LA Chargers: Grading the dismal 2020 offensive line
RT Trey Pipkins
When Trey Pipkins played in 2019, he was used mostly as a left tackle. Pipkins’ most common position this year was right tackle in replacing Bulaga when he was hurt. Compared to his 245 snaps at left tackle in 2019, Pipkins played 559 snaps at right tackle in 2020.
The results were bad. Pipkins arguably looked worse in handling a higher snap count for the most part. In fairness to him, he couldn’t have possibly expected to come in for Bulaga as much as he had to. Five sacks and 27 pressures is simply terrible production for around 571 snaps. PFF also graded him about 10 points lower on combined blocking and pass blocking tha his 2019 season.
If you were to simulate Pipkins’ numbers to the Chargers’ total offensive line snap count using Forrest Lamp’s 100% snaps total (1175), he would’ve finished with allowing 56 pressures and 10 sacks. What those projected full season numbers should demonstrate is that Pipkins is about as far away as a project could possibly be from being a starter.
I don’t necessarily want to freak out and call Pipkins a bust yet. He was drafted as a project and didn’t get a full offseason due to the pandemic. Still, you’d expect to see more improvement with more snaps, even if it had been slight. From technique to leverage, Pipkins simply regressed. Three 5+ pressures allowed games was enough to lead the team in 2020. Again, he didn’t even play 600 snaps.
The Chargers either have to acquire more depth at tackle to prevent Pipkins from playing so much to give him time to develop, or they have to cut ties on the project concept altogether. Pipkins cannot be your primary backup option if Bulaga or the starter at left tackle goes down in 2021.