Tag: Isaac Rochell

3 key matchups to watch in Chargers vs. Raiders, Week 9

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez breaks down three matchups to hone in on when Los Angeles hosts Las Vegas on Sunday.

The Chargers are set to host the Raiders in Week 9 of the 2020 regular season, as they are eager to finally find themselves back to their winning ways.

With that being said, here are three key matchups that could be the determining factor of Sunday’s contest.

Chargers back seven vs. Raiders wide receivers

A big part of the late defensive meltdowns that have been ongoing lies in the back end of the defense. While the play-calling is one to point fingers at, the unit has been susceptible to leaving the middle of the field open as well as down the sidelines.

Derek Carr is having one of his best seasons yet, and he will look to challenge a defensive back group that no longer has Desmond King, is without Chris Harris Jr. and could be without Casey Hayward (non-injury related reasons).

Michael Davis will have a tough test against the speedy rookie Henry Ruggs, who is averaging 22 yards per reception. Davis has been up and down this season. Ruggs will draw the attention of Rayshawn Jenkins and Nasir Adderley, who both have also produced a mixed bag of results.

Darren Waller is establishing himself as one of the best tight ends in the league and given how the linebackers have been playing in coverage, it could be a recipe for disaster for Los Angeles if they can’t find a way to contain him.

Chargers defensive line vs. Raiders offensive line

Like I mentioned, Carr is having one of his best campaigns yet and the pressure will have to be put on in order to slow him down or else he will have no issue spreading the wealth with his quick release.

Not only that, but Josh Jacobs is coming off of one of his best performances of the season, and Las Vegas will look to utilize him early and often against a defensive line that will likely be without Joey Bosa, who is doubtful with a concussion.

Isaac Rochell, Bosa’s backup, will need to step up. Melvin Ingram and Uchenna Nwosu will have to continue to come up big against the pass and run. Meanwhile, the interior part of the defensive line can’t afford to get pushed back to clear lanes for Jacobs.

Chargers WR Keenan Allen vs. Raiders CB Trayvon Mullen

Justin Herbert has done a fine job of distributing the wealth to the plethora of skill players that he has it hand, but Allen has arguably been his top target up to this point. Allen is top 10 in receptions and is playing his way to be among that tier in receiving yards.

Herbert will look to get the ball to him early and often, considering the Raiders have struggled through the air. Mullen will be the one tasked with limiting the red hot Allen. The second-year cornerback has seven passes defensed this season.

Notre Dame in the NFL: Huge performances in big AFC game, Tate throws a pass and more

Plenty of former Notre Dame stars had big games for Pittsburgh (Claypool & Tuitt), Detroit (Okwara) and the Chargers (Tillery & Rochell).

Former Notre Dame stars had quite a week 8 in the NFL, highlighted by four former Irish alums making big plays in the huge AFC matchup between Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The Steelers left Baltimore undefeated, but that wasn’t due to the efforts from Miles Boykin. Find out which other former Notre Dame stars had big games this past week in the NFL.

Chargers’ Alohi Gilman could make some noise in rookie season

The Los Angeles Chargers’ sixth-round pick could be more than a special-teams ace in his rookie season.

The Chargers drafted safety Alohi Gilman in the sixth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft, adding another piece to an already stacked secondary.

Gilman reunites with linebacker Drue Tranquill, defensive tackle Jerry Tillery and defensive end Isaac Rochell, all of whom attended and played at the University of Notre Dame.

Gilman has been lost in the shuffle because much of the attention has been shifted to the other rookies selected, most notably quarterback Justin Herbert and linebacker Kenneth Murray.

But Gilman should not be forgotten, as he could carve up a major role in Year 1.

Los Angeles lost a few key special teamers this offseason, including Adrian Phillips and Derek Watt. Gilman should step in as a special teams ace because of his aggressiveness when coming downhill and high-volume as a tackler.

With Phillips gone to the Patriots, Gilman will be in contention not only for the backup strong safety spot to Derwin james, but for the team’s main dime linebacker role. Given his skillset and feel for the position, it wouldn’t be surprising if he wins the job this upcoming season.

“This guy reminds me a lot of A.P., just the way he carries himself, the way he goes about playing the football game,” coach Anthony Lynn said, per Los Angeles Times’ Jeff Miller. “With the versatility that he has shown on the field, we believe he can fill that role.”

Gilman does his best work closer to the line of scrimmage. There, he shows understanding of pursuit angles and great instincts against the run and in zone coverage. His combination of physicality and all out effort meshes well with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s defensive philosophy.

If Gilman shows out at training camp and preseason, like Tranquill did a year ago, he could be a key piece in a defense that ranked No. 6 in the league in 2019.

“He’s super smart, tough and he hits,” general manager Tom Telesco said. “Those are some traits that are good to have in the secondary. We think between safety and some special teams, he has a real chance here.”

6 Chargers who could be key reserves in 2020

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lists six players who could be key reserves in the upcoming season.

The Chargers have one of the most talented rosters from top to bottom, which will make it quite difficult for some players to see the field as frequently.

With that being said, here are six Chargers players who could be key reserves this upcoming season:

LB Uchenna Nwosu

Since entering the league in 2018, Nwosu has primarily backed up Melvin Ingram at LEO, getting snaps when Ingram would come off the field, which has not been very often. However, the former USC product has made his presence known on a consistent basis in the limited capacity. In two seasons, Nwosu has totaled 59 tackles, 17 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Even though the 23-year old has only played a role as a rotational pass-rusher, his impact has gone a long way towards the team’s defensive success. Heading into the new year, Nwosu isn’t expected to have an expanded role due to the presence of Ingram and Joey Bosa, but if one were to go down, he could be counted on as the next man up.

DE Isaac Rochell

Another key piece to the Chargers’ dominant defensive line that may go unnoticed is Rochell, the team’s seventh-round selection from the 2017 NFL Draft. Rochell has served as Joey Bosa’s backup, which is why he rarely gets playing time. But he has made the most of his limited opportunities, posting 45 tackles, nine tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits and seven sacks within the past three seasons, with the majority of those coming in 2018, which is when he saw an uptick in snaps after Bosa missed some time due to an injury. Rochell has proven himself as a viable pass-rusher and run defender. In 2020, he will have the same role, but will see the field more should either Bosa or Ingram go down with an injury.

DT Damion Square

Square was re-signed last week, and for a very good reason. The 31-year old nose tackle has been a valuable rotational piece in the middle of the defensive line. In 2019, Square recorded 27 tackles (15 solo), a tackle for loss and two passes defended. Whether it’s rushing the passer or stopping the run, Square has almost aways been a part of the action. In six seasons with the Chargers, Square has posted 96 tackles, 15 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss and eight passes defensed. The former Alabama product will backup newly acquired Linval Joseph, but his playing time will increase if an injury occurred.

FS Nasir Adderley

Had Adderley not been injured during his rookie season, there’s a good chance that he could’ve been the starting free safety. But the coaching staff’s trust in Rayshawn Jenkins in that role likely indicates that it’ll be difficult for him to win the job this season. However, with the defense expected to show more two-deep safety looks and there being a hole at the dimebacker position, Adderley could see the field in Year 2. Should Adderley stay healthy and carve out a spot, the former Delaware product supplies the backend of the defense with another talented player, one of whom has the range, speed, tackling ability and ball skills to consistently make plays.

OL Scott Quessenberry

The offensive line wasn’t particularly a bright spot for due to injuries that occurred throughout the 2019 season. But when one man (Mike Pouncey) went down, another stepped up. Quessenberry made an impact early on that many may have not been expecting from him when handing him the starting duties. But you could tell that he benefited from learning from a four-time Pro Bowler. The former UCLA product was consistent in pass protection and in the run blocking department. If Pouncey experiences another injury or if one of the guards goes down this upcoming season, Quessenberry supplies the unit with a solid player that can be counted on at any of the interior slots.

WR K.J. Hill

The Chargers had no desire to pick a wide receiver in the seventh-round of the draft, according to general manager Tom Telesco. But when they saw Ohio State’s reception leader still on the board, they couldn’t pass up on him. Hill joins a talented wide receiver room, which features Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. He will be in contention for the No. 3 job with Andre Patton, Jason Moore, Darius Jennings and Joe Reed. I believe Hill could win the spot, but the coaching staff may bank on the experience with Patton at first. However, the route-running savvy and great hands of Hill should eventually enable him to carve up a role. If Allen was to go down with an injury, Hill would be the front runner to fill his shoes as the starting slot wideout.

Chargers’ Isaac Rochell discusses racial profiling incident

The Los Angeles Chargers defensive end claims he was racially profiled this weekend.

Chargers defensive end Isaac Rochell claims he was the victim of racial profiling at his apartment complex in Huntington Beach, CA on Saturday.

“I just got asked IN MY OWN APARTMENT COMPLEX if I am a resident, what my unit number is, and if I’m a looter,” Rochell tweeted. “Being black shouldn’t be an accusation. THIS IS WHY PEOPLE ARE PROTESTING AND ASKING FOR CHANGE.”

Since the killing of George Floyd, the people of the world have been protesting in their cities, demanding justice for Floyd, as well as reforms to end racial profiling and the use of excessive force by police against people of color.

Those in the NFL have been speaking out through various platforms, asking the league to condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People.

Earlier this past week, coach Anthony Lynn delivered a powerful message about racial injustice, where he talked about the changes that need to be made, along with facing a racial profiling incident of his own.

Rochell was a seventh-round pick of the 2017 NFL Draft out of the University of Notre Dame.

Isaac Rochell pegs Chargers’ defensive line as best in NFL

The Los Angeles Chargers defensive line is loaded heading into the upcoming season.

Like many athletes worldwide, Chargers defensive end Isaac Rochell has been doing whatever he can to stay in shape during the global pandemic that has been going on for over the past month.

Rochell, the former Notre Dame product, has the luxury of training in Southern California where he calls it “the nicest part of the country,” according to Sports Illustrated’s Bill Enright.

Rochell is using the workouts that he can do on the beach to get him ready for his fourth season in the NFL. Since being drafted in 2017, the 24-year old 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.

Rochell has been a part of a defensive line that features the dynamic duo of defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, along with an interior that boasts Jerry Tillery, Justin Jones and newly acquired Linval Joseph. They also have linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and defensive tackle Cortez Broughton.

Rochell believes the Bolts’ defensive line is the best in the NFL. He called Bosa the best pass rusher in the league and gives defensive coordinator Gus Bradley credit for being creative with the usage of the members.

“So, yeah, [defensive coordinator Gus Bradley] definitely moves me around, which I’m super thankful for because I like to be able to do different things. And, again, we have guys like Corey Liuget, used to play for us. I learned a lot from him on the inside.

And you got guys like Joey who I can learn a lot from on the outside. And I just mentioned Justin Jones, younger than me but I’ve learned a lot from him. Just talking about D-line, he’s a beast. I’m just so thankful that I can utilize the guys around me and also be able to play inside and outside,” Rochell said.

Last season, the Chargers finished No. 28 in the league with 30 sacks. While it was near the bottom in that given category, the defense, which was led by the men up front, held their opponents to 21.6 points per game. Bosa and Ingram combined for 29 tackles for loss, 43 quarterback hits, and 18.5 sacks last season.

Chargers tender offers to 3 players

The Los Angeles Chargers have tendered three players.

The Chargers on Tuesday placed a second-round tender on cornerback Michael Davis. Along with that, they have exclusive rights for free agents Isaac Rochell and Trent Scott.

Davis started 12 games this past season, finishing with 39 tackles and two interceptions. The former BYU product is entering his fourth season in the NFL.

If Davis signs, he will have a $3.259 million cap hit for 2020, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.

Below is the official team statement:

The Los Angeles Chargers today placed a tender on cornerback Michael Davis (second round) along with exclusive rights free agents Isaac Rochell and Trent Scott.

Davis, a Glendale, Calif., native, has played in 43 games with 21 starts for Los Angeles. Initially signed by the team as an undrafted rookie out of Brigham Young, Davis earned a starting role in his second season. The fourth-year player has posted 87 tackles (69 solo), 18 passes defensed and two interceptions for his career.

Selected in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Chargers, Rochell has appeared in 35 games with three starts. He posted a sack in his second career game and, in 2018, recorded 4.5 sacks in a five-game span. In his career, Rochell registered 42 tackles (25 solo), seven sacks, nine tackles for loss and an interception.

Scott enters his third NFL season after originally signing with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Grambling State. He appeared in 25 games with 10 starts for his career, with 16 of those appearances and nine starts coming in 2019. In his 10 starts, Scott has blocked for an offense that produced seven performances with a 300-yard passer.

Stanford A Decade Long House of Horrors for Notre Dame

There haven’t been many more painful losses in Brian Kelly’s now ten-year run than what happened to conclude the 2015 regular season.

Forget that.

There haven’t been many more painful losses for Notre Dame in the almost 30 years I’ve been watching as the regular season finale in 2015 was.

The Notre Dame versus Stanford rivalry for The Legends Trophy has had some iconic moments for Notre Dame.

The Goal Line Stand in 2012:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpK7QUG3cbE&w=560&h=315]

Ben Koyack in 2014:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDUvS88s_cY&w=560&h=315]

Dexter Williams 2018 Debut:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZLXify02xY&w=560&h=315]

Unfortunately for Notre Dame these moments have been few and far between in odd-numbered years, when the Irish finish their regular season on the west-coast.

Notre Dame leads the all-time series against Stanford 19-13 (2012 being vacated) but hasn’t won at Stanford since the forgettable 2007 campaign that came to forgiving end with a rather forgettable 21-14 win at Stanford.

We’ve got all week still to get set for a regular season conclusion at Stanford, who has been incredibly disappointing this season, but let’s take a quick moment to look back on the five-straight Notre Dame has lost at Stanford, a trend they hope to finally end in the Brian Kelly era this Saturday.

First up:  2009 – Charlie’s Last Stand

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