Ranking The Top 5 Chargers Who Need To Elevate Their Games ASAP
Your Los Angeles Chargers are 0-2 on the year and have had a couple of players not performing up to expectations.
After a disappointing loss against the Miami Dolphins, the Chargers followed it up with an embarrassing loss to the Tennessee Titans where starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill completed over 80% of his passes.
Here are the top 5 Chargers that need to bolt up.
Joshua Kelley
Kelley showed promise in Week 1 rushing for 91 yards and a touchdown and filling in for Austin Ekeler after he went down with his ankle injury.
Assuming the starting role in Week 2 Kelley disappointed big time.
Only rushing for 39 yards on 13 attempts the 4th year running back generated a poor 53.1 rushing grade. The bigger concern is in the passing game.
While Ekeler has made his career on his dual-threat nature, Kelley hasn't. Logging a 34.9 receiving grade Kelley is not taking away an option out of the backfield and defenses are able to defend the receivers more.
If the Chargers want to win, Kelley will need to be the bruising back he has flashed or step up in the passing game and become a viable threat.
J.C. Jackson
Jackson had a heart attack performance in Week 1.
While he did record an interception he still allowed 99 yards in coverage and also committed the worst pass interference possible, at the end of the 2nd quarter to let the Dolphins into field goal range.
Since coming to the Chargers, Jackson has been marred by injury and when he is on the field he has not been good.
Jackson needs to have a strong year this year to help out the secondary and be the turnover machine that the Chargers signed him to be.
Sebastian Joseph-Day
Joseph-Day came to the Chargers after 3 years with the Los Angeles Rams.
With the Rams, Joseph-Day was a stout run-stuffer who made many run-stops averaging 28 stops on the year.
In his first year with the Chargers has managed to put up 32 run stops but his PFF grades across the board took a big dip and he ended the year with a 51.6 defense grade.
To start the year, Joseph-Day has only recorded 1 run stop in two games and his numbers have taken another dip not at a 48.5 defense grade.
The veteran defensive tackle will need to show out against Minnesota, a backfield that has struggled in the run game so far, to help get this defensive unit back to stopping the run.
Jamaree Salyer
Salyer is a second-year player for the Chargers and after having an impressive 2022 season may be having a little bit of a sophomore slump.
After having a 69.2 grade on the year for 2022, Salyer is currently at 59.1 in 2023 after a poor Week 2 performance against the Titans.
The pass-blocking guard had his hands full with Jeffrey Simmons all game and logged a 36.1 grade as he allowed four pressures, two hurries, and a sack.
The second-year right guard needs to help his quarterback along with Kelley if they want to get their first win.
Kenneth Murray
Murray is entering his fourth year with the Chargers and was poised to break out and prove to the team that he should have gotten his 5th-year option.
Murray started out alongside offseason addition Eric Kendricks in Week 1 but put up a terrible game on film and in the grade book.
Registering a 29.4 defense grade for Week 1 Murray looked terrible against the run and in coverage, often taking himself out of plays by over-pursuing or playing the wrong assignment.
Week 2 saw Murray take the main linebacker role with Kendricks out with injury and he performed better.
Murray was able to stop the run better registering 5 run stops and a sack.
Murray will need to improve in his role at linebacker once Kendrick comes back but for now, Murray is improving as the play called for defense.
The Chargers will face the 0-2 Vikings on Sunday and both teams will be fighting for their first win of the year.
If the Chargers want to be victorious, these players will need to step up big-time and shut the Vikings down.
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