The Defense

[blueman]

The safety we drafted adds CB flexibility it would seem, has some chops for that reportedly.

[Bolts4ever213]

It was just two years ago when I said Jenkins should start instead of Addae. I just wanted the maturation growth with James would have benefit us more. Now, is Jenkins an All Pro, no, but he is solid. It doesn't happen with every player, but I tend to think they can get better. Even the growth of Davis being able to learn from two vets that are still playing at a high level is nice.

I seen this meme the other day, it said something like, we can disagree and still be friends, cause we are adults.

This defense has a chance to do special things. When was the last time, as a Charger fan, did you think that going into a season? Never, until now!!!

[Formula 21]

Nah. I think Adderely will be an amazing deep safety. Has huge range and attacks the ball in the air. I see him as our starting FS.

I would love to see that happen.

[Formula 21]

Not sure what this is, but this is why he was IR'd.

Since he was unable to get healthy, Los Angeles decided to put the first-year safety on the injured reserve.

According to Orange County Register’s Gilbert Manzano, Adderley described his season-ending hamstring injury as a tendon split.

[wu-dai clan]

I would love to see that happen.

Jenkins is elite...

[Lone Bolt]

Not sure what this is, but this is why he was IR'd.

Geez, I hope so...with so little info, I was worrying about his maturity and commitment. If the coaching staff was mystified by his lack of progress healthwise, and thought he was dogging it, (hence the comments about him needing to be tougher) but all along he had a difficult to diagnose but legitimate injury...that could mean there is hope there. Honestly, I still maintain that King would make a really good FS...decent range, good coverage and tackling...while Adderley I would like to see at least get some work at CB...but that's just this fan's perspective. Either way, and at whatever position, I hope to see him compete fully when we have camp.

[Panamamike]

If he can stay on the field he is going to wow a lot of people.

[like54ninjas]

LOS ANGELES -- At least on paper, the Los Angeles Chargers enter the quiet part of the offseason with one of the NFL's most loaded secondaries. Already armed with Pro Bowlers Derwin James, Casey Hayward, and Desmond King, the team added star slot corner Chris Harris Jr. through free agency as well as developmental safety Alohi Gilman in the 2020 NFL Draft. In a league that increasingly focuses on the passing game, those investments make plenty of sense.

Still, with such a crowded secondary, the coaching staff will have to make extra efforts to ensure the most talented players see sufficient time on the field. That could mean taking a do-it-all defender like James and situationally moving him to other parts of the defense.

For his part, James likes the idea of leaning more heavily into his versatility.

"Man, I surely hope so," James said of moving around the defense during a conference call with reporters. "We haven't really gone over that yet, but I surely hope so. To be able to move around, just adding Chris, it lets me be more free."

In just two years, James has established himself as a position-less chess piece. Last December during his first game back from a foot injury, he played snaps as a safety, slot corner, linebacker, and even as a de facto pass rusher off the edge. Few in the NFL can replicate such a wide range of skills, and James feels comfortable doing all of it.

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"Yeah, I'm comfortable, man," James said. "I'm comfortable at linebacker, comfortable in the slot. I'm comfortable, man, everywhere on that field. It really don't matter to me."

Like most teams, the Chargers spend the majority of their defensive snaps in nickel, dime, or sub packages to better defend the pass. If they decide to play James near the line of scrimmage more frequently in 2020, that could open up space behind him for the multiple talented defensive backs that might not otherwise see extensive playing time without sacrificing elsewhere.

[gzubeck]

LOS ANGELES -- At least on paper, the Los Angeles Chargers enter the quiet part of the offseason with one of the NFL's most loaded secondaries. Already armed with Pro Bowlers Derwin James, Casey Hayward, and Desmond King, the team added star slot corner Chris Harris Jr. through free agency as well as developmental safety Alohi Gilman in the 2020 NFL Draft. In a league that increasingly focuses on the passing game, those investments make plenty of sense.

Still, with such a crowded secondary, the coaching staff will have to make extra efforts to ensure the most talented players see sufficient time on the field. That could mean taking a do-it-all defender like James and situationally moving him to other parts of the defense.

For his part, James likes the idea of leaning more heavily into his versatility.

"Man, I surely hope so," James said of moving around the defense during a conference call with reporters. "We haven't really gone over that yet, but I surely hope so. To be able to move around, just adding Chris, it lets me be more free."

In just two years, James has established himself as a position-less chess piece. Last December during his first game back from a foot injury, he played snaps as a safety, slot corner, linebacker, and even as a de facto pass rusher off the edge. Few in the NFL can replicate such a wide range of skills, and James feels comfortable doing all of it.

ADVERTISING


"Yeah, I'm comfortable, man," James said. "I'm comfortable at linebacker, comfortable in the slot. I'm comfortable, man, everywhere on that field. It really don't matter to me."

Like most teams, the Chargers spend the majority of their defensive snaps in nickel, dime, or sub packages to better defend the pass. If they decide to play James near the line of scrimmage more frequently in 2020, that could open up space behind him for the multiple talented defensive backs that might not otherwise see extensive playing time without sacrificing elsewhere.

Because of James I'm Happy we took K9 over simmons. More team balance now!

[sonorajim]

Good review of Adderley injury.

Feb 19, 2020

• 
  Eric D. WilliamsESPN Staff Writer

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Nasir Adderley read the criticism on social media last season regarding why it took so long for him to recover from what was initially reported as a lingering hamstring strain.
"I feel like people thought it was a normal hamstring strain, and people assumed I could have been back sooner than I could have been," Adderley said. "But if anybody really knows me, they would have known that I would have been out there.
"I just remained cool. I know myself better than anybody. I know who I am as a man, so what's the point? I just take it on the chin. ... People are going to have opinions. At the end of the day, I just keep moving forward and just go out there to prove everybody wrong."


A second-round selection by the Los Angeles Chargers last April, the Delaware product was expected to come in and compete for the starting free safety job next to All-Pro strong safety Derwin James.

Instead, Adderley limped through his rookie season due to an injury he suffered during his pro day in March that progressively got worse. A four-year starter at Delaware, Adderley didn't miss a game in college, playing in 45 straight contests for the Blue Hens.
"Originally, everybody thought it was a normal hamstring strain, and I did too," Adderley said. "But it was a lot more severe than that, and it was kind of frustrating because it was involving my tendon and not an actual muscle belly.
"So it was a lot of stuff to figure out, and we finally figured out what it was. I got good rehab and stuff, so I feel better than I ever have, even before my senior year. ... I mean, it was really hard. I couldn't even squat or bend my knee after the [Week 4] Miami game."
Adderley played just 10 snaps defensively and 51 on special teams in four games at the start of the season. The Chargers placed Adderley on season-ending injured reserve during Week 8.
"He needs to get healthy, No. 1," Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said. "That's what this offseason is about. He's already had a number of weeks and months to get a head start on that. As he moves into the offseason, he's going to be a defensive back. It could be safety, it could be some nickel corner, it could be corner. We'll kind of see.
"The good thing in his brief amount of time that we saw him in the preseason and a little bit in the regular season, I feel good that he can play in this league. But we need to get him out there. He has some instincts, some quick-twitch. He'll hit. He has a good feel for the game, but he's got to get healthy, then get out there and start competing for time."
When Adderley saw the field, he flashed. Specifically, he corralled an interception and had three pass breakups in the final preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Adderley's main goal this offseason is to get fully healthy and earn a role defensively, possibly as a nickel defender or third safety. The Chargers could use someone with Adderley's versatile skill set to slow down Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Kansas City led the NFL with 21 touchdowns of at least 20 yards from scrimmage during the regular season. The Chargers struggled to get off the field on third down defensively, finishing No. 29 in the NFL in third-down conversion rate (45.1%).
Adderley's innate ability to close on the ball and make tackles in open space could help the Chargers limit explosive plays.

"I want to be someone that they can move around, because I feel like I have the ability -- whether it's at free safety, dime, nickel or corner -- whatever it is, even looking at guys like Jaylen Watkins or Adrian Phillips, I want to reach that level," Adderley said. "Be mentally sound at all those positions and physically make sure my body is able to do those different positions."



Adderley said he will stay in Southern California and train at the Chargers' facility. He looks forward to getting on-field reps once offseason training begins in April; but mentally, he said he feels like he has made strides.
"Just watching film, watching the game and understanding what we're trying to do a whole, not just my individual position, it's helped me out tremendously," Adderley said. "And it's another reason why I feel like I'll be able to be moved around a lot. I'm getting an understanding of what we're trying to do as a whole unit."
Adderley, who started running in December, said he is excited for the offseason so he can begin training the way he wants.
"He got down [on himself] a little bit," Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said. "I don't believe he's ever been hurt before. Sometimes kids don't know how to handle that, so you've got to keep encouraging him and just let him know that he's not letting the team down by not being there. He's got to get himself right, get healthy, and we know he can make plays."

[21&500]

Sounds like the injury was potentially mis managed or misdiagnosed, hard to know for sure.
Like the article said, he showed enough for me to know he’s going to be a good to great player.

[21&500]

Because of James I'm Happy we took K9 over simmons. More team balance now!

Technically we took Herbert over Simmons
wts I’m fine passing on Simmons for sheet positional value
everyone knows Tua was my guy, but a part of me is glad he was gone before our pick. Injury risk scared me a little more than I let on.
regardless of how Herbert turns out, I’m glad we had the balls to go for a franchise QB