The
Chargers Team Report is posted. I don't know if one person wrote it or if the sections were divided up... maybe
@Maurile Tremblay can comment. Regardless, I have a couple of comments/questions.
LINEBACKERS
Starters: MLB Denzel Perryman, WLB Jatavis Brown, SLB Thomas Davis
Backups: OLB Kyzir White, OLB Drue Tranquill [R], MLB Emeke Egbule [R]
Starting LBs: Perryman is a serviceable starter in the middle. He's a solid tackler who posted a career-best 6.4 a game in an injury-shortened 2018. But there's not much else to his game, and not much dynamism for a fantasy LB prospect. He's forced just 3 turnovers over 39 career games, and he hasn't recorded a sack since 2016. The fact that he's yet to play more than 13 games in a season doesn't inspire much confidence; there are far more inspiring LB2 plays with significantly more upside. Brown offers a bit more playmaking opportunity - he posted 97 tackles and 5 pass breakups in 2018. He's also struggled a bit with injuries, but offers sneaky upside on the LB2/3 borderline. Davis comes to town after a storied 14-year career in Carolina. He'll draw the start on the strong side and brings across-the-field ability, but the Chargers don't often utilize three linebackers at once. Last year's top strong-side guy, Kyle Emanuel, drew just 216 snaps.
Backup LBs: White was a fourth-round pick last season and opened his career in a prominent linebacker/safety hybrid role. He played 142 snaps over the first 3 weeks before landing on IR, but he impressed enough to return to the top of the rotation. Especially strong in coverage, White recorded 17 tackles and 3 pass breakups before going down. He could push any of the team's nominal starters for a bigger role in 2019. Rookie Tranquill is built in a similar mold as an athletic former safety; he could conceivably work his way past White. Nwosu, last year's second-round pick, drew just 268 defensive snaps as a rookie. He did show well off the edge late in the season, however, notching 3.0 sacks over the Chargers' final 5 games (playoffs included). He was a big-time playmaker at USC and could be primed for a sophomore leap. Egbule was a solid tackler in school and could see meaningful first-year snaps behind the injury-prone Denzel Perryman.
1. White beat out Brown to open the season as the starting WLB last year and had 12 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass breakup in 3 games. It is perhaps worth noting that those 3 games were vs. KC, @BUF, and @LAR... a couple of tough matchups in there, especially for a rookie WLB.
Brown has 1 year left on his contract, and, with all the LB talent the team has drafted and signed, I expect this is his last season with the Chargers. Combining those facts, I don't see any reason to expect Brown to start over White. I think this report is off base on White and Brown.
2. I like the idea of Davis starting at OTTO/SLB, backed up by Nwosu, but I haven't seen that reported anywhere. Anyone have a source? Davis played WLB in Carolina.
3. As for the rookies, Tranquill is characterized as OLB here, but I was expecting he would back up Perryman. If not, maybe Brown is the backup MLB, not backup WLB.
4. Egbule will supposedly back up Ingram at the LEO position, but is shown here as a MLB. I think that is off base.
Starters: SS Derwin James, FS Adrian Phillips, CB Casey Hayward, CB Trevor Williams
Backups: CB Desmond King, SS Rayshawn Jenkins, FS Nasir Adderley [R], CB Michael Davis, FS Jaylen Watkins
Starting DBs: The Chargers' top-tier secondary only got better in 2018. James was nothing short of a rookie revelation, immediately boosting an elite secondary up to arguably the league's best. Adept in both the pass and run games, James filled the stat sheet in his debut, recording 106 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 13 pass breakups, and 3 interceptions. He shone like a seasoned veteran from Week 1 on, and his IDP future is exceptionally bright. He's a slam-dunk DB1. Phillips impressed as well, seeing the field plenty in lieu of a third linebacker and putting up 94 tackles (with 10 passes defensed) in the process. As an every-down starter, he projects as a sneaky DB2 with a depressed price point. Hayward is an elite cover man, which actually hurt his fantasy value in 2018. With quarterbacks afraid to test him often, Hayward was a mediocre tackler and producer, far more valuable to the Chargers than to fantasy rosters. Still, he's fully capable of making plays on the ball - he broke up 42 passes and picked off 11 more from 2016-17. In formats that require cornerbacks, he's among the top tier. Williams dazzled in 2017, but struggled through a poor, injury-marred 2018. He'll return to start on the boundary, but is the clear weak spot in this group.
Backup DBs: King was one of the league's premier slot cornerbacks in 2018, and he's a true playmaking force. He's totaled 137 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 14 pass breakups, and 4 interceptions over his 2 seasons, and carries intrigue in formats that require cornerbacks. The Chargers trot out far more nickel and dime packages than base ones, so Jenkins should see a solid chunk of play. Last season, Adrian Phillips drew 683 snaps in the third safety role and produced usable fantasy numbers (94 tackles and 10 pass breakups). Jenkins isn't quite the same player, but will see the field plenty and carry big DB2/3 appeal in the event of an injury. Adderley will also play a fair amount - he was taken in the second round to provide even more playmaking depth after intercepting 11 passes at Delaware. He shredded the combine with truly special speed and jump marks, and could develop into an elite centerfield type. Davis has the inside track on the No. 4 cornerback spot, while Watkins faces an uphill roster battle after losing his 2018 to an ACL tear.
1. No way Phillips starts at FS over Adderley (barring injury). Adderley was the top FS in the draft. He is a day one starter and impact player. This is a fantasy report, and it is missing the mark at FS. This is important, since he stands to play the "Earl Thomas" single high FS role in Bradley's defense, which is a playmaking role.
2. As for the bolded, that was an artifact of LB injuries and lack of LB talent the past 2 seasons. Consider last season:
- At SLB, Emanuel was a very weak starter, who has now retired from the NFL.
- Nwosu was a rookie, who played less than 30% of the team's snaps.
- At MLB, Perryman got hurt and missed 9 games (really 10).
- At WLB, White got hurt and missed 15 games.
- Backup WLB/MLB Brown missed 3 games.
- They were forced to play Pullard 8 games. He is a JAG who may not play in the NFL this season.
Contrast that to the current situation:
- Perryman is re-signed and he, Brown, and White have returned from their injuries.
- The team signed veteran Davis, who played more than 54 snaps per game last year in Carolina, and played very well despite his age. If he steps into the OTTO/SLB role, he is replacing Emanuel, who played less than 16 snaps per game last season.
- The team drafted Tranquill to add depth.
- Nwosu has a year of experience and should be improved.
- JAGs Emanuel and Pullard are gone.
The team not only added talent and experience to the LB group, but also versatility. Davis can play all 3 LB spots, and Tranquill and Brown can play both WLB and MLB.
Bottom line, the LB talent should be significantly upgraded. Barring a similarly significant rash of injuries to the LB group this year, I very seriously doubt that Jenkins or Phillips will play many snaps on defense. (Both should play heavy special teams snaps, though.)