By: Chris Disney

Time For Urgency

It’s been a few weeks since my last article. Don’t worry, I haven’t given up on the Chargers. Life gets busy, and like some coaches in the NFL, I lack time management. Frankly, though, it’s my opinion that this team just isn’t good right now! We can point the blame at the endless list of offensive tackles who have been hurt. We can point the finger at the injuries at the running back position that have made the Chargers one-dimensional offensively. However, those positions don’t play defense. The Chargers’ defense seemed so potent in Brazil, full of swagger and energy. It is now undisciplined and out of sorts.

I don’t know if it’s a lack of pass rush, but this defense has been getting shredded like cheddar cheese lately. It’s all fixable, though, especially with Mack coming back and Troy Dye becoming healthy again. Reading their keys, staying in their gaps, and tightening up their zones a bit. This defense will begin to look like the 9th-ranked defense in the league that it is. It seems like such a simple fix, yet for the last 3 games, it’s been a struggle that seems like

We have got to have some urgency, though, because this team is teetering on the edge of another lost season under Justin Herbert. With the Minnesota Vikings coming into SoFi Stadium Thursday night, they will be coming off a crushing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. They will be hungry to spoil the Chargers’ only home Thursday night game. So what’s the key to this game for the Chargers in a quick turnaround game?

The Key to the Game: Heat the Pressure Cooker

I just talked about urgency and how it’s necessary at this point in the season. That’s why I believe we need to heat the pressure cooker not just on defense but offensively as well. We need more tempo and quicker releases on these pass plays. This completely falls on Greg Roman, who has failed to build an offensive game plan to combat the injuries on the offensive line. He needs more simple run plays that rely on draws or delays, mixing in some quick screen plays because defenses are pressuring Herbert more than ever.

On defense, we have to be a bit more creative with blitzing. With the addition of Khalil Mack coming back, we should see more game blitzing and zero blitz. The Chargers are one of the least blitz-happy teams in the league. They rely on zone coverage with 4 linemen applying pressure, which earlier in the year was effective, but the last month, though it hasn’t been. Carson Wentz was continuously harassed last week, which made him ineffective. If we can put the pressure on him with some delayed blitzes and disguised looks, we will force him to make bad decisions, which should make the game fall in our favor. However, if we fail to put pressure on, this game could get away from the Chargers fast with the Vikings’ potent wide receiving core. So who wins this thing?

Score Prediction

Minnesota Vikings: 24

Los Angeles Chargers: 27

#BoltUp

Shoutout my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, of whom this is all possible!