Chargers report card at midway point of season
By Dennis J. Hassell
The Los Angeles Chargers have won their last four games and sit at 5-2 halfway through the 2018 season.
How does the team grade out in each phase of the game so far? Let’s take a look.
Offense
Philip Rivers- A+: Old man Rivers is a lock as Valedictorian.
Melvin Gordon- A+: Unbelievable in breaking tackles and catching.
Austin Ekeler- A: Whiz, don’t run him up the middle so much.
Keenan Allen- A-: Stop sulking about less touchdowns. Are you a leader? Or class Clown?
Mike Williams- B+: Still growing & learning – quickly.
Tyrell Williams- B: A+ the last two games, but flunked earlier.
Travis Benjamin- I: INCOMPLETE
Virgil Green- C+: More catches going forward, please.
Antonio Gates- C: Seven games in and still overweight? C’mon man.
OVERALL OFFENSE- A: The numbers don’t lie. But coming up in the second half: Four big tests before the final exams.
Special Teams
Caleb Sturgis- C-: Let’s not kick a dead horse. Sign Badgely.
Desmond King- A+: Desmond may change a game or two.
OVERALL SPECIAL TEAMS- C+. Improvement needed.
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Defense
Secondary- B
Many wonderful plays, a few too many brain cramps. The Interceptions will grow when Joey Bosa returns to terrorize quarterbacks. Derwin James gets an A.
Jahleel Addae- U: “U” is for Ugly. Go to the principal’s office. And bring your playbook.
Defensive Line- B+.
Corey Liuget returned and Melvin Ingram went into Rage Mode. Brandon Mebane is a quiet hero.
Linebackers- B
Room for improvement on pass defense and on containing quarterbacks. Rookies are coming on, but we don’t see Uchenna Nwosu making enough plays. Yet.
Derwin James: A-: And still learning by leaps and bounds.
Future Fights: Nine matches and the final four. Fast forward to the last nine games for this Chargers’ class of 2018, where there are four big tests coming up:
Seattle, Pittsburgh, Baltimore — and of course Kansas City.
Regular Season BOLD PREDICTION:
Chargers improve their statistical defensive rankings, and go 11-5, but lose Divisional championship on tie-breakers to Kansas City Klaatu (super-alien Patrick Mahomes).
Share your regular-season-record prophecy in the COMMENTS section below.