After a brutal loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles Chargers fall to a losing record once again. A team full of superstars, highly paid and highly touted players, has not been performing up to expectation. If the Chargers want to get back on track, these Chargers need to step it up.
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3 Los Angeles Chargers That Need to Step Up
Cornerback, Michael Davis
The obvious choice for the first Charger that needs to step up, is Michael Davis. Davis has been the player whom opposing teams have picked on the most in coverage, giving up plenty of yardage to the opposing team’s best wide receivers. While he has a very tough job, it is expected of him to perform at the very least a starting caliber level, after his very impressive 2022 campaign.
During this season, Davis has been through turmoils of a sprained ankle and fighting JC Jackson for the #1 cornerback spot. With Jackson being traded back to the Patriots, Coach Brandon Staley felt confident in Davis to step into that role. Simply put, Davis has failed to meet expectations.
Over the course of five games, Davis has put up the lowest PFF grades he has ever recorded. At the sixth worst coverage grade in the league (minimum 50% of snaps) 41.2, Davis has given up 69.2% of passes thrown his way, giving up 325 yards which is the sixth most yards allowed, doing so in one less game. The former undrafted product also has given up four touchdowns, which is tied for first. To pile on, Davis also is second amongst cornerbacks for penalties given up, with six. If the Chargers want to put their name in the hat, they need Davis to step up.
Positively, Michael Davis is tied for second for pass breakups, third among cornerbacks in tackles, and has been a product of poor coaching. Staley has been notoriously conservative this season with his defensive play calling, playing defenders far off their respective receivers in short-distance situations. In the tweet below, in a second and two, the Chargers are playing their Cornerbacks eight yards off with a slot defender looking to blitz. This defense would give even a high school team a very easy chance at a first down. The slot receiver is uncovered, the outside receivers have eight yards of cushion, and you are going to blitz? All the quarterback needs to do is recognize this look from Staley, and check it down as soon as he receives the snap. First Down.
play 8 yards off on a second and two is asking for a first down, this is too conservative and shows that the chargers are playing defense with the bend but don't break mindset… but they still break. https://t.co/WOgdli7uwz
— Nate Gosney (@NateGosney) October 19, 2023
Wide Reciever, Quentin Johnston
The main player who is getting the most negative attention from the media is Quentin Johnston. With Mike Williams out for the season, Charger fans were optimistic that their first-round selection has the ability to step into the wide receiver three role and play at a starting caliber level. Unfortunately, Johnston has not been able to step up.
Blame can be given to plenty of different players, and truthfully, it is not just Johnston’s fault for his lack of success. Starting with coaching, offensive coordinator, Kellen Moore has been very underwhelming with his use of Johnston. The 2023 first-round selection has been delegated to clear out routes, and creating space for other Charger playmakers. As a rookie, this type of dirty work is expected, but as a first-round selection, that has to step up due to injuries his usage as an actual receiver has been disappointing.
Beyond coaching, blame also lies on Justin Herbert. Herbert is coming off a tough game in prime time. During this game, he targeted Johnston once, which led to an interception. On the specific route, Johnston got bullied and a poor throw led to an easy interception. Beyond this, there were plenty of times during the course of the Cowboys game that Herbert looked Johnston’s way and did not pull the trigger, whether that is scheme, trust, or Johnston simply not being open, this needs to change moving forward.
Lastly, Johnston has his fair share of responsibility when it comes to his lack of production. Receivers with 12 targets (the amount Johnston has currently) or more, Johnston ranks 90th out of 103 in PFF receiving grade. To truly show how badly the Chargers need Johnston to step up, the amalgamation of coaching, quarterback trust, and Johnston’s own play has led the TCU product rank in yards per route run (0.54) to be 101 out of 103.
Everyone's pressing the panic button on Quentin Johnston. I looked at the tape & noticed some things.
1. QJ's being used to clear space in run & pass game
2. Gets leverage & separation more often than not
3. Defenses scared of his speedThis is every QJ snap👇@FFLeagueWinners pic.twitter.com/ISq6P0cPjZ
— Thomas Christopher (@ThomasCP_NFL) October 18, 2023
Slot Cornerback, Ja’Sir Taylor
A Charger that has not been getting enough coverage is Chargers slot defender, Ja’Sir Taylor. Taylor was asked to step up at the end of the 2022 season and has been asked too again in 2023. Woefully, Taylor has not been good- like at all. As mentioned with Davis, Taylor has also been a product of poor coaching, schemes, and idiotic alignments. With that out of the way, what has Taylor done this season to warrant the need to step up?
Taylor has been one of the league’s worst cornerbacks in many categories. These categories are:
- Third Worst Coverage Grade (40.2)
- 9th Worst Rush Defense Grade
- 2nd Worst Tackling Grade
- T-4th in Missed Tackles
- First in Miss Tackle %
- T-1st Least Amount of Stops
- T-4th Least Amount of Tackles
On the positive side, Taylor has yet to give up a touchdown, T-6th in pressures among cornerbacks, T-3rd in QB Hits, making him one of the better blitzing defensive backs. This combined with his very good special teams ability gives him a role for this team, but not as big as the one he currently has.
A Positive Conclusion
The Chargers have dug themselves a hole the size of three losses in five games. To climb out and make it to the promise land, they need to start winning now. The window is closing both this season and for the future of a team full of stars. The saying goes “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” and that is completely true for the bolts.
The defensive backs in Davis and Taylor both need to play at a higher level, hopefully with the help of coaching adjustments, which on paper is quite simple. Play your defensive backs to their strengths, and establish good situational awareness with alignments and playcalling.
Wide Reciever Quentin Johnston needs to continue his progression and gain his trust from Herbert. This takes time and practice. Both things the Chargers have as it is very early in the season, but need to speed up the process as the Chargers need for Johnston’s abilities is apparent.
It is not a long shot to see all of these players step up and do it in a hurry. The Los Angeles Chargers have a formidable and familiar foe in the Kansas City Chiefs, and all three highlighted players will be in the spotlight to show if they are ready to take the next step this season to give the Bolts a better chance at making it to the playoffs.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
