San Diego Chargers Defense Rejuvenated by New Acquisitions

There weren’t many defenses statistically worse than the one in San Diego last season. The San Diego Chargers compensated for their defense with an offense that placed a premium on ball control, but they were so efficient that replicating that success was going to be difficult even with a great quarterback like Philip Rivers.

Through three games in 2014, the offense has been nearly as efficient, but the defense has also improved. The Chargers spent nearly all their offseason resources trying to improve on the defensive side of the ball, and it’s paying off. The additions on defense have contributed, and they seem to be rejuvenating the returning players around them.  

Pass-rusher Dwight Freeney originally signed last year, but after missing most of the 2013 season with an injury, he is only now becoming the force the Chargers hoped he could be for them. The signing of cornerback Brandon Flowers has been boon for a thin secondary, and rookie cornerback Jason Verrett looks like one of the rare players who can contribute at that position in his first year.

Those three players have all made big contributions to the early defensive turnaround, but perhaps just as important is how they have affected free safety Eric Weddle and defensive end Corey Liuget. Perhaps due to the lack of talent around them, some of the Chargers’ best defensive talent faltered in 2013.

Players	2014	2013
Eric Weddle	6.3	12.9
Dwight Freeney	6.8	5.1 (4 games)
Brandon Flowers	5.4	-5.4
Corey Liuget	3.1	-8
Jason Verrett	2.9	N/A

Weddle had to cover up for a lot of warts in the secondary last season, which affected his ability to be a playmaker. Weddle was still productive but didn’t have an All-Pro caliber season we are accustomed to seeing from him.

It’s been different in 2014, as if he is no longer worried about players around him not doing their job. Weddle is playing fast, and it’s rubbing off on the whole defense.

"It looked like all 11 players had a '32' jersey on (Sunday)," said fellow safety Jahleel Addae via Tom Krasovic of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Of course, Weddle’s impact goes far beyond just making his teammates better.  Weddle is actually out there making plays like he did for the years prior to last year‘s defensive debacle.

"(Weddle) is a wild card; offenses don't know what he's doing to do," Eddie Royal said via Krasovic.

The fans also expected Liuget to have a big year in 2013, but he went the opposite direction in some ways.  It now appears Liuget is back on track and on the cusp of a big 2014. 

The Chargers currently rank third in the league in points per game, which is actually a modest improvement over last season compared to most categories.  In just about every other defensive category, the Chargers are nearly 10 spots higher than they were a season ago.

Stat Comparison	2014	2013
Yards Per Game	327.6 (10)	366.5 (25)
Yards Per Play	5.8 (21)	6.1 (31)
Yards Per Carry	5.0 (25)	4.6 (29)
Yards Per Pass Attempt	7.3 (19)	8.0 (29)
Points Per Gmae	16.3 (3)	21.8 (11)
Sack%	6.4 (13)	6.0 (24)
Play Per Drive	-	6.0 (32)
Yards Per Drive	-	35.2 (31)
TOP Per Drive	-	2:39 (24)
Points Per Drive	-	1.98 (23)

It’s obviously a small sample, but the Chargers schedule has also been more difficult than it was on average last season. The Chargers play the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend, and the Jaguars will start a rookie quarterback in Blake Bortles. Defensively, the Chargers should look even better at this same time next week.

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Freeney has been the Chargers’ best defender so far this season with two sacks, three quarterback hits and 11 hurries. Freeney has also been good against the run, which is sort of like a bonus for a pass-rusher at his age.

Weddle, Flowers and Verrett all have positive pass-coverage grades on Pro Football Focus so far in 2014. The only defensive back with a positive grade against the pass last year was Weddle and most of them were deeply in the negative.

There are a lot more positives on defense than last season. 

Liuget’s grade is mostly due to his work in the run game, which is the opposite of his grade last season. That doesn’t mean Liuget’s production as a pass-rusher is faltering since he has two sacks, six quarterback hits and four quarterback hurries per Pro Football Focus.

It’s only a matter of time before he starts breaking through in the passing game more frequently as he did in the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. In the fourth quarter, Liuget strip-sacked quarterback EJ Manuel for a loss of 17 yards on 3rd-and-5 and later pressured him into a safety.

Liuget was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his effort, according to Michael Gehlken of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

"The hard work, the leadership he shows out there, the want-to and everything has been outstanding," said head coach Mike McCoy via Gehlken. "(The recognition) doesn't surprise me at all. It's well deserved."

The Chargers will need to keep things going defensively because the offense might not be quite as efficient without running back Danny Woodhead.  If Weddle and his cohorts continue to play like they have through three games, the Chargers should be just fine.