The Chargers were off this week, getting some rest before they endure a 13-game stretch. Players used the time to get much-needed rest and the coaching staff did some evaluating as they identified what they needed to improve on for the remainder of the season.
With that, let’s look back at the first four games of the season and give out some awards.
Offensive MVP
Gavino: Justin Herbert
The case could be made for Keenan Allen, who is second in receptions (35) and fifth in receiving yards (434). But Herbert has steered the ship and has been the clear-cut top offensive player since the start of the season. Herbert has benefited from Kellen Moore’s offensive system. He has been airing it out more, resulting in being ranked fifth in passing yards (1,106), tied seventh in touchdown passes (7), second in completions (103), and tied third in total touchdowns (10). Herbert coming back in against the Raiders after getting a big splint put on his middle finger only to ice the game with a deep shot down the sideline to Joshua Palmer exemplifies how much of a warrior he is.
Alex: Justin Herbert
It’s pretty close here between Herbert and his favorite target Keenan Allen, but MVP is typically a quarterback award these days anyway. Herbert has been fantastic through four games, with 1,106 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, and just 1 interception while completing 71% of his passes.
With Austin Ekeler out with an ankle injury, the run game has stuttered at times. Doesn’t matter, Herbert can bail this team out of third and long situations. The pass protection hasn’t always been stellar to start the season. Doesn’t matter, Herbert has some of the best pocket management and sack-avoidance skills in the league. Herbert broke his finger in Week 4. Doesn’t matter, still delivered a 51-yard strike to Joshua Palmer to salt away the Raiders game.
Defensive MVP
Gavino: Khalil Mack
The case could be made for Tuli Tuipulotu, but I will save that for another category. Instead, I am slotting Mack here. Before Mack’s six-sack performance, he was wreaking havoc against the run week in and week out. It was just only a matter of time until he earned the spotlight and showed that he is still a game-wrecker against the Raiders. Mack’s six sacks are a career-high for a single game and a franchise record. It’s also tied for the second-most sacks in a single game in NFL history.
Alex: Tuli Tuipulotu
I don’t think it’s too early to crown the Chargers’ second-rounder as a gem, especially on a defense that has been among the league’s worst to start the season. The USC product leads the team in run stops with 9 and is second on the team in pressures and sacks, with 14 and 5, respectively.
We’ve already seen how Tuipulotu’s breakout has opened things up for Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa as well. In the Titans game, Bosa had two sacks on just nine pass rushes while limited by a hamstring issue. It was largely because of the havoc incurred by putting Tuipulotu on the same side as him and forcing the offensive line to account for both of them. It was a similar story against the Raiders when Mack set a franchise record with six sacks of Las Vegas QB Aidan O’Connell.
Top Rookie
Gavino: Tuli Tuipulotu
A strength of the Chargers has been their pass rush, and a key contributor is Tuipulotu. Tuipulotu, the team’s second-round pick, is tied for the most quarterback hits (5) and sacks (2) and third in pressures (14) among all rookies. While he’s been integral at getting after the quarterback, Tuipulotu has also been just as effective at stopping the run. He is first in tackles for loss (14) among first-year players. Keep in mind, he is only so best has yet to come for Tuipulotu.
Alex: Tuli Tuipulotu
There’s really nobody else this could be, and we’ve already talked about Tuipulotu, so let’s run down the rest of the rookies to underscore how much more impactful the pass rusher has been.
Quentin Johnston has gotten off to a slow start – as was always LA’s plan. As WR4 behind Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Joshua Palmer, Johnston has had a small role on offense and has shown flashes, but is still developing chemistry with Justin Herbert. Expect him to ramp up more in the coming weeks.
Third-round linebacker Daiyan Henley has played only one snap on defense after dealing with a hamstring injury. Fourth-rounder Derius Davis has been a perfectly acceptable returner and gadget offensive weapon. Jordan McFadden and Scott Matlock are depth pieces, although I was tempted to name Matlock the best rookie simply for being the first to come to Justin Herbert’s aid after he took a dirty hit from Jerry Tillery against the Raiders.
Most Improved
Gavino: Kenneth Murray
As he seeks a new contract at the end of the season, Murray’s play thus far would suggest that he deserves one. Murray was so-so in the season opener against the Dolphins, but after being given the green dot as the primary defensive play-caller in Weeks 2 and 3 while Eric Kendricks was out with his injury, he turned it up a notch. Murray has played fast and physical against the run, out in space and as a blitzer. He leads the team in tackles with 26 and has three tackles for loss. Furthermore, Murray has come up in clutch moments, notching the game-sealing interception against the Vikings.
Alex: Joshua Kelley
This was the hardest one to vote for, mainly because none of LA’s players look tremendously improved from a season ago. That’s a different conversation about player development that can be had later.
I ended up going with Kelley despite the run game taking a step back without Austin Ekeler because the tape shows that the fourth-year back is consistently picking the right gaps on runs even if there aren’t many yards available. Even in pass protection, where the Chargers running backs have struggled without Ekeler, there have been times where Kelley makes the “right” play and simply gets beat. While you’d like for him to take another step forward, he looks like a much better player than the one who inspired the Chargers to take Isaiah Spiller in the fourth round two seasons ago.
Unsung Hero
Gavino: Sebastian Joseph-Day
Mack, Tuipulotu and Joey Bosa have earned all of the praise, rightfully so. But Joseph-Day has been plenty impactful despite not having his name called on a consistent basis. Joseph-Day has been a key cog in the middle of the defensive line, whether pressuring the quarterback or defending the run. He has been credited for seven pressures and run stops. But there have been plenty of other plays where he might not have been credited on the stat sheet but it still led to disruption.
Alex: Run defense
Don’t look now, but the Chargers are in the top half of the league in rushing yards allowed. It’s hardly been talked about because the Chargers are also last in passing yards allowed by more than 13 yards per game, to be fair. And to be even more fair, those two numbers are related – why run the ball when you know you’ll have success throwing it?
Still, Los Angeles has played some pretty good rushing teams! Miami leads the league in rushing yards per game but had only 70 against the Chargers. Derrick Henry averaged only 3.2 yards a carry in Week 2. The Vikings game was a misstep, allowing Alexander Mattison to rack up 93 yards. But Josh Jacobs, last season’s rushing leader, averaged just 3.4 a carry the very next week! Any way you slice it, LA has been better against the run – and again, to be fair, it’s hard to be worse than they were last season. But credit where credit is due despite a relative lack of acknowledgment through four games so far.
