Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart 2018 Chargers Depth Chart

Preseason Analysis: Chargers Are Being Overshadowed by the Other LA Team

Los Angeles has been a team hindered by injuries and inconsistency over the last few years, but Philip Rivers leads this team again. Defensively they are one of the strongest in the league. The recent loss of Hunter Henry to an ACL injury is huge, as Antonio Gates retiring was finally going to open the door for him, and it was long overdue. Hunter Henry’s injury opens up way for Virgil Green, but I would expect the Chargers to make a move or sign another one sometime soon. The Chargers will rely on their wide receivers as they usually do, and they still have a hefty load of them. Keenan Allen played 16 games last season, and is one of the better receivers in the game when healthy. The rest of the wide receiver jobs are up for grabs, and Mike Williams who was drafted high last year will look to establish himself in this league. Los Angeles still has Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin, but Williams has been a guy Rivers depends on a lot, especially when guys are banged up. Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler look to be the one two duo, as Gordon will be a high volume back like the previous season.

The Los Angeles Chargers 2017 season is one they will not soon forget. In their first year in Los Angeles after a 56-year run in San Diego, the Chargers start of the season was a nightmare, however, the second half of the campaign was almost like a Hollywood script. The Bolts started the season with four consecutive losses and looked more like a team that had no NFL experience than a squad that boasted several Pro-Bowl players. Despite the 0-4 beginning, the Chargers turned out to be one of the hottest teams in the NFL from that point on as they went on a 9-3 run over the final 12 games, finishing the regular season with a 9-7 record and remarkably just one game behind the AFC West champion Oakland Raiders. Heading into 2018, the Chargers are hoping to get off to a much better start as they believe they can challenge anyone in the AFC West. If LA is dreaming of a postseason run in 2018, Philip Rivers will have to start this season the way he finished 2017, on fire!

Rivers’ slow start was a big reason LA started 0-4, well, that and some bad kicking. Nevertheless, Rivers finished the season strong as he threw for 28 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. While the offense sputtered at times for LA in 2017, the defense did not. The Chargers gave up just 272 points in 2017, which was the fewest in the AFC West. Although the defense was stellar, the Chargers spent most of the 2018 NFL Draft making it even stronger. Los Angeles’ first four picks in the draft were spent on defense and included two players who could have an instant impact in safety Derwin James out of Florida State and linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from USC. While the Chargers defense was impressive in 2017, they addressed a huge need in the draft by selecting Nwosu. This guy was a flat-out beast for USC last season. LA’s defensive brain trust of Gus Bradley and Richard Smith both believe that the former USC standout could be special in the NFL.

On offense, the running game should be solid with the ever-improving Melvin Gordon, and the weapons Rivers has on the outside in Keenan Allen and Travis Benjamin should once again give defensive backs fits. It’s cliche to say teams need to get off to a great start to a season, however, for Los Angeles it is true. In 2016, the then San Diego Chargers started the season 1-4, while in 2015 they started off 2-2 before dropping six straight games and sputtering to a 2-8 mark. Owning a positive record heading into Week 5 of the upcoming season could be a huge boost for the Chargers in 2018. The Chargers will be tested right off the bat as they open the season against the rival Kansas City Chiefs on September 9. Following the Chiefs battle, Los Angeles will hit the road for back-to-back games against the Buffalo Bills and LA Rams before returning home to face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4.