The Chargers have lofty goals in mind for the 2019 season. In order for them to achieve them, they will have to get the most out of their players.
With that, here are five goals for Los Angeles’ top defensive players this upcoming year.
Derwin James wins 2019 Defensive Player of the Year
To say James made an impact his first season as a professional is an understatement. He became the first rookie in team history to be named an AP First-Team All-Pro.
His 109 total tackles made him the first rookie player to notch 100-plus tackles for the franchise. He had three interceptions, 3.5 sacks and along with the All-Pro, earned multiple accolades like Pro Bowl and Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) All-NFL honors.
The Bolts used James in so many different ways, and he was a game-changer no matter how he was deployed. Whether it was dropping back in coverage, coming up against the run or rushing the quarterback, it was James who usually came through.
He fell short of the Defensive Rookie of the Year award to Colts’ Darius Leonard but he should only continue to get better and his sophomore season could see him garnering attention for the top defensive player in the entire league.
Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram combine for 20+ sacks
In Bosa’s first season as a pro back in 2017, he contributed to a whopping 23.5-sack season with Ingram. The duo combined for 12.5 sacks last season, but Bosa missed nine games because of a foot injury, leaving it a one-man wrecking crew for the most part.
It’s obvious that the Chargers are a lot better when both players are on the field at the same time. For a team that has ranked within the top-10 the past two seasons, a lot of the kudos goes to Ingram and Bosa because it simply helps the members in the secondary when opposing quarterbacks are under so much duress.
Denzel Perryman stays healthy for a full season
This isn’t a statistical or accolade goal, but one that’s necessary considering the fact that it has yet to be done. If the Chargers want to make a deeper run in 2019, they will need their main man in the middle of the defense.
There’s no doubt that the run defense looks a lot better when Perryman is on the field, but staying healthy has been an issue when considering he’s missed 20 total games over the past three seasons and has yet to complete a full 16-game slate.
The linebacker room certainly has reinforcements with the additions of Thomas Davis and Drue Tranquill, along with the returns with Kyzir White and Jatavis Brown but they don’t provide a tone that Perryman does. In 42 career games with 35 starts, Perryman has totaled 226 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.
Desmond King makes his first Pro Bowl appearance
King was selected as a First-Team All-Pro defensive back and Second-Team All-Pro punt returner in 2018. Even though he earned the two awards, he was among the bigger Pro Bowl snubs following a phenomenal sophomore season.
Many Chargers fans weren’t happy he didn’t get the Pro Bowl nod. The event hasn’t gotten the amount of attention that it used to, but considering the majority of the voting is completed by fans, it’s evident the former fifth-round selection is still being overlooked by many.
King will continue to do what he’s doing by being the team’s dynamic slot cornerback and punt returner in hopes that he’s able to earn All-Pro recognition as well as earn his first trip to Orlando, FL.
Casey Hayward leads the league in interceptions
This goal has been accomplished before. In 2016, which was Hayward’s first season with the Chargers, he led the league in interceptions with seven. Since then, he has seen his interception stat line drop a little bit.
Nonetheless, he has still solidified himself as one of the best in the NFL, drawing some of the toughest assignments. With an extra boost up front in the pass-rush department and the return of Trevor Williams, it’ll be in Hayward’s favor.
With Hayward, Williams and Desmond King anchoring the secondary, the Bolts should be the best cornerback trio in a league that’s become pass first.
