Tag: Linval Joseph

Chargers 2020 end of season awards

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez hands out end of season awards from the 2020 campaign.

The Los Angeles Chargers came up short this season, failing to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

While many fans are ready to put 2020 to bed, it’s still only right to reflect and hand out the season awards.

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Justin Herbert

Had the Chargers’ team doctor not accidentally punctured QB Tyrod Taylor’s lung in Week 2, who knows if we would have been able to see all of the greatness unfold. The accident, however, led to Los Angeles finding their quarterback of the future. In 15 games, Herbert shined, completing 66.6% of his passes for 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. The 22-year-old set rookie records in touchdowns (36), passing touchdowns (31), completions (396), multi-passing touchdown games (10), games with 300 yards passing (eight), and three-passing touchdown games (six). He fell just 38 yards shy of passing Andrew Luck’s rookie record of 4,374 yards passing.

Honorable Mention: WR Keenan Allen

Defensive Player of the Year: EDGE Joey Bosa

After becoming the highest paid edge defender in the NFL, Bosa showed why he was worth every single penny. Despite missing four games due to various injuries, he ended his 2020 campaign with 39 tackles (29 solo), 7.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. Bosa was a major factor of the passing game, as he logged 41 quarterback pressures and 27 hits. He also came up clutch on multiple occasions against the run. The outcome was him being named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl.

Honorable Mention: CB Michael Davis

Breakout Player of the Year: CB Michael Davis

After originally signing with Los Angeles as an undrafted free agent in 2017, Davis has shown that he is capable as a starting cornerback in the NFL. The former BYU steadily contributed the past three seasons outside of Casey Hayward, but he really came into his in 2020. He was on the field for 92% of the team’s defensive snaps, logging 64 tackles, 14 passes defensed and interceptions. He took out some of the league’s best wide receivers and came up with big plays in critical situations.

Honorable Mention: WR Tyron Johnson

Biggest Disappointment: CB Casey Hayward

Hayward was touted as one the Chargers’ best defenders heading into the season after consistently performing at a high level the past few seasons. However, Hayward wasn’t one that was able to be relied on every Sunday. This past season, Hayward allowed 36 catches on 75 targets for 610 yards (16.9 yards per reception). A reason for the decline in his play could be the various lower body injuries he sustained throughout the year. But regardless, the production was not there and now he faces potentially being cut this offseason.

Honorable Mention: OG Trai Turner & OT Bryan Bulaga

Most Underrated: NT Linval Joseph

The Chargers signed Joseph last offseason to replace Brandon Mebane as the clog of the defense. Playing 725 snaps this past season, which was nine shy of a career-high, Joseph not only contributed as someone who commanded double teams, but he made high effort plays against the pass and run. Moving like someone lighter than 6-foot-4 and 329 pounds, Joseph finished with 62 tackles, 12 quarterback pressures, three tackles for loss and two QB hits. No matter how the game was going, the 32-year old was always around the football.

Honorable Mention: S Rayshawn Jenkins

The good, the bad and the ugly from Chargers’ 30-27 loss to Saints

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out the good, the bad and the ugly from the Los Angeles Chargers’ loss to the New Orleans Saints.

The Chargers lost to the Saints in overtime on Monday Night Football in typical fashion, leading by 17 points and letting it slip away. Los Angeles will have plenty of reflecting heading into their bye week.

But before that, here’s a look at the good, the bad and the ugly from Week 5:

The Good

QB Justin Herbert: What more could you ask for from Herbert? The rookie went toe to toe with future Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees, finishing 20-of-34 passing for 264 yards and four touchdowns, which marks the most in MNF history. Herbert did this all while being in the face of pressure all night, and missing some of his top skill players (Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler). The future is bright.

WR Mike Williams: We knew it was a matter of time until Herbert started taking more deep shots to Williams. After Allen went down, Williams became Herbert’s go-to target. He turned eight targets into five catches for 109 yards and two scores, including an outstanding grab in the fourth quarter that put the Chargers in position for the go-ahead field goal (which was missed).

Run defense: Before the game, I said that the Chargers must find a way to minimize Saints running back Alvin Kamara’s effect on the game. While Kamara made some splash days through the air, him and RB Latavius Murray struggled to get anything going on the ground, failing to go over 100 yards. Credit goes to defensive tackle Linval Joseph, edge defender Uchenna Nwosu, linebackers Kenneth Murray, Kyzir White and safety Rayshawn Jenkins, all of whom played vital roles in the run game.

The Bad

Offensive line: The offensive line had no answer for the Saints pass rush. Herbert was sacked three times and was pressured 14 times (37.8% pressure rate, the defense’s highest in a game this season), per Next Gen Stats. The offense managed managed to go over 100 yards on the ground, but the guys up front failed to get push more often than not.

Conservative play-calling in the second half: Roll with what’s working. The Chargers failed to do so out of the locker room when they had the lead. They took the conservative route rather than being aggressive on early downs by choosing to run the ball on nine of their 14 first-down plays in the second half and overtime. The result? They averaged only 1.11 yards per carry on their first-down rush attempts. While it speaks to the lack of trust they had in the offensive line in pass protection, Herbert showed that he was capable of overcoming the copious amount of pressure.

Punt coverage: Special teams isn’t talked about often, but the Chargers have the worst special teams rating in the NFL, per Football Outsiders. Ty Long was close to having a few of his punts blocked, which speaks to the poor punt protection. Meanwhile, the Saints were set up in ideal field position all night (barring a couple called back due to penalties) due to the lackluster coverage.

The Ugly

Second-half defense: There were some positives on the defensive side of the ball, including the run defense, which was mentioned above. Along with that, free safety Nasir Adderley picked up his first career interception. But other than that, the unit fell apart when they had a commanding lead. Soft/busted coverages and lack of pressure led to quarterback Drew Brees’ comeback after being down 17 points. The unit is banged up, and the bye week couldn’t have come at a better time to get healthy.

Michael Badgley: The Chargers could’ve sworn that the kicking nightmares were behind them. But last night was a flashback to a couple of seasons ago when they had their kicker carousel. Badgley missed an extra point on the team’s first touchdown and the go-ahead 50-yard field goal, leaving four points on the field, which would’ve enough to give them the victory. Last week, Badgley missed a field goal, too. His seat is getting warm.

Chargers dominated in the trenches in loss to Panthers

Both sides of the line for the Chargers were outmatched, and penalties were another killer.

The list of reasons why the Chargers lost to the Panthers can go on and on. But one of the areas that had a factor in Los Angeles’ loss was their inability to win the battle in the trenches.

L.A. has leaned heavily on their pass-rush the first two games of the seasons, and while they had a favorable matchup against a Carolina offensive line that has struggled in the past couple of weeks, they were unable to generate consistent pressure or push.

Star edge defender Joey Bosa, who acquired the clutch sack in the fourth quarter, was outperformed by tackle Taylor Moton for the majority of the game. Other than the sack, Bosa only finished with two quarterback pressures.

Bosa was hindered by an ongoing tricep issue, which could have been a reason for his lackluster performance. But regardless, the Panthers did a great job with their game-plan by double teaming him.

Opposite of Bosa was Uchenna Nwosu, who filled in for the injured Melvin Ingram. Nwosu showed promise in the starting role, leading the team in quarterback pressures with five. He also played a role in slowing the run on a few plays.

The interior defensive line was not much better. Defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Jerry Tillery only combined for one quarterback pressure, and both players struggled to hold their own against the run.

As a result, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had plenty of time to distribute the wealth. Bridgewater was efficient at attacking the middle of the field, where the rest of the team’s defenders hardly had any answer for wide receiver Robby Anderson and company.

On the other side of the ball, the Chargers offensive line was outmatched against a Panthers defensive line that had not posted a sack in the first two games of the season.

Edge defender Brian Burns forced a fumble on quarterback Justin Herbert in the first half. They kept pressuring the rookie quarterback and getting in his face anytime he dropped back.

The offensive line also lost tackle Bryan Bulaga to a back injury. They had already been without guard Trai Turner, who was inactive with a groin injury. Ryan Groy played the majority of the game at right guard in place of Trai Turner, and Trey Pipkins replaced Bulaga in the first half.

In total, Carolina produced 22 quarterback pressures, eight QB hits and sacked Herbert twice.

Luckily, Herbert’s pocket presence and mobility bailed the group out on a handful of occasions. But that’s not guaranteed moving forward, especially since they’re facing a Buccaneers defensive line that boasts Shaq Barrett and Ndamukong Suh next weekend.

Penalties on both lines were another thing that killed the Chargers.

Tillery was called for illegal-formation on a field goal attempt, which led to the Panthers lone touchdown. Bosa was dinged for neutral zone infraction/offsides in crucial moments. The Chargers had three red-zone penalties from offensive linemen.

Los Angeles will look to execute better and limit the mistakes on the lines this upcoming Sunday against the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers.

Chargers DT Jerry Tillery among NFL Secret Superstars of Week 2

Chargers defensive tackle Jerry Tillery has had back-to-back dominant performances.

Following a great showing in Week 1, Chargers defensive tackle Jerry Tillery had another fantastic outing in last Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs.

When you look at the box score, it may not be eyebrow-raising, but it doesn’t replicate the impact he actually made.

Tillery was consistently winning his matchups, finding his way into the face of Kansas City’s quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Among the notable plays, he blocked the Chiefs’ first PAT attempt of the game.

For his efforts, Tillery was among Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar’s “NFL’s Secret Superstars of Week 2.”

Here’s what Farrar had to say about his performance:

Against the Chiefs last Sunday, Tillery looked every bit the first-round talent the Chargers expected him to be. He had three quarterback hits, two quarterback hurries, a blocked field goal, and he was able to harass Patrick Mahomes from multiple gaps, and using multiple games.

Through the first two weeks of the season, Tillery is tied for sixth among defensive tackles in ESPN’s Pass Rush Win Rate at 22%. He joins elite company among other top interior defenders like Chris Jones, Cameron Hayward and Grady Jarrett.

After changing his body, getting stronger and working on his technique this offseason, Tillery has erased the label of “bust” and has shown to be a big part of Los Angeles’ defense. At such a young age, the best has yet to come for the 2019 first-round pick.

Chargers NT Linval Joseph drawing praise at training camp

The 11-year veteran’s presence will be huge in the trenches for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers had a void to fill after splitting ways with veteran nose tackle Brandon Mebane this offseason.

To do so, Los Angeles signed two-time Pro Bowl selection Linval Joseph to a two-year deal back in March.

Joseph, the 6-foot-4 and 329 pounder, has stood out to his new teammates for his gigantic size at training camp.

Joseph, who’s been walking interior offensive linemen back with ease in practices, was called “probably the strongest human I’ve ever came across” by defensive end Joey Bosa.

Joseph is coveted for his ability to draw double teams due to his size and strength. That will make life easier for those on the edge, including Bosa and Melvin Ingram, as it allows more one-on-one matchups.

“He’s gonna occupy one or maybe two every single time he’s in there. He should demand a double team or he’s just gonna be walking people back,” Bosa said.

Other lines that Joseph has been referred to by his teammates include “a mobile home,” “a walking refrigerator,” and “a running Coke machine.”

Joseph’s presence will be huge in the trenches, as he looks to make an impact both as a pass-rusher and run defender.

In 2019, Joseph tallied 44 tackles (26 solos), six tackles for loss, and three sacks. He also earned a grade of 71.2 from Pro Football Focus, marking the eighth straight season he’s received a grade above 70.

DT Cortez Broughton making most of Chargers training camp

The Los Angeles Chargers’ 2019 seventh-round pick is standing out in a field of young players.

The Chargers’ interior defensive line is headlined by newly acquired Linval Joseph, Justin Jones and Jerry Tillery. While the trio has gotten the majority of the attention up to this point at training camp, second-year Cortez Broughton is also standing out.

Broughton, Los Angeles’ seventh-round pick of the 2019 NFL draft, was a rotational interior defender before having his rookie season cut short after being diagnosed mononucleosis.

Looking to claim the final defensive tackle spot on the 53-man roster, Broughton helped his case by recording three sacks this past week. He got a handful of reps with the first-team while Damion Square missed a few practices with an injury.

The former Cincinnati product is capable of playing both nose tackle and three-technique. If Broughton makes the roster again, he could make some noise as a rotational interior defensive lineman in 2020.

To get more familiar with him, I broke down some of his college film last offseason.

Where do the Vikings defensive position groups rank in the NFL?

The Vikings offense will likely have at least two new starters, while the team’s defense will likely have five.

Unlike Minnesota’s offensive position groups, the Vikings defense will have a plethora of new contributors.

The Vikings offense will likely have at least two new starters, while the team’s defense will likely have five.

The Vikings have a lot of question marks surrounding younger talent on the team, but some of that younger talent might be an upgrade over veteran players such as Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Linval Joseph, all of whom were inconsistent at times.

It will be interesting to see whether rookies and relatively inexperienced players will help the Vikings improve, stay the same or regress.

Here’s where ESPN thinks the Vikings rank for their defensive position groups:

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Chargers top 5 breakout season players in 2020: DT Jerry Tillery

The former first-round pick could have a better 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

Jerry Tillery, Los Angeles’ first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, had expectations like any other first rounder would. He did not live up to those, failing to make his presence known in his rookie season.

He was drafted to give the interior part of the defensive line a boost in the pass rushing department. Even though he never put it all together, he still managed to do positive things that may have gone unnoticed since they weren’t on the stat sheet.

In 15 games, Tillery only finished with 17 tackles (nine solo), three quarterback hits, three tackles for loss and two sacks.

Tillery didn’t have a full offseason heading into in Year 1 since he spent the majority of it rehabbing his torn labrum that he suffered during his senior season at Notre Dame. Now healthy, Tillery had that to has full advantage to get bigger and stronger.

Tillery “didn’t take much time off in order to accomplish that,” defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said.

If he puts the pieces together, showing he can play with better leverage and out-power interior blockers, him, Justin Jones and newly acquired Linval Joseph could present a solid interior defensive line trio.

“I’m very confident that he will deliver big in his second year with the L.A. Chargers,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said.

B/R predicts Chargers’ Joey Bosa to set career high in tackles for loss in 2020

Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa should be due for a massive pay increase.

Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa is entering the final year of his contract, seeking to become one of the league’s highest paid players at his position.

His play from the past few seasons suggests that he is worthy of receiving a hefty paycheck, but he may have to piece together another healthy and productive campaign before Los Angeles conducts the contract.

Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton, who predicted NFL stat leaders for the 2020 season, believes that Bosa is due for another monstrous year, as he projects him to post 20 tackles for loss.

Moton forecasts Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald to finish with the most in the league (23).

The most tackles for loss that Bosa has amassed in his career is 18, which came this past season.

A dominant force at wreaking in opposing backfields, Bosa has 40 sacks in 51 career games, which makes him the 10th player since 1982 to total 40 or more sacks in his first 50 games.

Posting 20 tackles for loss is well within reach for the former Ohio State product.

Having his sidekick, Melvin Ingram, and a dominant interior presence with Linval Joseph, Justin Jones and Jerry Tillery will create more one-on-one matchups for Bosa.

Where does the Chargers’ roster rank in NFL right now?

ESPN doesn’t think the Chargers have as talented of a roster as many boast them for.

On paper, the Chargers are seen as having one of the most skilled rosters in the NFL. However, those over at ESPN don’t necessarily agree with the narrative.

Using Pro Football Focus’ advanced grades and statistics, ESPN ranked every roster in the league, and Los Angeles came in at No. 16.

Safety Derwin James and the secondary was highlighted as the team’s biggest strength, while the left side of the offensive line was pegged as the biggest weakness. The X-factor is quarterback Tyrod Taylor, as his play will have a huge impact on the Bolts’ results in 2020.

X factor for 2020: The expectations for Tyrod Taylor — the presumed starter at quarterback to begin the season — are understandably low. When we most recently saw him as a starter he was crashing and burning in Cleveland. Taylor did have several seasons of success under Chargers coach Anthony Lynn in Buffalo, though, and from 2015 through 2017, his PFF grade of 82.3 ranked ninth among qualifying quarterbacks. This roster is talented enough that the Chargers could have success if Taylor plays to that level again. The plug could also be pulled quickly if Los Angeles gets off to a rough start with Justin Herbert waiting in the wings.

Los Angeles lost a few notable players like Philip Rivers, Russell Okung, Melvin Gordon, Adrian Phillips and Derek Watt. But they gained a handful, most notably Chris Harris Jr., Bryan Bulaga, Linval Joseph, Trai Turner and a draft class led by Justin Herbert and Kenneth Murray.

While some may disagree with where Los Angeles ranks, it hasn’t been the level of talent as the reason why the team has produced a mixed bag of results the past few seasons. It’s been the injury bug that they can’t shake off and some coaching mishaps.

L.A. is capable of making some noise this upcoming season, especially with the players that are returning and the additions they made. But when it comes to on-field performance, there are four factors that will ultimately make or break the Chargers in 2020.