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The Chargers gave up the fewest factors within the NFL final season (301) and can want that form of stout efficiency once more to get a agency foothold within the AFC West.
They are going to be examined immediately, as they open in Brazil in opposition to the AFC champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs — a group the Chargers haven’t crushed since 2021 — then face Las Vegas and Denver within the following two weeks. All three division opponents in a row.
Coach Jim Harbaugh was particularly happy together with his protection after it notched a strip sack and made a goal-line stand in a preseason victory over New Orleans.
“They just played with a lot of want-to and I’m thrilled with that,” Harbaugh advised reporters. “I love guys that play like they want to be on this team. They want to show that they belong. That’s the way they practice and that’s the way they go out and play in the game. That warms the cockles of the heart.”
The protection is transitioning from a well-recognized fixture. Though his manufacturing had tailed off the previous few years, Joey Bosa was a stalwart for this group since 2016, predating the membership’s transfer to Los Angeles. The five-time Professional Bowl defensive finish signed a one-year cope with Buffalo in March. The Chargers have moved on.
Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack will as soon as once more be on the forefront of the group’s pass-rushing effort.
(Peter Aiken / Related Press)
The chief up entrance is Khalil Mack, who’s getting into his twelfth season and pointed to Harbaugh and common supervisor Joe Hortiz in explaining why he determined to re-sign with the franchise this offseason.
“Why not here?” Mack requested reporters. “Got tremendous leadership here. … Knowing what Coach Harbaugh is building and what Joe is building, that was a no-brainer.”
It is likely to be an outlier, as he’s usually in single digits for the season, however Mack had 17 sacks in 2023.
A promising disruptor off the sting is former USC standout Tuli Tuipulotu, who had 8½ sacks final season.
“My standard is to play Khalil,” he advised reporters of getting into his third season. “He is the standard, that’s what I’m chasing.”
One other seasoned veteran within the rotation is Bud Dupree, who performed in all 18 video games final season and was tied for second with six sacks. The 11-year veteran re-signed with the group this summer time.
A youth infusion might come from exterior linebackers Caleb Murphy, in his second season, and rookie Kyle Kennard, who was SEC Defensive Participant of the 12 months at South Carolina final season.
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh congratulates defensive deal with Teair Tart after a win over the Raiders in September 2024.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)
Shifting to the inside of the line of defense, the Chargers leaned on Teair Tart and Otito Ogbonnia final season, and in an effort to get deeper and equally athletic on the place, signed veterans Naquan Jones and Da’Shawn Hand.
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has praised Ogbonnia’s improved footwork and counter strikes in camp.
Jones performed with Tennessee and Arizona over the previous 4 seasons and provides depth to the rotation together with Hand, who performed with Detroit, Tennessee and Miami through the previous six years.
A participant to look at is 340-pound rookie Jamaree Caldwell, who’s coming off a powerful exhibiting at camp.
Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley could be primed for a breakout season.
(Denis Poroy / Associated Press)
Backing up that defensive front in the middle is Denzel Perryman, the veteran of the linebacker group. He’s in his second stint with the Chargers after brief stays with the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans. He was arrested on a felony weapons charge during training camp, although no criminal charges have been filed in the case.
Among the defenders to watch is Daiyan Henley, a third-year linebacker who had 147 tackles last season, 10½ of those behind the line of scrimmage.
Harbaugh called him “a shining star… ascending to be a superstar.”
Rookie Marlowe Wax was spectacular in the preseason finale against San Francisco, making key tackles all over the place, so it will be worth watching whether he can continue that production when it counts.
The Chargers didn’t break the bank in free agency, but they did open their wallet wide for cornerback Donte Jackson, who had five interceptions for Pittsburgh last season after spending six years with Carolina.
Second-year corners Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still were pressed into duty last season and join Jackson as starters, with Still on the third receiver. There’s going to be a lot of passing in the AFC West with opposing quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix and Geno Smith lurking.
The Chargers had 15 interceptions last season, almost one per game, putting them in the top quarter of the league.
Minter said during camp that he considers corner Benjamin St-Juste a “fourth starter.”
A young corner to watch is Nikko Reed, who had a pick-six in the Hall of Fame Game and consistently made big plays throughout camp.
“Derwin James told me Reed is a baller,” Harbaugh said. “I’m now agreeing with that statement.”
As for James, he rivals quarterback Justin Herbert as the best player on the roster.
Chargers security Derwin James Jr. will as soon as once more be the most important power within the secondary this season.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)
“I know when Derwin’s there, he’s going to be a wrecker,” Nonetheless advised reporters. “It’s kind of like, he’s on the side of me and I got to know how he’s going to fit the run, what is he going to do in pass, if I can help him or how I can protect him, how he can protect me.”
Put bluntly by Jackson, intending this as a praise: “I think DJ’s brain is a football. Literally, you open his head there’s probably a football in there.”
The Chargers line up James everywhere in the protection.
Penciled in to start out at free security is Alohi Gilman, who’s getting into the ultimate 12 months of his contract. Elijah Molden and rookie R.J. Mickens determine to make important contributions.
