Power Rankings: Top Post-Draft Defenses (21-26)

Jan 12, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno (27) is tackled by members of the San Diego Chargers in the fourth quarter during the 2013 AFC divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the San Diego Chargers 24-17.Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego Chargers 9-7
Last Season’s Rankings: #23 Overall Defense (366.5 total yards per game allowed) #29 Passing Defense (258.7 passing yards per game allowed) #12 Rushing Defense (107.8 rushing yards per game allowed)

Under new  Head Coach Mike McCoy many were expecting big things, however after going 5-7, many thought the Chargers hopes for a playoff spot were all but dashed. But, in typical San Diego fashion, the Chargers were able to win four of their next four games in order to make it to the playoffs as the last wildcard team. With that in mind, one of the major problems for this Chargers team has been their defense, more specifically their passing defense. In 2013, the Chargers passing defense was ranked 4th-worst in the NFL, allowing an average of 258.7 passing yards per game along with 23 passing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks. The running game was a little bit better, ranking 12th against the run with 107.8 yards allowed per game. This off-season was relatively dormant for the Chargers, however with the good pieces they were able to bring, the Chargers should be seeing some success.

On the rushing side of the ball, many of the same pieces from 2013 will be back in 2014. DE Kendall Reyes (34 tackles, five sacks and two passes defended in 2013), DT Sean Lissemore (24 tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss), DE Corey Liuget (42 tackles, 5.5 sacks and three tackles for loss), OLB Jarret Johnson (33 tackles, three sacks, two tackles for loss and three passes defended), ILB Manti Te’o (61 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four passes defended), ILB Donald Butler (84 tackles, four tackles for loss and four passes defended) and OLB Dwight Freeney (9.7 sacks, four forced fumbles and three tackles for loss per season in 11 year career with the Colts) will all be returning to he roster. Along with those stout players, new Georgia Tech arrival Jeremiah Attaochu will be joining the squad in 2014. While at GT, Attaochu was able to record an average of 57.6 tackles, 13.1 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks per season in his final three seasons. And even though he is the third string outside linebacker, I think that the second-round pick has the potential to be successful in the NFL. The only thing that concerns me about this Chargers’ front seven is the absence of a true pass-rusher. Dwight Freeney used to be one of the best in the game and Attaochu looks like he has potential to be that guy, however at this point the Chargers don’t have that guy. The highest sack total of anyone on the team in 2013 was Corey Liuget who was barely able to muster 5.5 sacks. Their 35 sacks ranked 23rd-best in the NFL last season. The key for the Chargers is getting some pressure on the opposing quarterback so that the pressure is taken off the weak secondary of the Bolts. I believe a lot of pressure is put onto this line backing corps in Te’o and Freeney to perform. If they step up their game, I see the Chargers’ game elevating as well. At the same time, I’m not really convinced that they will be able to perform up to those expectations placed upon them. Only time will tell.

What doomed the Chargers last season was the unfortunate play of their secondary. Other than safety Eric Weddle, the Chargers secondary could have performed a lot better than they did last season. CB Richard Marshall (71 tackles and six passes defended), SS Marcus Gilchrist (77 tackles, five passes defended and two interceptions), FS Eric Weddle (115 tackles, nine passes defended and two interceptions) and CB Shareece Wright (56 tackles and nine passes defended) composed one of the weakest secondaries in the AFC. In 2013 the Chargers defended 62 passes and intercepted only 11 passes (both ranked 26th in the NFL). I believe that this season is for sure going to be different for Mike McCoy and the boys considering the additions of two very good  corners in Brandon Flowers and rookie Jason Verret. Out of Virginia Tech, Flowers has performed well in his six-year NFL career. Year-by-year, Flowers was able to average 15.1 passes defended, 62.3 tackles, 2.8 interceptions and two tackles for loss per season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Currently he will be playing behind Richard Marshall (as far as the ESPN depth chart is concerned) along with the Chargers’ first round selection Jason Verrett.

For the TCU Horned Frogs, Jason Verrett and his dreaded locks have helped the Horned Frogs to be ranked in the top-55 in the nation with only 25.3 points per game. After spending a year at community college, Verrett transferred to TCU and earned the starting gig right away as a sophomore. During said sophomore season, Verrett was as productive a defensive back as any in the nation, recording 58 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and four passes defended. The very next season Verrett had the most productive season of his collegiate career, registering 63 total tackles, four of them for loss, six interceptions and 16 total passes defended (ranked second in the nation for passes defended per game). At the end of the season, Verrett was able to earn nominations to the first, second and third team All-America by Sports Illustrated, Walter Camp and the Associated Press, respectively. In Verrett’s last season as a Horned Frog, he admittedly wasn’t as dominant as he was his junior season, however considering that he only played 11 games in 2013, Verrett did pretty well. As a senior, Verrett was able to defend 14 total passes, intercept two, record 39 total tackles (31 of them solo) and 3.5 tackles for loss. According to Texas Christian, Verrett was named by the conference coaches Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, nominated to first-team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, second-team All-America by the AP, USA Today and Football Writers Association of America, first-team All-Big 12, Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist and a Lott IMPACT Trophy quarterfinalist. All in all Verrett even with a decreased tackles per game count was still a force to be reckoned with in the Big 12. Where Verrett stands out from all the rest of the draft options is in his ability to perform in big games against big receivers. Where Verrett is such an awesome defensive corner is in his ball skills and shut down corner abilities. While the Rodriguez High grad may be only 5’10”, 176, he is still a very skilled corner. In the NFL corners have the responsibility to both cover their man and also help out on run coverage. Verrett can do both, but because he is not a very physical corner, he is much better at covering receivers and attacking the pass than he is at tackling and hitting ball carriers with force. If the Chargers are looking for a corner who can really put a whallop on receivers, then Verrett is not the right guy, however with his full range of motion and aggressiveness towards any pass thrown his way, Verrett is exactly what the Chargers and their 29th ranked passing defense need right now. Verrett showed in 2013 that he has the instincts to make it in the NFL; he’s got quick reaction time, lightning quick speed (4.49 40-yard dash time) and great hands to knock NFL quality passes down out of the hands of NFL quality receivers. A common theme throughout his tape was Verrett’s blitzing potential. Many times Verrett would fake coverage and go and blitz (unguarded) and then tackle the ball carrier. Sometimes tackles were able to shake off Verrett with a truck move, but for the most part, Verrett was able to show great tackling ability and form the entire game. For the Chargers, Verrett’s appeal here is not necessarily as a hard hitter or tackler, but rather for his ability to be somewhat physical with receivers and prevent receivers and quarterbacks from hooking up on easy pass plays.

With that said, the Chargers surely are stacked at the CB position. The key for their pass defense is to chose the starting corners and develop their talents. In my estimation, it should be Flowers and Verrett starting at corner, however the Chargers may think differently. As long as they have the personnel, I think that the Chargers should see improvement. Last season not one player on the Chargers’ roster had double digit passes defended. I think that with Verrett and Flowers, we should see more passes defended, more interceptions and certainly less yards per game for the Chargers.