SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Chargers defense couldn't get off the field last season.
San
Diego was last in the NFL at third down efficiency, a major reason the
Chargers sat out the playoffs for the second straight year.
"You can't win football games by being last on third downs," cornerback Quentin Jammer said.
Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky lost his job after the season.
Longtime linebackers coach John Pagano took charge of the defense and
the front office drafted defensive players with its first three
selections. San Diego also signed two NFL veterans to start on defense.
"I
think the pass rush is the key to everything," said outside linebacker
Shaun Phillips. "If you can rush the passer, it eliminates a lot of
mistakes. Whether there's a breakdown in the secondary or not, if you
get a sack, it doesn't really matter. If I was a coordinator, I would
build my teams from front to back because I believe if you have a
dominant pass rush, you have a chance."
The Chargers (No. 16 in
the AP Pro32) had only 32 sacks last year, placing them 23rd in the NFL
for their worst total and ranking since 2004. The feeble pass rush gave
Pagano a launching point in his first run as a defensive coordinator.
"With
coach Pags, there's more emphasis this year on getting to the
quarterback," said outside linebacker Antwan Barnes, whose 11 sacks led
the team in 2011.
The linebacker position is Pagano's area of football expertise. Two weeks into training camp, it's the team's deepest unit.
Phillips,
limited by a foot injury last season, is running well in pass coverage
and one-on-one drills. After starting the last 130 games for the
Baltimore Ravens, who are known for rugged defense, Jarret Johnson takes
over at strong-side linebacker. Another newcomer, rookie Melvin Ingram,
was drafted 18th overall for his ability to rush the passer from
different spots.
Reflecting the unit's depth, Barnes may play far less despite accounting for 34 percent of the team's sacks last year.
Pagano,
whose brother Chuck Pagano was the Ravens' defensive coordinator before
becoming coach of the Indianapolis Colts, plans a high-speed chess
match that isolates opposing blockers against his best pass rushers.
Chargers defensive backs need to do their part.
Although
free safety Eric Weddle had the best year of his career, making seven
interceptions and earning his first Pro Bowl selection, the rest of the
secondary struggled. The front office allowed strong safety Steve
Gregory to sign with the New England Patriots; signed veteran strong
safety Atari Bigby; drafted a strong safety, Brandon Taylor; and cut
nickel back Dante Hughes.
Jammer, now 33 years old, was in the throes of a divorce last season and said it clouded his performance.
"I
didn't have a good year last year, but I will have a good year this
year," he said. "I'm better mentally. Last year, I was out of it
mentally."
The defensive line added rookie Kendall Reyes, a
6-foot-4 end out of Connecticut, and backup nose tackle Aubrayo
Franklin, a 10-year veteran. The club didn't bring back two veterans,
Luis Castillo and Tommie Harris.
Chargers coach Norv Turner expects the defense to bounce back after the offseason moves.
"I
love what we're doing from the standpoint of our defensive staff, what
John's doing, and then obviously our players are really buying in," he
said. "We're a very athletic group. We're a fast group - we've got to
use that to our advantage,
"I really think with the combination of
our personnel and our scheme that we'll be able to put more pressure on
the quarterback than we have."
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano during practice at the Chargers' training camp Friday, July 27, 2012 in San Diego.
