Tag: L.A. Chargers

ESPN tabs Chargers as having one of better offseasons among NFL teams

Find out where the Los Angeles Chargers finished in the ESPN analyst’s offseason rankings.

Coming off a disappointing 5-11 2019 season, it was evident that changes needed to be made.

According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, the necessary changes were made in order to enhance their chances of turning things around in 2020.

Los Angeles departed ways with quarterback Philip Rivers, but they drafted his replacement. Along with that, they acquired a slew of veterans in free agency and play-makers on both sides of the ball in the draft.

In Barnwell’s offseason rankings for all 32 teams, L.A. finished No. 10 overall.

Here’s where he believes the Bolts struck gold:

The Chargers were able to add a number of veterans on what were team-friendly deals relative to the market. Offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga arrived on a three-year, $30 million deal. Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. left the Broncos for two years and $17 million. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph signed on a similar deal. The Chargers won the trade when they dealt tackle Russell Okung to Carolina for guard Trai Turner. They even franchised tight end Hunter Henry and locked up running back Austin Ekeler on a four-year, $24.5 million deal. Every deal here looks good.

General manager Tom Telesco hit a home run on each of his free agency signings. While the team lost Russell Okung, they were still able to get a five-time Pro Bowl guard (Trai Turner) out of it. Two of their own top skill players (running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Hunter Henry) were inked, as well.

In the draft, they found the quarterback of the future with Justin Herbert, a plug-and-play linebacker with Kenneth Murray and a few offensive weapons that should contribute early on in their professional careers, which consists of running back Joshua Kelley and wide receivers Joe Reed and K.J. Hill.

The only notable thing that Los Angeles failed to do was find Okung’s replacement. Many thought that the team was going to acquire a left tackle, whether it was in free agency or the draft, but they chose not to. Instead, they head into training camp with Sam Tevi, Trey Pipkins, Storm Norton and possibly Forrest Lamp fighting for the starting job.

Chargers sign OL Ryan Groy

The Los Angeles Chargers signed a familiar face on Wednesday.

The Chargers signed offensive guard Ryan Groy to the 90-man roster on Wednesday.

Groy appeared in nine games for Los Angeles last season after signing with the team on Oct. 9. He played 36 offensive snaps and 37 on special teams.

Groy, the former Wisconsin product was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears in 2014. Groy played in 16 games in 2016 and 2017 and appeared in 15 contests in 2018, all for the Bills. He also spent time with the Patriots, Buccaneers and Saints.

Groy enters camp looking to earn a spot on the roster once again to serve as depth on the interior part of the offensive line and play on special teams.

Chargers sitting pretty in PFF’s wide receiver rankings

The Los Angeles Chargers present a strong wide receiver group.

Despite lacking a productive WR3 in 2019, the Chargers still managed to boast one of the league’s finest dynamic duos that consisted of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

Allen posted a career-high in receptions (104) that went for 1,199 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Meanwhile, Williams surpassed the 1,000-receiving yard mark, as well as a league-high 20.4 yards per catch.

Los Angeles knew that they were missing pieces to compliment the tandem, which is why they drafted Joe Reed and K.J. Hill to shore up the positional group.

Heading into the 2020, Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey sees the unit as being stout, ranking them No. 7 overall among the rest of the 32 teams in the league.

Here is what Linsey had to say about the state of the wide receivers:

There are questions at the quarterback position for the Chargers; there are questions about the left side of the offensive line, as well. Where there shouldn’t be too many questions, though, is at the skill positions on offense. Keenan Allen is one of the best route-runners in the NFL and is the fourth-highest-graded wide receiver in the league over the last three seasons. Mike Williams is an effective downfield threat, averaging over 20 yards per reception in 2019 on his way to the first 1,000-yard season of his career. Outside of Hunter Henry and Austin Ekeler, both of whom are among the top receiving options at their respective positions, one player who could surprise in 2019 is K.J. Hill. He has an NFL-ready skill set for the slot, and Andre Patton was a complete non-factor in that role for the Chargers last season (56 receiving yards on 303 routes run).

Wide receiver will be one of the top positional battles to watch in training camp and preseason. While Allen and Williams man the top-two spots, the competition for the final three or four spots is bound to be heated.

Reed, the fifth-round pick, brings versatility. Hill, the seventh-round pick, brings route-running ability and secure hands. Andre Patton has shown flashes and has two seasons under his belt. Darius Jennings’ special teams experience will help his case.

Recently, I took a crack at projecting the wide receiver group. That can be found here.

Regardless of how the quarterback play shakes up between Tyrod Taylor and Justin Herbert, they should benefit from the slew of wide receivers, as well as running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Hunter Henry.

Chargers’ Mark Ridgley talks state of running backs

The Chargers running back group will have a slightly new look heading into 2020.

The Chargers backfield will have a slightly reconstructed look heading into the upcoming season.

Returning is Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson. Not returning is Melvin Gordon. Coming in is fourth-round pick Joshua Kelley.

Running backs coach Mark Ridgley spoke with the media on Wednesday to talk about the remodeled positional group.

Now that Gordon is gone, who will serve as the feature back remains to be seen. Ridgley says the roles of the running backs will develop as they go through practice and training camp. He called it a “group by committee.”

He pointed to Ekeler and Jackson adjusting to Gordon’s absence last September as the type of change he’s looking for.

Ekeler, who’s coming off an outstanding 2019 season, is expected to keep his same duties as a ball carrier and pass-catcher in the slot and out wide. The former Western Colorado product defied the odds by working his way up from an undrafted free agent to one of the league’s top offensive weapons.

Ridgley said Ekeler is an example for the younger players who are looking to make the 53-man roster. He said he tells players about his story and how he made the team, calling him a “great young man”.

Jackson is looking to step up after being hindered by an injury last season. The former Northwestern product showed flashes of dominance, but he will have to show he can stay healthy.

“I’m excited about the potential of Justin,” Ridgley said. “First time I met him was at the East-West Shrine Game. This year is a big year for Justin. We have to get him on the field and contributing.”

The excitement is high for the addition of Kelley, the former UCLA product. Kelley is seen as a short-yardage and goal line back, but he has the skillset to become the feature back if all goes well.

Ridgley said Kelley has a personality that compliments Ekeler and Jackson. He said Kelley has had a great journey to get to the league and that he can’t wait to see him play.

Ekeler’s versatility will likely want to be put to good use still. In order to allow him to manage those tasks, there will be a lot of two-running back sets. Like Ridgley said, training camp and preseason will tell who gets the bulk of snaps between Kelley and Jackson for RB2.

Bleacher Report predicts Chargers quarterback’s 2020 stats

Tyrod Taylor and Justin Herbert have successful campaigns based on these projections.

The Chargers quarterback room is arguably the biggest focal point heading into the new season.

After the departure of Philip Rivers, Tyrod Taylor and rookie Justin Herbert take over at the position.

Both players don’t have the experience or certain elements that Rivers does, but they have unique skillsets and a strong supporting cast to help them succeed.

Taylor is in the “driver’s seat” to earn the starting job, but Herbert will push him for the Week 1 starter.

With that being said, Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton predicted how Taylor and Herbert’s 2020 season will look like in both the passing and rushing category.

Here’s a look at Taylor’s projected stat line:

302 completions, 479 attempts, 3,503 yards, 23 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 87 carries, 531 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns

Here’s a look at Herbert’s projected stat line:

263 completions, 429 attempts, 2,984 yards, 20 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 34 carries, 251 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns

Based on the projections, Taylor will play a few more games than Herbert. I believe that Taylor will play the majority, if not, all of the contests this upcoming season.

The only way I see Herbert playing this season is if Taylor gets hurt or if he performs poorly, causing the team to lose games. The former Oregon product is a talented signal-caller, but there are weaknesses to his game that need to be strengthened before taking over.

The projections made by Moton display strong campaigns for both players, if Herbert does indeed see the field. Both Taylor and Herbert take care of the ball, throw a slew of passing touchdowns and they also win with their legs.

No matter who is under center, they should benefit from having wide receivers Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, K.J. Hill, Joe Reed, tight end Hunter Henry and running back Austin Ekeler at their disposal.

4 most under-appreciated Chargers

Which Chargers players don’t get that much love?

I asked fans on our Facebook and Twitter pages who they believe are the most under-appreciated players on the Chargers. For the most part, the answers were mutual.

With that being said, here are the four most under-appreciated members of Los Angeles heading into the 2020 season:

WR Mike Williams

The first season of Williams’ professional career wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows as the former Clemson product was hampered by injuries. However, he quickly turned things around in his sophomore season, emerging as the player they were hoping to get. In 2018, Williams posted 10 touchdowns. In his third year in the league, he saw a decline in the touchdown category (2). But he still surpassed the 1,000-yard mark and had a league-high 20.4 yards per catch. The 25-year old had his fifth-year option picked up earlier this offseason, and he will be hoping to land a long-term commitment by doing what he does best by using his size, strength and coordination to make plays on the ball down the field look routine.

DE Melvin Ingram

For years now, Ingram has been a consistent anchor for the Chargers’ defensive line. He’s had a knack for pressuring the quarterback, drawing double-teams from opposing offensive linemen to allow other defensive linemen to get to the quarterback and serving as a stout run defender. Ingram failed to play a full season in 2019, but he still managed to tally 39 tackles, seven sacks, five passes defended and an interception in 13 games. Ingram’s presence is well-known for the work he does on and off the field, but it’s Bosa who gets the majority of the love. There’s a possibility that this could be Ingram’s final season with the Bolts as he’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent after 2020. Ingram also has the largest salary cap hit on the roster ($16 million), which could lessen the chances of him re-signing.

CB Desmond King

The Chargers boast a strong secondary, but one player who doesn’t get as much recognition as he should is King. The former fifth-round pick from 2017 has proven himself as being one of the biggest draft steals for what he’s done since his rookie campaign. The former Iowa product has manned the slot position at a high level. For his hard work, 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). His football IQ, vision, instincts and solid tackling ability are reasons why he has flourished. Heading into 2020, King likely won’t see the field as much at his natural position after the signing of Chris Harris Jr. But I expect the team to use him as an outside corner and dime linebacker.

K Michael Badgley

It wasn’t long ago when the Chargers’ games were determined by a field goal. In need of finding a consistent kicker after a carousel of them, Badgley was the guy they had been needing all along. In two seasons with the Bolts, the former Miami product has given the team no reason to look elsewhere. He has posted 28-of-32 on field goals with a long of 59 yards and is 46-of-47 on extra points. Along with being a good kicker, his character is well-liked among the players on the team.

RB Melvin Gordon on Chargers offense: ‘System wasn’t for me’

Running back Melvin Gordon wasn’t the biggest fan of the Chargers offense.

Running back Melvin Gordon signed with the Broncos on a two-year deal in March.

The Chargers and Gordon’s relationship took a downward spiral after failing to agree to a contract extension last offseason. Fast forward to this offseason, it still wasn’t mutual for both parties, which led to the decision to split ways.

Gordon is happy to be playing with Denver, partly because he will be playing in an offense that is well-suited to his game, unlike in Los Angeles, he says.

“It really didn’t play out to my strengths, especially the first couple years there,” Gordon said on an interview with NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

“I kinda just had to adjust and make it work. It kinda wasn’t a system built for me. But I feel like Denver kinda runs my style of football, and I think it’s a great fit.”

The former Wisconsin product said that the Chargers system helped him become a “better player all-around”, but the Broncos system can play to his strengths as a runner.

“They run a lot of inside zones, and that’s what I did a lot at Wisconsin,” Gordon said. “It’s going to really help me get back in the feel of what I do best. I’m an inside-zone runner.”

Gordon said that the Bolts were more of an outside zone team. He asked coach Anthony Lynn about doing more inside zone. He tried, but it ultimately didn’t work out.

Gordon will join an improving rushing attack which will feature him, Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles is expected to a shift to a scheme that uses wide-zone runs, play-action, and work from under center more frequently in 2020 given the fact that the offense will revolve around a mobile quarterback.

Who is the Chargers’ ‘best kept secret’?

The Los Angeles Chargers might have a gem on the offensive line.

The left tackle position is arguably one of the weaker groups on the Chargers’ roster, given the lack of pure firepower. However, could there be someone that brings that this upcoming season?

Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport believes so. Insert Trey Pipkins.

Here’s what Davenport had to say about Pipkins being Los Angeles’ “best kept secret”:

Heading into the 2019 draft, Trey Pipkins III was considered a talented but raw tackle prospect after playing collegiately at Sioux Falls. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com labeled him a likely Day 3 pick.

“Developmental tackle prospect who offers NFL-caliber size, length and athletic ability for teams willing to work out the technique kinks,” Zierlein wrote. “Pipkins has quick feet but needs to prove he can gain adequate depth with his initial pass slides in order to work to his set points against edge speed. He has Day 3 draft potential, but the jump in competition makes him a likely practice squad candidate early on.”

But then the Chargers spent a third-round pick on Pipkins, traded veteran tackle Russell Okung and didn’t sign or draft an obvious replacement—despite the fact that Pipkins allowed four sacks in 251 snaps as a rookie.

As things stand today, Pipkins is the front-runner to be the blind-side protector for either Tyrod Taylor or rookie Justin Herbert when the Bolts travel to Cincinnati in Week 1.

Head coach Anthony Lynn and general manager Tom Telesco appear to have seen something in the young 6’6″, 304-pounder.

Soon enough, we’ll see if they are right.

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 narrative took a turn when Russell Okung dealt with a combination of a serious health issue and injuries.

Pipkins was forced into the action as early as Week 4 and saw the bulk of his playing time come starting in Week 10. Like any rookie offensive lineman, he experienced some struggles against NFL pass-rushers, but as he received more playing, his strengths became more apparent.

Plays like this exemplify what Pipkins is capable of doing.

Going into the 2020 season, the ball is in Pipkins’ court for the starting job after the team didn’t acquire a single left tackle this offseason. He will have to fend off others that will be in contention for the role, which includes Sam Tevi, Storm Norton, Trent Scott and possibly Forrest Lamp.

For most, not addressing the left side of the line was a mistake. But the team is hopeful that offensive line coach James Campen — one of the best developers of offensive linemen in the league — and a change in offensive scheme will elevate the play.

“He gets what you’re asking him to do. I think he has a lot of potential,” Campen said about Pipkins.

4 offensive players the Chargers need to step up

It all starts with the most important position on the field.

The Chargers offense will have a slightly new look now that Philip Rivers won’t be the one under center anymore.

Even though the unit could benefit from the scheme change, there are certain individual players that need to do well in their roles to help the team succeed.

Whether they had a down year last year or simply have a new job going into the 2020 season, there are four offensive players that need to step up this upcoming year.

QB Tyrod Taylor

Even though the Chargers drafted Justin Herbert in the first-round, I believe that Taylor will be starting the majority, if not, every single game this upcoming season. Taylor will have big shoes to fill after having Rivers man the position for over the past decade. The 30-year old Taylor is not Rivers by any means, but there are a few things going for him that could put him in position to succeed. Taylor is familiar with coach Anthony Lynn’s philosophy, which has always been a run-heavy approach. That leads to his biggest strength, which is his athleticism and ability to win with his legs. As a passer, Taylor is one of the best at not turning the ball over. Taylor should also benefit from the position players around him, as well. Things that could get him in trouble consists of his accuracy and not seeing the middle of the field well, which is why he tends to take the cautious route and limits his chances of being picked off. Everything is tailored for him to succeed, but now it will be a matter of putting it all together to thrive in the starting role with a team that’s capable of contending for the postseason.

OT Sam Tevi

Not only does a new era begin at the quarterback position – it does at the left tackle position after Russell Okung was traded to the Panthers. Rather than signing or drafting one to replace Okung, the team is banking on their in-house options to fill the void. The signing of Bryan Bulaga indicates that the right tackle spot is filled for the next three seasons, which means one of two things for Tevi – he will be a swing tackle or move over to the left side. Recently, offensive coordinator Shane Steichen mentioned Tevi as options at left tackle. Given his experience in the starting role, I believe he is the frontrunner for the job. It won’t be an easy task going from the right side to protecting the blindside, especially after finishing 2019 as the 61st highest graded offensive tackle in 2019, per Pro Football Focus. Since coming into the league, Tevi has fared well in the run-blocking department, but has struggled as a pass protector. The thought process could be that since the offense is shifting to having a mobile quarterback, it could mask the deficiencies with Tevi’s game. They could be hoping that the hiring of Campen will help with it, too. Nonetheless, if Tevi is indeed the starting left tackle, he will have to do a lot better job than his previous seasons.

OT Trey Pipkins

There’s no guarantee that Tevi has the starting job locked up. Instead, I expect it to be a tight competition between him and Pipkins. Selected in the third-round of the 2019 NFL draft, it wasn’t expected that he would see the field in his rookie season. However, Pipkins was forced into the action when Okung was sidelined. In the games he played, he did experience some growing pains, but he also flashed as a solid blindside blocker, especially against some stiff competition like the Chiefs. Campen said he’s watched tape on Pipkins dating back training camp last summer. “He’s a very intelligent young man. He gets what you’re asking him to do. I think he has a lot of potential.” There is a plan in place for Pipkins, but he will have to still take the necessary steps on his own to succeed, which include getting stronger and developing his technique, particularly with his hands. Like Tevi, Pipkins should benefit from a zone scheme, where his athleticism is put to good use.

RB Justin Jackson

Melvin Gordon is no longer a Charger, which leads to the opportunity for someone in the backfield to take on a larger role. Joshua Kelley was drafted in the fourth-round to fill out the backfield, but the ball is in Jackson’s court as he has two years of experience with the team. In 20 games played, Jackson averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 79 touches. Jackson was held back by an injury, limiting him to just seven games in 2019. Entering his third campaign, the team is still “very high” on Jackson despite the durability concerns. With the offense expected to shift to a run-heavy approach, Jackson needs to take a leap. If he can stay healthy, the former Northwestern product can be dangerous.

Projecting the Chargers’ post-draft depth chart at wide receiver

There will be quite a few players fighting for the final wide receiver spots behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

Going into the offseason, filling out the wide receiver room was seen as a priority. The Chargers did so by drafting rookies Joe Reed and K.J. Hill and signing Darius Jennings.

Now that Los Angeles is set at the position with the additional bodies, it’s time to predict how I think the depth chart will shake up heading into the upcoming season.

WR1: Keenan Allen

Allen, arguably one of the league’s route runners and separation gainers, isn’t going to lose his spot as the go-to wideout for the Chargers. The former Cal product finished with 104 receptions for 1,199 yards and six touchdowns. Allen has proven that he can stay durable after a slew of injuries early on in his career. He is tied for sixth with most games with receiving yards since 2017 (12).

WR2: Mike Williams

After being hampered by an injury in his rookie season, Williams has shown flashes of dominance as a jump ball and red zone target. In 2018, the former Clemson product had 10 touchdown receptions. In his third season, his scoring production dropped, but he still managed to top 1,000 receiving yards, while leading the league in 20.4 yards per catch. The team made it clear that he is a priority after having his fifth-year option picked up. If Justin Herbert plays this season, he should have a lot of fun with throwing deep to Williams.

WR3: K.J. Hill

This is where the competition begins. The Chargers have a few that will be in contention for this job, and while each of the newly acquired players bring their own unique skillset, Hill’s is likely to have the most success in the NFL. The team’s seventh-round selection has a knack for getting open and catching everything thrown his way. That’s a large reason why Hill is Ohio State’s reception leader (201), and is a must in the pros. Even though he will be limited to the slot, Allen is capable of playing outside, which will allow them to both be on the field at the same time.

WR4: Joe Reed

Reed will provide some versatility as he has experience out wide, in the slot and occasionally 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. He could also develop into the deep option, given his speed (4.47), but his route-running needs refinement. Reed should help out with special teams as he averaged 33 yards a return and took two touchdowns to the house. It wouldn’t be surprising if he is the starting kick returner.

WR5: Andre Patton

Patton was the frontrunner to winning the WR3 job entering the offseason after the Chargers released Travis Benjamin, but the acquisitions of Hill and Reed are bound to not make it an easy task for him now. When given the opportunity to step up after injuries hit Benjamin and Geremy Davis, the two-year practice squad member only managed to haul in six passes for 56 yards on 17 targets in 13 games last season.

WR6: 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 acquisitions of Reed and Jennings. Over the last two seasons, he returned 31 kickoffs for 894 yards, including a 94-yarder for a touchdown. Jennings would unlikely see the field on a consistent basis, but having him as insurance on special teams would be a plus (assuming Reed wins the starting job).