We’re mere days away from the Chargers kicking off their 2022 season against the rival Raiders.
Starting lineups are beginning to crystallize, injury reports are finalizing, and football is back.
Here are some keys to the game on offense to ensure Los Angeles comes away 1-0:
Get Austin Ekeler going
In the Week 18 matchup that ultimately knocked the Chargers out of the playoffs, Ekeler got just two touches in the first quarter – a 14-yard reception and a three-yard run on back-to-back plays. Two other passes intended for him fell incomplete, and another run was called back for holding. LA’s star running back finished the game with just 99 all-purpose yards and 5 receptions on 12 targets, with a yards per carry average of 4 and a yards per target average of 2.92. Those numbers pale in comparison to the Week 4 matchup with Vegas when Ekeler averaged 7.8 yards a run and 5.6 yards a target. Getting him involved early and often, especially when the Raiders don’t have a clear matchup defender for him, will be paramount to the Chargers’ success.
Help Trey Pipkins
Pipkins won the right tackle job this offseason, but it wasn’t an emphatic, convincing victory, and there’s still some concern about how well he’ll perform this season. There’s arguably no harder test than the one he’ll face Sunday, as one of Chandler Jones or Maxx Crosby will be lining up across from him on every down. Crosby had two sacks in the Week 18 game last season, and limiting him is only going to be more difficult with Jones also in the game. I don’t think it would be wise to leave Pipkins on an island. Use TEs Gerald Everett or Tre’ McKitty to chip Vegas, or keep a running back in to aid on pass protection. Both Sony Michel and Joshua Kelley have shown pass-blocking ability in the past.
Work the double move
The Chargers have said all offseason that their lack of deep shots last season was a personnel issue, not a scheme one. Namely, that’s the personnel on the offensive line. But with what should be a reinforced right side, Justin Herbert should have more time to throw. On the other side of the ball, Raiders safety Johnathan Abram is an especially egregious ball-watcher because of his proclivity for big hits over the middle. If Los Angeles can get their speedier threats isolated, manipulating Abram’s eyes and catching him flat-footed could lead to a few big plays down the seam.
Let Justin Herbert create
There’s no understating what Herbert was able to accomplish in year one of the Joe Lombardi offense, but those around the team have consistently said that the franchise QB’s ascension is only beginning. We know Herbert has been focusing on building chemistry with his receivers this offseason. Keenan Allen said Herbert has stayed every day to throw after practice, something even Philip Rivers never did. So if the talent and chemistry are both there, take the training wheels off. Whether that’s letting him check out of or into plays or freeing him to make things happen outside of the structure of the offense, set your signal-caller loose. Leave it up to him to spread the ball, get through his progressions, and make the right read.
