Tag: sebastian joseph-day

Report: Chargers signing DT Breiden Fehoko to active roster

Breiden Fehoko is a proven run defender.

The Chargers are signing defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko from the practice squad to the active roster, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, per Fehoko’s agents.

The move comes in wake of Austin Johnson’s season-ending injury, which was sustained in last Sunday’s victory over the Falcons.

While the run defense is struggling statistically, Johnson had been a crucial piece with the physicality to clog gaps in the middle of the defensive line and get into the backfield to make plays.

Fehoko was a key rotational run defender for the Bolts last season. On 65 run snaps, he had a stop percentage of 16.1, which ranked fourth, according to Pro Football Focus.

Chargers injury updates ahead of matchup with Seahawks in Week 7

Keenan Allen is a game-time decision for Week 7 vs. Seahawks.

The Chargers will soon host the Seahawks, looking to pick up their fourth straight win before they head into the bye week.

The good news is that they may be getting back Keenan Allen, who has missed the past five games with a hamstring injury. Allen is questionable and will be a game-time decision, per Brandon Staley.

“He’s closer,” Staley said on Allen.

Sebastian Joseph-Day is listed as questionable with an ankle issue, but Staley said he should play.

The bad news? Los Angeles will be without Dustin Hopkins (hamstring), Joshua Kelley (knee), Josh Palmer (concussion), and Donald Parham Jr. (concussion), who were ruled out.

Hopkins is out for the next two to four weeks. Taylor Bertolet will serve as the team’s kicker in his absence.

With Kelley out, rookie Isaiah Spiller will be active, Staley announced Friday. Spiller has been inactive for each of the first six games.

If Allen can’t go, the Chargers will only have three active wide receivers. If that’s the case, Los Angeles will likely sign Michael Bandy to the active roster and promote John Hightower or Joe Reed from the practice squad.

Jerry Tillery relishing new role with Chargers

The Chargers have put Jerry Tillery in a role that plays to his strengths.

Jerry Tillery, the 2019 first-round pick, struggled to live up to his draft billing and was being written off.

While he flashed as a pass-rusher, Tillery was a liability as a run defender. Tillery failed to push the pocket and take on double teams, which turned into gaping holes, as evident from the league’s worst run defenses last season.

That led to head coach Brandon Staley bringing the proper personnel to the defensive line room to aid the run game, signing Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson and Morgan Fox, and drafting Otito Ogbonnia.

The additions led to Tillery being relegated to a rotational role that plays to his strengths – getting after the quarterback. And since then, it’s been a night and day difference.

Looking like a revamped player, Tillery is winning at the line of scrimmage with strength, his length, and more technically sound counters to discard blockers.

As a result, Tillery has ten pressures, eight of which came in the last three games.

The team has utilized his versatility. He has aligned primarily as a three-technique (outside shoulder of the guard), but he has seen snaps as a 4i-technique (over the tackle) and on the edge.

Playing in the final year of his rookie deal after the team elected not to pick up his fifth-year option, Tillery is auditioning for a new deal.

Even though he might not be as well-rounded as others at his position, interior defenders that can rush the quarterback well don’t come around often. For that reason, Tillery might be an appealing option on the market if he continues to perform.

Top Twitter reactions from Chargers’ win over Broncos

How Twitter reacted to the Chargers’ victory over the Broncos in Week 6.

The Chargers defeated the Broncos 19-16 in overtime on Monday Night Football. Kicker Dustin Hopkins made the winning 39-yard field goal, which puts Los Angeles at 4-2 on the season.

Here’s how the internet reacted to the thrilling game:

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 4

Taking a look at where the Chargers rank statistically compared to the rest of the NFL heading into Week 5. 

Through the first four games of the 2022 regular season, the Chargers sit with a 2-2 record.

While it may seem that they’re not meeting offseason expectations, Los Angeles dealt with significant injuries to key players on both sides of the ball.

With the cards that the Bolts have been dealt, let’s look at where they rank statistically compared to the rest of the NFL heading into Week 5.

Secret Superstars for Week 4 of the 2022 NFL season

From Geno Smith to Jamaree Salyer to Talanoa Hufanga, here are the Secret Superstars for Week 4 of the 2022 NFL season.

There are all kinds of reasons that NFL players are underrated and unsung.

Perhaps they’re in systems that don’t best show their skills. Maybe they’re buried on a depth chart. Or, they’re in somebody’s doghouse, and their coaches can’t see their potential. Or, their efforts are relatively unnoticed among their more celebrated teammates. Sometimes, young players haven’t quite put it all together, but there are enough flashes to make you sit up and take notice, and when it does work, it’s all good.

Week 4 of the 2022 regular season featured players at just about every position who showed up and showed out despite their underrated statuses, and here at Touchdown Wire, it’s our job to point them out.

Here are the Secret Superstars for Week 4 of the 2022 NFL season.

4 defensive keys to a Chargers victory over Texans in Week 4

Here is what the Chargers must do on the defensive side of the ball to beat the Texans.

The Chargers will adjust to a new defensive game plan after losing Joey Bosa to a groin strain. The good news? They’ll do so against the Texans, the third-worst offense in the league per DVOA. Houston did turn last year’s Week 16 contest into a trap game for Los Angeles, though.

Here are four ways LA can avoid that outcome on Sunday.

Limit the rushing attack

I don’t think Chargers fans need to be reminded of how the run defense looked in Week 16 against the Texans last season. The Texans’ run game has improved since then with the addition of rookie Dameon Pierce, but so has LA’s run defense with the additions of Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, and Morgan Fox. Still, Joey Bosa was a large part of the success as a run defense to start this season, and you saw Jacksonville exploit Bosa’s backup Chris Rumph last week once Bosa went down. LA needs to find a way to keep Houston from replicating last year’s performance, especially with a Texans passing game that has struggled to get going thus far this season.

Make the wide receivers beat you

Speaking of the passing game, Houston’s wide receivers have been a non-factor this season. Brandin Cooks still leads the Texans in targets and receptions with 29 and 13, respectively, but running back Rex Burkhead and tight end Pharaoh Brown are tied for second and third. Cooks pulling in less than half of his targets is also something to monitor; it seems as though his timing with Davis Mills has just been off to start this season. All three passing touchdowns this season have gone to tight ends as well. Without a true slot weapon on Houston’s roster if Cooks is playing on the outside, LA would be wise to put Bryce Callahan and Derwin James on the tight end and force Mills to find his rhythm with Cooks or Nico Collins.

Rattle Davis Mills

Mills has been one of the easiest quarterbacks to scare out of the pocket since he entered the league last season, to the point where it’s actively holding him back from becoming a more proficient player. The second-year Mills is also fourth to last in CPOE at -8.3, meaning that his accuracy has really not developed since last season. The three QBs worse than him are Trey Lance (injured, played one game in a monsoon), Justin Fields (played one game in a monsoon), and Baker Mayfield. Houston’s offensive line has been solid but unremarkable through three games. If the Chargers can get home even without Bosa on the field, it could be another rough afternoon for Mills.

Prevent the turnaround

The Texans’ narrative coming into this game is that they need to get things turned around. They’re 0-2-1 when they have good reason to believe they should be 3-0. Their offense has gone limp in the fourth quarter and let down a defense creating turnovers in key moments. LA must ensure that Houston cannot have this dialogue in this game. Jump on them early, make Mills uncomfortable, and squash this team. Do not let them get back into it as they did in Week 1 against the Raiders. The Chargers’ defense needs to learn to finish just as Houston’s offense does, and this is one of their best opportunities to get used to closing out games.

Secret Superstars for Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season

From Jacoby Brissett to Khalil Herbert to Christian Darrisaw to Jevon Holland, here’s Doug Farrar’s Secret Superstars for Week 3 of the NFL season.

There are all kinds of reasons that NFL players are underrated and unsung.

Perhaps they’re in systems that don’t best show their skills. Maybe they’re buried on a depth chart. Or, they’re in somebody’s doghouse, and their coaches can’t see their potential. Sometimes, young players haven’t quite put it all together, but there are enough flashes to make you sit up and take notice, and when it does work, it’s all good.

Week 3 of the 2022 regular season featured players at just about every position who showed up and showed out despite their underrated statuses, and here at Touchdown Wire, it’s our job to point them out.

Here are the Secret Superstars for Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season.

Chargers’ reasons for optimism vs. Raiders in Week 1

Here are four reasons for optimism for the Chargers as they face the Raiders on Sunday afternoon.

Yesterday, I brought up four reasons to be concerned about the Chargers’ season opener against the Raiders on Sunday.

Let’s flip the script.

Here are some reasons to be optimistic about the rivalry game:

Reinforcements on the defensive line

Last season’s Week 18 game against the Raiders was marred by the sight of running back Josh Jacobs gashing the Chargers up the middle over and over again. That loss knocked Los Angeles out of the playoffs, forcing them to respond in kind. With at least two new starters on the defensive line – Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson – as well as Morgan Fox and Otito Ogbonnia, two potential rotational pieces, the Bolts figure to be a much-improved run defense. That should allow them to commit fewer bodies to the run, further clogging passing lanes for quarterback Derek Carr.

Khalil Mack’s talent

In the pass rush department, the Chargers sometimes struggled to generate pressure when Joey Bosa was shut down. This time around, double-teaming Bosa is less of an option. With Mack rushing from the other side, one of LA’s studs will be one-on-one with the Raiders’ offensive line. That line, it must be said, looks rough on paper. That could force Las Vegas to keep an extra blocker in during passing situations, or at least use an extra player to chip Bosa or Mack. Carr is historically a much worse quarterback when under pressure, and the threat of Bosa and Mack could make him quite jittery in the pocket.

Favorable wide receiver matchups

The Raiders are thin in the secondary, with 2021 fifth-rounder Nate Hobbs and former Colt Rock Ya-Sin listed as their starters to open the season. That should open opportunities for wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams to keep the ball moving. Josh Palmer should also have a big role, in which case Allen will likely operate out of the slot. We’ve seen Justin Herbert’s chemistry with all three receivers build in training camp, and with a weak secondary in Vegas, the Chargers’ offense shouldn’t have many issues driving down the field, at least in theory.

Year 2 in the offense

One of the main themes in training camp from the Chargers was the belief that the offense was going to open up this year with additional comfort in the system. Herbert’s sophomore season was, of course, phenomenal, but there seems to be a feeling that his success came from an almost robot-like precision when operating within the confines of the offense. This season, Herbert will almost certainly be given more freedom to be a creator rather than offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s superpowered on-field avatar. While that may lead to a few kinks early in the season, Herbert has shown that he has the talent to warrant that kind of trust.

1 bold prediction for every Chargers positional unit: Defense

Making predictions for the Los Angeles Chargers’ dynamic defense.

The Chargers kick off their season this Sunday against the Raiders after an offseason makeover that included the addition of Khalil Mack, JC Jackson, and Sebastian Joseph-Day, among others.

How will the positional groups shape up? Here’s a bold prediction for each unit on defense.

Interior Defensive Line

LA finishes in the top ten in run defense DVOA

The last time the Chargers finished in the top ten in run defense DVOA was 2010 when the likes of Luis Castillo and Jacques Cesaire were patrolling the defensive line. For another idea of how long ago that was: Antonio Gates was in his eighth season out of an eventual sixteen in 2010. His son, Antonio Jr., is a true freshman wide receiver at Michigan State this season.

Last season, Los Angeles was 30th in run defense DVOA, somewhat generous considering how porous the line was. Brandon Staley emphasized improving the group this offseason, bringing in Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, and draftee Otito Ogbonnia. Breiden Fehoko earned a roster spot over veteran Christian Covington. It’s a completely revamped group with familiarity with Staley’s defense. In 2020, when Staley served as Rams defensive coordinator, the team was third in run defense DVOA. The coaching is there, as are the players. All that’s left now is to set a precedent.

Edge defender

Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack have the most sacks of any duo in the NFL

The league is filled to the brim with outstanding pass rush duos. Even within the division, Chandler Jones has teamed up with Maxx Crosby on the Raiders. Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory are a high-upside duo in Denver. In Dallas, Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence are a formidable team. Then, of course, the Rams, Steelers, and 49ers all have at least one top-flight option as well.

Still, Bosa and Mack might be the best of them all. Bosa has logged ten or more sacks in four out of his six seasons as a pro – in the two he didn’t, he also missed at least four games apiece. Mack hasn’t had more than ten sacks in a season since 2018, but he’s looked like a new man since arriving in LA this offseason after four seasons in Chicago. 2018 was also the last season Mack spent with Staley as his outside linebackers coach. If both players stay healthy and produce to the levels they’re capable of, there’s no reason why they can’t lead the league in sacks.

Linebacker

Kenneth Murray emerges as an impact player

Murray is listed as a second-team linebacker behind Kyle Van Noy and Drue Tranquill as of Monday. Still, there are several reasons to feel optimistic about his projection this season. First, the Chargers only kept three edge rushers on the initial 53-man roster, suggesting that Van Noy will have a big role in that area. Murray will therefore have plenty of reps available to him next to Tranquill. Additionally, the former first-round pick’s struggles have at least partially stemmed from an inability to get off blocks. But with a much improved defensive line, Murray should stay mostly clean this season, giving him the freedom to harness his freak athleticism and make plays all over the field.

The former Oklahoma product has only been practicing for a few weeks after coming off the PUP list as he recovers from off-season ankle surgery. However, by giving Murray the time he needs to heal completely, the Chargers are also allowing him to regain confidence in his movement skills. That confidence will prevent hesitation and allow Murray to hit a playmaking stride.

Secondary

Michael Davis cements himself as CB2

Davis told reporters that distractions in his personal life prevented him from being at his best last season after signing a three-year, $25.2 million extension last offseason. With those distractions now resolved, Davis made a strong case for the starting job opposite JC Jackson in training camp. Davis and Asante Samuel Jr. will likely start on Sunday as Jackson recovers from ankle surgery, giving the Chargers a unique opportunity to continue their evaluation of both players. If he plays to the level he did in 2020, Davis will be at least solid on the boundary.