MAYBE NOT HAVING BOSA WAS A GOOD THING

   Sometimes it's good to get out of your comfort zone can have it rewards. To be forced to be creative and take chances. The view from afar from a different perspective than you had seen before. The Chargers losing Joey Bosa for the first 9 weeks of the season made the defense try new schemes and rotating players to offset the pass rush Joey Bosa presents. The coaches are starting to hold players accountable for their play now.

    On Sunday, we saw Uchenna Nwosu starting at Will. Kyle Emanuel playing the main role of Mike LB. Rayshawn Jenkins fitting in at linebacker. Damion Square starting at DE. The result was a confused Baker Mayfield and a defense flying around the ball having fun. Mayfield looked like a rookie QB in the NFL against the high flying chargers defense. 

    Even the offense got in on the fun scoring a TD on the opening drive for the first time in 22 tries under Head Coach Anthony Lynn. Melvin Gordon had his first 3 rushing touchdown game of his career. Square collected 2 sacks and the team as a whole had 5 sacks and 2 turnovers both by Desmond King. They are the only NFL team to score 3 offensive touchdowns in every game this season. That is the direct result of the Mike Pouncey signing at center.

   Oh, and hey, the Chargers completed all their field goals and extra points!!!!

   The Chargers are staying Cleveland until Thursday when they'll travel to London to face the Titans. They head over to Canton, Ohio today to view the NFL Pro Football Hall Of Fame. These days spending time away from family and friends can be a great bonding experience as a football team. They'll practice at 7:30am San Diego time Wednesday and Thursday.

     In San Diego, it was the 2nd highest watched Chargers game this season with a rating of 15.7. In La, they drew in 7.8. 

   Looking for more improvement, look no further than special teams. The new punter seems to be below average but they might have found their answer with the rookie out of Miami Michael Badgley. He was a perfect 5-5 on extra points and included a 44 yard field goal that might have made Caleb Sturgis expendable. If he's good Sunday in London you might have seen the last of Caleb Sturgis. Donnie Jones is another matter. 

    The special teams unit led by Uchenna Nwosu and Adrian Phillips is now the #1 graded special teams unit in the NFL. (Pff doesn't account for field goals just returns, kickoffs and punts). Desmond King is contributing on special teams as a punt returner and on defense. Michael Davis has improved himself every week with his tackling on special teams. That led to Coach Lynn even getting Michael in on some defensive snaps on Sunday. 

    Now don't go buying Super Bowl tickets to Atlanta just yet. The Chargers have beaten up on teams with a combine record of 6 wins and 18 losses. Their nemesis still remains to be New England and Kansas City. But with each player improving their chances get better and better. They face a Titans team who gave up 11 sacks on Sunday and their roster is depleted with injuries.

  With a win Sunday the Chargers will go into the bye at 5-2. A win brings the Chargers 1st half of their schedule to an end. The teams they have played has a record of 15-19. The Titans not included. The 2nd had of the schedule their opponents have a combined record of 20-21. 

   Certain players have stepped up in Bosa and Henry absence.

   Philip Rivers has to be considered as an MVP candidate with his 15 TD's and 3 INT. The Chargers have scored at least 3 TD's in every game so far, Rivers under pressure has a qb passer rating of 115.9%. He has thrown for 1700 yards through 6 games.

   Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler. Gordon rushed for 3 TD's Sunday the most in his career. He averaged out 7.3 yards per attempt rushing against a much improved Browns defense. Gordon and Ekeler are the best RB combo in the NFL through 6 weeks. Gordon also 2nd in the NFL in yards after contact. These two are putting on a special show every Sunday.

   Derwin James is a star. The is the 4th highest graded safety in the NFL. Joseph Addae is graded 61st in the NFL. Derwin is PFF's top graded Rookie player for the year so far.

   Desmond King is having to 2nd year slump. In fact his 2 INT Sunday as Baker targeted him 8 times but for only 2 completions. His production on punt returns have been just a productive.  Desmond has seen 20 more snaps a game than he was in week one.

   Mike Williams has 17 catches out of 27 targets for 348 yards and 3 Td's. He is averaging about 40 snaps a game equaling 70% of the teams offensive snaps. He is filling the void of Travis Benjamin who has only 42 snaps the whole year.

   Rayshawn Jenkins is getting more snaps every week and moving around playing multiple positions in Gus Bradley Packages