One of the bigger concerns heading into the upcoming season for the Chargers is how the quarterback play is going to shape up.
After 16 years of Philip Rivers’ services, Tyrod Taylor is the front runner to fill his shoes in Week 1.
While Taylor may not have the experience or the skillset as a passer as Rivers does, he does have the athleticism to win with his legs, he takes care of the football and most importantly, he has a strong supporting cast to help put the team in position to win games.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox ranked every quarterback’s supporting cast by previous production, accolades, health and upside. For Los Angeles, they finished No. 6 overall, which is a slight step back from last year after having the fourth-best supporting best in 2019.
The Los Angeles Chargers will presumably roll with journeyman quarterback Tyrod Taylor rather than rookie Justin Herbert to open the season. Taylor was a Pro Bowler in 2015 and should make good use of one of the AFC’s better supporting casts.
The Chargers parted with running back Melvin Gordon this offseason but still have the duo of Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson in their backfield. This should give Taylor a strong ground game to lean on when necessary.
Meanwhile, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are one of the more league’s dangerous wide receiver duos, as both topped the 1,000-yard mark in 2019. Tight end Hunter Henry is an absolute terror of a downfield target when healthy and will give Taylor and/or Herbert a wonderful third option.
The versatility and pass-catching ability of Ekeler—he had 92 receptions for 993 yards and eight touchdowns last season—should set the stage for Taylor to succeed. Taylor has been at his best when taking what the defense gives him, and Ekleler is an elite dump-off target perfectly suited to that approach.
With Williams, Allen and Henry stretching the field, the Chargers could have an offense capable of keeping pace with the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, provided that Taylor acts as a serviceable placeholder.
On paper, the offensive side of the ball is in great shape.
The running back position will have a slightly new look heading into the upcoming season after Melvin Gordon agreed to a deal with the Broncos. Joining Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson is fourth-round pick Joshua Kelley.
Aside from those changes and couple of new additions along the offensive line, the rest of the offense stayed intact with the strong pass-catching group that consists of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Hunter Henry and draft selections Joe Reed and K.J. Hill.
Taylor is going to have plenty of options to distribute the wealth to. The offensive line may draw some slight concern after the team elected to not address the left tackle position, but the mobility of Taylor and a scheme change could help mask any deficiencies.
The 30-year old signal-caller is in an optimal position to guide the team to success, having premiere skill players and a stout defense to go along with. As long as he’s doing well, Taylor staying on the field will allow rookie Justin Herbert to develop before he’s ready to take the reins, which is key.
.jpg?w=600)
