargers guard Forrest Lamp has been one of the most highly anticipated players over the past couple of seasons. Unfortunately, he has let those down after failing to stay on the field due to various lower body injuries.

Lamp has shown flashes of a solid NFL lineman, but it’s been injuries that have held him back from reaching his full potential.

Primarily the team’s backup left guard behind Dan Feeney, Lamp has only made two starts in three seasons.

However, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski believes that Lamp is capable of emerging as a surprise starter this upcoming season. The only thing is, it wouldn’t be at left guard. It would be the starting left tackle.

Too much of an emphasis is placed on body type and arm length when evaluating offensive linemen. The quality of a prospect’s film is often overlooked when he doesn’t fit a certain mold.

The Los Angeles Chargers’ Forrest Lamp serves as a perfect example. Lamp played as well or better than any tackle prospect in the 2017 draft class. The Western Kentucky product ranked first overall in pass-blocking efficiency during his senior season, per Pro Football Focus.

Yet he never had an opportunity to play the position in the NFL before moving to guard.

Now, the Chargers have a left tackle problem after trading Russell Okung to the Carolina Panthers. Trey Pipkins and Sam Tevi, who previously started at right tackle, will compete for the starting spot. Give Lamp a legit shot to win the job, and he may just surprise.

The former Western Kentucky product was exclusively the Hilltopper’s left tackle from 2014-2016, but was moved inside due to his average height and arm length. But in each of his three collegiate seasons, Lamp was one of the most elite tackles in college football.

The coaching staff said that Lamp could be an option at left tackle since there will be a competition to fill the void at the position. But it’s a bit hard to believe that he would make the transition from guard to tackle, especially coming off of a broken leg.

Instead, it’s more likely that Lamp will push Dan Feeney for the starting left guard spot. In the end, I expect Feeney to win the job. Lamp’s only opportunity to see the field will be if an injury occurred to anyone along the offensive line, if he is able to stay healthy, that is.

Chargers 2017 draft class bookended as one of the best in NFL

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler is quite high on the Los Angeles Chargers’ 2017 draft class.

It’s always a fun exercise to revisit previous draft classes by using on-field production in the player’s professional careers to critique how general managers did with their selections and undrafted free agent signings.

That’s exactly what The Athletic’s Dane Brugler did, ranking each NFL team’s 2017 draft classes. With three seasons of play under their belts, he was able to accurately judge the hauls.

For the Chargers, they had one of the better classes among the rest of the league, finishing No. 10 overall.

To recap, here’s a look at GM Tom Telesco’s haul:

Round 1, (No. 7 overall) Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

Round 2, (No. 38) Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky

Round 3, (No. 71), Dan Feeney, G, Indiana

Round 4, (No. 113) Rayshawn Jenkins, S, Miami

Round 5, (No. 151) Desmond King, S, Iowa

Round 6, (No. 190) Sam Tevi, OT, Utah

Round 7, (No. 225) Isaac Rochell, DT, Notre Dame

Brugler highlighted the players that are still on the team, and it just so happens that Los Angeles is the only squad that has managed to retain each one of their picks from that draft.

Wide receiver Mike Williams has turned into a solid vertical threat, leading the league league in yards per catch in 2019. Williams had his fifth-year option picked up earlier this offseason.

Guard Forrest Lamp entered the league as one of the best linemen from that class. However, injuries over the past few seasons have hampered him from reaching his full potential.

Guard Dan Feeney has been a starter since his rookie season. After facing some bumps in Year 1, Feeney has improved as years have gone on. He has made 41 of 46 possible starts.

Rayshawn Jenkins has taken over as the starter at free safety after beginning his career as a strong safety. There are still deficiencies to Jenkins’ game, but he led the team in interceptions last season (3) and the coaching staff covets him.

Cornerback Desmond King has proven to be a great value pick as the impactful defender has been stout in both coverage and against the run. While he may have lost his starting job as the starting slot corner with the signing of Chris Harris Jr., King could still contribute in the dime linebacker role.

Offensive tackle Sam Tevi was drafted to serve as a swing tackle, but injuries to other players forced him into the starting lineup. He hasn’t performed well in each of his three seasons, but the coaching staff is hopeful that new offensive line coach James Campen will help improve his game.

Defensive end Isaac Rochell has been a key contributor as a rotational pass-rusher, playing in all 16 games the last two seasons and posting seven sacks and 46 tackles in his career.

2017 was also significant because it marked the year that running back Austin Ekeler was signed as an undrafted free agent. Brugler cites Ekeler as the second-best pass-catching back behind Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey. Ekeler finished 2019 with 92 catches for 993 receiving yards and eight scores.

Projecting the Chargers’ offensive line depth chart

The Chargers offensive line will have a slightly different look this offseason.

The Chargers offensive line has been arguably one of the weaker spots on the roster the past few seasons. But after a couple of key acquisitions and hiring of offensive line coach James Campen, who’s one of the best in the league, they’re hoping to be stronger than they have been in years prior.

Below, I take a crack at projecting Los Angeles’ offensive line depth chart for the 2020 season.

LT: Trey Pipkins

This will be one of the more notable position battles to monitor as the competition to fill the void after Russell Okung’s departure will be between in-house players from last season and former XFL player Storm Norton. Pipkins, the team’s third-round pick from the 2019 NFL draft, wasn’t expected to take a single snap in his rookie season. However, that took a turn when Okung missed quite a bit of action. Like any rookie offensive lineman, he experienced some struggles against NFL pass-rushers, but as he received more playing time, his strengths became more apparent. Sam Tevi could win this job solely based on experience in the starting role, but Campen like what he sees in Pipkins, citing what he does well and that he has a plan for him to unlock his full potential.

Backups: Sam Tevi, Storm Norton, Trent Scott

LG: Dan Feeney

Feeney has been the model of consistency, starting every single game the past two seasons. Even though he was shaky early on in his professional career, he has improved his game. He’s especially been a key contributor in the run-blocking department. Along with left guard, he has shown to be reliable as a center when Mike Pouncey suffered a season-ending injury in 2019. Feeney will have to shake off Forrest Lamp, who’s coming off a season-ending injury, as well. But Feeney’s familiarity, availability and durability gives him the leg up.

Backups: Forrest Lamp, Trent Scott

C: Mike Pouncey

There were concerns that Pouncey wouldn’t be able to take another snap after suffering a severe neck injury last season, but good news came when he announced that he was medically cleared. Pouncey has been a critical piece of the offensive line since signing in 2018. Prior to getting injured in Week 5 last season, he started 37 consecutive games. If Pouncey were to get hurt again, Feeney or Scott Quessenberry would fill his shoes. Quessenberry started nine games last season, faring well against some of the top defensive tackles.

Backups: Dan Feeney, Scott Quessenberry

RG: Trai Turner

The Chargers gained the five-time Pro Bowler when they shipped away Russell Okung earlier this offseason. Turner, who’s become one of the league’s most premiere interior offensive lineman, has played in 84 games (80 of which he started) since entering the league in 2014. Turner is significant upgrade over Michael Schofield, who started every game at right guard for the Chargers in 2018 and 2019.

Backups: Forrest Lamp, Trent Scott

RT: Bryan Bulaga

Arguably the Chargers’ biggest acquisition this offseason was the signing of Bulaga. Bulaga, who reunites with Campen, has started 111 of his 115 games over the past nine seasons, showing exemplary toughness after dealing with injuries early on. In each of his full seasons since 2014, Bulaga has ranked among the 10 best right tackles in Pro Football Focus’ pass-blocking grade, with three ranking in the top three. He provides a huge boost in pass protection and run-blocking.

Backups: Sam Tevi, Trent Scott, Storm Norton

Remaining needs for the Chargers after 2020 NFL Draft

There are four positions that the Los Angeles Chargers could still look to address in free agency.

The 2020 NFL Draft is history.

In the draft, the Chargers addressed the quarterback, linebacker, running back, wide receiver and safety position, all of which were needs prior to the event.

However, Los Angeles still has remaining needs that they will have to consider filling prior to the 2020 season in order to avoid having holes on the roster.

Here are some of Bolts’ most glaring needs that they will have to figure out the rest of the offseason:

Left tackle

Finding a tackle to offer competition with Trey Pipkins on the left side was thought to be a priority for the Chargers going into the draft. But they came away empty-handed.

General manager Tom Telesco said there was an offensive lineman that was available at one of their draft picks but they went in a different direction. Telesco didn’t specify which round, but there was one on their radar.

Going into the season, Pipkins, Storm Norton, Sam Tevi and possibly Forrest Lamp are projected to compete for the starting job. But they could benefit from a veteran’s presence to protect Tyrod Taylor’s blindside, while giving Pipkins another year to develop.

Outside cornerback

Opposite of Casey Hayward is Michael Davis, who is projected to go into the season as the starter. However, Davis had his ups and downs last season, and struggled to stay on the field towards the end of the season due to an injury and suspension.

The other option is Brandon Facyson, who showed some promise as a starter, but he still has limited experience in that role. If the Chargers want to solidify an already talented secondary, they should look to add a proven player at the position, and it just so happens that there are a few remaining on the market.

Nose tackle depth

I thought the Chargers were going to use one of their Day 3 selections on a nose tackle like Leki Fotu or Benito Jones to backup Linval Joseph, but they didn’t address the position at all. Am I surprised? Not at all.

The reason being is because I could see Los Angeles re-signing Damion Square or Sylvester Williams, both of whom played a significant role last season in the middle of the defensive line. Or, there’s the possibility of them banking on former seventh-round selection Cortez Broughton’s development.

Interior offensive line depth

There are a few questions that have yet to be answered with the interior part of the offensive line.

Will Mike Pouncey be able to play this season? Can Dan Feeney be counted on as the starter moving forward? Is Forrest Lamp going to stay at guard or make the switch over to tackle?

With all of these questions in mind, it only leads to the desire to add more pieces, especially in case of injuries. Coach Anthony Lynn did say Trent Scott could kick inside from tackle, similar to what they did with Michael Schofield, which would help with some of possible holes.

6 Chargers to watch vs. Jaguars

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out the six most important Chargers players to watch against the Jaguars.

The Los Angeles Chargers are hours away from kicking off against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Here are six players that could have a big determination of the outcome of the game.

RB Melvin Gordon

After a slow start to the season, Gordon has been riding the hot hand and now he will have a huge opportunity to cash in his best game yet, facing a defense that has allowed 5.1 yards per carry and three 100+ yard rushing games, and two multi-touchdown games.

OL Dan Feeney

Feeney has had an up and down season, but he will have to be on his A-game against four-time Pro Bowler, Calais Campbell. Campbell leads the Jaguars with 19 quarterback hits, 11 quarterback knockdowns and 27 pressures this season.

OT Russell Okung

Not only will Feeney and the other members on the interior have to be stout, but so will the veteran left tackle as he will have to keep rookie Josh Allen from quarterback Philip Rivers’ blindside. Allen leads the team with nine sacks, pressures with 36 and in tackles for loss with 10.

DE Joey Bosa

Believe it or not, but Bosa has not posted a sack in the past three games after amassing 8.5 in the first nine. He will have a good opportunity to get back on track facing an offensive tackle group that has struggled to find its groove. Not only will Bosa look to acquire a sack or two, but force the ball out of quarterback Gardner Minshew’s hands as he’s struggled with fumbling.

LB Drue Tranquill

With LB Denzel Perryman out, Tranquill will take over as the team’s starting MIKE. Tranquill has been one of the best run defenders and he will need to stay hot facing running back Leonard Fournette, who has been running wild in his third season as a pro.

CB Casey Hayward

Hayward will be looking to bounce back after one of his worst performances of the season. It won’t be an easy task facing wide receiver D.J. Chark, who has a knack for explosive plays. Chark should benefit from Minshew behind center as he averages more yards per reception and has caught five touchdown passes with the rookie at quarterback.

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