Three years into his job, coach Brandon Staley still has not been able to put together a solid defense with the Chargers. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The reporter termed it the “Brandon Staley Plan,” the question to Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel framed in a way that suggested he had been outsmarted by the Chargers’ coach when their teams met last December.
That day the Chargers won by controlling time of possession, making Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa look overwhelmed and holding Miami to 17 points and 219 yards.
A few days before a rematch to open this season, McDaniel was reminded of Staley’s defensive masterpiece. With a chuckle, he basically dismissed the question.
When the opportunity to atone for that loss arrived, McDaniel basically dismissed Staley.
On the first play of the game, edge rusher Joey Bosa was called for offside. In retrospect, there is something supremely appropriate about the Chargers’ defense opening the season by walking backward.
The next two snaps resulted in 16- and 35-yard Tagovailoa completions, and the demise of the Chargers was under way.
Read more: Chargers hope Easton Stick can overachieve after losing Justin Herbert for the season
Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, Mike Williams. The Chargers had enough playmakers on offense entering the season, the hiring of Kellen Moore as coordinator only confirming as much. It was the defense that would determine how far this team traveled. Thirteen games and eight losses later, everyone knows the Chargers are going nowhere.
Obstacles did arise on offense. Ekeler hurt his ankle and Williams his knee. Corey Linsley was lost for the season in late September because of a heart issue. Herbert just had surgery on his broken right index finger, ending his season.
All of which hurt, but none of which torpedoed a season that began with grand expectations based largely on Staley’s belief that he, in his third season as play caller, had built a defense capable of…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/news-analysis-chargers-head-vegas-130541804.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2023-12-14 13:05:41
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