2019 Record - 5-11-0
Head Coach - Anthony Lynn
New Players in 2020 - Bryan Bulaga (OL), Nick Vigil (LB), Darius Jennings (WR), Linval Joseph (DL), Storm Norton (OL), Chris Harris, Jr. (DB), Trai Turner (OL)
Players opting out for 2020 season (COVID-19) - None
OFFENSE - For the first time since the 2006 season, the Chargers will have a different starting quarterback as Philip Rivers is now with Indianapolis. Tyrod Taylor is a ten-year veteran who has played with various teams and will be competing with rookie Justin Herbert (Oregon) for the position.
Austin Ekeler will be the primary running back after Melvin Gordon left for Denver as a fee agent in the off-season. Ekeler is a solid two-way back who caught 92 passes for 993 yards and eight touchdowns along with rushing for 557 yards (4.2 yards per carry average) and three touchdowns. Justin Jackson had 200 rushing yards and a 6.9 ypc average and will be the backup. Rookie Joshua Kelley (UCLA) will provide depth.
The wide receivers have Keenan Allen (104 receptions, 1,199 yards, six TD) and Mike Williams (49, 1,001, two TD) along with tight end Hunter Henry (55, 652, five TD) as the starters. Also in the mix are Jason Moore, Darius Jennings and rookie Joe Reed (Virginia), along with tight end Virgil Green, who had nine receptions and one touchdown last season.
DEFENSE - Joey Bosa (11 1/2 QB sacks) and Melvin Ingram (seven sacks) man the end positions and Linval Joseph (three sacks with Minnesota) and Justin Jones are the tackles. Uchenna Nwosu (two sacks), Nick Vigil and either Denzel Perryman or rookie Kenneth Murray, Jr. (Oklahoma) will man the starting linebacking spots. Emeke Egbule and Malik Jefferson are also available.
The secondary has Rayshawn Jenkins (three interceptions) and Derwin James at the safety spots along with corners Casey Heyward, Jr. and Chris Harris, Jr. who comes over from Denver this season. Michael Davis (two picks) and Desmond King (2 1/2 sacks and also one TD as the kick returner) will spell the starters.
The Chargers defense ranked sixth overall last year (313 yards per game allowed) and gave up 21.6 points per game. The run defense allowed 113 YPG (18th) while the pass defense was fifth in the NFL, allowing 200 yards per game while intercepting eleven passes and getting 30 QB sacks.
OUTLOOK FOR 2020 - Head Coach Anthony Lynn is going into his fourth season with the team and he has new faces looking to fill the starting quarterback spot. Philip Rivers was the face of the franchise but suffered through one of his worst seasons in recent years with 20 interceptions and three lost fumbles, which helped the Bolts to a minus-17 in the turnover category.
Whether Tyrod Taylor (who is likely to be the starter in week one) or Justin Herbert plays the QB spot, they must not have those issues if the Chargers are to improve from their last place finish in the AFC West last year. The Chargers offense scored 20.7 points a game in 2019 while ranking tenth overall with 368 yards per game. The passing game averaged 277 YPG (6th) but the running game finished 28th in the NFL, gaining 91 yards per game.
With Austin Ekeler starting, the team can utilize the other two backs during games. Ekeler is an excellent receiver out of the backfield and was only seven yards short of giving the Chargers three 1,000-yard receivers last year. Wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are the men who make it happen for the passing game and they both were over 1,000 yards receiving last year. Hunter Henry is a solid tight end and is a red zone weapon for the team.
Defensively, with Bosa and Ingram the team has two of the better edge rushers in pro football. Problem is no other players were stepping up last year and the team was near the bottom of the league in sacks. Better pressure on opposing quarterbacks will help the secondary, which is one of the better ones in the league.
After making noise as a playoff team in 2018, the Chargers slipped badly last season and if they want to get back to at least being a .500 team in 2020, the defense must do better at stopping the run and forcing more turnovers. The offense needs to find balance by getting the running game back up to speed, which was a sore spot last season. There are many questions for the team, especially with a new quarterback taking over, but with some breaks and less turnovers, the Chargers could surprise some people.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Cincinnati
Week Two - vs. Kansas City
Week Three - vs. Carolina
Week Four - at Tampa Bay
Week Five - at New Orleans
Week Six - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week Seven - at Miami
Week Eight - vs. Jacksonville
Week Nine - vs. Las Vegas
Week Ten - BYE
Week Eleven - at Denver
Week Twelve - at Buffalo
Week Thirteen - vs. New England
Week Fourteen - vs. Atlanta
Week Fifteen - at Las Vegas
Week Sixteen - vs. Denver
Week Seventeen - at Kansas City
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