Chargers’ Brandon Staley blamed for running struggles – Orange County Register

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COSTA MESA – The Chargers did extensive assessments for all three phases of their squad over the off week and addressed some of the concerns by signing players and tinkering with plans.

They added kicker Dustin Hopkins and returns specialist Andre Roberts to possibly improve their special teams issues. On offense, the Chargers plan to incorporate more calls to screen and play and aim for efficiency in the first downs.

As far as defense goes, it was obvious the Chargers needed to improve their ground defense, but they have yet to make any outside moves to resolve the season’s problem.

Maybe that could change before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, but Chargers coach Brandon Staley didn’t mention keeping their options open like he said regarding the kicker situation.

For Staley, the best way to fix the league’s worst defense is to improve his teaching methods. He has taken the blame for the matter of concern and seems focused on settling it with the players in his current roster.

“Our mechanics and our forward technique at the first level need to improve,” Staley said of a unit that allows 162.5 rushing yards per game, the worst in the league. “It has to improve with me – I have to do a better job of coaching. Our players will play better if we define things better. At this first level, it will help a lot. Behind that we had some replacement problems in the limit from the point of view of the assistance to the race which hurt us. Really, it was sometimes uneven (in) the first six games. ”

Staley said the tough six-game schedule to start the season against three of the top teams on the ground – the Baltimore Ravens, the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys – played a role in why they are ranked low. defensive. But the schedule doesn’t get any easier on Sunday with the Chargers hosting the New England Patriots, which includes a running backing committee made up of Damien Harris, Brandon Bolden, Rhamondre Stevenson and JJ Taylor.

“We faced three premium racing teams who exhibited some of these tough times for us due to the prolificity of their runners and their racing attacks,” said Staley. “You may ask me why it didn’t go well enough.

“We’ve made some good fixes over the past week. I’m excited to start with our guys because I know we’ve got what it takes, and we’re excited to compete with a really good racing team. New England has always been able to lead the game.

The Chargers could get a boost with defense if defensive tackle Justin Jones is able to play on Sunday. Jones, who hasn’t played since Week 1, is on the injured list with a calf injury but returned to training this week. Staley said he was optimistic about his role against the Patriots.

“All of our defense, not just the defensive run,” Staley said of the help Jones could provide. “He’s also a very good rusher. He is a quality player. He plays the game the way we want to play it.

Whether Jones returns on Sunday or not, the Chargers need better play from their first seven players, including defensive tackle Jerry Tillery. Tillery’s inconsistent performance this season has garnered a lot of attention due to his status as the team’s first-round pick in 2019.

Staley has said Tillery needs to improve his ground defense, but he continues to have high hopes for his future.

“In the passing race he was a factor, which is one of his strengths,” Staley said. “In the racing game, he has to improve, like all of us. Where it starts is with me. We had very good conversations about all of our defense by being more specific, more defined. It will help everyone, especially Jerry. But I like his approach and I really enjoy training him. He’s up for it, and I think you’re going to see a lot of good football from him this second half of the season.

Staley has said he’s happy with Christian Covington’s game this season while replacing injured Jones. If Jones returns this week, Staley may have to decide between Tillery and Covington for the starting third inside defensive lineman alongside Linval Joseph and Jones.

But despite the impending decision, Staley plans to play both Covington and Tillery. He’s determined to make it work with his current players, but it starts with training, according to Staley.

INJURY UPDATES

Chargers running back Austin Ekeler was a surprise addition to the injury report on Thursday.

Ekeler did not train due to a hip injury. He’s been injured this season but hasn’t missed a game.

Linebacker Drue Tranquill (chest) was a limited participant for a second straight day.

Thursday’s #NEvsLAC injury report pic.twitter.com/lebzTTMt6u

– Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 28, 2021

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