Tag: Justin Jackson

WATCH: QB Justin Herbert works out with Chargers running backs

The Los Angeles Chargers’ rookie quarterback is getting a head start before training camp begins.

The Chargers are days away from taking the field as a team for the first time this year as training camp is set to get underway.

One of the main attractions will be first-round pick Justin Herbert, as fans are hopeful that he can guide Los Angeles to many years of success.

In order to do so, he will have to develop chemistry with the team’s skill players. Had the coronavirus pandemic not occurred, he would have already began to do so, but the worldwide outbreak put things to a halt.

Herbert, who signed his rookie contract, got a head start before training camp starts. The 22-year old joined running backs Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley and Derrick Gore for a workout, which was streamed on Ekeler’s Twitch account.

The hour-long workout shows the group going from warmups, to working handoffs and then they finish things off by running routes with Herbert passing the ball.

Check out the full video below:

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/687435158?t=0h0m35s

Chargers 53-man roster projection ahead of training camp

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez predicts the team’s 53-man roster ahead of training camp.

Here’s a look at my prediction for how the 53-man roster will look like for coach Anthony Lynn and the Chargers as the start of training camp in 2020 finally nears.

Offense

Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th
QB Tyrod Taylor Justin Herbert* Easton Stick
RB Austin Ekeler Justin Jackson Joshua Kelley*
FB Bobby Holly*
WR Keenan Allen K.J. Hill*
WR Mike Williams Joe Reed*
WR Andre Patton Darius Jennings
TE Hunter Henry Virgil Green Donald Parham
LT Trey Pipkins Storm Norton
LG Dan Feeney Forrest Lamp
C Mike Pouncey Scott Quessenberry
RG Trai Turner Trent Scott
RT Bryan Bulaga Sam Tevi

Notes

  • Like they’ve done in previous seasons, the Chargers will start off with three quarterbacks as opposed to two, which means Easton Stick makes the cut. If they roll with two, I expect Stick to remain on the practice squad.
  • It will be a tight race between undrafted free agents Gabe Nabers and Bobby Holly for the fullback spot, but I give the slight leg up to Nabers.
  • The Chargers start the season with six receivers. Jason Moore and Jalen Guyton miss the cut.

Defense

Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th
LDE Joey Bosa Isaac Rochell
NT Linval Joseph Damion Square
DT Justin Jones Jerry Tillery
RDE Melvin Ingram Uchenna Nwosu
SAM Kyzir White Emeke Egbule
MIKE Drue Tranquill Denzel Perryman
WILL Kenneth Murray* Nick Vigil
CB Casey Hayward Brandon Facyson
CB Michael Davis
SLOT Chris Harris Jr. Desmond King
FS Rayshawn Jenkins Nasir Adderley
SS Derwin James Alohi Gilman* Roderic Teamer

Notes

  • The starting linebacking core will consist of Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill and Kyzir White. But given the amount of time spent in sub-packages, Desmond King will likely be the candidate as the team’s dime linebacker, which will limit White’s snaps.
  • Nasir Adderley could be a candidate to play the dimebacker. Jenkins enters the season as the starter, but I expect Adderley to push him midway through.

Special Teams

Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th
PK Michael Badgley
P Ty Long
PR Darius Jennings
KR Joe Reed*
LS Cole Mazza

 

Chargers top 5 breakout season players in 2020: FS Nasir Adderley

The Los Angeles Chargers’ former second-round pick could experience a breakout season in 2020.

Every season, there are players who break out onto the scene who may not have been dominant the season before, whether they were a backup, dealt with an injury or just improved as a player in the offseason.

This is the second story in a 10-part series counting down the top 5 Chargers players who I believe are most likely to have a breakout season in 2020.

Part 1: RB Justin Jackson

Part 2: DT Jerry Tillery

Nasir Adderley, Los Angeles’ second-round pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, had high expectations heading into the summer, as many thought that he would make a nice tandem alongside safety Derwin James. But he was derailed by a lingering hamstring issue that had been ongoing even before he was drafted.

Adderley’s injury forced him to miss mandatory minicamp and most of training camp. He made his NFL debut in the preseason finale, where he recorded an interception, giving fans a glimpse of the ball hawk safety.

Unfortunately, his hamstring continued to be an issue, which forced the team to place him on the injured reserve. Adderley only played 10 defensive snaps in four regular season games.

While Adderley was out of the action, Rayshawn Jenkins started at free safety all 16 games, playing the most snaps by any player. Since Jenkins played well and earned the trust of the coaching staff, it may seem like an uphill climb for Adderley earn snaps. But a systematical change might make it easier than anticipated.

The Chargers are expected to show more two-deep looks and man coverage and less Cover 3. This will mean that both Adderley and Jenkins would be on the field. Adderley will also get a look as the team’s dime linebacker. Los Angeles is confident that Adderley has the physicality and versatility to play the position.

If Adderley can stay healthy and is able to find his way onto the field, his ball skills could lead to breakout production next season.

Chargers top 5 breakout season players in 2020: RB Justin Jackson

The third-year running back for the Los Angeles Chargers could have a big season in 2020.

Every season, there are players who break out onto the scene who may not have been dominant the season before, whether they were a backup, dealt with an injury or just improved as a player in the offseason.

This is the first story in a 10-part series counting down the top 5 Chargers players who I believe are most likely to have a breakout season in 2020.

Jackson, the seventh-round selection of 2018, has flashed each and every time that he is on the field.

In his rookie season, he was buried on the depth chart and didn’t get many opportunities because Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler carried the load. In the following season when he had the opportunity to break out, Jackson was held back by an injury, limiting him to just seven games.

However, Jackson has done remarkably well as a runner in limited action. In 20 games played, the former Northwestern product has averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 79 touches.

Entering his third campaign, the team is still “very high” on Jackson despite the durability concerns. After drafting RB Joshua Kelley in the fourth-round of this year’s draft, it’s evident that the backfield will likely be a committee.

But with the team expected to run the ball more now that a mobile quarterback will be under center, Jackson will have the chance to return back to his old ways and carry a large load, if he can stay healthy.

“This year’s a big year for Justin,” Ridgley said. “We’ve got to find a way to get him on the field and have him contribute. I think everyone in here saw what he can do when he’s healthy.”

Chargers RB Joshua Kelley’s initial ‘Madden 21’ rating revealed

Chargers running back Joshua Kelley is a bit lower than anticipated.

Ratings continue to be unveiled for the highly anticipated video game, EA Sports’ “Madden NFL 21.”

Last week, quarterback Justin Herbert and wide receivers K.J. Hill and Joe Reed had theirs revealed. On Tuesday, the rookie running back’s ratings were unfolded.

The Chargers selected former UCLA RB Joshua Kelley in the fourth-round of this year’s draft.

Kelley was given a 67 overall rating.

Here’s a look at other significant ratings for Kelley:

  • Speed – 89
  • Acceleration – 87
  • Strength – 75
  • Agility – 84
  • Awareness – 69
  • Catching – 64
  • Carrying – 88

Kelley joins an ascending backfield that consists of Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson.

Kelley has been seen as strictly a short-yardage specialist by many, but I believe he’s going to be used more than that.

Kelley showed that he is capable of taking on a big load for UCLA in 2018 and 2019, receiving 225 and 229 touches, respectively. However, he made the most with them, posting 1,000-plus rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in both seasons.

For someone that has that type of production and was taken that high over other positions of need like offensive tackle, wide receiver and cornerback, they’re certainly seen as more than just a bruiser.

I expect the Chargers to roll with a committee approach for their backfield early on in the season, but for Kelley to receive the bulk of the carries as the season goes on, especially if Jackson is unable to stay healthy.

ESPN’s Mike Clay projects Chargers’ 2020 offensive stats

ESPN’s Mike Clay revealed his offensive projections for the upcoming season.

Mike Clay is an NFL and fantasy football analyst at ESPN and spends a lot of time going through algorithms and formulas to project player and team stats prior to the regular season.

Clay revealed his offensive projections for the upcoming season.

Let’s take a look at how he believes the Chargers skill players will fare in 2020.

Quarterback

Player C/A Yards TDs INT Carries Yards TDs
Justin Herbert 265/420 3,068 16 11 40 157 1
Tyrod Taylor 69/110 814 5 2 16 84 1

Running back

Player Carries Yards Average TDs Receptions Yards TDs
Austin Ekeler 163 715 4.4 4 64 606 3
Justin Jackson 135 573 4.3 4 27 201 1
Joshua Kelley 78 318 4.1 2 11 86 0

Wide receiver

Player Targets Receptions Yards Average TDs Carries Yards
Keenan Allen 128 83 978 11.7 5 4 25
Mike Williams 92 48 824 17.0 4 0 0
Andre Patton 20 11 149 13.1 1 0 0
Joe Reed 15 9 108 12.1 1 0 0
K.J. Hill 10 6 72 12.1 0 0 0

Tight end

Player Targets Receptions Yards Average TDs
Hunter Henry 82 54 650 12.0 4
Virgil Green 20 13 137 10.2 1
Donald Parham 5 3 34 10.4 0

3 Chargers who need strong showings at training camp

There will be plenty of competitions on the offensive side of the ball for the Chargers.

The Chargers, along with the majority of the other teams in the NFL, are preparing for training camp, which is slated to begin on July 28.

With teams not having spring practices, training camp will be more crucial than ever for players who are fighting for starting or roster spots.

With that being said, here are three players who need a strong outing at training camp:

WR Andre Patton

The competition for the third wide receiver spot will be one of the more compelling positional battles during training camp. While Keenan Allen and Mike Williams lead the pack, the guy behind them remains to be seen.

Last season, Patton had the opportunity to step up in the WR3 role after injuries hit the corps, but the two-year practice squad member only managed to haul in six passes for 56 yards on 17 targets in 13 games.

Now, he will have to fend off a couple of new faces that will be in contention for the spot led by draft selections Joe Reed and K.J. Hill. Patton has the upper hand with his experience and familiarity, but the rookies have the skillset to beat him out.

OT Trey Pipkins

Even though the decision to not address the left tackle position has had many scratching their heads, the coaching staff has made it clear that they like their in-house options going into training camp.

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 Russell 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, he managed to hold his own.

Sam Tevi, who will also be fighting for the starting job, could win this solely based on experience as a starter. That is why Pipkins will have to show that he has fixed his weaknesses from his last season, which include increased strength and improvement with his handwork, in order to win the spot.

RB Justin Jackson

Expected to run the ball more, the Chargers will have a competition for RB2. between Jackson and rookie Joshua Kelley. Jackson, the seventh-round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft, has averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 79 touches.

There is no denying that he can produce. The only issue is that he struggled to stay healthy last season, managing to play in only seven games. While the team is still “high” on him, Kelley, the fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, is out to win a spot and he has the skillset to do so.

Where does Chargers QB Tyrod Taylor’s supporting cast rank among rest of NFL?

Bleacher Report ranked every quarterback’s supporting casts heading into the 2020 season.

One of the bigger concerns heading into the upcoming season for the Chargers is how the quarterback play is going to shape up.

After 16 years of Philip Rivers’ services, Tyrod Taylor is the front runner to fill his shoes in Week 1.

While Taylor may not have the experience or the skillset as a passer as Rivers does, he does have the athleticism to win with his legs, he takes care of the football and most importantly, he has a strong supporting cast to help put the team in position to win games.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox ranked every quarterback’s supporting cast by previous production, accolades, health and upside. For Los Angeles, they finished No. 6 overall, which is a slight step back from last year after having the fourth-best supporting best in 2019.

The Los Angeles Chargers will presumably roll with journeyman quarterback Tyrod Taylor rather than rookie Justin Herbert to open the season. Taylor was a Pro Bowler in 2015 and should make good use of one of the AFC’s better supporting casts.

The Chargers parted with running back Melvin Gordon this offseason but still have the duo of Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson in their backfield. This should give Taylor a strong ground game to lean on when necessary.

Meanwhile, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are one of the more league’s dangerous wide receiver duos, as both topped the 1,000-yard mark in 2019. Tight end Hunter Henry is an absolute terror of a downfield target when healthy and will give Taylor and/or Herbert a wonderful third option.

The versatility and pass-catching ability of Ekeler—he had 92 receptions for 993 yards and eight touchdowns last season—should set the stage for Taylor to succeed. Taylor has been at his best when taking what the defense gives him, and Ekleler is an elite dump-off target perfectly suited to that approach.

With Williams, Allen and Henry stretching the field, the Chargers could have an offense capable of keeping pace with the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, provided that Taylor acts as a serviceable placeholder.

On paper, the offensive side of the ball is in great shape.

The running back position will have a slightly new look heading into the upcoming season after Melvin Gordon agreed to a deal with the Broncos. Joining Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson is fourth-round pick Joshua Kelley.

Aside from those changes and couple of new additions along the offensive line, the rest of the offense stayed intact with the strong pass-catching group that consists of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Hunter Henry and draft selections Joe Reed and K.J. Hill.

Taylor is going to have plenty of options to distribute the wealth to. The offensive line may draw some slight concern after the team elected to not address the left tackle position, but the mobility of Taylor and a scheme change could help mask any deficiencies.

The 30-year old signal-caller is in an optimal position to guide the team to success, having premiere skill players and a stout defense to go along with. As long as he’s doing well, Taylor staying on the field will allow rookie Justin Herbert to develop before he’s ready to take the reins, which is key.

Identifying the Chargers’ most underrated position groups

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lists the Los Angeles Chargers’ two most underrated positional groups.

The Chargers have one of the most talented rosters on paper from top to bottom. They’re strong in certain areas, which rank among the best in the NFL, most notably their secondary.

However, there are other positional groups that aren’t getting as much love, but they certainly should as we head into the upcoming season.

On the offensive side of the ball, I believe the running back unit doesn’t get as much attention outside of the talented Austin Ekeler. But with the pieces they have, they could make some noise.

Ekeler has proven to be one of the league’s most dynamic skill players, finishing with 557 rushing yards on 132 attempts with three touchdowns along with 92 receptions for 993 receiving yards and eight receiving scores in 2019.

The former Western Colorado product will again serve as a ball carrier and pass-catcher out of the slot and out wide this upcoming season.

To ensure the team is able to get Ekeler lined up all across the formation, Los Angeles can afford to do so with the tandem of Justin Jackson and rookie Joshua Kelley.

Jackson, a seventh-round pick by the Bolts in 2018, has rushed 79 times for 406 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns in his 20 games (one start) in two seasons.

The former Northwestern product was hampered by injuries last season, but he has shown enough flashes to prove that he can be a threat when he is healthy.

Complimenting him is Kelley, the team’s fourth-round pick. The former UCLA product should see immediate snaps. A well-rounded back, Kelley makes the most of each touch, making it difficult for defenders to bring him down.

Expected to run the ball more so than previous years with their new offensive scheme, the players in this group are capable of becoming the focal point of the offense.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Chargers are strong across the board. But one unit that isn’t being recognized as much as others is the interior part of the defensive line.

Brandon Mebane is no longer a part of the crop, but his replacement – Linval Joseph – is an upgrade. Joseph, the two-time Pro Bowler is an athletic and powerful take-on player with the backfield vision and handwork to make an impact vs. the run, which is an area that was not a strong suit last season.

Justin Jones, the Chargers’ third-round pick in 2018, made a huge leap from Year 1 to Year 2 after using the offseason to shed weight and become more quicker and agile. Even though he missed four games due to an injury, Jones was arguably one of the team’s best interior defenders.

The former North Carolina State product finished the season with 30 tackles, six quarterback pressures, two tackles for loss, one pass deflected and a forced fumble.

Expectations were set high for 2019 first-round pick Jerry Tillery, but he was unable to meet them. However, throughout the course of the season he showed glimpses of untapped potential despite failing to make his presence known on the stat sheet.

Tillery also didn’t have a full offseason heading into his rookie season since he spent the majority of it rehabbing his torn labrum. Now healthy and a full slate ahead of him, Tillery has that to has full advantage to get bigger and stronger.

If he puts the pieces together in his second season, showing he can play with better leverage and out-power interior blockers, he could become the dominant pass-rushing defensive tackle the team was hoping to get.

Los Angeles could look to bring in another player to compliment Joseph at the nose tackle position. Damion Square and Sylvester Williams, both key contributors last season, are still on the market to fill out the room.

Projecting the Chargers’ post-draft depth chart at running back

Austin Ekeler is RB1. Then who?

The marriage between the Chargers and Melvin Gordon came to an end earlier this offseason as the franchise chose not to re-sign him. Gordon won’t be too far from his former team since he was picked up by AFC West rival – Denver Broncos.

How will the backfield look heading into this upcoming season?

Below, I take a crack at predicting Los Angeles’ depth chart at running back for the 2020 season:

RB1: Austin Ekeler

From undrafted free agent to one of the league’s most dynamic weapons. Ekeler is coming off his best season, which included 92 catches for 993 yards and eight receiving touchdowns. Only Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey had more receptions (116) among running backs. After Gordon’s departure, the former Western Colorado sits atop of the depth chart. Ekeler will get a decent amount of carries, but the coaching staff still wants to use his pass-catching abilities, which will see him line up in the slot and outside aside from just the backfield.

RB2: Justin Jackson

The second running back spot is where it becomes interesting. This will be a competition between Jackson and fourth-round pick Joshua Kelley. The former Northwestern product gets the nod heading into the season, given his experience, production in a limited capacity and the fact that the team is still “high on him”. In 20 games played, Jackson averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 79 touches. Eager to make his mark last season, Jackson was limited to just seven games due to an injury. If he can stay healthy, Jackson is primed for a breakout season.

RB3: Joshua Kelley

Kelley is capable of rising up the depth chart as the season goes on and I am a firm believer that he will. The only reason I have him listed as RB3 is primarily due to the lack of exposure at camp and I believe the coaching staff really covets Jackson despite the injury concerns. However, Kelley has a well-rounded skillset and the production in a significant role to be effective as the feature back down the road. Over 43 games in college, Kelley rushed 647 times for 3,442 yards and 31 touchdowns. His injury history is nonexistent, too.

FB: Bobby Holly

The Chargers lost Derek Watt, who signed with the Steelers earlier this offseason. Following his departure, coach Anthony Lynn said that the team would be bringing in a fullback to fill the void. The competition to do so will be between Holly and Gabe Nabers. I recently gave Nabers the nod over Holly due to positional versatility. But I believe that Holly brings more upside as a blocker.