Chargers Notebook: Packers review, Shane Steichen, Gus Bradley

Chargers safety Jaylen Watkins had himself a game against Green Bay, setting the tone of the defense.

Earlier we talked about how it was Watkins that set the tone for Ingram and Bosa to have the game they did. Watkins was reliable, versatile, and on top of that he showed he was a playmaker.

Watkins has been solid for the Chargers all year, proving to be a reliable tackler in the dime backer role, and even shifting back to free safety when Phillips broke his arm in Detroit. He can play up to five positions, he can play both man and zone, but all of that said… He can play some dang good strong safety.

This is it. The presence that has been missed since both James and Phillips went down. That man that can do his job and attack the flats, bring some heat on a blitz, or lower his shoulder and deliver a big hit. Again, like earlier, I am not comparing a player to a great one, but Watkins was the closest we have gotten to James this year, and the Chargers have sorely missed it.

So how does the Chargers defense move forward when Roderic Teamer is back? Answer, Teamer should take over as the dime backer, let Watkins keep his job. We have limited tape of Watkins at strong safety so far, sure. That limited tape also proved to us that Watkins is a game-changer. So let the game-changer play down this important stretch.