When the Chargers were first scheduled for a week 5 bye week, fans were pretty upset as early bye weeks are usually much less effective than later ones. This is because injuries usually pile up throughout a season, as well as players are more in need of rest as games stack up, damaging the player’s mental and physical health, even if there are no apparent “injuries” where the player has to miss time.
However, this week 5 bye week has come as a blessing for the Bolts, as always, injuries piled up early. With the Chargers having a banged-up Justin Herbert, Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt, Joey Bosa, and soon-to-be returning veterans: DJ Chark and Nick Niemann, this bye week acts as a major bounce-back week for the 2-2 Jim Harbaugh-led team.
All of this is to say that the bye week is known for providing extra recovery time, but what about its ability to reset player and scheme statuses? Who are some Chargers that could use this bye week to step up their game, as it is so desperately needed if this team wants to make a run into the post-season?
Chargers Who Need to Step Up After the Bye Week
Bradley Bozeman – The Veteran That Can’t Communicate
Bradley Bozeman has been the target of many previously written articles discussing where the Chargers need to improve. Bozeman has yet to figure it out in the Powder Blues. He has been a liability for this team, and going from Corey Linsley to Bozeman is a downgrade that the Bolts weren’t ready for. To pull from a much more nuanced previous discussion: “Bozeman has a poor 46.1 PFF passing grade, and it shows every Sunday [Chiefs Game]. Poor communication, whiffs, or even just sliding the wrong way, the former Raven and Panthers interior offensive lineman has shown he needs to be replaced or to step up ASAP.”
Every team has different protection rules so it's tough to say exactly what is being coached here, but something is clearly not being communicated properly because the Chargers are consistently letting IDL run free up the middle each week. Mustipher and Pipkins go right, Bozeman… pic.twitter.com/QaASAsfnHK
— Steven Haglund (@StevenIHaglund) October 1, 2024
This team is being held back massively by its lack of ability to pass protect in crucial situations. Beyond the pass protection, Chargers are very often in 1st and 2nd and longs due to an immense amount of pre-snap penalties. This falls on coaching, but the veteran Center should share some of the blame. If the Chargers want to be serious about the playoffs, ensuring this bye week is used to help this offensive line congeal together must be priority #1.
All-Pro to Net Negative – Derius Davis
The most puzzling storyline throughout the Chargers 2024 season is the regression of former fourth-round selection, Derius Davis. As a rookie last year, he was voted second-team all-pro as a returner and was looking to be a very important part of this Charger special team in year two. However, with the kickoff structure, his play has completely collapsed and he has regressed into what seems like a completely different player. The Chargers have even brought in competition for Davis.
The reason for his regression can fall into plenty of different categories. The new kickoff structure is the most obvious of such, even though it was touted to be more of a structure that fits the former rookie All-Pro’s playstyle. But even as a punt returner where nothing changed, he has declined. Moreover, the decision making from Davis is completely different from what it used to be. He lacks confidence in his ability to field a punt or a kick, and as a return man, especially one of his caliber, allowing kicks and punts to be touchbacks or downed by the kicking team makes you a net negative on special teams.
not sure what the hell the raiders were trying with these duo/twin alignments on kickoffs, but derius davis has six points here if he runs this with his eyes open pic.twitter.com/E2PbmhB9dB
— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) September 11, 2024
The last of which is Davis’ injury designation noted on a recent injury report. A hamstring injury. He registered limited participation and two did not participate in practices leading up to the Week 4 game against the Kansas Chiefs. He was officially listed as questionable but ended up playing. Davis has seemed slower when he does have the ball in his hands, and injuries can usually completely kill the confidence of an athlete. Could this hamstring injury be the root of all problems? Another injury to be healed up from the bye week?
Main Photo: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
