Tag: L.A. Chargers

Who is the Chargers’ ‘most promising building block’?

The Los Angeles Chargers look to build around the fourth-year wide receiver.

The Chargers are starting a new era at the quarterback position. When having a new signal-caller, having a strong supporting cast is quite beneficial.

Luckily, Los Angeles is equipped with a slew of promising skill players for Tyrod Taylor and Justin Herbert, which consists of Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, Hunter Henry and the ascending Mike Williams.

Williams was named the “most promising building block” by Bleacher Report.

The Los Angeles Chargers are turning the page after moving on from Philip Rivers in the offseason. Whether it’s veteran Tyrod Taylor or rookie Justin Herbert, the Chargers’ new quarterback is going to need all the help he can get from the team’s weapons.

Weapons such as fourth-year wide receiver Mike Williams.

Williams has been on something of a steady ascent over the past three seasons. After an injury-marred rookie year, Williams became a big-time red-zone threat for the 12-4 Chargers in 2018, reeling in 10 touchdowns. He scored just twice in 2019, but he averaged 20.4 yards per reception—tops in the league—and topped 1,000 yards for the first time.

Williams isn’t the No. 1 wide receiver for the Chargers—that title still belongs to Keenan Allen, who has made the Pro Bowl in each of the past three years. But if Williams keeps it up, it won’t be that long before he receives a Pro Bowl nod of his own.

After being banged up during his rookie season in 2017, Williams has been the model of consistency since then. In 2018, Williams surpassed the 10-touchdown mark. In 2019, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark. His 20.4 yards per reception ranked first in the league.

The team saw the production throughout the past couple of seasons, which is why Williams had his fifth-year option picked up by the Chargers earlier this offseason which will keep him under contract through the 2021 season.

Whether it’s Taylor or Herbert under center, plenty of deep ball opportunities should be there for the big-bodied target this upcoming season, as he looks to unlock his full potential in hopes of making his Pro Bowl.

Poll: How many games will Chargers QB Tyrod Taylor start in 2020?

Do you feel confident in Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor?

A new era at the quarterback position begins this upcoming season as Tyrod Taylor and Justin Herbert take over.

One of the biggest questions entering training camp is who will start under center.

While the coaching staff has stated that there will be a competition between Taylor and the first-round pick this summer, it’s more than likely that the 30-year old will start, allowing Herbert to get acclimated to the offense and his teammates.

“We’re going into this thing: Day 1, Tyrod Taylor’s going to be starting it off,” coach Anthony Lynn told Albert Breer of the MMQB. “He’s earned that right. His teammates respect the hell out of him, he’s a leader on this football team. Our young quarterback’s gonna learn a lot from Tyrod Taylor.

With the offense in Taylor’s hands, the anticipation to see what he could do is at an all-time high. While there are concerns of him as a passer, Taylor is familiar with the system, protects the ball well, has the mobility to outpace defenders and most importantly, a strong supporting cast of skill players.

Taylor is capable of leading the Chargers to wins this upcoming season. His success will allow Herbert to continue to develop. The only way we see the former Oregon product take over is if Taylor flops or gets hurt.

With that being said, do you think Taylor has what it takes to flourish this season? To get an idea, we want to know how many games you think he will remain as the team’s starter in 2020.

Vote in the poll below:

[polldaddy poll=10564577]

Chargers LB Drue Tranquill named potential breakout star by CBS Sports

Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Drue Tranquill is ready to take a step forward.

The Chargers could have a star in the making.

After emerging in his rookie season, linebacker Drue Tranquill has high expectations set for him heading into Year 2.

CBS Sport’s Josh Edwards believes that Tranquill is bound for a breakout season in 2020.

Here is what he had to say about the former Notre Dame product:

Tranquill is a more mobile linebacker used primarily in sub packages. Our breakout defensive team is going to be smaller, but no less impactful in our approach to combat more spread style offenses. Tranquill was all over the field last season. He should have more opportunities to make an impact with an improved defensive unit around him this season.

After serving as a special teamer, Tranquill’s hard work led to more playing time. Week in and out, the 2019 fourth-round pick was consistently making plays in the middle of the defense, finishing as the second-leading tackler with 75 total tackles.

Going into his sophomore season, it remains to be seen if Tranquill will be the starter at MIKE because of Denzel Perryman’s presence, which happens to still be highly coveted by the coaching staff.

Tranquill will likely see the field for 60% of the defensive snaps with the majority of them coming on passing downs while Perryman is on the field for rushing downs. They could experiment with him at WILL, but that would take snaps away from first-round pick Kenneth Murray.

After finishing the 2019 season tied for eighth in the NFL in special teams tackles with 11, Tranquill will continue to be a special teams ace as well, especially after losing key assets on kick and punt coverage defenders, including Adrian Phillips, Derek Watt and Nick Dzubnar.

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.

6 Chargers make ESPN’s Ultimate All-Conference teams

The Los Angeles Chargers had two offensive and four defensive players make the cut.

ESPN’s football writers created all-conference teams of current NFL players and stacked them up against one another.

The Chargers were well-represented, as six current players on the roster made the cut from various conferences.

Here is a look at the members who earned the honors:

No. 1: Big Ten

EDGE Joey Bosa (Ohio State)

No. 2: SEC

G Trai Turner (LSU)

No. 3: ACC

S Derwin James (Florida State)

No. 4: Pac-12

WR Keenan Allen (California)

No. 5: Big 12

LB Kenneth Murray (Oklahoma)

CB Chris Harris, Jr. (Kansas)

Projecting the Chargers’ cornerback depth chart

The Los Angeles Chargers cornerback room is led by Casey Hayward and Chris Harris, Jr.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been breaking down the depth chart at each position for the Chargers.

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Offensive line

Defensive line

Linebacker

Today, we examine and project the cornerback room, which is one of the stronger units for Los Angeles heading into the 2020 season.

CB: Casey Hayward

Hayward piled together 32 tackles, eight passes defended and two interceptions over the course of 16 games last season. His stats may not resemble high level of play, but quarterbacks have learned by now not to test Hayward. The 30-year old has been a key presence in the secondary, earning the highest coverage grade (93.1) among cornerbacks the past five seasons. Lining up across the league’s top wide receivers, “Showcase” has stymied nearly every single one. Heading into this season, he will remain the No. 1 cornerback on the outside.

Backup(s): Brandon Facyson, Quenton Meeks

Slot CB: Chris Harris, Jr.

According to NFL.com research, the Chargers allowed nine yards per slot target last season, which was the fifth-highest average in the league. They also ranked No. 30 in completion percentage to slot targets. Because of the lack of production, a change needed to be made which led to the signing of Harris earlier this offseason. Harris projects as the starting slot corner, overtaking Desmond King in that role. Harris is capable of playing on the outside along with some safety, but we can expect to see him primarily on the inside. For King, he is a bit of mystery now that he won’t be the starting slot corner after he experienced a rocky 2019 campaign. Expect him to play an interchangeable role with snaps coming in the slot and as a sub-package linebacker, along with special teams duties.

Backup(s): Desmond King

CB: Michael Davis

Davis earned the Week 1 starting job in 2019, but he was limited to 12 games after missing two of them due to an injury and the others to a suspension after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He’s appeared in 43 games over the course of the past three seasons with 21 of them being starts. Since then, he’s totaled 107 tackles, 18 passes defensed and two interceptions. Davis will be in competition for this spot with Brandon Facyson, who started here while the former BYU product missed some action. Facyson did show promise in coverage and as a tackler in his four starts. However, Davis is the model that Gus Bradley covets at the position and his experience in the role should ensure he retains his job. Quenton Meeks was mentioned as an underdog who could make the team as a depth piece.

Backup(s): Brandon Facyson, Quenton Meeks

3 underdog players who could make Chargers roster

The Los Angeles Chargers have a talented roster, but there are a few under-the-radar players who could crack the 55-man roster.

With the rosters being expanded to 55 players now, the competition to make the squad becomes even more heated. Every year we see a few make the team which no one projected.

With that being said, here are three players, not including undrafted free agents, that could find themselves on the roster heading into the Week 1 matchup against the Bengals.

OT Storm Norton

The Chargers didn’t sign a proven veteran left tackle in free agency or draft one, which means they are banking on their in-house options to fill the void. Norton, Pro Football Focus’ highest graded XFL offensive lineman, joins Sam Tevi, Trey Pipkins and Trent Scott as members fighting for the job.

Norton possesses a towering frame at 6-foot-8 and 307 pounds with excellent athleticism and movement skills in pass protection and the run-blocking department. He is suited best for a zone scheme, which is what the offense is expected to shift to.

Even though he doesn’t have much starting experience at the NFL level, he is the model that Campen would love to work with and develop just like how he did in Green Bay with their offensive linemen. Norton is capable of serving as a depth piece with high upside to start over time.

DT PJ Johnson

The nose tackle position was addressed after the departure of Brandon Mebane with the signing of Linval Joseph and re-signing of Damion Square. That doesn’t mean the work ends there. Last season, the Chargers carried three on the roster, which means one could be up for grabs.

Johnson was selected by the Lions in the seventh-round of the 2019 NFL draft. He was with the team throughout the preseason, but was released on cutdown day. The former Arizona product was signed to Los Angeles’ practice squad last December.

Johnson, the enormous defensive lineman, has great upper body strength to dispose blockers and make an impact against the pass and run. The 6-foot-4 and 335 pound nose tackle finished his collegiate career with 31 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

CB Quenton Meeks

It was thought that the Chargers were going to bring in a cornerback this offseason to compete with Michael Davis and Brandon Facyson on the outside opposite side of Casey Hayward. However, they came away empty-handed.

After a successful collegiate career with Stanford, Meeks was signed by the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He spent some time on the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster. There, he amassed eight tackles and two passes defensed.

Prior to the 2019 season, Meeks was released by Jacksonville. A month later, he signed to Los Angeles’ practice squad.

Meeks, the 6-foot-2 and 197 pound corner, plays with reaction skills, intelligence and toughness, projecting best in a Cover 3 system. He skillset, on-field demeanor and hustle are all traits that should be highly coveted by the coaching staff to make the team as a depth piece and special teams ace.

4 Chargers players that fans are most excited to see in 2020

The Los Angeles Chargers boast an enticing roster of players.

Things in the sports world have been crazy as the coronavirus pandemic has put the action to a halt. Minicamp should be going on right now, but it’s not. However, great news keep on coming as training camp, preseason and the regular season should start as scheduled.

With that being said, we wanted to get an idea of which members of the Chargers fans are most excited to see this year as the team looks to turn things around after a dud of a season in 2019.

I went to our official Twitter and Facebook accounts to ask fans who they’re looking forward to the most. Below is a look at what the majority of the bunch said:

LB Kenneth Murray

Murray was the team’s second first-round pick after trading up 14 spots to snag him. The aggressiveness to ensure the former Oklahoma product was in the blue and gold goes to show that the coaching staff believes he could give the defense a huge boost immediately. Slated to start as the Will linebacker, Murray has rare instincts, combined with closing speed quickness and ability to cover a large amount of ground, which should contribute in coverage, stopping the run and rushing the quarterback. The combination of his skillset and intangibles could earn him the responsibility of calling out the plays on defense as early as Year 1.

S Derwin James

Fans were eager to see James in his sophomore season, but that was put a halt after he sustained a foot injury in training camp. The injury wiped out the majority of his season, but he still managed to play in five games, where the do-it-all defender was a force to be reckoned with. Ensuring James is on the field in 2020 will be critical. James gives the Chargers a rare defender who can cover wide receivers, the best tight ends in the NFL, stop running backs at the line of scrimmage and put pressure on quarterbacks, all of which are key elements in stopping the reigning Super Bowl champions – Kansas City Chiefs.

LB Drue Tranquill

It didn’t take long for Tranquill to get a strong grasp of the defense and make an immediate impact in his rookie season. The former Notre Dame was given a larger role as the year went on, finishing as the Chargers’ second-leading tackler with 75 total tackles, along with being tied for the most special teams tackles by any rookie (11). Heading into Year 2, Tranquill is expected to take another step forward as the team’s middle linebacker. Denzel Perryman may start, but Tranquill will come onto the field in passing situations. Eventually, he should be the permanent starter alongside Murray.

QB Justin Herbert

It’s no surprise that fans are electrified to see their first-round pick take the field, especially when it’s the replacement to veteran quarterback Philip Rivers. It remains to be seen how much playing time Herbert will receive this upcoming season since he’s in a position to sit and enhance his game while 30-year old Tyrod Taylor is under center. However, it might be the most optimal situation for the former Oregon product, who could benefit from learning from quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton before taking the reins. Herbert has all the physical tools and arm talent in the world, but he needs to develop his instincts and decision-making. If he does, the sky is the limit for Herbert.

2020 expectations for Chargers’ newest free agent signings

A handful of them will play a significant role in the upcoming season.

With the need to bring in more veterans to an already talented roster, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco didn’t shy away from adding a few earlier this offseason.

With that in mind, here is what fans can expect from each of Telesco’s acquisitions heading into the upcoming season:

WR Darius Jennings

The special teams department has been a major concern for the Chargers the past few seasons, and it’s clear that they made it a priority to shore up after the Jennings along with rookie Joe Reed. Over the past two seasons, he returned 31 kickoffs for 894 yards, including a 94-yarder for a touchdown. Jennings has a chance of making the roster. And while he will unlikely see the field on a consistent basis on offense, but he will be in contention for the starting kick returner job. At most, he will be a special teamer in 2020.

LB Nick Vigil

The Bolts released Thomas Davis prior to the start of the new league year and they lost a few key special teamers in free agency, which left some spots that needed to be filled. Vigil offers positional versatility, which is highly coveted in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s defense. With Denzel Perryman, Kenneth Murray and Kyzir White projected to be the starters, Vigil will provide depth, and would likely see the field on obvious passing downs since he has earned a strong reputation for his play in coverage. Despite not being a starter, Vigil will make his money on special teams right out of the gate.

DT Linval Joseph

Joseph projects as the Day 1 starter in the middle of the defensive line. It remains to be if he will play all three downs, given the fact that he played only 553 snaps last season which was just over 50%. Known for his ability to defend the run, Joseph will be on the playing field on rushing situations, while Damion Square rotates in or Justin Jones and Jerry Tillery slide in on obvious passing situations. However, Joseph has the capability of staying on the field in those situations as he finished top-4 on the team in quarterback knockdowns in three of his first four seasons with the Vikings, recording 41 in total along with 11 sacks.

CB Chris Harris, Jr.

According to NFL.com research, the Chargers allowed nine yards per slot target last season, which was the fifth-highest average in the league. They also ranked No. 30 in completion percentage to slot targets. Harris Jr., 30, is one of the NFL’s polished cornerbacks in that he can play outside corner and shadow a No. 1 wide receiver but also excel as a slot cornerback. Harris projects as the starting slot corner, overtaking Desmond King in that role. Harris is capable of playing on the outside along with some safety, but we can expect to see him primarily on the inside. His coverage skills and open space tackling will be key as the team looks to stop the Chiefs’ high-powered offense.

OT Bryan Bulaga

The right tackle position produced inconsistent results for the past few seasons, but that will quickly change after the signing of Bulaga, who will start from Week 1. Bulaga reunites with former offensive line coach James Campen from their playing days with the Packers, which is a nice to have familiarity on the roster. One of the better pass protecting tackles in the league, and very capable in the run game, Bulaga provides the trenches with a huge boost. If all goes well and he stays healthy, the 10-year veteran could earn a trip to the Pro Bowl, finally.

3 best bargain contracts for Chargers in 2020

General manager Tom Telesco has done a fine job at acquiring players on great deals.

The Chargers present one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. A handful of those players were obtained by general manager Tom Telesco on great deals, too.

With that being said, here is a look at three of the best bargain contracts that Los Angeles has on the roster for the upcoming season:

OT Bryan Bulaga

Average salary: $4,833,333

In need of solid play along the offensive line, the Chargers were able to land one of the best players at the right tackle position for a heck of a deal. Bulaga was signed to a three-year deal worth $30 million. There are 37 tackles in the league that will make more than him this upcoming season, some of which are backups. The 10-year veteran should accelerate the transition process for new offensive line coach James Campen who coached him during their shared time with the Packers. But most importantly, protect Tyrod Taylor or Justin Herbert and aide in paving the way for the members of the backfield.

S Derwin James

Average salary: $3,378,806

It only took a season for James to make his mark as one of the league’s best safeties. His 105 tackles (75 solo), six quarterback hits, four tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in his rookie campaign hardly showed how phenomenal he was, as the do-it-all defender helped take the defense to another level. Had he not been hurt in Year 2, the former Florida State product would have been a prime candidate for Defensive Player of the Year honors. There are 37 safeties who are set to make more than James during the 2020 season. If James cranks it up another notch this season, a contract extension could be in discussion.

CB Desmond King

Average salary: $2,202,998

The Chargers boast a strong secondary, but one player who hasn’t gotten as much recognition as he should is King. He has been tabbed as Second-Team All-Pro (2018), snubbed from a couple of Pro Bowls and has the second-highest three-year Pro Football Focus grade on defense from the 2017 NFL Draft (90.7). There 62 cornerbacks set to make more than the former Iowa product this upcoming season. Slated to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, it would be difficult to see a key defensive back leave, but the signing of Chris Harris Jr. might leave him out of a job with the team after 2020.