When Jim Harbaugh was employed as the top coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, a transfer I used to be excited for was bringing his defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, with him to the NFL to name the protection for LA. His defenses had been extremely versatile and disciplined whereas at Michigan, and a few of the identical stuff that present Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald runs could be carried out with the Chargers.
To this point, the rent has been a powerful success. Los Angeles is second in defensive EPA per play allowed, fifth in EPA allowed per cross and is permitting the least factors per recreation in your entire league. Of their first yr beneath Jesse Minter, the Chargers’ protection has persistently grown into the unit I hoped for them to be at the start of the season, and that development has me intrigued for his or her future outlook in addition to Minter’s potential as a head coach. Of their 27-10 victory over the Browns, the Chargers held Cleveland to a -0.28 EPA per play and picked off QB Jameis Winston thrice. Let’s dive into the movie to see why I’m so enthusiastic about this Chargers’ protection.
It begins up entrance within the run recreation for me. Their skill to cease the run out of 2-high shells has been essential to their total success. The Chargers enable the sixth-lowest EPA per try within the run recreation when defending it with a light-weight field (six or fewer defenders), and I largely assume it’s due to their mechanics up entrance within the run recreation that enable them to be higher in opposition to the cross. In case you can cease the run with fewer defenders, you’ll be able to commit extra our bodies to the passing recreation, a first-rate instance of why coaches emphasize stopping the run a lot.
The Browns are operating zone to the weak facet of the formation, however earlier than the ball is snapped, take a look at how the Chargers are aligned. They’ve a defensive sort out on the within shoulder of the left guard (2i approach), one other sort out on the surface shoulder of the best guard (3 approach), and two edge defenders. A standard 4 man entrance in a nickel formation. Nonetheless, the alignment of the linebackers is what makes this go. By placing LB Daiyan Henley immediately over the B-gap, this could let him play the ball faster and keep away from getting touched by the left guard, as a result of he has to double on the 2i. LB Denzel Perryman is over the bottom A-gap taking part in the cutback as effectively, so there’s nowhere for RB Nick Chubb to go. EDGE Khalil Mack forces this run to bounce, and since Henley is unblocked he can fly in for this sort out and hold it to a brief achieve.
They had been additionally capable of stymie the run recreation out of a number of fronts, and Henley was an enormous a part of that as effectively. They initially line up of their nickel formation, however as an alternative of lining Henley up over the B-gap, they stroll him right down to the sting to create a five-man entrance out their nickel personnel. Then, they convey S Derwin James off the sting on the snap, sliding EDGE Tuli Tuipulotou inside. On the opposite facet, they slant everybody a niche throughout, forcing RB Nick Chubb to chop again proper into Henley.
They’re additionally getting some superhuman performances alongside their defensive position within the run recreation. Watch nostril sort out Teair Tart on this break up dive motion. He’s getting doubled, however he doesn’t quit any floor, retains the left guard from getting a clear angle on Perryman, and nonetheless helps to make this sort out for a brief achieve. Above all of the schematics of the protection, the Chargers are getting actually good play from everybody concerned of their protection, particularly up entrance.
Within the passing recreation, the factor that stands out essentially the most in regards to the Chargers’ protection is how a lot area they shut. They don’t simply cowl grass, no. They’re making an attempt to squeeze the air out of all of the routes, making all throws tight window passes. Minter has the defensive backs taking part in at a excessive degree, and it permits them to get actually versatile. Right here, LA opens with three safeties on third down, however as an alternative of operating Tampa 2 like each crew does in these three-safety appears to be like, they spin to Cowl 1, with S Alohi Gilman going from the hashmarks to the center of the sphere as a robber. There’s no area for any of those passes to actually be thought of open and it finally ends up falling incomplete.
This one is de facto enjoyable, largely due to how Minter aligns Derwin James and Daiyan Henley. they’re each lined up as linebackers, however Henley is walked as much as the road of scrimmage wanting like he’s going to blitz. It is a enjoyable method of entering into Tampa 2, with James being the center runner as an alternative of Henley. However watch this play by the second-year linebacker. He will get an amazing quantity of depth and virtually picks this ball off. I’ve been enthusiastic about his development in LA, and he could possibly be a possible participant if he retains this up.
The Chargers have the Titans up subsequent, however I’m cautiously excited for his or her playoff hopes. They’ve a legit protection, and QB Justin Herbert is taking part in at a really excessive degree. They’ve a tough stretch of video games quickly, together with consecutive weeks of the Bengals, Ravens, Chiefs, Falcons and Buccaneers, however Minter has this protection rolling and a should see unit.
