The Chargers lost a tough season opener despite Kellen Moore’s putting up 34 points against the Dolphins. Sadly, the defense did not show out at the same level.
While it’s only Week 1, it’s hard not to perceive the loss as a missed opportunity. An AFC loss to the Dolphins could matter a lot come playoff qualifying time.
Buy Chargers TicketsAll of that aside, let’s get into studs and duds:
Dud: HC Brandon Staley
The story of the game has to be head coach Brandon Staley not having his defense ready to play. The situation was optimal for Staley entering the afternoon. Everyone on his carefully handpicked defense was healthy. The Dolphins were missing left tackle Terron Armstead, a linchpin for their offensive efficiency. Staley also had a gameplan that worked relatively well last year against largely the same offense.
And yet, despite every advantage Staley had, Sunday was an utter disaster on all levels. The pass rush was anemic. The secondary was gashed all over the middle of the field. Cohesion between the linebackers and secondary seemed non-existent.
Staley actively made unforced errors that put his defense in bad positions:
PFF charting has Tyreek facing 20 snaps vs single man coverage last night (57% of routes). For reference, that number was only 7 snaps last year (26% of routes).
To change something that much which worked so well last year, I don't get it, I really don't
— Arjun Menon (@arjunmenon100) September 11, 2023
A lot can be said about the rough day the secondary had. J.C. Jackson and Michael Davis were outright tough to watch in this one. However, the secondary struggles were accentuated because Staley put them in poor positions. During a three-man rush on a critical 3rd down, Ja’Sir Taylor was somehow left in man coverage on an island against Tyreek Hill.
Staley will say that his adjustment was to take Jackson out of the game after his performance. But there truly was no adjustment if his response was to continue allowing Hill to get free releases in man-to-man coverage against the teams’ other corners.
The Dolphins have an electric trio between Mike McDaniel, Tua Tagovailoa, and the aforementioned Hill when everything is working well. It is difficult to cover when the offense flows. But for Staley to deviate so strongly from the game plan last year and put up this performance with his healthy, optimal defense? It just cannot happen.
It’s worth mentioning that the defense can bounce back from this. But if Staley’s defense doesn’t stabilize itself soon, this Miami game will seem like a symptom of a much larger problem. Schematics, gameplan, adjustments, whatever way you choose to look at this game; it was the worst performance of Staley’s career.
Stud: LT Rashawn Slater
The offensive line was a treat to watch as a unit on Sunday afternoon. But no individual presence on it felt more significant than Rashawn Slater. He slipped right back into his Pro Bowl form after his season-ending bicep injury last year.
Slater was the highest-graded Charger of the game on PFF with an 80.9. He allowed one pressure on 46 pass-blocking snaps. Miami’s Bradley Chubb had issues attacking that side the entire game because of Slater’s dominance.
The Chargers missed him in the running game last year as well. While Moore’s scheme is the overwhelming reason the Chargers were able to run at will on Sunday, Slater’s return and Jamaree Salyer being able to kick inside were huge positive developments for Los Angeles.
Dud: EDGE Joey Bosa
Joey Bosa should’ve had a bigger day vs. Austin Jackson and Kendall Lamm. While he finished the game with four pressures, it didn’t feel any were particularly impactful. Even Bosa’s “most impactful” pressure of the game was nixed because of the facemask penalty.
In Bosa’s last three games, including the Wild Card at Jacksonville, he has put up nine pressures and one sack on 85 pass-rushing snaps. It doesn’t feel like the former Ohio State product has been as impactful or explosive since his groin surgery last season.
For the record, it wasn’t the best showing from Khalil Mack, either. The pass rush, as a whole, was anemic. But if Bosa doesn’t pick up the production soon, especially with the state of the secondary, it could continue to be ugly for the Chargers defense.
Stud: RB Joshua Kelley
Austin Ekeler could be highlighted here, too, but the performance of Joshua Kelley was what stuck out to me. Hearing that Isaiah Spiller was a healthy scratch pregame was pretty surprising. But after Sunday’s game, it’s clear that the coaching staff believes Kelley separated himself as the clear-cut RB2 behind Ekeler (and for good reason).
Joshua Kelley was PFF’s second highest-graded Charger of the game behind Slater with a 75.5. He had 16 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt.
Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley combined for a league-high +66 rushing yards over expected in Week 1 (entering SNF).
The Chargers recorded a 70.0% rushing success rate, the 2nd-highest in a game over the last two seasons.#MIAvsLAC #BoltsUp pic.twitter.com/E5krRUHRKG
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 11, 2023
Kelley was tough as a runner when he needed to hit the hole and made maybe the most decisive cuts of his career at the NFL level. If he manages to stay healthy throughout the season, the Chargers backfield is solidified with the tandem of him and Ekeler.
Dud: J.C. Jackson
As mentioned in my earlier dud section about Staley, he did not put his players in a position to succeed. The secondary partially struggled because of his philosophy in this game. But Jackson should absolutely not be absolved of blame in his own right.
Jackson allowed 99 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. In addition to the poor coverage performance, he actively put LA in worse positions twice. On the Dolphins’ Hail Mary to Jaylen Waddle before the end of the first half, Jackson pushed the Miami receiver in the back for a pass interference penalty. It allowed the Dolphins to kick a field goal in a massive swing before the half.
Even when Jackson got his interception off of Tagovailoa, his decision to run it out of the end zone cost the Chargers’ offense significant field position on their next drive.
Stud: Kellen Moore
It’s a shame that the defensive performance of the Chargers will overshadow a great debut from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. The Chargers ran the ball for nearly 240 yards on 40 carries. 5.9 yards per attempt on that volume is unheard of for the Staley era Chargers.
Justin Herbert didn’t have the flashy statistical game that people might’ve wanted under Moore, but he was very cerebral in getting the ball to his receivers. Moore created opportunities for a few big plays with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. He also drew up two effective red zone looks for Donald Parham, one resulting in a touchdown and the other drawing a penalty.
Moore showed a strong understanding of leverage for the Chargers’ offense in this game. Hopefully, next week, a strong effort from Moore will be able to carry the Chargers to a win if the defense comes through.
