Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Predicting what Brandon Staley’s defense will look like come the first week of the regular season.
Training camp is usually when teams begin finalizing their depth charts. This year, however, it seems as though the Chargers have largely set their starting lineups before players even report to camp.
Let’s run through the starters, continuing with the defense.
A.J. Uzodinma left Ball State as the school’s record-holder in pass deflections.
Training camp is approaching and with a few more weeks of dead time in the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is documenting each of Los Angeles’ players before it kicks off.
Following the 2023 NFL draft, the Chargers signed former Ball State cornerback A.J. Uzodinma as an undrafted free agent.
Uzodinman, the 5-foot-11 and 189 pound corner, appeared in every game from 2018 to 2022.
Uzodinma left as the school’s record-holder in career pass deflections with 44. He finished with ten interceptions. Additionally, Uzodinma led the team with 24.2 yards per kickoff return last season.
Uzodinma is looking to beat the odds to push for snaps during training camp and the preseason, but he faces an uphill battle as an undrafted free agent addition.
If Uzodinma raises some eyebrows, he could very well be a candidate to be signed to the practice squad.
Contract (2023): $750,000 base salary, $666 prorated bonus, $750,666 cap hit.
Acquired: Uzodinma was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL draft.
Highlight:
Dear @SportsCenter,
We are just gonna leave this AJ Uzodinma INT right here… #SCTop10 #MACtion pic.twitter.com/U7j1eLZIiq
— #MACtion (@MACSports) November 1, 2018
J.C. Jackson could prove to be a critical piece of the Chargers’ defense in 2023 when he returns.
Training camp is nearing, and with a few more weeks of dead time during the quietest part of the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is endeavoring to document each of Los Angeles’ players before it kicks off.
Cornerback J.C. Jackson was the most prized free agent of the 2022 class and signed with the Chargers to shore up the team’s already-established secondary, inking a five-year contract worth $82.5 million.
Unfortunately, a torn patellar tendon in his right knee in Week 7 ended his first campaign with the team.
Before the injury, it still wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Jackson as he struggled to find his footing in Brandon Staley’s defense, leading to him getting benched.
Jackson has been working hard to get back to full health and he is optimistic that he will be back by training camp.
If he can return to form after recovering from the brutal injury, Los Angeles’ defense could be among the best in the NFL.
Contract (2023): $12,000,000 base salary, $5,000,000 prorated bonus, $17,000,000 cap hit.
Acquired: Jackson signed a contract with the Chargers as a free agent in 2022 in a move that came to define Los Angeles’ offseason.
Quote: Brandon Staley on Jackson’s comfort within his defensive scheme:
“It’s an important point because when you transition these players from other teams, it’s a big aspect. He’s doing the job that he’s done his whole career, in terms of covering the number one receivers. That’s what we brought him here to do. Fundamentally, we’re asking him to do the things that he’s done his whole career, just it’s with us. I think it’s just getting that comfort zone of being around the guys that you play with. It’s not an individual sport. I think that people underestimate the transition for players because it’s much more challenging in football to transition to a new team. I think you’ve seen it with quarterbacks that have transitioned to new teams. He is the player that we signed, we know that. I’m confident that in training camp, once he gets to working with his teammates, that he’ll be able to showcase the real player that he is.”
Highlight:
JC Jackson is an interception machine. #ForeverNE
📺: #NEvsNYJ on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/Vzo9csP4Z0— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2021
The Chargers posted their defensive highlight reel from 2022, solidifying the sky-high expectations for the unit in 2023.
The Chargers’ defense features a cast of the NFL’s top performers at several key positions, and expectations for the unit are at an all-time high heading into the 2023 season.
Led by veteran safety Derwin James Jr., edge defenders Joey Bosa and Khalil and cornerbacks J.C. Jackson, Michael Davis and Asante Samuel Jr., the potential of this unit is boundless.
Los Angeles posted their defensive highlight reel to Twitter, with clips that should make opposing offenses shudder.
this defense goes crazy 🤧 pic.twitter.com/ZH89UmVxE5
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 10, 2023
It became evident after the Bolts’ heartbreaking playoff loss to the Jaguars in January that both sides of the ball will have to produce consistently for the Chargers to win crucial games at the end of the season.
Justin Herbert won’t be able to go out and deliver Los Angeles to a Super Bowl berth alone. With the hype behind the Chargers’ 2023 defense reaching its apex, it is now incumbent on the talented unit to make good on the promise they showed last season.
Derrick Ansley said that J.C. Jackson has been “grinding” during his recovery process.
The Chargers will need to step up their game defensively in 2023 to avoid another disappointing playoff exit next season, and the return of J.C. Jackson from injury should help them to that end.
In his comments to the media after practice on Monday, defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley updated reporters on Jackson’s status and outlined his plan for the talented defensive back.
“He’s here every day. He’s been grinding for three, four months straight here, so it’s been good having him in the building and getting him around his teammates,” Ansley explained. “He’s been doing a phenomenal job with his rehab. He’s chomping at the bit. There’s really no timetable or timeline for his return, but he’s in here every day trying to get himself ready to go for the fall.
“With the combination, we’ll see how that all works out. We’re always trying to train defensive backs, not specialize guys or pigeon-hole them. We have four or five guys that are working at Star, four or five guys working at Money, which we value as starters. We’ll see how that combination works out as we get to camp.”
Whether Jackson will be able to step in and seamlessly gel with the Chargers’ secondary after missing so much time last season is unknown, but judging from Ansley’s comments it seems that he is on track to make a triumphant return ahead of the regular season.
Time will tell if his star will continue to rise after the devastating injury he sustained in 2022, but if it does, Los Angeles won’t need to fret about their group of highly-skilled cornerbacks when the 2023 campaign kicks off in September.
Brandon Staley told reporters on Monday that the Chargers have no timeline relative to J.C. Jackson’s return in 2023.
When the Chargers signed cornerback J.C. Jackson in 2022, hopes were high that they would have a lockdown corner to form one of the NFL’s top secondaries. Though the unit thrived last season, Jackson only saw action in a handful of games before his season ended due to injury, which had a major impact on the depth in their defensive backfield.
In his comments on Monday, Brandon Staley gave a brief update on Jackson’s injury, though his words won’t allay fans’ concerns about his return to the field in 2023. Asked about the cornerback’s disposition at present, Staley told reporters that his status is unclear.
“[We have] no timeline,” Staley explained. “He’s at the facility, just kind of same as [usual]. Improving. It’s good to see him on a day-to-day basis.”
Continuing his comments, Staley expressed Los Angeles’ unwavering commitment to having Jackson in an integral role in the Chargers’ defense and made it clear that he and his staff will re-evaluate the cornerback’s performance based on what they saw last season.
“What we’ve tried to do is look at training camp,” Staley said, “that’s when our purest evaluation of J.C. Jackson occurred. And we love J.C. Jackson. We have a lot of belief in this guy as a player. He showed us exactly why we went out and signed him.”
While the uncertainty surrounding his status for the 2023 season is certainly less than ideal, Jackson seems poised to make a huge difference for the Chargers’ defense if he manages to get back on the field at full strength. With the rest of the offseason to recover and rehabilitate, a more thorough update from Staley should be expected later this summer as the team works through OTAs and training camp.
For now, Michael Davis, who had a stellar 2022 season, will start on the outside alongside Asante Samuel Jr. Ja’Sir Taylor is slated to be the starting slot corner. But the depth behind them leaves a lot to be desired, with Deane Leonard and Michael Jacquet as the only backups. This is a position that the Chargers could upgrade in the draft next month.
After J.C. Jackson went down, Michael Davis stepped up and had an outstanding season in 2022.
In the modern pass-first NFL, solid play from cornerbacks is a must, and the Chargers have found some skillful players at the position in recent years. Asante Samuel Jr. was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. And with the addition of J.C. Jackson via free agency last offseason, pundits expected big things from the Chargers’ secondary in 2022.
Signed on a five-year, $82.5 million deal, Jackson’s season ended after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon back on Oct. 24 against the Seahawks. Before getting hurt, Jackson left much to be desired as he was working his way back from off-season ankle surgery and struggled to get acclimated with the coverage concepts in Brandon Staley’s defense. He finished his shortened season with 15 tackles and two passes defended in five games.
In Jackson’s place, Michael Davis was thrust back into the starting role on the outside and looked like a rejuvenated player after having a down season in 2021, locking wide receivers down and getting his hands on the ball. In 12 games started, Davis had a career-high 15 passes defended. So what went from being pegged as a potential cap casualty this offseason turned into a possible contract extension for Davis.
While their modest ball production left something to be desired, Samuel’s three-interception game against the Jaguars in the playoffs was a legendary display of dominance that won’t soon be forgotten. Despite this excellent showing, he managed just two interceptions in the regular season and made 48 solo tackles, tying for first place in the category among Los Angeles’ cornerbacks.
Bryce Callahan, who was also signed to a one-year deal last offseason, led Los Angeles in interceptions, coming down with three on the year to add to his 47 combined tackles. Callahan proved to be a major contributor to the defense, starting 11 games in 15 appearances to help lift the Chargers’ secondary to dominant performances.
Among others who saw snaps for the team at cornerback in 2022 was Ja’Sir Taylor. The Chargers drafted Taylor as a core special teams player, which he proved to be. However, Taylor ended up seeing some playing time on the defensive side of the ball toward the back end of the season.
Taylor had some lapses in coverage, especially when he had to play as an outside corner. But his standout performance came in the big primetime win over the Dolphins, where he locked down Jaylen Waddle. Additionally, he came on strong as a tackler in open space and a blitzer. With Callahan set to be a free agent in March, that could lead to a more prominent role for Taylor in his second season.
Kemon Hall and Deane Leonard should be considered developmental depth and core special teamers for the next season.
Don’t be surprised if the Chargers invest in the cornerback position throughout the coming offseason, but expect the dollar amount of any moves to be relatively minimal. With their three starting spots locked down by Davis, Samuel and Jackson, anyone they might add would be competing for looks in dime packages and other defensive-back-heavy sets on passing downs.
Here’s who came through and who disappointed in the Chargers’ loss to the Seahawks.
[sendtonews_embed video_id=”MWzC37xHi4-2317097-7498″]
The Chargers dropped to 4-3 on Sunday following a 37-16 loss to the Seahawks.
Los Angeles mercifully hits their bye week next week, giving them a chance to heal and right the ship.
Here’s who has more work to do than the rest and who can feel good about their performance heading into the off week.
Stud: Asante Samuel Jr.
Apart from a touchdown to Marquise Goodwin, where Samuel slow-played the vertical route, the second-year corner was pretty much lockdown. ASJ got off to a hot start, driving on a Geno Smith pass to Tyler Lockett that resulted in a tip-drill interception for Kenneth Murray. With the game still in the balance, Samuel made a diving play to break up a Smith 3rd down pass and force Seattle into a 50-yard field goal. It looked as though Samuel had converted one of the crazier interceptions of the season, but the replay showed that he once again couldn’t quite bring it in. It’s been the narrative for most of the season: as soon as Samuel can finish those plays, he’ll be a premier corner.
Dud: Justin Herbert
Something is not right with Herbert. I don’t know if it’s the ribs injury, the playcalling, or something else, but Herbert is simply missing throws and making uncharacteristic decisions over the middle of the field. His interception when looking for DeAndre Carter was never open and he was lucky to not throw additional ones because of miscommunications or just plain misses on a few other throws. It’s hard to say things are all on Herbert because of the injuries at wide receiver and on the offensive line, but we’ve talked about this one or two other times this season. When you have a QB that’s in the upper echelon of talent like Herbert is, he needs to be able to elevate the team around him and grit out games like these. Last week, he was able to do that, just barely. This week, not so much.
Stud: Austin Johnson
Johnson has been one of the bright spots on defense this season as one of the more unheralded free agent signings of the offseason. A lot of attention was paid to the additions of JC Jackson, Khalil Mack, and Sebastian Joseph-Day, and rightfully so, but Johnson has been routinely ruining opposing runs up the middle this season. He continued that pace on Sunday, forcing Kenneth Walker into a few carries for loss or no gain. Walker primarily found success when he was able to get to the outside. Johnson also got home for his first sack of the season, a play that was a long time coming given his success as a pass rusher in recent weeks. While the run defense hasn’t looked as improved on paper as fans would’ve liked, we can take solace in knowing that Johnson is bringing the heat every week.
Dud: Wide receiver depth
Outside of Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, this team has no juice at wide receiver right now. Allen was held to 2 receptions for 11 yards as he worked back into the gameplan, but his presence was evident as Seattle allocated extra resources to defending him. Williams garnered nine targets today, tied for second with Gerald Everett behind Austin Ekeler. But beyond that, DeAndre Carter had three catches on seven targets. Jason Moore and Michael Bandy had one catch each. The Chargers need to do their homework during the bye week and find an NFL-caliber receiver to get on the field, especially with Williams going down with an ankle injury late in this game. Whether that’s Josh Palmer returning, one of the practice squad receivers stepping up, or signing a free agent directly to the active roster, the Chargers must make a move.
Stud: Bryce Callahan
Callahan had another standout game today, including two different plays where he was oh-so-close to picking off Geno Smith. The first came in the first quarter, where Callahan tracked the ball and got one hand on it to knock the ball away. If he timed a jump just a touch better, it looked like he could’ve gotten his other hand to the ball to make the play for an interception. The second came later in the game when Callahan just barely couldn’t tap his toes in the end zone as Smith tried to throw the ball away in a goal-line situation. The veteran did pick up a pass interference penalty against Tyler Lockett, but overall, Lockett was held to 7 catches for just 45 yards and Noah Fant had just one catch for 7 yards.
Dud: Run game
Seattle came into this game giving up 165.8 yards per game, second to last in the league, ahead of only Denver. And yet, the Chargers’ offensive line was dominated at the point of attack nearly all game, leading to just 53 yards on 15 attempts. Los Angeles behind nearly all game, forcing them to open up the passing attack early, but a 3.5 yards per carry average is far from what you want. If you subtract Herbert’s 22 yards on scrambles, L.A. took 12 carries for just 31 yards. Something was bound to break the wrong way for this rushing attack after looking improved against a series of terrible run defenses, but it’s a harrowing thought that losing Joshua Kelley brings that phase of the offense down to that extent.
Stud: Punt team
Credit to special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken for getting this unit into tip-top shape. After Ja’Sir Taylor essentially won the Chargers the game on Monday night last week with a heads-up play on Denver’s punt returner, he and fellow rookie Deane Leonard continued their phenomenal showings as gunners on Sunday. JK Scott punted five times for an average of 45.6 yards, downing punts at the nine, seven, and two-yard lines. Taylor’s downing of the punt at the 2 was the catalyst for Los Angeles’ safety that kept them in the game for a few minutes longer. It seems backward based on the Bolts’ historical tendencies, but the special teams unit is shaping up as either the best or second-best unit on this team any given week.
Dud: Injury bug
I wrote in my keys to the game that the main goal of Sunday’s contest, win or loss, was to escape to the bye week as healthy as possible, given the plethora of injuries LA has already suffered. Instead, they likely lost J.C. Jackson for the season to a non-contact knee injury that required an air cast and a cart ride to the locker room. Drue Tranquill and Chris Rumph were injured on punts – Tranquill returned, but Rumph (knee/hip) did not seem to. Mike Williams suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter that left him unable to put any weight on his right leg. Tranquill and Rumph’s at least looked like injuries that may heal up in time for the Week 9 showdown with the Falcons. But losing Jackson and Williams for any extended time would be disastrous for a team who has already seen Keenan Allen, Rashawn Slater, and Joey Bosa miss multiple games. SoFi Stadium is unlikely to change the playing surface soon, and I’m not suggesting every injury can be chalked up to the turf field, but it’s part of a larger, league-wide discourse about how unsafe turf is for the health of the players.
The crown jewel of the Chargers’ free-agent class has gone down.
[mm-video type=video id=01gg3g4c9s8v012ky973 playlist_id=01eqbw8wt3mb6q1n2h player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gg3g4c9s8v012ky973/01gg3g4c9s8v012ky973-aa25251d27f20287368e72e291c8fcc3.jpg]
The crown jewel of the Chargers’ free-agent class has gone down.
Late in the second quarter, JC Jackson found himself in one on one coverage against Seahawks receiver Marquise Goodwin. Geno Smith targeted Goodwin in the end zone and Jackson went to leap to make a play.
As he did, replays show that his knee buckled, leading to an awkward second jump that made it look like Jackson had been beaten downfield by the speedy Goodwin.
As the veteran hauled in the catch, giving the Seahawks a 24-14 lead, Jackson stayed down on the field.
Jackson would eventually be carted off with the injury, which as of the writing of this article, seems to be a non-contact knee injury, although official word from the team is not yet available.
With Jackson out, Michael Davis will re-enter the starting lineup after playing the entire second half last week.
Here is how the Chargers beat the Seahawks on Sunday.
The Chargers host the Seahawks with a chance to tie their all-time series at 26 victories apiece.
Los Angeles is hurting, however, missing wide receiver Joshua Palmer, tight end Donald Parham Jr., running back Joshua Kelley, and kicker Dustin Hopkins on top of preexisting injuries.
Here’s how L.A. can overcome those obstacles to advance to 5-2.
Figure it out on the fly
With all those injuries piling up, it’s time for the Chargers to use game action as an evaluation period. Listen, with Justin Herbert under center, Los Angeles should win this game. But with Palmer out and Keenan Allen questionable again this week with his hamstring injury, the wide receiver depth is a huge question mark. Mike Williams is healthy, but if Allen doesn’t play, DeAndre Carter will be the second wide receiver. Jason Moore is also on the active roster, and Michael Bandy was signed to the active roster. Same thing at running back, where we’ll see rookie Isaiah Spiller for the first time without Kelley. Injuries are bound to happen to every team; the truly great ones have their depth step up. Let’s see it on Sunday.
Get the real J.C. Jackson
How does Jackson respond to being benched on Monday after another putrid half of football? The splash free agent signing said this week that his plan was to do extra film study and spend even more time at the team facility to prove he deserves this staff’s decision to reinsert him into the starting lineup. I think Seattle is a potential get-right game for Jackson, who excels as a press man corner against physical receivers. The Seahawks happen to have that exact player in D.K. Metcalf. As Brandon Staley said postgame last week, there are some situations where you can’t press, and Jackson will have to be better in those. But for the most part, the Chargers should be able to leave Jackson on an island with Metcalf. If he performs, it could be exactly what he needs to get the season turned around. If he falters or suffers another mental error in zone coverage with Tyler Lockett nearby, the woes may only worsen.
Trick the rookies on third down
On offense, Seattle has two rookies starting at offensive tackle, contributing to their 20.7% sack rate on third downs. The Seahawks seem to struggle to pick up blitzes, an area we know Staley’s defense is proficient in. If the Chargers continue to disguise their pressure looks the way they did on Monday, it could be another standout game for Drue Tranquill and/or Derwin James, let alone the tantalizing prospect of Khalil Mack going against a rookie no matter what side he’s playing on.
Defensively, both outside corners for Seattle are also rookies with a tough matchup against the lightning-fast progressions of Justin Herbert. As we talked about with the injuries at wide receiver, the Chargers will need someone to step up, but who’s to say they can’t against a rookie? Maybe this is just a heavy dose of Mike Williams and Gerald Everett, but someone like Carter or Bandy could also shine. That’s especially true if Joe Lombardi dials up some creative looks in third-down situations – Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant have combined for three pass interference calls this season.
Help out Trey Pipkins
Watching Monday’s matchup with Denver, it was obvious Pipkins is far from 100%, but Los Angeles simply doesn’t have the depth to replace him with Jamaree Salyer already filling in on the left side and Storm Norton, well, being Storm Norton. Seattle has former Charger Uchenna Nwosu humming through six games, as the USC product has racked up three sacks so far, and overall looks like he’s continuing to build on his 2021 success. They also have rookie Boye Mafe, whose snap count has continued to climb weekly. Mafe is an athletic freak who could give Pipkins a bit of trouble if they match up. L.A. can’t send extra help Pipkins’ way every play and this fanbase might tear their collective hair out if the offense doesn’t do something other than throw the ball short on every down. But sometimes, getting the ball out quickly is necessary, and I think it will continue to be on Sunday.
Keep the foot on the gas
There’s been quite a bit of discourse about Brandon Staley, the fourth down decision-maker this season, even more so than there was as Staley lit the conventional wisdom on fire in 2021. But hear me out here, the 2022 narratives have been completely backward. Yes, Staley has made a few uber-aggressive calls in very visible situations – namely, the fourth and two against Cleveland late in the game. That’s contributed to national voices claiming that Staley’s aggressiveness is putting L.A. in danger of losing games.
In reality, Staley has only gone for it when he should have just over 40% of the time, a mark that is 12th in the league. In toss-up situations, Staley has kept the offense on the field five percent of the time, down from nearly 18.5% a year ago. There are several reasons for this, I’m sure. The running game got off to a slow start, Herbert’s injury has led to fewer bootlegs, the offense has used every short-yardage play in the book, etc. But without Dustin Hopkins this week, I want to see Staley, the 2021 fourth-down decision-maker. Keep the offense on the field, be aggressive, and emphatically win a game instead of barely hanging on.
Prevent more injuries
This is mostly about Corey Linsley, who will return this week after missing the Monday night game due to food poisoning. With Linsley in the lineup, the Chargers’ Expected Points Added (EPA) per play is among the best in the league; without him, it’s by far the worst. Linsley was in and out earlier this season with knee tendinitis, the exact type of injury I think the Chargers should be cautious with this week. It would be fine to keep Keenan Allen on a pitch count if he suits up, for example. Sebastian Joseph-Day’s ankle injury doesn’t necessarily need to be tested on every down, given the way Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, and yes, even Jerry Tillery have played. Getting on top early against a Seahawks team that L.A. should handily beat would be a nice sight, too, perhaps giving Staley a few liberties to rest a few of the ailing starters.
