5 Adjustments the San Diego Chargers Must Make in Week 4
The San Diego Chargers still have work to do.
After a 22-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the Chargers are sitting at 2-1 and looking ahead to a more peaceful stretch in their schedule. They begin that stretch by facing the 0-3 Jacksonville Jaguars, a team now starting rookie quarterback Blake Bortles, in Week 4.
However, San Diego should not rest easy. Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com confirmed running back and third-down machine Danny Woodhead is out for the season with a broken fibula, and Ryan Mathews is still healing from an MCL sprain. Donald Brown did not look good as the team's lead back, and the Chargers are still searching for a boost to their running game.
The running game is the crux of the Chargers' problems, but it isn't the only issue the team needs to address before facing the Jaguars in a potential trap game. Here are five adjustments the Chargers must make before Week 4 to stay above .500.
Find a Spark for Donald Brown
1 of 5
There has been a buzz around Donald Brown since the Bills game. Unfortunately, that is mainly due to his ugly rushing total—he needed 31 carries to get to 62 yards on Sunday—and lingering questions about filling the Woodhead void.
Save for a 14-yard run in the first quarter, Brown was quiet in Buffalo. He primarily ran via draws and counters but neither gave the team much success. The Chargers won because of their efficient passing game and EJ Manuel's inaccuracy—the dormant rushing attack kept the game close, if anything.
It is fair to wonder whether or not Brown can carry the load. He is averaging 2.0 yards per carry this season. If the Chargers only needed that from their running back, they could have picked up any street-level free agent in the offseason instead of signing Brown to a pricey contract.
San Diego needs to tweak its running game if the team is to get on any sort of hot streak. Delayed handoffs are good, especially for a back like Brown, but they shouldn't be a running game’s bread and butter like they have been so far. It gets predictable.
The Chargers need to keep adding wrinkles to their running game in preparation for Week 4—more off-tackle runs, which would utilize the strengths of D.J. Fluker and King Dunlap, could help give Brown a spark.
Play-action passes wouldn't hurt, either—the Chargers ranked second in DVOA on play action in 2013 but 32nd in play-action usage rate, per Football Outsiders. The fear of Rivers faking the handoff could open up easy lanes for Brown.
Contain the Mobile Quarterback
2 of 5
The Chargers defense didn't have too much trouble versus Manuel and the unpredictable Bills offense, but the unit did miss a few opportunities to shut the game down much earlier.
In the second quarter, Manuel slipped out of the grasp of several Chargers defenders and connected with Scott Chandler for a 37-yard gain. The big play led to a Buffalo field goal, reducing San Diego's lead to 10-3.
Besides that highlight, Manuel almost exclusively picked up yardage via short passes to the running backs—Fred Jackson caught eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, and C.J. Spiller added three catches for 37 yards. This allowed Manuel to get into a rhythm one drive and march down the field for a touchdown.
While the Jaguars do not have Fred Jackson or C.J. Spiller on their offense, they do have a new quarterback who can gain chunk yardage with his legs. Bortles might not be threatening in the pocket at this stage in his career, but he does have enough athleticism to make defenders miss in the open field.
The Chargers need to prevent Bortles from extending plays and completing easy throws to his running backs, an oft-used safety valve for a young passer, to put the game away early.
Corey Liuget and Dwight Freeney have been playing great for San Diego this year, and their stats would look even better if they missed fewer sack attempts. If they maximize more of their opportunities versus the Jaguars, Bortles won't be able to abuse his biggest strength—his scrambling ability.
More aggressiveness from defensive coordinator John Pagano would also help prevent Bortles from getting comfortable. Pagano did a great job in the first half blitzing Manuel, but he played it safe as the Chargers were nursing their lead in the second half, allowing the Bills to score their only touchdown of the day.
Begin the Keenan Allen Show
3 of 5
Eventually, wide receiver Keenan Allen will have to get used to drawing the defense's top cover man.
Allen has 109 yards for a quiet 9.1 yards per catch through three games this year. He's drawn the likes of Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman and the underrated Corey Graham in coverage—not the easiest players to roast.
However, Antonio Gates isn't going to have a throwback performance every week, and the Chargers will need Allen's smooth receiving skills much like they did at the end of his breakout rookie campaign. This is especially true with Woodhead out for the year.
Since the Jaguars lack a top cover corner, offensive coordinator Frank Reich's game plan should feature Allen early and often. The Rivers-to-Allen connection needs to pick up where it left off last year and targeting a suspect pass defense is a good way to do just that.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Give Branden Oliver More Snaps
4 of 5
Running back Branden Oliver, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Buffalo, is now in line for a major role in the Chargers offense with Woodhead and Mathews injured.
At 5'8" with solid receiving skills, Oliver could do a decent Woodhead imitation while Brown plays the role of Mathews. However, San Diego was hesitant in giving the rookie a bevy of snaps after Woodhead went down at Buffalo—Oliver played a mere six snaps on Sunday, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
The Chargers' cautious approach with Oliver needs to change soon. He flashed real talent during the preseason, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and drawing Darren Sproles comparisons. He will inevitably take his share of rookie lumps, but he offers explosive playmaking ability at a position the Chargers have gotten little out of.
San Diego might tinker with Oliver in Week 4, using him as both a runner and receiver. He should have plenty of opportunities to get his feet wet versus a Jaguars defense prone to big plays. If Rivers develops a rapport with him, it gives the team a much-needed lift after the loss of Woodhead.
Increase Variety on Third Downs
5 of 5
The Chargers converted just 5-of-13 of their third downs against the Bills, the fewest the team has converted this season.
There was one reason for San Diego's struggles in this department, and it stuck out like a sore thumb: On four of the Chargers' eight failed conversions, Rivers dumped off a short pass to Brown that went nowhere. With a back like Woodhead or Oliver, that would make sense, but Brown makes his bread via his running ability. He should only be thrown the ball as a last resort.
Long drives are the lifeblood of San Diego's offense, as shown in its victory over the Seahawks. The fewer third downs this team makes, the fewer chances it has to stick to its mantra.
The offense's play-calling on third down must improve as Rivers and Reich get used to Woodhead's absence. If the Chargers become too predictable in that area, defenses will take away the running back in the flat and the offense will stall.
Against Jacksonville, San Diego should expand its third-down repertoire. Allen, Gates and Ladarius Green are all tall targets that can move the chains when needed. Brown needs to stick to the running game, especially with the Chargers suddenly so thin in the backfield.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
