The Chargers may not put a lot of points on the scoreboard, but they wear down opposing defenses and force them to be physical throughout the game. Will the Bucks’ defense be ready for a heavyweight boxing match?
It’s a challenge the unit hasn’t had in recent days and all season.
Barring a few early season matchups against offensive powerhouses like the Commanders, Lions, and Eagles, this is what it looks like. Different style matchups Deputy defensive coordinator Casey Rogers took his time this week and broke out extensively.
Bucs Co-DC Casey Rogers: ‘It’s no secret what you’re going to get’
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has built his team with a strong identity throughout his NFL coaching career. During his time with the 49ers from 2011 to 2014, his teams ranked in the top 10 in both rushing attempts and rushing yards. For the past four years, he relied heavily on Frank Gore, trusting him to run the ball an average of 268 times a season.
During Harbaugh’s decade primarily leading the Michigan Wolverines, the league became increasingly pass-oriented, but Los Angeles’ offense turned back the clock to rely on a ground-and-pound mentality. Offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, 285-pound blocking tight end Tucker Fisk, and 296-pound fullback/defensive tackle Scott Matlock will be the focal point to establish the run and control the time of possession. It’s all about helping the team win.
Chargers RB Gus Edwards – Photo courtesy of USA Today
“Well, they’re going to want to run the ball, they’re going to be stubborn about running the ball, it’s going to be tough and hard-nosed, and they [aren’t] It’s going to be a turnaround,” Bucs co-defenseman Casey Rogers said. “They have a 290-pound fullback, so it’s no secret what you’re going to get. So it’s kind of telling what you’re going to get out of this. That’s exactly where you’re going to fight. .”
For most of the season, they battled with the elusive J.K. Dobbins leading the Chargers’ backfield. Dobbins had impressive numbers with 158 carries, 766 rushing yards, and eight touchdowns. He was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, but veteran Gus Edwards took over command.
Edwards has yet to experience the same kind of success, but Rodgers doesn’t expect them to deviate from the game plan they’ve “followed” all year.
“The thing is, what they do offensively is pull and trap and all that kind of stuff,” Rodgers said of how the Chargers set up their run game. “They want to go downhill and that creates some problems for us because it puts us at a disadvantage in the matchup. There’s going to be a chess match there.”
What about Chargers QB Justin Herbert?
Chargers QB Justin Herbert and WR Rudd McConkie – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Since then The last time the Bucks and Chargers met was in 2020.Justin Herbert has evolved as an NFL quarterback. Herbert has the typical build (6-foot-6, 236 pounds) and strong shoulders of a gunslinger, but he is no longer asked to appear on a weekly basis. He threw just half of Baker Mayfield’s touchdown passes (28-14) and averaged just 212.6 passing yards per game.
That’s a far cry from Herbert’s 5,014 passing yards and 38 touchdowns in 2021. Since then, he has become a capable quarterback, throwing only one interception. Still, he’s a guy who can beat teams with his arm when he needs to.
“You’re still talking about a quarterback who is arguably in the top 10 of anyone in the league,” Casey Rogers said. “[He] I have it all [the] Arm strength, athleticism, can run, can make all the throws, but the way they utilize him in their system – they’re embracing the culture change. [of] If you run the ball and everyone breaks up the run, you end up throwing it over your head. That’s exactly what they’re doing.
“[Ladd] McConkie is having a tough year, but if you look at the route he takes, you’ll see everyone is crazy trying to stop him. [the run] And he’s fast and elusive and makes a lot of plays. The way they utilize their quarterback, it’s all built into the culture they want. We all know he can throw 40 times a game if needed, but that’s not how they play. ”
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and co-DC Casey Rogers – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
For the Bucks’ defense, that means they have to be patient and play disciplined football. They can’t send home and expect Herbert not to throw the ball over the top to one of their wide receivers. You also can’t sit in coverage and allow the Chargers to string together long offensive drives. That means finding and adjusting balance as the game progresses.
That will be difficult to accomplish without key personnel, especially in a secondary without safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jordan Whitehead. The squad knows the secret to success, and that means overcoming challenges and winning takeover battles against efficient offensive lines to take over the game.
“[It’s] I want to put more pressure on myself. “As a team as a whole, if we run the ball, play good defense and don’t turn it over, that’s the secret to winning games, and that’s what they do,” Rodgers said. . “So our contract is the first attempt to thwart them. [No.] 2. Trying to create turnovers from a team that doesn’t commit turnovers. There are many challenges. ”
