Tag: L.A. Chargers

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.

What was Chargers’ ‘smartest move’ of the offseason?

Bolstering the defense with the four-time Pro Bowl cornerback was the Los Angeles Chargers’ smartest move.

Coming off a disastrous 2019 season, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco knew that changes needed to be made to the roster in order to avoid falling into the same hole.

Telesco made a handful of solid signings in free agency and brought in a great haul through the draft. But there might’ve not been a smarter move by him than acquiring four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Chris Harris Jr.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox laid out the smartest move each team made this offseason, and for him, the signing of Harris was the one that knocked it out of the park.

The Los Angeles Chargers may have drafted quarterback Justin Herbert to be their future. However, if the Chargers are going to be successful in 2020, it’s likely to come on the strength of their defense.

With players like Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Derwin James and rookie linebacker Kenneth Murray in the fold, L.A. has the potential to field an elite defense. The addition of free-agent cornerback Chris Harris Jr. makes that defense even better.

Harris may be 30 years old, but he’s a productive and versatile defensive back. He can play outside or at nickel, and he racked up 16 passes defended and four interceptions over the last two seasons.

Getting Harris for two years at $17 million was a great deal and a sharp move.

I pegged the signing of offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga as being Telesco’s best acquisition this offseason. But acquiring Harris came in right behind at No. 2 on the list.

The addition of Harris gives Los Angeles the label of being one of the top defenses in the NFL, which features the likes of defensive end Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, linebackers Drue Tranquill and Kenneth Murray, safety Derwin James and cornerbacks Casey Hayward and Desmond King.

The Chiefs have won the division the past four seasons, which has been accomplished primarily with their high-powered offense. In order to stay toe-to-toe with Kansas City, Los Angeles’ defense has been to be stout, and the acquisition takes last year’s No. 6 overall defense to a near elite status.

Harris will be a key piece in the back end of the defense, stating that he will play both in the slot and outside, perhaps even “some emergency safety” this upcoming season. No matter what scheme or role he’s in, Harris’ presence will be evident on a weekly basis.

Projecting the Chargers’ offensive line depth chart

The Chargers offensive line will have a slightly different look this offseason.

The Chargers offensive line has been arguably one of the weaker spots on the roster the past few seasons. But after a couple of key acquisitions and hiring of offensive line coach James Campen, who’s one of the best in the league, they’re hoping to be stronger than they have been in years prior.

Below, I take a crack at projecting Los Angeles’ offensive line depth chart for the 2020 season.

LT: Trey Pipkins

This will be one of the more notable position battles to monitor as the competition to fill the void after Russell Okung’s departure will be between in-house players from last season and former XFL player Storm Norton. 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 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, his strengths became more apparent. Sam Tevi could win this job solely based on experience in the starting role, but Campen like what he sees in Pipkins, citing what he does well and that he has a plan for him to unlock his full potential.

Backups: Sam Tevi, Storm Norton, Trent Scott

LG: Dan Feeney

Feeney has been the model of consistency, starting every single game the past two seasons. Even though he was shaky early on in his professional career, he has improved his game. He’s especially been a key contributor in the run-blocking department. Along with left guard, he has shown to be reliable as a center when Mike Pouncey suffered a season-ending injury in 2019. Feeney will have to shake off Forrest Lamp, who’s coming off a season-ending injury, as well. But Feeney’s familiarity, availability and durability gives him the leg up.

Backups: Forrest Lamp, Trent Scott

C: Mike Pouncey

There were concerns that Pouncey wouldn’t be able to take another snap after suffering a severe neck injury last season, but good news came when he announced that he was medically cleared. Pouncey has been a critical piece of the offensive line since signing in 2018. Prior to getting injured in Week 5 last season, he started 37 consecutive games. If Pouncey were to get hurt again, Feeney or Scott Quessenberry would fill his shoes. Quessenberry started nine games last season, faring well against some of the top defensive tackles.

Backups: Dan Feeney, Scott Quessenberry

RG: Trai Turner

The Chargers gained the five-time Pro Bowler when they shipped away Russell Okung earlier this offseason. Turner, who’s become one of the league’s most premiere interior offensive lineman, has played in 84 games (80 of which he started) since entering the league in 2014. Turner is significant upgrade over Michael Schofield, who started every game at right guard for the Chargers in 2018 and 2019.

Backups: Forrest Lamp, Trent Scott

RT: Bryan Bulaga

Arguably the Chargers’ biggest acquisition this offseason was the signing of Bulaga. Bulaga, who reunites with Campen, has started 111 of his 115 games over the past nine seasons, showing exemplary toughness after dealing with injuries early on. In each of his full seasons since 2014, Bulaga has ranked among the 10 best right tackles in Pro Football Focus’ pass-blocking grade, with three ranking in the top three. He provides a huge boost in pass protection and run-blocking.

Backups: Sam Tevi, Trent Scott, Storm Norton

Which rookie could be surprise gem for Chargers?

The Los Angeles Chargers have a few rookies that could turn heads in Year 1 and beyond.

While Chargers general manager Tom Telesco has hit some of his early round picks out of the park, but he has also managed to haul in a few late-round gems in the NFL draft.

Telesco is hoping the same is true for his Day 3 selections in this past year’s draft, which include running back Joshua Kelley and wide receivers Joe Reed and K.J. Hill.

For Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski, he believes that Reed could be Los Angeles’ surprise gem, highlighting his offensive versatility.

The Los Angeles Chargers will find ways to utilize fifth-round pick Joe Reed.

“He can do a lot of things for us,” general manager Tom Telesco said, per the Los Angeles Times‘ Jeff Miller. “So we’ll get him in here and see where he fits.”

Head coach Anthony Lynn called Reed a “multipurpose threat.”

If the Chargers are truly creative, the 2019 Jet Award winner can come in and serve in a similar role as Cordarrelle Patterson, Percy Harvin or Josh Cribbs. He may never be a full-time wide receiver, yet he can impact a game through a variety of roles.

During his four seasons with the Virginia Cavaliers, Reed accumulated 1,465 receiving yards, 172 rushing yards, 3,042 kick return yards and 22 total touchdowns, including five on special teams.

Reed will be used as a versatile pass-catcher, lining up in the slot, out wide, and even in the backfield. He will be used in sweeps, shovel passes and slants, similar to the role that the 49ers gave Deebo Samuel last season and the same way someone like Percy Harvin was used.

Even though he wasn’t tasked to push down the field vertically often in college, Reed has the speed to turn into the deep threat that Los Angeles could benefit from. He will just need to refine his separation technique.

Along with that, he should provide an immediate spark in the return game, given his impressive production for the Cavaliers, which included becoming the first player in school history with two kickoff returns in the same season.

“Whatever the coaches ask of me, I have the ability to go out there and do it and just not be a one-dimensional receiver,” Reed said per Draft Wire’s Michelle Bruton.

ESPN FPI predicts Chargers’ win total, playoff chances in 2020

ESPN believes that the Los Angeles Chargers will finish under .500 in 2020.

The Chargers are looking to turn things around after a disappointing 2019 season that resulted in a 5-11 record and last place in the AFC West since 2016.

Los Angeles made to sure to stack the deck this offseason to help their case, acquiring notable veterans such as cornerback Chris Harris Jr., tackle Bryan Bulaga, guard Trai Turner and defensive tackle Linval Joseph.

Along with that, they added talent through the draft, bringing in Philip Rivers’ replacement in Justin Herbert and giving him weapons – running back Joshua Kelley and wide receiver Joe Reed and K.J. Hill. A defensive player who should make a difference is linebacker Kenneth Murray.

ESPN’s FPI (Football Power Index) projected win totals and playoff odds for every team. The Chargers came in at No. 20. The FPI set their projected wins at 7.7 and gave them a 37% chance to make the playoffs.

The betting odds for the Chargers’ win total is set at 7.5, which makes it fair to see the projected wins be at 7.7.

On paper, they’re stacked from top to bottom. But it will be matter of getting the most from the quarterback play as Tyrod Taylor and Herbert take over, ensuring the offensive line can play at a high level and most importantly, making sure key players can stay healthy.

If all goes well, they could be back in the playoffs. Claiming the division title might be a tough task as they will have to dethrone the reigning Super Bowl champions, but the Chargers should benefit from having an extra playoff spot added.

Touchdown Wire ranks Chargers offense in 2020

The Los Angeles Chargers have a talented crop of skill players, but can they put it all together with a new set of quarterbacks?

The Chargers offense will look slightly different this upcoming season.

At the quarterback position, Philip Rivers will longer be under center. Instead, it will be either Tyrod Taylor or Justin Herbert.

In the backfield, there will no longer be a No. 25 as Melvin Gordon is now currently a part of the Broncos. To fill the void is rookie Joshua Kelley.

The offensive line will feature a couple of new members – guard Trai Turner and tackle Bryan Bulaga. The same applies for the wide receiver position with the additions of rookies Joe Reed and K.J. Hill.

So how does this remodeled offense stack up against the rest of the units in the NFL?

Touchdown Wire’s Mark Schofield ranked all the league’s offenses, and Los Angeles placed 25th out of 32 teams.

Here is what Schofield had to say:

Like the New England Patriots, the Los Angeles Chargers face something of a transition at the quarterback position as the 2020 season looms. Philip Rivers, a mainstay with the organization for over a decade, has moved on to the Indianapolis Colts. Looking to pick up the baton are a pair of quarterbacks, veteran Tyrod Taylor and incoming rookie Justin Herbert. There are weapons around whomever wins the starting job, including Keenan Allen and Mike Williams at wide receiver and tight end Hunter Henry, but whether it is Taylor or Herbert, the Chargers might expect a step back offensively over the next season or so.

Like Schofield mentions, all eyes are on the quarterbacks. For more than a decade, the Bolts had the luxury of having a proven veteran who played at a high level. Now, they enter the season with two signal-callers who don’t necessarily have the experience or a skillset as a passer.

Because no one knows how the quarterback play will shake up, I mentioned how this could be an area that makes or breaks the 2020 season. The skill players are there, but that doesn’t matter if the team is unable to get the most out of Taylor or Herbert throwing the ball.

Along with that, the offensive line is still a slight mystery. From the center position (Mike Pouncey) all the way to the right tackle spot (Turner and Bulaga), the line looks stout. However, the quarterback’s blindside is still a mystery after failing to address the left tackle spot this offseason.

The Chargers roster on the offensive side of the ball is talented, but it’ll all fall on the coaching staff’s shoulders to implement the best system to play to Taylor’s and Herbert’s strength in order to them into the most optimal position to succeed.

TE Hunter Henry talks about Chargers quarterback competition

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry will be ecstatic no matter who is under center in 2020.

Chargers tight end Hunter Henry came into the league in 2016 with Philip Rivers throwing the ball to him. Four years later, he will have a couple of new faces distributing the wealth to him.

Henry has already started to develop a connection with rookie quarterback Justin Herbert, as the two have spent some time working out and will soon start throwing together.

“He’s got a great arm. Obviously, he went first round, sixth pick for a reason,” Henry said about Herbert in an interview via SiriusXM. “He’s very, very talented. Obviously, the mental side of the game will be the biggest thing.”

Los Angeles is hopeful that Herbert will be the long-term solution at the quarterback position. However, there’s no guarantee that he will walk in as the Week 1 starter.

Tyrod Taylor, who’s in the final year of his two-year deal, is in the driver’s seat to start. If Taylor is the one under center, Henry still has a lot of confidence that he can get the job done.

“Big believer in Tyrod, too, so I’m looking forward to seeing what he’s going to bring to us this year,” Henry said.

Regardless of who’s the starting quarterback, Henry is eager to continue to be a threat in the passing game and reliable as a run-blocker. But most importantly, show that he can stay healthy for a full 16-game slate.

If all goes well, Henry should be sure to strike a long-term deal with the Bolts, if he doesn’t happen to do so already before the July 15 deadline.

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.

Projecting the Chargers’ post-draft depth chart at tight end

Hunter Henry is the first tight end on the depth chart. Then who?

The tight end position for the Chargers revolved around Antonio Gates for more than a decade. But the curve was shifted last year as it marked the first season without the future Hall of Famer on the roster.

Hunter Henry has done a fine job to fill his shoes, but outside of him, the production has been nearly nonexistent. Could that change this upcoming season?

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

TE1: Hunter Henry

This comes as no surprise. Henry, the former second-round pick, has been a valuable asset in both the passing and run-blocking department. The former Arkansas product has yet to play a full 16-game slate in each of his four seasons, all due to injury. However, he’s posting a career average of 8.9 yards per catch, which has been in the top-10 in three out of the past four seasons. Despite the change at quarterback, Henry should still be a matchup nightmare on short crossing and deeper routes. Look for him to be a valuable weapon in the red zone, too. If he can stay healthy, Henry could finish as a top-5 tight end.

TE2: Virgil Green

Green was signed in the offseason of 2018. In his first season as a Charger, Green had the opportunity to play a significant role after Henry went down with a season-ending injury. But he still didn’t manage to outperform Gates, the insurance signee, finishing with only 210 yards and one touchdown on 19 receptions. Last season, Green’s usage and production slipped upon Henry returning. He amassed nine catches for 78 yards and a score. Heading into this season, Green will likely average 25% of the offense’s snaps per game, primarily serving as an additional blocker.

TE3: Donald Parham

This is where the competition begins. Normally this would likely be filled by Sean Culkin, but he’s no longer on the roster. Fighting for the final spot will be Parham, Stephen Anderson and Andrew Vollert. Vollert was in training camp with the Chargers last season before he tore his ACL during preseason game. Anderson was kept around on the team’s practice squad in 2019. Parham was signed earlier this offseason after showing out in the XFL, where he caught 24 passes for 307 yards and four TDs in five games. The 6-foot-8 and 240 pound tight end gets the nod here. While he is a liability as a blocker, Parham brings an enticing skillset as a pass-catcher. With his freakish combination of size and speed, Parham could be a mismatch weapon as a hybrid slot, where he could flourish down the seam and in the red zone.

Chargers’ Joshua Kelley in ideal situation among NFL’s rookie running backs

Los Angeles Chargers running back Joshua Kelley has the opportunity to become the team’s feature back.

No one expected the Chargers to take a running back as early as they did when other positions like offensive tackle, wide receiver or cornerback had yet to be addressed.

Even though Melvin Gordon and the franchise parted ways, it was thought that they would be able to get away with Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson and potentially a late rounder or undrafted free agent to fill the void.

But when Los Angeles saw former UCLA RB Joshua Kelley sitting on the board in the fourth-round with the No. 112 overall selection, they couldn’t pass up on the opportunity.

Kelley joins Ekeler and Jackson as part of the backfield committee. While it may seem like the rookie will be the odd man out, he’s actually in one of the better situations among the rest of the first-year backs.

Pro Football Focus ranked the situations for the league’s 2020 rookie running backs, and Kelley was listed as being in the ninth-best circumstances:

Kelley offers a distinctly different body type and skillset from starter Austin Ekeler. Even with Melvin Gordon out the first four weeks of last season, Ekeler commanded only 14 carries per game while backup Justin Jackson saw five-plus carries in each of those outings when healthy. The issue here could be simply taking carries away from Jackson, who earned a 78.1 rushing grade on 50 carries in 2018 before an 89.5 rushing grade on 29 carries in an injury-shortened 2019.

Kelley has the chance to receive the majority of the carries. Even though Ekeler sits atop of the depth chart, the team wants to utilize his versatility to line up all over the formation. As for Jackson, who’s coming off a season that was hampered by an injury, durability concerns loom.

I mentioned before that Kelley continues to only being seen as just a short-yardage specialist by many, but I believe he’s going to be used more than that over time.

While Kelley has the power to run through defenders, which would come in handy in those situations, he also has good change-of-direction, vision, burst, decent speed and passing game ability to make an impact on any down.

Kelley showed that he is capable of taking on a big load for the Bruins in 2018 and 2019, receiving 225 and 229 touches, respectively, making the most with them by 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, they’re certainly seen as more than just a bruiser who receives 5-10 carries per game.

I expect the Chargers to have a committee approach for their backfield early on in the season. But don’t be surprised if it’s Kelley that receives the bulk of the carries down the road, especially if Jackson is unable to stay healthy.