What The Chargers Should Improve The Most This Year: Rush O or Rush D ?

[21&500]

Rush offense.
control the tempo.

[Maniaque 6]

The O needs to run better to help give the play-action game some juice and to slow down the pass rush. That will sustain drives and get them better field position. It also helps shorten the game when we have a lead and makes it easier for the D.

D needs to stop giving up big plays in the running game. We can contain and minimize the big plays given up (mostly) in the passing game, but for a pass defense that was as good as we were the last couple of years, we just let teams keep moving the ball on us and it keeps them in the game.

The game at JAX last year is a really good example.
On the other hand, you can not go very far in PO if you give 150 rushing yard a game !

[Boltdiehard]

With this young oline and a new OC I think our best bet is a improved rush offense. I don’t have a whole lot of faith in this defense right now.

[chargeroo]

I'd vote for having a good rushing game. It helps in the red zone, it helps control the clock, and it helps sell play action. Our passing game should be hard for any offense to keep up with by running the ball.

[Maniaque 6]

Others stats that could help the discussion

The Chargers gave 5.4 rushing yards/att last year ( 32e )
They got only 3.8 ( 30e )

What is the most embarrassing ?

[dmac_bolt]

The game at JAX last year is a really good example.
On the other hand, you can not go very far in PO if you give 150 rushing yard a game !

Or maybe we only needed to be 2 points better to go further.

I’d like both, I’m struggling to decide if I must pick just one. I think I’ll go D as I expect our O will be enough without our vote-boost, whatever that is

[Maniaque 6]

Sonorajim said that in another thread :

« A W is still a W whether it's by 1 pt or 30. An average 20 ppg is better than KC last year. (21.7) I always want @ 17 ppg avg on D . We were 22.6 in '22. An avg 20 ppg will win a S B if the O measures up.
Last year the O was pretty mediocre. 23.0 ppg compared to KC's 29.2 ppg #1 scoring O. We need our O to shine in '23. »

Seems like defense is O.K.

[sonorajim]

The game at JAX last year is a really good example.
On the other hand, you can not go very far in PO if you give 150 rushing yard a game !

Don't give them time to play in the dirt. Top passing offenses will run up the score while they're enjoying their 5 yds and a cloud of dust triumphs.
Of course if they get 150 yds in 5 plays- that's a deal breaker.

[sonorajim]

Sonorajim said that in another thread :
« A W is still a W whether it's by 1 pt or 30. An average 20 ppg is better than KC last year. (21.7) I always want @ 17 ppg avg on D . We were 22.6 in '22. An avg 20 ppg will win a S B if the O measures up.
Last year the O was pretty mediocre. 23.0 ppg compared to KC's 29.2 ppg #1 scoring O. We need our O to shine in '23. »

Seems like defense is O.K.

They should be when healthy and our O is melting the scoreboard. A significant component of run D is making them pass to keep up.
The other is team tackling. Do NOT let one guy miss and it's a 40 yd run. Put some damn team energy onto knocking him down and getting the ball out.
But O scoring helps. We can't be terrible at tackling and mediocre at scoring like last year.

[Maniaque 6]

January, the 9th 2022

Rushing

LAC : 85
LV : 174

Remember who won that game ?

[SK21209]

The rush defense going from terrible to just okay would be more impactful than the rush offense going from terrible to just okay.

[Maniaque 6]

The rush defense going from terrible to just okay would be more impactful than the rush offense going from terrible to just okay.

I think you got it. If you take the LV game, if the defense cut 20-30 yards rushing.
It is more profitable than the offense having 20-30 yards more. IMO.