Tag: trey pipkins

Chargers RT Storm Norton to start vs. Chiefs despite Week 2 struggles

The Chargers are not making any changes.

Right tackle Storm Norton will remain atop of the Chargers depth chart entering Week 3 despite his struggles against the Cowboys.

Norton is slated to start this Sunday’s game against the Chiefs, according to head coach Brandon Staley.

After being handed the keys in place of Bryan Bulaga, who is currently on the injured reserve, Norton could not his find his groove the entire game, particularly in pass protection.

Norton allowed nine of the team’s 18 pressures, the majority of which came against rookie Micah Parsons. This comes after performing well in the season opener against Washington.

“I felt like he competed in the game,” Brandon Staley said about Norton’s performance. “There was some times out there where he was going against Micah Parsons, who’s a good player. And he had some that I felt like he can learn from for sure. But I felt like he gave us a chance in the game.”

Staley said Bulaga’s absence is not considered long term. He is eligible to return in two weeks, but it’s not fully guaranteed he will be healthy to return to the action at that point.

Status of Chargers’ swing tackle ahead of 2021 season

The Chargers are set with their starting tackles, but what about the primary backup?

The Chargers are locked in with Rashawn Slater and Bryan Bulaga as the starting tackles. But for a position group that has had bad luck with injuries, the next man up is just as important.

Heading into the 2021 season, it’s second-year Storm Norton who will be the primary swing tackle, according to Brandon Staley. Staley mentioned how pleased the staff has been with Norton’s development.

The swing tackle is the first-backup offensive lineman who can fill in at both left and right tackle if needed.

Joe Lombardi added that Norton is the preferred option at right tackle if Bulaga, who missed time last season, is out as opposed to moving Matt Feiler from guard outside and starting rookie Brenden Jaimes.

The decision to name Norton the team’s swing tackle comes after the summer in which he outperformed Trey Pipkins.

Pipkins, the former third-round selection, entered training camp with the expectation that he was going to take a step forward, but he had his fair of struggles in the preseason.

Staley admitted that he will need to improve, but Pipkins gives them depth at that position that they feel they’ll need moving forward.

Why Chargers should be interested in recently released OT Tyrell Crosby

The Los Angeles Chargers would be wise to strengthen the depth of the offensive line.

Heading into the 2021 regular season, one of the biggest concerns for the Chargers is the lack of depth along the line, particularly at the tackle position.

As Los Angeles finalizes the 53-man roster, they are also looking at players that are currently on the market to see if they might be of assistance, and one of them who they could benefit from is Tyrell Crosby.

The Lions released Crosby on Monday. The 25-year old appeared in 38 games, 18 of which he started.

Crosby, a fifth-round pick of the 2018 NFL draft, has taken snaps at both left and right tackle. In three seasons, he has allowed only seven sacks, with his best performance in pass protection coming just last season.

Familiarity is an additional bonus when it comes to potentially bringing in a player, and it just so happens that Crosby protected quarterback Justin Herbert for two seasons at the University of Oregon (2016, 17).

Detroit did waive Crosby with an injury designation, so even if the Bolts want to claim him, the physical would be vital in determining his future with the team.

Nonetheless, Crosby has proven himself in a starting capacity, which means that he would bring plenty of value as a swing tackle.

The Chargers have the thirteenth-highest waiver priority, lessening their chances of grabbing him but the team would be wise to still put a claim in.

Chargers vs. Seahawks: Takeaways from first half of preseason finale

What stood out in the first half of the Chargers’ preseason finale.

The Chargers currently trail the Seahawks in the preseason finale by the score of 17-0.

Here are a few quick takeaways from the first half of play:

Michael Badgley gains ground

Badgley has yet to attempt a field goal, but he benefited from Tristan Vizcaino missing the only one from 47 yards out. Coming into the game, Badgley had a slight lead over Vizcaino and the miss should only help his cause to being the starting kicker this season.

Trey Pipkins’ struggles continue

Pipkins was expected to be the team’s swing tackle after having his fair share of live-game opportunities last season, but he has yet to show he’s improved. The third-year player allowed another sack for the third consecutive week. Pipkins has had no answers for speed rushers.

Tyron Johnson emerges

It was a quiet first two weeks for Johnson, which was primarily due to him being used improperly. So quiet that many even pegged him as a bubble player, but he has made his presence known with four catches for 41 yards. Johnson should be a key contributor this season. Rookie Josh Palmer has flashed, catching three passes for 26 yards.

Larry Rountree continues to be consistent

Rountree has been the MVP of the backfield this preseason, and he continued to show why in the first half. Given the ball four times, Rountree gained 22 yards, with a long of 15. The rookie out of Missouri showed great vision, feet and burst running the rock and great awareness in pass protection. He was even given reps as the first-team kick returner.

Depth is an issue

I get it, it’s just the preseason and these games don’t matter. However, we are able to gauge how the backups are in case injuries occur, and it’s safe to say that the Chargers have holes at a few positions, specifically along the offensive line and in the secondary.

Chargers’ offensive position battles heading into preseason finale

There are still several unsettled position battles on the offensive side of the ball for the Chargers.

The preseason finale is set for Saturday night, as the Chargers will take on the Seahawks at Lumen Stadium in Seattle, WA.

Here’s a closer look at the top positional battles ahead of Los Angeles’ matchup against Seattle.

Backup quarterback

Despite Easton Stick outperforming Chase Daniel this summer, I’m still a believer that Daniel has the advantage due to his experience in this league, familiarity with Joe Lombardi’s offense and mentorship for Justin Herbert. What this could ultimately come down to is Stick’s performance to potentially have the coaching staff consider keeping three quarterbacks on the roster.

Running back

In somewhat of a surprise, it’s been rookie Larry Rountree who’s been the highlight of the backfield. Aside from him, Darius Bradwell has raised eyebrows as a runner and contributions on special teams. Could Bradwell sneak into one of the four spots? It’s certainly possible, knowing Justin Jackson has still struggled to stay healthy and Joshua Kelley hasn’t produced much on the ground.

Wide receiver

There are five spots that are presumably filled, with those being by Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Josh Palmer, Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson. Assuming the team keeps six wideouts, it’s up for grabs between K.J. Hill, Joe Reed, Jason Moore, John Hurst and Michael Bandy. I believe Hill has a slight leg up, given the fact that he’s been the first-team return specialist during the preseason.

Swing tackle

This was a position battle that flew under the radar heading into the summer because the Chargers had their starters solidified, yet the lack of depth was always evident. It became very clear last weekend when Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton had no answers for the 49ers pass rushers. Even head coach Brandon Staley noted it. Someone needs to step up or else this could be a serious issue this season.

Chargers’ Brandon Staley gives honest assessment of Trey Pipkins, Storm Norton

The lack of depth along the Chargers offensive line is evident.

With starters Rashawn Slater and Bryan Bulaga sidelined for nearly the entire preseason, this has been an excellent time for their backups to prove to the coaching staff that they can be counted on, should an injury occur.

Unfortunately, while there have been plenty of opportunities to show their worths, the product on the field has not been all that positive, especially for the returners Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton.

On Sunday evening, Pipkins and Norton had no answer for the 49ers edge defenders. In particular, Pipkins was outmatched by Jordan Willis, who sacked for Easton Stick for a safety and forced him into a holding penalty.

Norton, on the other hand, didn’t play as poorly as Pipkins did but he was still far too inconsistent to be counted on during a regular-season game.

While they aren’t to blame for the complete outcome, the line still gave up five sacks, six additional tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits.

The underwhelming performances from Pipkins and Norton did not go without being brought up to head coach Brandon Staley, who had a harsh yet honest response.

“Those two guys were able to see where they’re at with their game,” coach Staley said of Norton and Pipkins following the game. “Those two guys got a really accurate picture of where they’re at.”

Prior to training camp, I mentioned that the battle of the swing tackle would be one of the most compelling position competitions and with only one game remaining to evaluate, it’s a bit concerning.

If either Slater or Bulaga went down with an injury, the team could play Matt Feiler at tackle and plug in rookie Brenden Jaimes at left guard or keep Feiler where he is at and let Jaimes protect the edges.

While it seems reasonable, it still speaks to the lack of depth at the position. Los Angeles boosted the starting five this offseason, but failed to bring in competent players behind them.

Only time will tell if the team makes any other changes to the group prior to the start of the season.

Chargers 2021 Training Camp Position Battles: Who will be primary swing tackle?

There will be a competition for the backup to Rashawn Slater and Bryan Bulaga at Chargers training camp.

After shifting their primary focus to the offensive line this offseason, the Chargers’ starting tackles are set in stone, with rookie Rashawn Slater slated to protect quarterback Justin Herbert’s blindside and veteran Bryan Bulaga returning to man the right side.

However, for a team that has dealt with injuries up front along the edges in the past, especially to Bulaga last season, they have to be prepared for worst-case scenario. That is why the battle for the backup tackle spot is an intriguing competition during training camp.

Returning players who are vouching for a spot are Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton.

Pipkins, the team’s third-round pick of the 2019 NFL draft, has made eight starts. He has shown some growth but not enough to move the needle, yet the team still remains bullish on him. Norton, on the other hand, who was signed last offseason, played well in his three starts at right tackle.

Added into the mix will be rookies Brenden Jaimes, Darius Harper and Kyle Spalding.

Drafted in the fifth-round out of Nebraska, Jaimes set a school record with 40 consecutive starts. Even though he played his entire collegiate career at tackle, Jaimes projects as a guard due to his lack of measurements. However, he has proven to play tackle at a high level.

Harper earned All-AAC Honorable Mention in 2020 at right tackle for Cincinnati. He was a part of a unit that allowed a AAC-low nine sacks. Spalding, the former San Diego State product, was a First-Team Mountain West selection last season after allowing one sack.

Given the professional experience, Pipkins and Norton are the front-runners for the spot. However, heading into camp, the two must show improvement with their functional strength to hold up against stronger pass-rushers on a snap-to-snap basis.

While I ultimately expect Pipkins and Norton to be the next men up on the depth chart, Jaimes is the one who could prove his worth to the coaching staff for the role, with upside to start over the two if called upon.

Meanwhile, Harper and Spalding will likely be competing for a spot on the practice squad.

Projecting the Chargers’ offensive line depth chart in 2021

The Los Angeles Chargers have a solid starting five up front. But what about the depth?

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be breaking down the depth chart at each position for the Chargers.

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver

Tight End

Next up, I project what the offensive line room will look like heading into the 2021 season.

LT: Rashawn Slater

Many, including myself, did not expect Slater to see a slide to where the Chargers were selecting at No. 13. After he did, it was a no-brainer for the team who needed a franchise left tackle. While there are some who still believe he will be a better guard in this league due to his lack of height and arm length, given how he fared against Chase Young along with other elite edge defenders in college and his traits at the position, I think Slater will be just fine at protecting the blindside.

Backups: Trey Pipkins, Storm Norton

LG: Matt Feiler

One of the best value moves made by Los Angeles was signing Feiler. He started 40 games for the Steelers since joining them in 2016, including 29 games in the last two seasons – 26 at right tackle and 13 at left guard. During his time with Pittsburgh, he was a contributor to holding opponents to the fewest sacks in the NFL over the past three seasons. His consistency and durability and ability to fill in at multiple spots along the line will go a long way at maintaining competency up front.

Backups: Brenden Jaimes, Scott Quessenberry

C: Corey Linsley

Among the plethora of offseason acquisitions made by the Chargers, arguably the best one was signing the All-Pro center. Named first-team All-Pro and rated Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 center from 2020, Linsley didn’t allow a sack or a tackle at or behind the line of scrimmage vs. the run. He allowed just four total pressures last season on 437 pass-blocking snaps — the lowest pressure total in the NFL. With Linsley, L.A. now has a dependable and consistent presence to anchor the offensive line.

Backups: Scott Quessenberry

RG: Oday Aboushi

The team released Trai Turner and went out and signed Aboushi in correspondence. Aboushi stepped into a starting role in the second half of the year for the Lions in 2020 and thrived. On 1,875 total snaps, he has only blown 33 blocks (19 pass, 14 run). Aboushi will have some competition in training camp with fifth-round pick Brenden Jaimes. But given the fact that he is coming off his best season yet and is more experienced, Aboushi should lock up the starting spot.

Backups: Brenden Jaimes, Scott Quessenberry

RT: Bryan Bulaga

Bulaga is the only returning member on the offensive line. After signing with the Chargers last offseason, the 34-year old was hit with a variety of injuries, limiting his time on the field to just 10 games. According to Sports Info Solutions, Bulaga surrendered 10 pressures (7 pass, 3 run) on 418 total snaps. If Bulaga is dinged up again, the team could move Feiler to right tackle and slide Jameis into the left guard spot or vice versa.

Backups: Trey Pipkins, Brenden Jaimes, Storm Norton

5 Chargers players with roster spot in jeopardy after 2021 NFL draft

There are a few players from last season who might no longer be a part of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021.

The roster-building process is nearly complete for the Chargers, as players will soon hit the field in preparation for the 2021 regular season.

After the moves that the team made, specifically from the 2021 NFL draft, there are a few players that see their roster spot in early offseason jeopardy.

Here’s a look at those five:

Chargers remain ‘bullish’ on OT Trey Pipkins

General manager Tom Telesco made it seem like the team’s starting left tackle for the 2021 season is already on the roster.

The Chargers’ top priority in this year’s draft should be to find a starting left tackle.

But from general manager Tom Telesco’s comments at Friday’s media availability, you would think he’s indicating that player is already on the roster.

Telesco said he has confidence in offensive tackle Trey Pipkins, despite his lack of experience. “We’re bullish on Trey Pipkins.”

Pipkins, the team’s third-round pick of the 2019 NFL draft, has made eight starts. He has shown flashes but he’s still quite a bit away from being relied on in the starting role.

Telesco added that he liked how Pipkins finished the 2020 season.

I wouldn’t buy too much into Telesco’s words. One, he is the last person to tip his hand. Two, head coach Brandon Staley admitted the team has a “hole” at left tackle.

“It’s going to be certainly a position that we need to address before July,” Staley added at his media availability.

Would it be surprising to see Telesco address another position aside from left tackle in the first-round? No.

Telesco was asked what his position of need is at 13. He answered “we draft players not positions, except quarterback.” Basically “best position available.”

However, ’tis the smoke season. I would still put money on Los Angeles drafting a tackle in Round 1.

Only six days until we find out.