Justin Herbert, ready to take the Chargers to the Playoffs

After coming within a win of qualifying for the playoffs last season, the Chargers were one of the most aggressive teams in the offseasonwith the aim of strengthening a mediocre defense, pointed out as being responsible for not staying alive in the second week of January.

Among the new faces on that side of the ball, two stand out: the cornerback J.C. Jackson and the linebacker Khalil Mackobtained in a trade with the Chicago Bears.

Jackson leads the NFL with 25 interceptions in the past four seasons; in 2021, with the Patriots, he led the league with 23 passes defensed, second with eight interceptions and was invited to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.

Jackson joins a perimeter that includes the young Thank you Samuel Jr. (third among rookie CBs with 11 passes defensed) and safety Derwin Jameswho returned after missing the entire 2020 season with 118 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and five passes defensed.

James, however, will not participate in Chargers training camp until his agent secures a contract extension, something both sides hope will be done before the end of preseason.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED: Matt Ryan is the new face of the Indianapolis Colts

Mack disappointed in his fourth and final season with the Bears because he only got to play in seven games, in which he had six quarterback sacks. In those four schedules in Chicago, Mack recorded 36 sacks and in Los Angeles they expect him to make a spectacular pairing with Joey Bosa, who led the team last season with 10.5 sacks.

The Chargers’ defense was one of the worst against the run and that’s why the linemen also arrived in free agency Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson y Morgan Foxy los linebackers Kyle Van Noy y Troy Reeder.

Will it be enough to improve on that awful 138.9 rushing yards per game average that coach Brandon Staley’s team allowed in 2021? We’ll see.

Herbert, to take the next step

Fortunately for Staley, his offense is poised to be one of the best in the NFL, and the reason has a first and last name: Justin Herbert.

The third-year quarterback was second in the league with 5,014 passing yards and third with 38 touchdown passes in 2021.

Additionally, he became the first player with at least 30 touchdown passes in his first two seasons. And his 9,350 yards and 69 touchdown passes are the most by a quarterback in his first two seasons in the league.

Herbert will have the best collection of lenses he has ever worked with in his career this year. to the veterans Keenan Allen (106 receptions, 1,138 yards, 6 touchdowns in 2021) and Mike Williams (76-1146-9), is added Joshua Palmerwho has made a name for himself in training camp, and tight end Gerald Everett.

The backfield tops it Austin Thank you, who in 2021 had 1,558 combined yards (911 rushing, 647 receiving) and tied for the league lead with 20 touchdowns. But fresh legs arrive via Draft with Isaiah Spiller (Texas A&M) y el fullback Zander Horvath (Purdue).

The offensive line went from being one of the worst to one of the best in the NFL and the only question is who will take the place it left Bryan Bulaga at right tackle. Trey Pipkins y Storm Norton compete for that position.

If the new faces of the defense have the impact that is expected of them, the Chargers will fight for the crown of the AFC West Division and finally we will see Justin Herbert in the Playoffs.

And there, this team could be the Black Horse in January 2023.

Los Angeles Chargers

Record in 2021: 9-8

Estadio: SoFi Stadium

Super Bowl titles: 0

Head coach: Brandon Staley

Offensive Coordinator: Joe Lombardi

defensive coordinator: Renaldo Hill

Calendar 2022