Tag: liam cohen

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 15 opponent: Buccaneers

Here are some important things to know about the Buccaneers ahead of the Week 15 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers are back home to face the Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 15, at 1:25 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 15 bout, here are a few key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

How things are going…

The Buccaneers are 7-6 and sit atop the NFC South. Tampa Bay is riding a three-game winning streak.

Coen has the offense cooking

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s unit is one of the hottest in football. The Buccaneers rank in the top 10 in multiple categories. They are currently fifth in scoring (27.9 points per game), sixth in passing (241.0 yards per game), and eighth in rushing (138.3 YPG).

Baker making it happen

Quarterback Baker Mayfield has completely turned his career around with the Buccaneers after bouncing around with a few teams since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Mayfield has thrown the third-most touchdowns (28) and fourth-most passing yards (3,329). However, Mayfield has struggled to take care of the football, as his 13 interceptions are the second-most behind Falcons’ Kirk Cousins.

The Rookie of the Year candidate no one is talking about

Running back Bucky Irving has been having an outstanding first season since being selected in the fourth round out of Oregon. Irving has been integral in their offensive success and is on pace to the franchise’s first 1,000-yard rushing season since Doug Martin (2015). Irving has 735 yards, six touchdowns, and 5.4 yards per carry.

Uneven defense

The Chargers should have plenty of success airing it out. The Buccaneers rank 30th against the pass, allowing an average of 253.4 yards per game. On the other hand, Tampa Bay has been solid against the run, ranking 11th in the league.

Look out for…

Wide receiver Mike Evans. Mayfield will be looking to go to his top target early and often. Evans is a big-time playmaker, averaging 13.7 yards per catch, with seven touchdowns on the season.

Offensive Coordinator Liam Cohen praises Ben Skowronek’s contributions at fullback

Receiver Ben Skowronek has been the center of attention for the #Rams this week, as his abilities as a fullback baffle NFL fans.

One player on the Los Angeles Rams’ offense is giving the team more than they bargained for from the receiver position in 2022. A seventh-round pick in last year’s draft class, Ben Skowronek has exceeded every expectation this season, serving as a part-time fullback when his team needs him most.

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen commented on Skowronek’s unique contributions on Friday after practice. He told reporters that the receiver’s duel-threat ability puts defenses in a bind, especially with the talent the team has assembled on offense.

“It’s great,” Coen explained, “he’s got the mentality. He’s got that mindset and mentality. (I) saw it show up on special teams last year. When we brought this up to him, he was so geared up, he was so jacked up to be able to do some of the things that we’re asking him to do. Then you saw him be able to come alive in the pass game as well. So you create a conflict. You create a different, another gap in the run game. Which way is it going when you do get them into the “I-formation”, you do create some conflict which way the lead of the run is going.

“You can create some split flow. It just creates some different looks for the defense, especially when you’re in your normal 11 personnel grouping. Then we’ve been able to activate him in the pass game. You saw him lead up on (RB) (Akers) touchdown last week on the linebacker there and buckled him pretty good and continued on into the end zone. So he’s playing physical, he is playing fast, and he is giving us a big-time contribution.”

Whether he is slated to play a key role in Los Angeles’ matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday is unclear, though all signs point to an increase in usage in the coming weeks. His talents have taken the Rams’ fanbase by storm and could get their primetime debut in the league’s final game of the Week 4 schedule.

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