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Lindsey ThiryESPN
COSTA MESA, Calif. — The largest query that loomed over the Los Angeles Chargers after their meltdown wild-card loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars was whether or not coach Brandon Staley would return.
However Staley will be back for a third season, and common supervisor Tom Telesco will return for an eleventh.
Nevertheless, adjustments to the Chargers’ workers are underway after the firing of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, quarterbacks coach Shane Day and linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite.
Who Staley chooses to fill these positions, plus a looming contract extension for quarterback Justin Herbert, make for an intriguing offseason for the Bolts, who completed the season 10-7 and earned their third playoff look in 10 seasons.
Listed here are three massive questions dealing with the Chargers on the outset of the offseason:
When will the Chargers strike a deal on a Justin Herbert contract extension?
4 days after a season-ending loss to the Jaguars, Telesco mentioned he had but to consider contracts, together with Herbert’s, however added, “Clearly we wish him right here for a very long time.”
The sixth-overall choose in 2020, Herbert grew to become eligible for a contract extension on the finish of the season.
Herbert, who turns 25 in March and just lately underwent surgery on his non-throwing shoulder, proved this season that not solely that he might proceed to surpass many statistical milestones (He cruised by Andrew Luck for the most passing yards in the first three seasons of an NFL career, amongst different feats), however that he may lead a group to the postseason.
“I sleep higher at night time realizing now we have a franchise quarterback,” Telesco mentioned. “He’s achieved a lot already in his younger profession, but everyone knows there’s nonetheless lots there due to his dedication to the sport.”
“He took an enormous step ahead this 12 months as a participant,” Staley mentioned. “[He] actually introduced out the very best in him as a participant, when it comes to the challenges, from an damage standpoint, each upfront and at his talent positions.”
Herbert didn’t miss a begin regardless of fracturing rib cartilage in Week 2. He additionally performed many of the season with out beginning left deal with Rashawn Slater and solely had receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams out there collectively for 4 full video games.
Since getting into the NFL, Herbert’s whole quarterback score ranks fourth behind Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers. In that timespan, he’s handed for 14,089 yards (ranked third), 94 touchdowns (sixth) and has a 2.69 touchdown-to-interception ratio (ninth).
Loads of time stays earlier than a deal should get achieved, Herbert’s solely getting into the fourth 12 months of a five-year rookie contract, however it could be useful to signal Herbert quickly.
“I’m assured that Justin Herbert goes to be a Charger for a very long time,” Staley mentioned.
Herbert is anticipating an extension price greater than $50 million per 12 months and the value will solely go up with quarterbacks Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, Tua Tagavailoa and Lamar Jackson additionally eligible for extensions.
For Herbert, it could probably show useful, no less than financially, to attract out the method.
What sort of offense will the brand new coordinator set up?
Herbert is the pillar of the offense and the Chargers wish to intensify his arm, however to do this they need to successfully run the soccer, an space that’s been in continuous decline all through Herbert’s profession. Final season, the Bolts rushed for a mean of 89.6 yards per sport (ranked thirtieth).
Staley, who served because the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator in 2020, mentioned a Sean McVay-style offense or one like San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s would function fashions for the type the Chargers wish to deploy.
“When it comes to the passing sport, that’s what we’ve been in a position to do at a excessive stage for the final two years, throw the soccer,” Staley mentioned. “However, to be extra explosive, you have got to have the ability to run the soccer extra persistently to place extra stress on folks.”
The Chargers introduced that they’ve to date accomplished interviews with Rams passing sport coordinator and quarterback coach Zac Robinson, Rams senior offensive assistant Greg Olson, Rams assistant head coach and tight ends coach Thomas Brown and Minnesota Vikings assistant quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson.
“The offenses that I believe are essentially the most difficult to defend … are those that put a number of stress on you each snap, when it comes to marrying the run sport to the cross sport,” Staley mentioned, “placing a number of stress on you with personnel groupings, tempo, movement, and with the ability to get the explosions persistently.”
Amongst qualities that Staley will search in a coordinator embrace management and magnificence of play. Nevertheless, expertise just isn’t a prerequisite for the place. The Rams employed Staley, who produced the league’s top-rated protection in 2020, regardless of having no expertise as a coordinator.
“Three years in the past, there was an outdoor linebackers coach that solely had three years of NFL expertise that grew to become a defensive coordinator, and I used to be that man that nobody knew about,” Staley mentioned. “What it’s a must to do is undergo a course of to find folks like that. Like I mentioned, good coaches are available all sizes and shapes, all ranges of expertise.”
Was the protection’s late-season turnaround actual or a façade?
The Bolts’ protection dramatically improved down the stretch, however a number of elements have to be accounted for.
They went 4-0 towards groups that have been a mixed 2-14 over that very same interval, however then suffered an upset towards the 5-12 Broncos in a regular-season finale, permitting the Broncos to achieve a season-high 471 yards (The Chargers did steadily pull some defensive starters across the fourth quarter).
The protection completed the season ranked twenty first total, permitting a mean of twenty-two.59 factors per sport, although it jumped to 3rd from Week 14 via 18, permitting a mean of 15 factors per sport.
Within the wild-card playoff sport, they compelled 4 turnovers, together with three interceptions by cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. However the unit additionally allowed quarterback Trevor Lawrence to cross for 4 touchdowns within the second half.
“When issues settled down on the finish of the season, we have been taking part in at a excessive stage and the way in which that we anticipate to play, the usual of efficiency that we anticipate,” Staley mentioned. “There have been a number of good takeaways from the way in which we completed the season. We acquired contributions from a number of guys. I assumed we developed guys effectively.”