Tag: Joey Bosa

Chargers’ Joey Bosa has played his way into a monstrous pay day

Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa is in line for a Brink’s truck.

Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa has played his way into a monstrous pay day after the season.

Bosa, who was recently named to his second Pro Bowl, is having one of the best campaigns yet. Making an impact as a pass rusher and run defender, Bosa is up to 11.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss on the season, along with 51 quarterback pressures.

Bosa has 40 sacks in 50 career games, which makes him the 10th player since 1982 to total 40 or more sacks in his first 50 games.

At the moment, Bosa is slated to make $14.36 million on his fifth-year option next season. Based on the impact that he’s made since joining the team in 2016, he would be underpaid if he was to play making that much in 2020.

That is why Bosa could possibly hold out if he doesn’t receive a hefty contract.

General manager Tom Telesco elected to not re-sign quarterback Philip Rivers or running back Melvin Gordon this past offseason because he knew that he would need some change for Bosa if he played out of his mind in 2019, which he has.

So how much are we talking to avoid Bosa holding out this offseason?

Los Angeles would likely have to pay him in the ballpark of what Cowboys’ Demarcus Lawrence is getting paid, which is five years, $105 million, with $65 million guaranteed.

It’s going be an enticing offseason for the Chargers. They will have to decide who the starting quarterback will be in 2020, as well as figure out who’s coming back next season, with notables such as tight end Hunter Henry, safety Adrian Phillips and guard Michael Schofield.

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What Chargers players said after loss to Raiders

Players of the Los Angeles Chargers voice how they felt following the loss to the Oakland Raiders.

The Oakland Raiders defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16 of the regular season on Sunday afternoon.

Even though the Chargers didn’t have anything to play for since they had been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, it was evident in their effort on the field.

“In that first half, we just didn’t come out with no passion. It shows and they hopped on us and we couldn’t get the lead back. I feel like there was some passion gone,” running back Melvin Gordon said.

Part of the reason why they couldn’t find success was their lackluster performance in the running game, as they only managed 19 yards on 16 carries.

“It was a tough day running the ball. For whatever reason, we were getting stuffed or even losing yards. It’s hard to get your offense going when they make you one-dimensional,” running back Austin Ekeler said.

Not only was it the ground game that struggled. The defense allowed too many big plays, both through the air and on the ground, which put the unit into a deeper hole.

One of the lone bright spots, safety Derwin James, acknowledged that the team was beat, saying the Raiders straight up whooped their a**.

The loss dropped Los Angeles to 5-10 and 0-5 in divisional play. Defensive end Joey Bosa knows they have a talented team and with a couple key additions to the roster, they should be back to their winning ways in 2020.

After three years playing at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Chargers are set to embark on a new era at SoFi Stadium, which will be shared with the Rams starting in 2020.

One thing the team will hope to eventually gain is a large fan base that’s in favor of them, rather than the opposing team.

“That didn’t have anything to do with the outcome of the game. But being someone that remembers what it used to be like at home games (in San Diego), it’s pretty bad. You appreciate the Chargers fans that are out there, but it is disheartening to say the least,” quarterback Philip Rivers said.

 

Former Ohio State DE Nick Bosa receives most Pro Bowl votes of any NFL defensive player

For those that thought former Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa was going to be a flop in the NFL, they were sadly mistaken. Far from it in fact. Bosa struggled with injuries early on in training camp, but once he got on the field, he remained …

For those that thought former Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa was going to be a flop in the NFL, they were sadly mistaken. Far from it in fact. Bosa struggled with injuries early on in training camp, but once he got on the field, he remained healthy and showed everyone why he was worthy of the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Not only has the younger Bosa been arguably the best defensive rookie in the NFL, he’s making a case for the defensive player of the year in the league. And now, to back up that point, Bosa is going to the Pro Bowl, and received the most fan votes of any defensive player.

Behind him? His brother Joey.

We have a feeling this won’t be the last Pro-Bowl Nick — or Joey — for that matter make throughout their career. Too bad for Ohio State there are no more Bosa brothers coming up through high school.

Which Chargers should be selected to 2020 NFL Pro Bowl?

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez says the eight Chargers players that should be selected to the 2020 Pro Bowl.

The rosters for the 2020 Pro Bowl are set to be announced on Tuesday on the NFL Network’s special “NFL Access: Pro Bowl Players Revealed” at 5:00 p.m. PT.

Even though it’s been a disappointing season for the Los Angeles Chargers, there are still a few players on the roster that have shown to be worthy enough to play in the prestigious game with the league’s best players.

First and foremost is defensive end Joey Bosa. Bosa is a lock because he still leads the AFC in votes at his perspective position. The former Ohio State product is fourth in tackles for loss (18) and eighth in sacks (10.5).

Opposite of Bosa is DE Melvin Ingram, who is also worthy of making the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive season.

Ingram doesn’t nearly have the stats that Bosa does, but his presence is known on a weekly basis, where he’s been a force at generating pressure, stopping the run and coming up big on third-down situations.

Another player on the defensive side of the ball that should be voted in is cornerback Casey Hayward, who still isn’t getting enough attention as one of the best at the position.

Though he only has two interceptions this season, the numbers don’t do the justice to show how great he is in coverage. Opposing quarterbacks purposely don’t throw in his direction because they know they will likely have to pay a price.

On the other side of the ball, there are four players who are worthy of making the Pro Bowl — wide receivers Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, tight end Hunter Henry and running back Austin Ekeler.

Allen surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark this past weekend (1,046), marking for a third straight season. He is 10 receptions shy from hitting the 100 mark and he has five touchdowns to go with that.

Williams is 88 yards shy from the 1,000 yard mark. He leads the NFL by averaging 21 yards per reception. It took a little bit to find the end zone after posting 10 last season, but he has a pair of scores in the last two weeks.

Henry is eighth in receiving yards at his position (565). The 25-year old also has four touchdowns. Not to mention, he did that while missing four weeks earlier this season.

Ekeler is the definition of efficient. He is nearing 1,400 yards from scrimmage and has 11 total touchdowns to go along with that, while serving as running back Melvin Gordon’s backup.

Finally, you can’t forget about fullback Derek Watt. Watt has been the team’s special teams ace, tied for the league in special teams total tackles with 15 on the season.

When the rosters are revealed tonight, we can expect between six and eight Chargers players to be named to the Pro Bowl roster.

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Do we really appreciate what Ohio State defensive end Chase Young has done this year?

Ohio State defensive end Chase Young has had a year for the ages. But do we really appreciate what he’s done in 2019?

By now everyone has heard about the dominance of Ohio State defensive end Chase Young. I’m sure other teams have gotten tired of hearing just how great he is, but in reality, the guy is truly a phenom that we are watching.

We might know it, but do we really know and embrace it. There may not ever be another guy like him at the defensive end position on the Banks of the Olentangy. Or at least, not for a very, very, long time.

While his accolades speak for themselves, the amount of awards he’s picked up during the college football awards circuit is astounding. In case you haven’t already been made aware, Chase Young added five trophies alone in the last week. Here’s a quick run down of all that’s happened for the junior defensive end.

Ready for this? Young averages more sacks per game than 37 teams in the country. That’s equal to about a quarter of all the teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Let that sink in for a minute. Especially seeing how he had to sit for two games because of accepting and paying back a loan from a family friend.

Let’s not mention the fact that the games he did play in he didn’t even play in all four quarters. Ohio State was so dominant in 2019 that he wasn’t needed often at the end of blowout wins. The point here is that the stats could have been even greater, like single-season NCAA record-setting greater.

While Buckeye fans love to compare the junior gamed-wrecker with the Bosa brothers, but their productivity didn’t even touch what Young has put on tape. Young has statistically had a better season than either brother ever had at Ohio State, and the games aren’t even over yet. All he did set the single-season sack record in Columbus with 16.5 sacks in just eleven games.

Then there’s tackles for loss. Young is tied Joey Bosa with 21.5 tackles for loss in just one season at Ohio State, but lets us not forget big brother Joey played 15 games, to again — just eleven for Young. There’s a good bet that record will fall as well on December 28.

While we will always look back at the Bosas with fond memories of their dominance, we’d be remiss not to mention the fact that we are watching arguably the best defensive lineman in OSU history.

Now all Young needs to do is score a touchdown. He’s done everything else after all.

Vikings offensive line better be ready for Joey Bosa

The Vikings offensive line better be ready for Sunday afternoon’s tilt against the Chargers.

The Vikings offensive line better be ready for Sunday afternoon’s tilt against the Chargers.

They’ll have the test of Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa. In his fourth season, Bosa has 10.5 sacks. His Pro Football Focus grade of 88.7 ranks sixth in the entire league among edge rushers.

On the season, the Vikings have allowed just 20 sacks, a mark that ranks third in the entire league.

I would expect the Vikings to try to keep Bosa in check with screen passes and play-action passes.

Establishing the run with Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison early will be crucial for keeping Kirk Cousins safe.

Chargers’ Players of the Game in Week 14 vs. Jaguars

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez gives the Players of the Game award for Week 14’s matchup against the Jaguars.

The Los Angeles Chargers enjoyed a dominant 45-10 victory over the Jaguars on Sunday.

Here are the Chargers players of the game:

Offensive Player of the Game: RB Austin Ekeler

It was challenging to pick one player because the Chargers had one of their best offensive outings of the season. But the 5-foot-10 back out of Western Colorado deserves this week’s honor for his play, not only on the ground but through the air.

Ekeler rushed for a career-high 101 yards on just eight carries and added four catches for 112 yards and an eye-popping 84-yard touchdown where he turned on the jets and found the end zone.

He became the second Charger in team history to record 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in a game since Lionel James in 1985.

Defensive Player of the Game: DE Joey Bosa

Prior to yesterday’s matchup, we mentioned how Bosa had a favorable matchup going up against a rookie offensive tackle. Bosa, who had not posted a sack in three consecutive games before yesterday, quickly changed that.

Bosa finished with four tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits. He now has 10.5 sacks on the season.

Special Teams Player of the Game: P Ty Long

This season, Long has made it clear that punters are people, too. Long, who’s enjoyed a stellar rookie season, delivered an impactful performance that may have gone unnoticed yet again. He only had to punt twice, but they combined for 54 yards with a long of 55, putting the Jaguars in an unfavorable position both times. Long has also been a key component to the team’s kickoffs, as well.

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Instant analysis of Chargers’ 45-10 victory over Jaguars

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez delivers his recap on the Los Angeles Chargers’ victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Los Angeles Chargers snapped their three-game losing streak with a huge win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Here is our instant analysis from the Chargers’ 45-10 victory:

Injury Report

There weren’t any injuries that occurred today.

Play of the Game: Mike Williams’ receiving touchdown

Entering the game, Williams had yet to post a touchdown reception this season. But that quickly changed as quarterback Philip Rivers found him for a phenomenal 44-yard catch over a defender that went for a score.

Notable Number

213: Austin Ekeler totaled 213 yards from the line of scrimmage, becoming the first Charger to do so since Lionel James in 1985.

Quick Takes

  • Happy Birthday to quarterback Philip Rivers! On his 38th birthday, Rivers had quite the performance, finishing 16-of-22 passing for 314 yards and three touchdowns.
  • What do you do when facing one of the league’s worst run defenses? You run the ball, and that they did, tallying 191 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.
  • The offensive line was at their best, only allowing one sack on the afternoon. Not only did they keep Rivers upright for nearly the entire contest, but they did an outstanding job to create lanes in the running game.
  • The red zone offense flipped a switch after a season’s worth of woes, going 3-of-3. We saw some creative play-calling and utilizing the running backs more.
  • It took some time, but wide receiver Mike Williams finally found the end zone. He finished with a pair of catches for 63 yards. Wide receiver Keenan Allen had a strong outing, finishing with five receptions for 83 yards.
  • Up big in the fourth quarter, the backups got some snaps, including quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who finished 3-of-5 for 26 yards and a passing touchdown to tight end Virgil Green. We also saw some mobility at the position, as he ran the ball four times with a long of nine.
  • The defense was unable to force a fumble from quarterback Gardner Minshew, but they brought him down twice, both who came from defensive end Joey Bosa. Bosa now has 10.5 sacks.
  • The run defense department had its ups and downs. While they had their fair share of stops at or before the line of scrimmage, they were easily gashed in the trenches to create openings and they had a few missed tackles.

Up Next

The Chargers return to Dignity Health Sports Park to take on the Vikings on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1:05 p.m. PT.

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Key takeaways from first half of Chargers vs. Jaguars

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out what stood out in the first half of the Chargers and Jaguars’ Week 14 matchup.

The Los Angeles Chargers lead the Jacksonville Jaguars at the halfway mark, 24-3.

Here are some key takeaways from the first half of play:

  • The Chargers knew that the Jaguars run defense ranks near the bottom of the league and they have done a fine job exploiting it. Going to them early on, running backs Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler are currently averaging 10.7 yards per carry.
  • Quarterback Philip Rivers is 12-of-17 passing for 152 yards and a touchdown, with the majority of his success coming from short passes that turned into big gains. Rivers took two shots deep to tight end Hunter Henry and wide receiver Jalen Guyton, but one was slightly overthrown and the other was dropped.
  • The offensive play-calling has brilliant. The Chargers are making an effort to find the running backs in space in the passing game today and they’ve been getting creative to exploit the backend of the Jaguars defense. This is something that we addressed how they need to fix their red zone woes and it’s working as they’re 2 for 2.
  • Wide receiver Keenan Allen leads the team with three receptions for 60 yards.

  • You can’t ask for a better performance from the defense, holding the Jags to only three points. The only thing that’s been killing them is missed tackles at the first and second levels.
  • Linebacker Drue Tranquill is leading the team with five tackles. Defensive end Joey Bosa posted a sack and a tackle for loss. Safety Derwin James has a pass defended.

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John DeFilippo talks about RT Jawaan Taylor’s rookie season so far

Jawaan Taylor has started in all of the Jags’ regular season games, but there is still plenty of room for growth before the season ends.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2019 season hasn’t gone as planned, but one thing fans can’t complain about is the contributions the team’s rookie class has made. Of course, first-round pick Josh Allen is having a solid season and is in the conversation for Defensive Rookie of the Year, while Gardner Minshew II had an impressive run, too.

Another player from the class who has contributed extensively is rookie right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who has started in all of the Jags’ regular season game. And while he has had a problem with penalties, offensive coordinator John DeFilippo likes some of the things he’s seen in the rookie and believes strongly in his future.

“I’m proud of Jawaan [Taylor], I really am,” DeFillipo said this week. “He’s drawn some tough assignments this year now. We’ve played some darn good fronts, and obviously I’d love to see him – he needs to cut down on the penalties, and I think he would tell you that. I’ve heard Coach Marrone speak of that. There’s two things I’d like Jawaan to work on, it’s just his consistency. Where his hands are at times, his punch, where he strikes a defender at the point of attack. And then obviously finishing people, and I think when we do that it’ll naturally cut down on those penalties.”

Taylor currently leads the league in penalties with 13, but that’s not exactly surprising for a rookie who has faced the elite athletes he has like J.J. Watt, Cam Jordan and and Von Miller to name a few.

The Jags are likely heading towards an offseason full of staff changes, however, Taylor is young enough for the next regime (if there is one) to view as a part of the team’s young nucleus. Having a solid game against the Chargers would be a great place to start cleaning up his technique and having success being that Los Angeles has two of the league’s more respectable pass rushers in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.