What the San Diego Chargers Must Improve Most Coming out of Week 10 Bye

The San Diego Chargers have clear adjustments to make. On a three-game losing streak in a crowded AFC playoff race, the team must improve upon four things coming out of the bye if it wants to return to the postseason.

One of these improvements calls for reducing the roles of two established starters. Another suggests Philip Rivers should do less. Don’t worry, explanations are included.

This piece is not about what the Chargers’ weaknesses are—it’s about what they can improve upon. Yes, the offensive line and injuries are hurting the team in a big way. However, these are problems without an obvious solution.

Here is what San Diego has to (and can) fix before its Week 11 tilt with the Oakland Raiders.

Two Glaring Weak Points on Defense

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There has to be some sort of shakeup to the Chargers’ collapsing defense—Kendall Reyes and Donald Butler have not lived up to the hype this season, and their roles should be re-evaluated during the bye week.

Reyes has been a sieve in run defense, which is a common theme for the defensive end under John Pagano. Pagano likes to have his ends occupy two gaps, but Reyes is better suited to shoot one gap with his acceleration and burst.

This is an unhappy marriage between player and scheme. Reyes’ pass rushing is usually enough to make up for this, but he has just one sack to his name this season.

Butler looks like an athlete learning how to play football. His angles to the ball-carrier are erratic, he looks lost in pass coverage—Charles Clay roasted him in Week 9—and he leads the team with eight missed tackles on the season, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The inside linebacker’s big offseason extension has not looked like a good move.

A rework of both players’ roles might be the best way to boost the defense.

Reyes is an ideal rotational pass-rusher for this defense, and Tenny Palepoi and Ricardo Mathews could handle his first- and second-down work. This gives Reyes more energy to collect sacks instead of being pushed around in the ground game.

Butler can be used creatively due to his athleticism. The coaching staff should look at expanding his role as a pass-rusher and special teams ace—Andrew Gachkar can take some of his snaps at inside linebacker assuming Manti Te’o is back in Week 11.

While neither player should be benched outright, their roles need to be reduced. They have been liabilities for a while.

Making Things Easier for Rivers

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Philip Rivers can only carry the offense for so long.

The popular choice for MVP after Week 6, Rivers’ candidacy has fallen off a cliff due to his recent struggles. He averaged a 69.0 passer rating in the last three games, all of which were losses.

It is surprising Rivers held on for this long with the crumbling personnel around him—the Chargers’ offensive line and running back units are among the worst in the NFL due to injuries. Defenses have no incentive to change their “tee off on Rivers” game plan, as there is no running threat to hold them back.

When running back Ryan Mathews returns to the starting lineup, the Chargers have to get back to the efficient, clock-churning style that defined their December 2013 hot streak. Protect Rivers with frequent (and successful) handoffs, and he should have no problem getting his play back up to an MVP level.

Quick-hitting strikes to Keenan Allen and Eddie Royal should also help Rivers stay upright. Allen is having a quiet sophomore season, and Royal has cooled off after a surprisingly great start. Both thrive on short routes and yards after the catch, and the Chargers haven’t used either enough during their three-game slide.

The Uninspiring Return Game

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While Keenan Allen and Eddie Royal can certainly play receiver, they have done little returning punts.

The Chargers rank 28th in total punt return yardage and 29th in total kick return yardage, per Pro Football Reference. Although Rivers and the offense haven't caught fire in the past three contests, the return game has not given them anything to capitalize on.

San Diego’s woes in this area can be attributed to its lack of an explosive young athlete primed to make splash plays. There is no Cordarrelle Patterson or De'Anthony Thomas on the team—it hasn't drafted one. 2014 seventh-round pick Tevin Reese was supposed to add some spice to the return game, but he disappointed and was released during final cuts.

Luckily for the Chargers, they may have stumbled upon an undrafted gem in cornerback Chris Davis. While Davis isn't starter material on defense, he was one of the few positives in the Miami Dolphins loss on special teams—he returned four kicks for 116 yards in his first piece of major action. If he keeps up the good work, Rivers and the offense will be consistently playing on a shorter field.

The Role of Ladarius Green

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Green is a nightmare for any defender to cover, and his length and speed are comparable to any star tight end in the league today. But after an offseason of wild hype, Green has produced a mere 12 catches for 165 yards. What's the deal?

Antonio Gates' continued excellence might play a role, but two tight ends running routes on the same play is nothing extraordinary in today's NFL. If a player is truly worthy, coaches will fit their scheme to him.

Green's lack of refinement in blocking and running routes could be a possibility, although it's tough to draw conclusions on his strengths and weaknesses when he gets so few snaps. That's something only the Chargers know at this point.

This speculation shouldn’t be happening. The Chargers offense hasn't taken off lately, and a curveball like Green could pay off huge dividends versus unprepared coordinators. The offensive line isn't going to get any better—the team might as well figure out ways to work around it.