The season is coming. The DNA of Sports editorial team offers you an update on the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. Today, the Los Angeles Chargers 2024. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.
Yet another disappointment. The day after the hiring of head coach Brandon Staley, hopes were growing on the Californian coast. An ultra-seductive aerial attack, an enterprising coach on fourth attempt, a qualification for the playoffs in 2022… All this despite a heartbreaking defeat in a game long dominated in Jacksonville.
This Florida exit probably left more problems than it seemed. In 2023, the Chargers “surfed” despite themselves on this bad dynamic. Porous offensive line, defense against the pass in distress, special teams intermittent… And what about a coaching staff judged too young and lacking the words to put the locker room back on the right track? Brandon Staley will ultimately not even have finished the 2023 exercise, being the first domino to fall in the perspective of a new reconstruction of the organization chart.
Because General Manager Tom Telesco has also left, after eleven seasons at the helm of the “Bolts”. To succeed this duo, some familiar faces… and who know each other. The new strong man in terms of sports management is called Joe Hortiz. After 25 years spent in the shadow of Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta in Baltimore, the 48-year-old manager is leaving John Harbaugh… to join his brother Jim.
The one who left the NFL by the back door, despite a more than flattering record, and a participation in the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers, is returning to the NFL. And now as the reigning national university champion, a trophy that he won with his favorite program, the Michigan Wolverines. As in Ann Arbor, the objective is to give this confidence and this winning culture that too often eludes the Chargers from one season to the next.
Last season: 5 wins – 12 losses, 4th in NFC East
Off-season moves
Notable Arrivals: JK Dobbins (RB), Gus Edwards (RB), DJ Chark (WR), Will Dissly (TE), Hayden Hurst (TE), Bradley Bozeman (OL), Poona Ford (DL), Bud Dupree (EDGE) , Denzel Perryman (LB), Troy Dye (LB), Kristian Fulton (CB), Tony Jefferson (DB).
Re-signings: Easton Stick (QB), Alohi Gilman (DB).
Draft: Joe Alt (OT), Ladd McConkey (WR), Junior Colson (LB), Justin Eboigbe (DL), Tarheeb Still (CB), Cam Hart (CB), Kimani Vidal (RB), Brenden Rice (WR), Cornelius Johnson (WR).
Notable losses: Austin Ekeler (RB), Keenan Allen (WR), Mike Williams (WR), Gerald Everett (TE), Will Clapp (OL), Corey Linsley (OL), Austin Johnson (DL), Nick Williams (DL) , Eric Kendricks (LB), Kenneth Murray (LB), Michael Davis (DB).
The Harbaugh-Hortiz ticket's first order of business was to manage the colossal contracts of the team's aging executives. And while deals were reached with pass rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, it was on offense that payroll cuts were needed, with the cuts of Keenan Allen and the oft-injured Mike Williams.
The attack seems to be the main emphasis in trying to effectively support Justin Herbert. On the ground, first of all, a trademark of the new offensive coordinator Greg Roman, whom Harbaugh knew in San Francisco, two new arrivals to compensate for the departure of the versatile Austin Ekeler. Roman comes from Baltimore and remembered it, by requesting the signatures of Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins, both of whom went to Maryland.
On the offensive line, center Corey Linsley's repeated physical problems led him to retire. Former Panther Bradley Bozeman therefore comes in as a reinforcement to ensure the snaps and the protection of the quarterback. Speaking of this last problem, the Californians could not resist the idea of going for the most seasoned prospect in terms of pass pro during the last draft. The massive Joe Alt arrives from Notre Dame and will constitute with Rashawn Slater one of the most intimidating tackle duos in the entire league.
Defensively, the changes are lighter. Like his defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Jim Harbaugh is relying on the pillars he knew at Michigan. Linebacker Junior Colson is a proven tackler with a lot of room for improvement and should be the counterpart of a returning second-stringer, former Texan Denzel Perryman.
Typical team:
Quarterback: Justin Herbert – Running back: Gus Edwards – Receivers: Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, Josh Palmer – Tight end: Will Dissly – Offensive line (left to right): Joe Alt, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Jamaree Salyer, Rashawn Slater.
Defensive Line: Morgan Fox, Poona Ford, Otito Ogbonnia – Linebackers: Khalil Mack, Denzel Perryman, Junior Colson, Joey Bosa – Cornerbacks: Asante Samuel Jr., Kristian Fulton – Safeties: Alohi Gilman, Derwin James.
Justin Herbert, the usual spearhead of these new version Chargers.
The strong points)
If his use in the offensive system advocated by Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman is questionable, it is difficult not to keep Justin Herbert as an undeniable strong point of the Chargers. Although with less brilliant statistics in 2023 than in the previous three years, the former Oregonian has been able to deal with a minimum of waste in the air, as evidenced by his seven small questions on the last exercise. On a sample of thirteen games, only CJ Stroud has done better (5) and Lamar Jackson as well (7).
Nothing is guaranteed yet, but as mentioned above, the addition of Joe Alt at left tackle makes the Angelinos' outside pass protection very exciting on paper.
On defense, the pass rush stars weren't kept for nothing, Khalil Mack first and foremost. The Chargers have collected 48 sacks in 2023, including 17 on the former Raiders and Bears star alone. If Joey Bosa spends too much time on the infirmary, rookie Tuli Tuipulotu was a nice surprise from last year, and veteran Bud Dupree brings depth that could prove to be a lifesaver.
Finally, on special teams, the young guns are ones to watch closely, given the overall effectiveness of kicker Cameron Dicker last year, and the skills of Derius Davis on kick returns, suggesting better days in this sector of the game.
The weak spots)
While the pass rush has held its own on defense, the same cannot be said for all squads. Outside of Alohi Gilman, the defensive backfield has been a disaster through the air, suffering not only from the Kansas City Chiefs but from many other offenses around the league. 4,580 yards against the pass: only Washington has done worse in 2023.
We could say that the run stop was a bit less worrisome. But by giving up 18 touchdowns to opposing runners, LA was once again one of the most permissive defenses in this area. It is urgent to react.
Let's finish with the first curtain, which could take a hit from a raw talent and depth point of view. At the time of writing, the three expected starters are Morgan Fox, Poona Ford and Otito Ogbonnia. Two of the three players were already there in 2023 but mainly used in the rotation. For a team that calls for betting on its strength within the lines, this front-3 will have his work cut out for him, even with fellow backup Scott Matlock or Alabama's massive rookie Justin Eboigbe.
X Factor: Ground Game
He clearly wasn't a strong point in 2023 either. While Austin Ekeler has tried to erase this state of affairs thanks to his incredible versatility, the 2024 Los Angeles Chargers have every interest in finally finding a major ground game to put less pressure on Justin Herbert's shoulders.
And the success of the offensive backfield will depend on a lot of elements. Greg Roman has therefore brought back two old acquaintances from Baltimore, with contrasting references. Arriving in the league in 2018, Gus Edwards is a tough runner who has very often answered the call when the Maryland franchise needed him. His last season shows it with 13 touchdowns scored, despite a regular status as a backup. Can he really become the main repository of the ground attack, he who has never crossed the 1000 yard mark in five seasons, and who is approaching the fateful 30-year mark?
For JK Dobbins, hope is even more cloudy. After an encouraging rookie year, the former Ohio State player has had bad luck and permanent stints in the infirmary. Blank season in 2021, half of the season in 2022, a very small game last year. Some will note that he remains a threatening profile with 12 touchdowns scored in 24 games played. But it is almost a message in a bottle that the Californian coaching staff sent in hoping for his return at 100%.
Among the other options, the intriguing rookie Kimani Vidal. The rookie from Troy has a profile similar to Keaton Mitchell, but with a much more dissuasive size. He will not be too much to try to bring weight and value to a committee lacking real benchmarks at the start of this new campaign.
Ladd McConkey, quickly the first option at the reception?
Player to watch: Ladd McConkey (WR)
Another rookie will be closely scrutinized from his first snaps in the league. A player who does not look like much at first glance, but who has proven to be extremely valuable in College FootballAlongside new Raider Brock Bowers, who he is set to face twice this year in his division, Ladd McConkey was a major asset in the offensive development of the Georgia Bulldogs in 2021 and 2022, actively participating in the two national titles won by the program.
With sure hands, phenomenal support and a good football IQ, he knows how to make himself forgotten and punish the errors of opposing defensive backs. His contribution will probably not be too much, after the departure of executives like Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Beyond McConkey, it's the receivers in general who should get a lot of attention. Drafted in the first round in 2023, Quentin Johnston has been a ghost through the early part of the season and needs to show more. As for Josh Palmer, he's a viable option in the playbook but saw his last season disrupted by a weak knee. DJ Chark is also a gamble, given his injury history, and the pressure is already there for Derius Davis in the slot or for rookies Brenden Rice and Cornelius Johnson on the outside. Can this mix perform well this year, even with Justin Herbert to feed them? Nothing is less certain …
Los Angeles Chargers 2024 Schedule
Raiders, @ Panthers, @ Steelers, Chiefs, @ Broncos, @ Cardinals, Saints, @ Browns, Titans, Bengals, Ravens, @ Falcons, @ Chiefs, Buccaneers, Broncos, @ Patriots, @ Raiders
The audio preview of the podcast
In summary
In 2011, for his debut as head coach of the 49ers, Jim Harbaugh had very quickly managed to restore confidence in his group, taking it to the conference finals in his first year and to the Super Bowl in his second. It is difficult to imagine this when he took power at the Chargers, due to several factors: an overloaded conference, imposing contracts that limited the room for maneuver, crucial positions that were not considered from the outset.
Yet, given the desire to earn respect in the trenches, Los Angeles could be a team that can show more character and application in many areas. Facing the Raiders and Broncos twice, not necessarily the most talented teams in 2024, could also allow the franchise to improve certain opportunities to facilitate this inevitable transition period.
