Can Anthony Lynn’s Los Angeles Chargers rebound from a dismal 2019 season?
Here is the second installment of another eight-part divisional series, this time taking a look at how each team that finished last in the respective division in 2019 could capture the top spot this year. After exploring the options for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West, it’s time to look at the Los Angeles Chargers.
This is a talented club that went from 12-4 and a postseason appearance the previous season to a shocking 5-11 in ‘19.
Of course, this is an organization that has undergone huge changes this offseason as the team prepares to play in its new home. For the first time since 2003, there’s no quarterback on the roster named Philip Rivers. Former Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon left via free agency and joined the division rival Denver Broncos.
General manager Tom Telesco did some work on the offensive line by dealing for five-time Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner and signing veteran tackle Bryan Bulaga.
So what three things must happen for the club to win possibly win its first AFC West title since 2009? It won’t be easy in a division that features the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
3. At the very least, break even vs. AFC West rivals in 2020.
In 2018, the Los Angeles Chargers finished 12-4 – tied for the best record in the AFC. But it was only good enough for the team to earn the fifth seed in the conference playoffs due to the fact that the Kansas City Chiefs won the AFC West on the basis of a better divisional record (5-1) than Anthony Lynn’s club (4-2).
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That year, the club’s four losses in the regular season came to the Chiefs, Rams, Broncos and Ravens. Three of those clubs were in the playoffs and the Rams reached the Super Bowl. And the Bolts would avenge that loss to Baltimore by beating John Harbaugh’s club on the road in the wild card round.
This past year, it all came apart for the Chargers as they not only finished with seven fewer wins, but none of their five victories were over divisional rivals. The club has had its recent issues with the Chiefs and is now a dismal 1-11 vs. Andy Reid’s team dating back to 2014.
But both the Raiders and Broncos finished with losing records this past season. Denver swept the Bolts for the first time since 2015. And Lynn’s club was a perfect 4-0 vs. the Silver and Black under his command before losing a pair of Jon Gruden’s squad this past season.
Ouch. Time to do better if the club is going to make a dramatic turnaround.
2. A big year from the defense, especially when it comes to forcing turnovers.
When you look at the defensive personnel of the Los Angeles Chargers, you would have expected many more big plays from their defensive unit this past season.
The club is led by one of the best outside pass-rushing tandem in the league in three-year pro Joey Bosa (11.5) and veteran Melvin Ingram (7). That duo combined for more than half of the club’s 30 quarterback traps on 2019. Of course, consider that the team totaled 38 sacks the previous season with Bosa missing nine games.
Of course, it’s also worth noting that stellar safety Derwin James, a big part of the club’s 2018 success, missed the vast majority of the season (via Emily Caron of SI.com). As a rookie the previous year, he earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in leading with club in 105 tackles. But the falloff was dramatic as he missed 11 contests this past year.
Hence, one aspect of the Chargers that fell off was forcing turnovers. The club finished dead last in the NFL with only 14 takeaways — six fewer than in 2018 (20). Combine that with 31 turnovers by Anthony Lynn’s squad and the team was tied for last in the league with a minus-17 turnover differential.
The newcomers on this side of the ball include defensive tackle Linval Joseph, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and rookie linebacker Kenneth Murray (1b-Oklahoma). Can this club become an opportunistic unit?
1. Season-long productive and efficient quarterback play.
He was the fourth overall pick in the 2004 draft by the New York Giants and via a swapping of rights, wound up with the Chargers. Quarterback Philip Rivers became the team’s full-time starter in Week 1 of 2006 and did not miss a game for 14 consecutive seasons. That’s a combined 224 regular-season contests, along with 11 postseason tilts, all as the club’s starting signal-caller.
But the team opted to go in a different direction when Rivers’ contract expired at the end of 2019 and he signed on with the Indianapolis Colts.
The fiery veteran comes off a year in which he completed 66 percent of his passes for 4,615 yards and 23 corps. But he also was picked off 20 times and lost three of his eight fumbles, meaning he had just as many touchdown tosses as turnovers (23).
Anthony Lynn’s team can’t afford to have a similar performance in 2020. Veteran Tyrod Taylor is apparently the starter for now but general manager Tom Telesco did use the sixth overall pick in April on Oregon prospect Justin Herbert.
Only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (41), Carolina Panthers (35) and New York Giants (33) committed more turnovers than the disappointing Los Angeles Chargers (31). Head coach Anthony Lynn (via LZ Granderson of the Los Angeles Times) must find a way for the team to be much more efficient when it comes to the play behind center.