Bolt Up

[KimJongBaze]

Setting up the season nicely. Interested in the QB situation for sure.

Same here, I've gone into a few practice sessions and so far no one is separating themselves from the other.

stealing all of this

stealing all of this

shameless

I'm honored.

[djp73]

Sign Cam

[KimJongBaze]

Preview: Los Angeles Chargers release 2020 schedule
The Chargers have officially released their schedule for the 2020-21 NFL season.

They open their preseason against the Indianapolis Colts and former Charger quarterback Philip Rivers. From there, the Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals face off before the teams play each other again to open the regular season, potentially featuring a matchup between Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert, two of the NFL's top selections in the draft. The Chargers close out the preseason against the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers.

Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals
Last Year's Record: 2-14 (4th AFC North)
Key Additions: QB Joe Burrow (rookie), S Vonn Bell, DT D.J. Reader, CB Mackensie Alexander, CB Trae Waynes

Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs
Last Year's Record: 12-4 (1st AFC West, Super Bowl Champions)
Key Additions: HB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (rookie), TE Ricky Seals-Jones

Week 3: Carolina Panthers
Last Year's Record: 5-11 (4th NFC South)
Key Additions: QB Teddy Bridgewater, WR Robby Anderson, DT Derrick Brown (rookie)

Week 4: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last Year's Record: 7-9 (3rd NFC South)
Key Additions: QB Tom Brady, T Tristan Wirfs (rookie), TE Rob Gronkowski, HC Bruce Arians

Week 5: at New Orleans Saints
Last Year's Record: 13-3 (1st NFC South)
Key Additions: S Malcolm Jenkins, WR Emmanuel Sanders

Week 6: New York Jets
Last Year's Record: 7-9 (3rd AFC East)
Key Additions: C Connor McGovern, T George Fant, WR Breshad Perriman, T Mekhi Becton (rookie)

Week 7: at Miami Dolphins
Last Year's Record: 5-11 (4th AFC East)
Key Additions: QB Tua Tagovailoa (rookie), HB Matt Breida, HB Jordan Howard, T Austin Jackson (rookie), CB Byron Jones, LB Kyle Van Noy, DE Shaq Lawson, G Ereck Flowers

Week 8: Jacksonville Jaguars
Last Year's Record: 6-10 (4th AFC South)
Key Additions: LB Joe Schobert, TE Tyler Eifert, CB C.J. Henderson Jr. (rookie), LB K'Lavon Chaisson (rookie)

Week 9: Las Vegas Raiders
Last Year's Record: 7-9 (3rd AFC West)
Key Additions: LB Cory Littleton, DE Carl Nassib, LB Nick Kwiatkowski, WR Henry Ruggs III (rookie), QB Marcus Mariota, S Damarious Randall, WR Nelson Agholor

Week 10: Bye Week

Week 11: at Denver Broncos
Last Year's Record: 7-9 (2nd AFC West)
Key Additions: WR Jerry Jeudy (rookie), G Graham Glasgow, HB Melvin Gordon III, WR K.J. Hamler (rookie)

Week 12: at Buffalo Bills
Last Year's Record: 10-6 (2nd AFC East)
Key Additions: WR Stefon Diggs, DE Mario Addison, LB A.J. Klein, DE A.J. Epenesa (rookie)

Week 13: New England Patriots
Last Year's Record: 12-4 (1st AFC East)
Key Additions: WR Marqise Lee, LB Josh Uche (rookie)

Week 14: Atlanta Falcons
Last Year's Record: 7-9 (2nd NFC South)
Key Additions: CB A.J. Terrell (rookie), DE Dante Fowler Jr., HB Todd Gurley III, TE Hayden Hurst, WR Laquon Treadwell

Week 15: at Las Vegas Raiders
Last Year's Record: 7-9 (3rd AFC West)
Key Additions: LB Cory Littleton, DE Carl Nassib, LB Nick Kwiatkowski, WR Henry Ruggs III (rookie), QB Marcus Mariota, S Damarious Randall, WR Nelson Agholor

Week 16: Denver Broncos
Last Year's Record: 7-9 (2nd AFC West)
Key Additions: WR Jerry Jeudy (rookie), G Graham Glasgow, HB Melvin Gordon III, WR K.J. Hamler (rookie)

Week 17: at Kansas City Chiefs
Last Year's Record: 12-4 (1st AFC West, Super Bowl Champions)
Key Additions: HB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (rookie), TE Ricky Seals-Jones

[KimJongBaze]

New-look offense takes center stage as Chargers set to host Colts
The process of reconstructing the Chargers offense began back in late December following the conclusion of a disappointing 2019 campaign. New offensive coordinator Shane Steichan has spent the offseason revamping the Chargers playbook and making alterations to the language, and now that glimpses of such playbook will be one of the key focuses when the Chargers open the preseason against the Indianapolis Colts.

Los Angeles is about to enter their first season without longtime signal-caller Philip Rivers under center since 2006. Under former offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, the Chargers offense operated primarily through shotgun and quick passes, taking advantage of Rivers' ability to quickly survey the field and distribute the ball. However, it limited the use of play-action and other forms of misdirection that have grown in popularity in recent seasons. Combined with his limited mobility, it forced the offense to look a particular way week to week.

Coincidentally, Rivers will be on the opposite side of the field when the Chargers face the Colts, engineering an offensive scheme that the Chargers will likely be very familiar with.

Steichen has more to work with as he settles into his first season as a coordinator, starting with quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Justin Herbert, both of whom are more than capable of making plays with their legs. Head coach Anthony Lynn has said in the past that he wants to use more wide-zone runs, play-action, and work from under center more frequently in 2020, a combination of tactics that should boost the offense's passing efficiency. Once fully implemented, the Chargers envision a scheme that shares a similarity to that of San Francisco's Kyle Shanahan and the Rams' Sean McVay.

With that said, Steichen will also need to mold the scheme to the team's personnel. Taylor has played in several offenses including multiple coached by Lynn, and Herbert comes from Oregon's pistol-centric scheme that included virtually no snaps under center. Expect the Chargers to have some concepts and formations that Herbert used heavily in college featured against Indianapolis.

While the quarterback situation has yet to be settled, Herbert will need to meld the concepts that he already understands with those that will make up the backbone of the Chargers' new offense. Steichen must be the primary facilitator, and he understands the importance of striking the proper balance.

[KimJongBaze]

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IND | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 || 3
LAC | 0 | 17 | 7 | 0 || 24
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Chargers defense, Herbert impress in preseason opening win versus Colts
Tyrod Taylor got the start for the Los Angeles Chargers, but it was rookie Justin Herbert who came out the decisive winner in the team's preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts.

It's been made clear since Herbert has been drafted that he will get his chance to compete for the starting position, and the 6th overall pick did not disappoint. In a little over one quarter of action, he threw for 142 yards, 2 touchdowns, and completed 14 of 16 passes, albeit against Indianapolis' second string defense. Herbert's lone mistake came during a red zone opportunity in which he overthrew a pass to Jalen Guyton, resulting in an interception.

Taylor saw several possessions in the 1st quarter leading the first-team offense. The team's concerns with pass protection were highlighted against the Colts' front four, who sacked Taylor four times. The immense pressure also forced Taylor to throw an interception. He ended the night with 54 passing yards while completing 3 of 5 passes.

The Good
1. Another concern involved the Chargers' rushing attack, which was almost non-existent last year (28th overall). There was a lot to like against the Colts; the team recorded 119 yards, which helped them control the clock. Justin Jackson led Los Angeles with 9 carries, 45 yards, and a touchdown. Free agent acquisition Roc Thomas gained 42 yards on 7 carries. Rookie Joshua Kelley finished with 27 yards.

2. The Chargers' defense was as good as advertised in the first game of the preseason, holding the Colts to just 3 points and 209 yards of offense while forcing 2 turnovers (forced fumble by Denzel Perryman, interception by Michael Davis). The majority of the impressive performance was carried by the team's younger players: rookie Alohi Gilman (8 tackles, 1 sack), undrafted free agent Trajan Bandy (5 tackles, 1 sack), and second-year safety Nasir Adderley (5 tackles, 1 sack), to name a few.

3. Philip Rivers received a standing ovation from the SoFi Stadium crowd, and it was a much deserved one. Rivers was with the Chargers since 2004 before leaving this offseason to sign with the Colts. He holds numerous franchise records for San Diego/Los Angeles, including wins (123), yards (59,271), touchdowns (397), and passer rating (95.2).

The Bad
1. It's rare to have a performance go as well as the Chargers had in this game, but pass protection remains a huge question mark even after the signings of Bryan Bulaga and Trai Turner. The first unit allowed Taylor to be sacked 4 times. It's a unit that is expected to improve after the offseason additions as well as the return of center Mike Pouncey, who missed most of last year with a neck injury.

[KimJongBaze]

Melvin Ingram to miss rest of preseason
Chargers defensive end Melvin Ingram III will not suit up for the remainder of the team's preseason games after sustaining a shoulder injury against the Indianapolis Colts.

Ingram, who has been named a Pro Bowler for the past 3 seasons, suffered the injury in the first quarter. He hopes to return in time for Los Angeles' season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. The former South Carolina product has been instrumental in the Chargers' pass rush, recording at least 7 sacks for five consecutive seasons. He and Joey Bosa make up one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL.

The injury presents an opportunity for some of the Chargers' inexperienced players to build their resume and make the case for a spot on the 53-man roster, including Isaac Rochell and rookie Joe Graziano.

[Soapy]

post ya sliders.

those helmets

[KimJongBaze]

post ya sliders.

those helmets

working with a gameplay mod so everything is on default sliders. Offense is hard af to play but I'll need to adjust defense.

[KimJongBaze]

Free Agency 2.0: Preseason Edition
Cam Newton was one of many big-name free agents who didn't reach a deal with any teams during the offseason, along with defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and others. Now, they're both heading to New England.

The Patriots finally made the move for a quarterback after Tom Brady decided to leave for Tampa Bay and the team opted to not use the NFL draft to fill the position. They bring in a former MVP who on a "prove it" one-year deal, hoping that Newton can shake off the rust caused by shoulder injuries in the last 2 seasons. The Patriots were carrying second-year player Jarrett Stidham and veteran Brian Hoyer prior to signing Newton.

Likewise, Clowney also signed a one-year contract, immediately adding to New England's strength on the defensive side. The pass-rusher was asking for as much as $20 million per year at one point.

The veterans are slated to play in the next preseason game.

Around the league, other notable signings made before the first preseason games are played include receiver Josh Gordon (Buccaneers), defensive end Ziggy Ansah (Dolphins), linebacker Zach Brown (Falcons), kicker Stephen Gostkowski (Falcons), guard Kelechi Osemele (49ers), defensive end Jabaal Sheard (49ers), defensive tackle Damon Harrison Sr. (Jets), tackle Cordy Glenn (Lions), linebacker Clay Matthews (Panthers), cornerback Prince Amukamara (Panthers), safety Reshad Jones (Panthers), halfback Devonta Freeman (Rams), and defensive end Eversen Griffen (Ravens). The Titans also brought corner Logan Ryan back on a 1-year deal.

[KimJongBaze]

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LAC | 5 | 0 | 7 | 14 || 26
CIN | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 || 7
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Defense carries the load again as Chargers defeat Bengals
Justin Herbert was given the starting nod tonight after an impressive performance against Indianapolis last week. Playing with the starters, he went face-to-face with number one pick Joe Burrow.

Herbert, however, couldn't provide the same output as he did against the Colts. In three drives with the rookie under center, the Chargers punted the ball twice and gave up a defensive touchdown after William Jackson III picked off Herbert. In contrast, Tyrod Taylor rebounded from a rough first week to throw for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Chargers defense also provided much needed support. This was their second consecutive game without allowing an offensive touchdown.

Los Angeles returns home next week for their dress rehearsal game for the Minnesota Vikings, where it's expected that Taylor and Herbert will split halves as their quarterback battle continues.

The Good
1. The depth behind the skill players starting on offense continued to impress. Justin Jackson and rookie Joshua Kelley combined for 89 yards on 15 carries, and each posted an average of at least 5 yards per carry. David Sills V, a free agent pickup, led the team with 5 catches, 87 yards, and a touchdown, his second of the preseason. Dillon Mitchell, another a free agent signing, also recorded a score. The fight for the starting slot position at receiver is heating up, and it's for the better.

2. Drafting Kenneth Murray seems to have ignited a flame in linebacker Denzel Perryman, who finished the game with a team-high 8 tackles. There were questions as to whether Perryman would be phased out of the defensive unit, but he's ignoring those rumors and continues to rack up the tackles. The former second round pick out of Miami was responsible for the Chargers' first takeaway last week.

3. The special teams unit knocked it out of the park against the Bengals. Michael Badgley was perfect on kick attempts, and the combination of Desmond King and Joe Reed returned 6 punts for 87 yards (14.5 yards per return). Punter Johnny Townsend averaged 51.7 yards per punt and placed 2 of the 6 inside the 20.

The Bad
1. The offensive line. As good as the Chargers are at almost every other position, pass protection will be one to watch as the season progresses. The Chargers quarterbacks (Herbert, Taylor, and Easton Stick) were sacked 9 times. Veteran Bryan Bulaga has been having a particularly difficult time on the right side. He lines up opposite of All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter next week.