Many have already thrown in the towel for the Chargers before the season has even started. Yes, they lost their franchise quarterback in Philip Rivers when he departed via free agency and yes, they have lost other key pieces as well but signings and the draft have only brought improvements to LA. Recent reports have the Chargers as a dark horse candidate to win the AFC West this year, but there are three signs that point towards the team being able to go beyond that and win it all this year.
1. An Experienced Veteran Quarterback
Taylor is very capable of leading the Chargers this season from the quarterback position allowing Herbert to develop and learn from the sidelines. While Taylor is no Philip Rivers, that’s exactly the point. As great as Rivers was throughout his tenure with the Chargers, he was only a one-dimensional quarterback. Taylor is more of a dual-threat quarterback with great mobility to add to an already strong offense.
The last time Tyrod Taylor was slated as a starter was back in 2017 with the Buffalo Bills. Even after being knocked out of multiple games with injuries and having a poor supporting cast around him bedsides running back LeSean McCoy. There’s no doubt that Taylor can accomplish much more this season with the talent that LA has, accompanied by a couple more years of experience under his belt.
2. A Power House Offense
While Taylor didn’t have much to work with during this time in Buffalo, this time around he’ll have a playoff-caliber offense at his disposal. In the backfield, they have runningback Austin Ekeler who has become one of the most versatile backs in the game. Whether it’s on the ground or downfield, Ekeler has been very productive for LA. Rookie Joshua Kelley could be paired with Ekeler to form a dynamic duo.
Turn to the receiving corps that the Chargers have and you’ll find nothing short of capable options. Keenan Allen is fresh off his third straight 1,000 receiving yards season and should be a favorite target for Tyrod Taylor. Fellow teammate Mike Williams could one day become a No. 1 receiver for the team and also racked up over 1,000 receiving yards last season. Add in a healthy tight end in Hunter Henry or new addition WR K.J. Hill and defense’s should quiver at the thought of a Chargers’ offense.
E-Brake! 🛑 #S13Y pic.twitter.com/EEKXSfWpQ6
— Keenan Allen (@Keenan13Allen) December 21, 2019
3. A Shutdown Secondary
The Chargers have heavily depended on a cover 3 schema which has been quite successful for them. It figures to work even better this season with arguably the best secondary in the league. Last season the defense felt the void that safety Derwin James left while he missed 11 games with a stress fracture in his right foot.
However, he’ll return this season healed up and the addition of cornerback Chris Harris Jr. this offseason improves the secondary even more. They also have cornerback Desmond King II who can step up as the teams’ leading slot defender as well. King has allowed just 9.6 yards per reception over the past three seasons which ranks him 3rd among all other cornerbacks during that time.
There’s no denying the talent that the Chargers have. While it’s uncertain whether or not fans will be able to see the team play in person, knowing that they have the ability to bring home a Vince Lombardi Trophy could make up for it just a little.
