Chargers News: Experts United On LA's Key Areas To Address After Bye Week

It's no secret what the Chargers need to fix

The Los Angeles Chargers find themselves with an early bye week this season, and whether this break is advantageous or disadvantageous could be debated. Given the injuries the team is dealing with, it's safe to say that the timing could be beneficial. 

Currently holding a 2-2 record, it's a far cry from their rocky start in the first two games. While they're far from a finished product, the Chargers are determined to keep improving as the season progresses.

One aspect of their game that has been a consistent topic of discussion is the defense. It's clear that the defense hasn't quite met the expectations set for them, and there's still much work to be done to address this. 

In particular, these experts pinpointed the defensive secondary as an area in desperate need of improvement.

Miller:

The pass defense must improve or the Chargers aren't going anywhere this season. They have displayed an ability to stop the run, which is significant.

Reedy:

Pass defense and limiting big plays. I don't know if there will be any stability now that J.C. Jackson has been traded, but the pressure is definitely on Asante Samuel, Jr. and Michael Davis.

Smith:

Yeah, it's the pass defense. That area of the defense was hit hard against Miami, but credit to the high-octane Dolphins there. There were improvements in limiting explosive plays against the Raiders, who had two pass plays of 20-plus yards, one of which was a check down. Given the upcoming quarterbacks on the docket, a more consistent pass defense would help give Justin Herbert more cracks at lighting up the scoreboard each week.

The stats certainly back up this assessment. The Chargers currently rank 18th in opponent completion percentage, 30th in opponent yards per pass, 28th in opponent passes per play, and dead last, 32nd, in opponent pass yards per game. It's an area of concern that the team needs to address promptly.

With the bye week providing some time for adjustments and healing, the secondary will face a significant test in the upcoming weeks. Going up against the likes of the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs will put their improvements to the test. Chargers fans are hoping for a much-improved performance in the coming games, especially in the realm of pass defense.

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