Jump to content

WK4: Arizona @ San Diego


Real Deal
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • 1 month later...
CHARGERS NOTES: Starters likely to help out on special teams

 

Font Size:Default font sizeLarger font size.SAN DIEGO -- Three games into the season the Chargers have surrendered three touchdowns on special teams, and coach Norv Turner vowed on Monday that personnel changes are ahead.

 

Specifically, Turner said that some of his offensive and defensive starters with special teams experience will be used to bolster units littered with first- and second-year players.

 

"They still have a role on special teams, but we've minimized it a little bit," Turner said. "We'll take that role back up."

 

The Chargers rank next-to-last among the 32 NFL teams in both punt return average allowed and kickoff return average allowed. The special teams breakdowns have played a significant role in the team's 1-2 start.

 

A year ago, Mike Tolbert and Kassim Osgood led the Chargers in special teams tackles.

 

This season, Tolbert has taken on more responsibility as a running back, leading the team in rushing yards with first-round draft pick Ryan Mathews having battled injury and confidence problems.

 

Osgood left the team as a free agent in search of an organization that would allow him to play wide receiver. He found that team in Jacksonville.

 

It didn't help that linebackers Jyles Tucker and Larry English, a couple of top coverage guys who were expected to soften the impact of Osgood's departure, were inactive for the Seahawks game.

 

The special teams woes have played a significant role in the Chargers' two seven-point losses, taking some of the luster off an offensive unit that leads the league in passing.

 

"There were a lot of guys who did a lot of good things," Turner said, "performed at a high level and it doesn't show up because of the errors that were made."

 

Quarterback Philip Rivers was emphatic when asked if he's confident the special teams units will overcome their struggles.

 

"The highest level, 100 percent," said Rivers, who threw for a team-record 455 yards against Seattle. "It'll get done, just like every other area that needs to get better."

 

LINK

 

You have to do what you have to do, cant really say anymore.

Edited by ChosenOne
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...