Los Angeles Chargers 2017-18 NFL Team Preview

Los Angeles Chargers 2017 NFL Team Preview

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2017 Los Angeles Chargers Preview

Key Additions: RB Kenjon Barner, S Tre Boston, OT Russell Okung

Key Subtractions: G D.J. Fluker, WR Stevie Johnson, OT King Dunlap, RB Danny Woodhead,  ILB Manti Te’o, CB Brandon Flowers

Strengths

The Chargers have left San Diego but hopefully they didn’t forget to put their deadly passing attack in the moving truck. Quarterback Philip Rivers had a herculean effort of willing the team’s offense despite his receiving crew getting hit with one injury after another. Rivers passed for 4,386 yards and 33 touchdowns—his second most in a season in his career so far. He did have a career-high 21 picks but you can’t really pin all on him with all the hurt bodies the Chargers have downfield.  Let this GIF sum up how Rivers felt every time he saw Keenan Allen and some other targets on the injury list last year.

That’s probably the same face he had when he learned the Chargers’ top pick in the draft, wide receiver Mike Williams, could be out for a year due to a back problem. Well, at least, Allen is healthy and is slated to be back on the field in Week 1 after playing just one game last season. Antonio Gates is back for his 15th season but even if his age shows up this year, the tight end position is safe with Hunter Henry, who’s had a memorable rookie year, catching eight touchdowns on 478 receiving yards. The Chargers’ ground game, meanwhile, offers some promise too, considering the way Melvin Gordon rebounded from a crappy rookie campaign. He had 997 rushing yards and scored all of the Chargers’ rushing touchdowns that season.

Weaknesses

For most of 2016, the Chargers’ defense was a wasteland. They allowed opponents to put up an average of 26.4 points per game. Drafting Joey Bosa injected much-needed life in the front seven but the Chargers are going to need Bosa infect his mates on defense with the same intensity, particularly against the rush, as the Chargers let opposing teams connect for 6.1 rushing first downs per game. This is the point where we mention that the Chargers gave up two rushing scores in a Christmas Eve loss to a team called the Cleveland Browns last year.

The Chargers were against the pass in 2016, though, with opposing quarterbacks raiding the air for 249.2 passing yards per game. The Chargers also was mediocre last season in protecting the quarterback, letting opponents take Rivers down 36 times. The team spent some of their resources shoring up the offensive line this offseason, adding Russell Okung to the team from free agency and drafting two blockers in Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney. The Chargers have to shield Rivers at all cost.

Welp Update: Lamp suffered a torn ACL per Ian Rapaport of NFL Network.

Another bad one: The #Chargers believe OL Forrest Lamp has suffered a torn ACL, source said. That's the initial diagnosis.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 2, 2017

With that, here’s an obligatory Rivers GIF.

Key Player – Philip Rivers

Nothing means more to the Chargers than Rivers. It’s so typical to say for a quarterback but the importance is of another level with the Chargers, who barely have anything to show behind Rivers. They have Kellen Clemens but this is a dude who’s 34 years old and has thrown just 10 attempts in three years with the team.

Key Game – vs. Miami (September 17)

This is the first home game for the Chargers since moving from San Diego so expect an electric atmosphere at StubHub Center from fans who will try their mighty best to cheer for a team that finished dead last in the AFC West in 2016.   Worth noting that the Chargers have the third-toughest schedule this 2017.

2016 Team Stats

Category | Stat (Rank)

Points per game

25.6 (#8)

Passing yards per game

262.4(#7)

Rushing yards per game | 94.4(#26)

Scoring defense

26.4(#29)

Writer’s Prediction

The Chiefs, who are +190 to win the AFC West, finishes second in the division with an 11-5 record.

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