Chargers Defense

[TTK]

The Chargers defense are currently 9th in points allowed @ 20.6 points per game.

Not bad for a defense who have lost their top 3 OLBs and have no depth.

[RobH]

Last year we were #9 at 21.9. So in terms of points, we're about the same as last year. Of course, the year isn't done, and we've got some high scoring teams ahead of us, but I guess we aren't the defensive disaster some thought we were.

[ArtistFormerlyKnownAsBKR]

opcorn:

[SDFan]

the defense will need to carry the team for the next 2-3 years so we should be investing all our draft picks on defense- or we will be in the running for the top draft pick. And Pagano sucks and needs to be replaced by Rivera immediately and we need to switch to the 4-3 ASAP because we don't have a dominant NT or any edge rushers to get sacks.

[richpjr]

I am pretty surprised we are 7th in the league with 20 sacks with no pass rushing OLBs. The Chiefs have 35 - that is a hell of a pass rush. Rivers will need to get rid of the ball as fast as he ever has playing them.

[Coachmarkos]

Pagano has really shown me something the past few weeks. But I didn't think he was that bad last year, either.

It's certainly been nice having Wright back in the lineup, our pass defense got much better with him in there.

[KNSD]

Team, Rank YPG, Rank PPG
San Diego, 22, 9
Houston, 1, 25
Denver, 29 , 27 (To track how well "the Shawn Phillips Factor" elevates Denver's defensive greatness)

[Boltx]

opcorn:

Yup.

[6025]

opcorn:

Please God no.

[homeless simpson]

I am pretty surprised we are 7th in the league with 20 sacks with no pass rushing OLBs. The Chiefs have 35 - that is a hell of a pass rush.

teams pile up sack stats in bunches. of the 20 we have in 7 games, 6 came in 1 game. KC has 3 games with 6 or more sacks (8 vs raiders, 6 vs both Eagles & Jags)

[Antonio's Gates]

the defense will need to carry the team for the next 2-3 years so we should be investing all our draft picks on defense- or we will be in the running for the top draft pick. And Pagano sucks and needs to be replaced by Rivera immediately and we need to switch to the 4-3 ASAP because we don't have a dominant NT or any edge rushers to get sacks.

so....maybe it isnt pagano?

[Yubaking]

Team, Rank YPG, Rank PPG
San Diego, 22, 9
Houston, 1, 25
Denver, 29 , 27 (To track how well "the Shawn Phillips Factor" elevates Denver's defensive greatness)

The Chargers currently are #30 in YPC against, #29 in YPA against and dead last in yards per play against.

Here are some sacks rankings:

7. S. Phillips 6.5
47. J. Johnson 3.0 (best Charger)
65. L. English 2.5
77. C. Liuget/K. Reyes/T.Keiser/R. Walker 2.0

Here is receiving ranking in yards per game:

5. V. Jackson 90.7

Yet, TB ranks #29 in passing yards, #31 in yards per game and #31 in points per game. Vincent Jackson must not be a very good receiver since he hasn't elevated Tampa Bay's offensive greatness.

Or could it possibly be that Jackson and Phillips are both good players that have played well, but that find themselves playing on units that have not performed well? Just maybe there is a difference between individual performance and team performance.

On the bright side, the good news is that the defense has played better in terms of surrendering less points and less yards per play in the last couple of games. But there can be little doubt that Phillips would give us more talent on defense just like there can be little doubt that Jackson would give us more talent on offense.