Dissecting Most Crucial Matchups in San Diego Chargers' Week 12 Game with Rams
The San Diego Chargers’ three most important matchups with the St. Louis Rams pit the old against the new.
Struggling veteran Johnnie Troutman needs to play rookie wunderkind Aaron Donald to a draw. The ageless Antonio Gates must best the emerging Alec Ogletree. Defensive star Eric Weddle has to win his open-field matchups against the explosive Tre Mason.
To top the Rams and reach 7-4, the Chargers will have to beat some pretty impressive young players. In this article, we’ll dissect these matchups, determine their importance and figure out what the Chargers can do to gain the upper hand.
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The Chargers are cautiously optimistic after squeaking by the winless Raiders, as they snapped their three-game slide and got several now-healthy starters back in the lineup. Philip Rivers’ continued regression is something to be worried about, but the return of running back Ryan Mathews should ease things for him and the turnstile offensive line.
The Rams are riding high after a convincing win over the Broncos. Shaun Hill looked like a capable quarterback, and the defense was nothing short of transcendent, holding Denver to one touchdown. Although the Rams’ postseason chances are slim, they have the requisite talent to ruin the days of playoff hopefuls like San Diego.
Let’s begin with the matchup that could easily become the most lopsided, which would send the Chargers’ offense into free fall.
Johnnie Troutman vs. Aaron Donald
Asking right guard Johnnie Troutman to turn his nightmare season around and blank defensive tackle Aaron Donald would be asking too much. The Chargers shouldn’t expect dominance here but would benefit immensely if Troutman plays at a league-average level.
Troutman has been far too hesitant this season when engaging his man, often retreating in an attempt to get proper leverage. When the opponent can convert speed into power, his poor technique lends itself to nasty results, as demonstrated in the play below:
Donald isn’t as gifted athletically as Richardson is, but his technical prowess and impressive motor are stunning for a player his age. He can expose any poor set Troutman attempts to throw at him. Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase attested to Donald’s game-wrecking ability, per DenverBroncos.com’s Andrew Mason:
Troutman won’t be facing Donald on every snap—the Rams run plenty of stunts, and Donald is effective when paired with Robert Quinn on the right side—but he must perform somewhat well in this matchup. That way, running up the middle won’t be a death sentence for Ryan Mathews and Branden Oliver. Additionally, the running backs will be able to focus more on helping with Quinn than having to choose between the two pass-rushers.
If Troutman uses his hands well and keeps pace with the relentless Donald, the Chargers’ offense won’t have its game plan ruined. That is certainly a step in the right direction.
Antonio Gates vs. Alec Ogletree
Tight end Antonio Gates has been quiet of late, averaging 30 receiving yards and zero touchdowns in the past two games. The Chargers need the sticky-handed veteran to get back on track, especially with the struggling Rivers facing a terrifying Rams pass rush.
Gates at his best is a third-down machine who can help the Chargers safely traverse the field with quick, efficient routes. His route-running leaves slower linebackers in the dust, while his size helps box out safeties.
But Gates will have his hands full this week. He’ll be facing second-year defender Alec Ogletree, a size and speed freak who is beginning to put it all together as a coverage linebacker. Quarterbacks targeting Ogletree in the past three weeks have struggled immensely.
| Catch Percentage | INTs / PDs | NFL Rating | Yards Allowed | |
| Week 9 | 33.3 | 1 | 42.4 | 5 |
| Week 10 | 66.7 | 2 | 51.4 | 48 |
| Week 11 | 55.6 | 1 | 36.1 | 59 |
There hasn’t been any radical change to the Rams’ defense—Ogletree is simply playing more patiently and with better technique. His Week 11 interception of Peyton Manning is a perfect example of a raw talent developing into a quality starter:
Jacob Tamme isn’t the second coming of Kellen Winslow, but this is a play Ogletree wouldn’t have been in position to make a year ago. Now, he’s taking advantage of subpar throws and his superb athleticism.
Gates must win this matchup Sunday. Otherwise, Rivers won’t have a safety valve when Donald and Quinn inevitably bring the heat. This wouldn’t have been much of an issue earlier in the season, but now Rivers is playing with a hurried internal clock and making some unwise decisions. Eventually, he will force some throws to Gates in an attempt to make something happen.
It’s up to Professor Gates to school Ogletree with excellent positioning. Otherwise, Ogletree will capitalize on the Rams’ pressure with an interception.
Tre Mason vs. Eric Weddle
Absurd amounts of time have been devoted to decoding the Rams’ running-back-by-committee these past few seasons. Fantasy football writers can now rest easy—rookie Tre Mason has taken the reins of the St. Louis backfield and could give the Chargers plenty of trouble Sunday.
Mason had a career-high 29 carries and 113 yards against the Broncos, spending plenty of time grinding between the tackles to milk the clock. However, Mason is at his best when using his speed on the perimeter. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he has 6.0 yards per carry, 10 missed tackles and 71 yards after contact when running to the left end.
His success on the outside is due to a number of different things. First, the Rams’ play-calling has been creative with outside runs, often running a trips formation on the right side and tossing the ball to the leftward Mason. Second, tight end Jared Cook and former Auburn teammate Greg Robinson have been effective as Mason's escorts. Third, it takes advantage of his burst and strength in the open field, which impressed analyst Ben Fennell:
The Rams will be getting Mason out in the open often, as Hill isn’t going to turn into Aaron Rodgers anytime soon. This means one of the league’s most active safeties versus the run, Eric Weddle, will be seeing him plenty in Week 12.
Weddle leads the Chargers with 49 tackles and 19 stops this year, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He is also missing fewer tackles than last season, which will be important against a player like Mason.
Weddle plays wherever the Chargers need him to, and it would be best for San Diego to use him as an eighth man in the box when Mason is in the backfield. Proper angles and downhill tackling will be crucial. Otherwise, Mason will spin through these attempts and gain 20-yarder after 20-yarder.
If the Rams’ offense can thrive through their running game, the defense can stay fresh and feel more secure in blitzing. That is the exact opposite of what the Chargers want—Weddle must play at his usual high level.
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