Tag: Joey Bosa

Chargers defense needs to exploit Jaguars’ Gardner Minshew’s weakness

The Chargers need to make it a struggle for Gardner Minshew to get a grip.

In order to win on the defensive side of the ball, one of the things the Chargers will need to do is make it a struggle for Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew to get a grip, literally.

In eight games as the team’s starter, Minshew has been efficient, tossing 14 touchdowns and only five interceptions. But like any rookie, there’s going to be some growing pains and for Minshew it’s ball security.

The former Washington State product has fumbled the ball 12 times and has lost seven of them, which is tied for the second-most in the league.

There’s no denying the athleticism of Minshew. He will look to extend plays with his legs quite frequently, ranking sixth in yards rushing among quarterbacks this season. But while he can break some ankles from time to time, he will also run and lose the football.

Despite possessing one of the league’s best defenses, Los Angeles hasn’t been able to take the ball away out of their opponent’s hands. The unit is tied for last in forced fumbles this season with only six.

That could very well change this weekend.

It all starts with the pressure up front. They can’t allow Minshew to leave the pocket too soon, which is what he susceptible to doing. Defensive end Joey Bosa and company should benefit from facing an offensive line that gave up five sacks last weekend.

Next, they have to actively be looking to strip the ball by swiping it away and utilize hard tackling at the second level of the defense to dislodge the football if he does manage to escape the pocket.

If they can do that, they will keep Minshew and company off the field, eliminating their opportunities to score on Sunday.

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The 46 players somehow drafted before Michael Thomas in 2016

There are great draft mysteries. Tom Brady, for one. And then there is Michael Thomas, who somehow lasted until the 47th pick in 2016.

Different teams have different needs in the NFL Draft. Many say they take the best player on their board. It is hard to imagine how so many teams missed the boat on Ohio State’s Michael Thomas. The New Orleans Saints struck it rich when they grabbed the Buckeye WR in 2016. A look at all the players taken before the Saints, who face the Falcons Thanksgiving night, reached in with the 47th pick and grabbed a generational wideout.

1. Jared Goff

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Jared Goff took all sorts of heat on and off the field as a rookie. He then became the QB the Rams had hoped they would get when Sean McVay arrived. This year has been more of a downer as the team and quarterback have not found the magic that landed them in the Super Bowl last season.

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Chargers’ Joey Bosa among top vote getters in early Pro Bowl voting

Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa is getting the recognition he deserves.

Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa currently leads all players at his position in the AFC conference in early Pro Bowl voting.

With one week of voting now complete, the NFL released the first set of Pro Bowl voting Wednesday and they show Bosa at the top with 62,029 votes.

Right underneath him is his brother, Nick, who’s leading the NFC conference in votes among all defensive ends with 72,506 votes.

It’s not all that surprising that Bosa is leading in votes. This season, he’s been a force in the trenches once again. Whether it’s getting after the quarterback or defending the run, his presence is known on a weekly basis.

Bosa has amassed 50 tackles (33 solo), 21 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks through 11 games.

The former Ohio State product has benefited from having his partner-in-crime, Melvin Ingram on the field. When both Ingram and Bosa are aligned on the same side, opposing offensive tackles are simply outmatched.

To solidify Bosa, along with your other favorite Chargers, you can go vote for them here.

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3 takeaways from Chargers’ 24-17 loss to Chiefs

Chargers WIre’s Gavino Borquez gives his final thoughts on the Chargers’ loss to the Chiefs on Monday night.

The Chargers fought hard with the Chiefs the entire game on Monday night, but quarterback Philip Rivers and company were unable to execute on the last drive to stay alive.

Here are a few takeaways from Monday’s 24-17 loss in Mexico City:

Rivers’ regression

Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images

On a night when the defense held the league’s most deadly offense to 310 total yards, which kept them close the entire game, Rivers held his own offense back from keeping Los Angeles’ playoff hopes alive.

In a series of questionable decisions, Rivers threw a season-high four interceptions, which marks seven in the past two games. The veteran quarterback looked uncomfortable, rushed and reckless.

Outside of one interception that was caused when his right arm was hit, the other three were a result of poor decision-making and locking in on one receiver as opposed to going through his progressions or misreading the defense.

With a clean pocket, Rivers has tight end Hunter Henry open in the middle of the field but he looks him off and settles for running back Austin Ekeler for a 3-yard gain.

Rivers, 37, has been stood up for all season by people blaming the offensive line for his deteriorating play, but the truth is he’s not the quarterback he once was. A quarterback throwing 14 interceptions in 11 games is certainly going to get some blame.

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Chargers defense’s stout effort all for naught in loss to Chiefs

The Chargers defense forced Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to one of the worst performances of his career.

The Chargers knew that they would have their hands full facing a Chiefs team, who has one of the best offenses in the league.

Even without safeties Derwin James and Adrian Phillips, who were both key components to the success when the two teams met last season, the defense did what most teams haven’t been able to do.

The unit held quarterback Patrick Mahomes to 182 passing yards, which was his lowest in a full game so far in his career. Mahomes had a 72.7 passer rating, which was his second-lowest mark.

Mahomes was nearly a non-factor in the first half of the game, as he was held to less than 100 total yards.

Kansas City lost wide receiver Tyreek Hill early on to a hamstring injury, and he finished with no catches and zero yards. Running backs Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy were also banged up throughout the course of the game.

But they still limited the other handful of playmakers the Chiefs possess.

It all started up front with defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. The two both did an excellent job against a stout offensive line by generating pressure, making Mahomes feel uncomfortable.

Ingram came in clutch in the fourth-quarter by stopping the Chiefs on three consecutive third-down plays, which all resulted in punts.

Defensive tackles Damion Square and Justin Jones, who returned from an injury, were solid against the run, recording a handful of stops at or behind the line of scrimmage.

The line’s efforts benefited the rest of the members on the defensive side of the ball as Mahomes, who was under constant duress, didn’t have much time to push the ball downfield and was forced to throw nearly everything underneath.

When Mahomes did try to go deep on one play, he was picked off by free safety Rayshawn Jenkins, who jumped in front of a ball on a pass intended to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson and came up with an interception.

Outside of a few crucial missed tackles and blow coverages, including tight end Travis Kelce’s touchdown in the third-quarter, the linebackers and cornerbacks stayed true to their assignments and kept everything in front of them.

Thomas Davis has really come into his own as a run stopper, leading the way with the team-high 12 tackles and Casey Hayward continues to show he’s one of the best corners in the league by not giving up a single reception.

The defense did what they needed to, but unfortunately, quarterback Philip Rivers and company were unable to pick them up in a must-win game on Monday night.

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Reasons for optimism and concern for Chargers vs. Chiefs

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez delivers the reasons to be optimistic and concerned about the Chargers’ Week 11 matchup against the Chiefs.

The Los Angeles Chargers are hosting the Kansas City Chiefs, but they will both be on the road in Week 11 for a primetime bout at Estadio Azteca on Monday night.

The Bolts are currently listed as underdogs, and there’s a reason for that. But while all signs are in the Chiefs’ favor, the NFL is always unpredictable and anything can happen. With that, there’s plenty of reasons for concern facing a tough Kansas City team, but there are reasons for optimism, too.

So, what should fans of the Chargers be optimistic and concerned about going into the Monday night matchup?

Reason for optimism

Chiefs defense isn’t really anything to boast about

Kansas City wins the majority of their games with their lethal offense. But on the other side of the ball, there isn’t that much about their defense that gives any reason to be worried about.

Entering Week 11, they’re allowing 369.5 yards per game, 5.6 yards per play, 148.1 rushing yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry, all of which ranks near the bottom in the NFL.

All of this is the recipe for running backs Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler having huge performances. As for quarterback Philip Rivers, I expect him to bounce back against a secondary that has no interceptions and has allowed eight touchdown passes since Week 7.

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9 Chargers players to watch vs. Chiefs in Week 11

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out the nine most important players to watch against the Chiefs in Week 11.

The Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) travel to Mexico City to face the Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) in a crucial Week 11 matchup.

Here are nine Chargers players to hone in on:

QB Philip Rivers

After his worst performance of the 2019 season, Rivers will look to have a bounce back game. But it won’t be an easy task facing one of the best passing defenses in the league.

RB Melvin Gordon

Gordon has been on a tear the past two games, and he will look to continue that dominance going up against one of the league’s worst run defenses.

WR Keenan Allen

Allen has been slowed as of late, failing to surpass 70 receiving yards the past seven contests. He wasn’t impressed by the Chiefs’ secondary this past offseason and now he will have to opportunity to get his words up, six months later.

OT Trent Scott

One of the reasons for Rivers’ struggles last week was the poor protection. Scott, who will start at right tackle again in place of Sam Tevi, will need to slow a Chiefs pass rush that ranks first in the NFL in sacks (52).

DE Joey Bosa & Melvin Ingram

If the Bolts want to slow quarterback Patrick Mahomes, they need to contain him and make him feel uncomfortable. That all starts up front with the pressure. Bosa and Ingram have combined for 13.5 sacks this season.

CB Casey Hayward

Hayward is set to be lined up across arguably the league’s fastest wideouts in Tyreek Hill.

FS Rayshawn Jenkins

With how fast the Chiefs position players are, Jenkins will be needed more than ever to assist from the single high role, whether that be as an open field tackler or eliminating passing plays over the top to avoid explosive plays.

S Jaylen Watkins

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is the best at his position, and will need to be eliminated. Last season, they limited him because Derwin James did a nice job against him, but he will not be playing.

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3 key matchups to watch in Chargers vs. Chiefs

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lists three key position matchups to watch when the Chargers take on the Chiefs in Week 11.

The Chargers and Chiefs are set to be featured in primetime on Monday Night Football.

Here are three key matchups to watch that could ultimately determine the outcome of the game:

CB Casey Hayward vs. WR Tyreek Hill

Hayward continues to shutdown the league’s most prolific wideouts on a weekly basis, but now, he will be tasked with limiting not only one of the best, but the fastest that he’s faced this season.

Since missing the first four games of the season due to suspension, Hill has come back and has been a headache for opposing secondaries. He has scored five touchdowns in the last four games. Over his last two performances, Hill is averaging 148.5 receiving per game.

Hayward will have to keep Hill in front of him and eliminate the dink and dunk plays turning into big plays. Safety Rayshawn Jenkins will have a bigger role as he needs to come up and make plays from the single high role, whether that be as an open-field tackler or breaking up deep passes.

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Chargers players not fond of practicing in Colorado

Some of the Chargers players aren’t happy with practicing in Colorado for a few days prior to the matchup against the Chiefs.

The Chargers’ home for the next few days will be at Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO in preparation for Monday night’s game against the Chiefs in Mexico City.

Coach Anthony Lynn moved the team from California to Colorado because he wants to get the players acclimated to the altitude they will be playing in Mexico City, which is about 7,300 feet above sea level.

Lynn has his purpose for having the Bolts practice in Colorado for a few days, saying that even though science suggests it could take seven or eight days to acclimate to it, as a former player it pays dividends.

But some of the players aren’t too thrilled with it.

Running back Austin Ekeler, grew up in Colorado, doesn’t mind practicing there because he’s used to it, but he elaborated that it’s a different story for his teammates, saying that some of them would’ve rather practiced in Costa Mesa, CO.

“I think there’s a lot of mixed feelings about us coming here. Me personally, I kinda like the change-up. I’m probably a little biased, obviously, because I’m from here. I was looking forward to being back in Colorado for a week, but I know some people disagree with that. They would rather have it at our own facility, back in our regular routine,” Ekeler said.

Wide receiver Keenan Allen went to his personal Twitter account to express some frustration. It’s all not certain what it’s about, but based on the day, it seems like he’s talking about being in Colorado.

“I hate everything about this,” Allen tweeted on Tuesday.

Defensive end Joey Bosa made it seem like he didn’t care the team was in Colorado, but would’ve rather stayed home in California and practice if he had the choice.

“You notice a difference out there a little bit with breathing. I don’t know if a few practices is enough to get acclimated to it. But, we’re here. We’ll make the most of it.”

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2020 Pro Bowl voting now open

It’s time to cast your vote to send your favorite Charger to the 2020 Pro Bowl.

Voting for the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl is officially open.

Fans can vote on NFL.com/ProBowlVote from Tuesday, Nov. 12 until Sunday Dec. 12. The rosters for the AFC and NFC will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 17 on NFL Network.

During the final two weeks of 2020 Pro Bowl voting — November 28-December 12 — fans will also be able to vote on Twitter. To cast a vote, fans should tweet the first and last name of the player, the player’s official Twitter handle, or a hashtag including the player’s first and last name. It must include the hashtag: #ProBowlVote.

Fans, players and coaches will each account for one-third toward determining the 88 All-Star players who will be selected to the Pro Bowl

Even though it hasn’t been the sunshine and rainbows for the Chargers, the team still has several players worthy of Pro Bowl consideration this season.

Running back Austin Ekeler has been a force as a ball carrier and as a pass-catcher. Ekeler has totaled 899 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns. Wide receiver Keenan Allen has cooled down a little bit the past few weeks, but he has still amassed 62 receptions for 725 yards and three touchdowns.

On the other side of the ball, cornerback Casey Hayward continues to shut down some of the league’s best receivers on a weekly basis. In the trenches, defensive ends Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa remain as one of the top pass-rushing tandems, combining for 13 sacks.

Fullback Derek Watt and linebacker Drue Tranquill have done their fair share of work on special teams. Watt leads the league in special teams tackles with 12, while Tranquill is third with nine.

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