LA Chargers’ Troubles on Special Teams Raise Concerns for 2023 Season

In the early stages of the 2023 NFL season, the LA Chargers are facing a unique challenge that goes beyond the usual discussions about offense and defense. While most football conversations revolve around these two vital aspects of the game, the Chargers find themselves grappling with issues in a third, often-overlooked dimension – their special teams.

“Two sides of the ball are often discussed when discussing a football team, but the Chargers are experiencing issues for a third aspect of their games early into 2023,” explains a concerned observer.

Special teams might not always steal the spotlight, but their importance cannot be understated. In the case of the LA Chargers, their struggles on special teams have raised eyebrows, primarily because of the implications it holds for field position, especially when their secondary defense has shown vulnerabilities in the first four games of the season.

“Field position becomes critical, considering that LA’s secondary has been very shaky through four games,” notes another observer. Even after trading J.C. Jackson and his hefty contract, the Bolts’ defense continues to struggle against high-powered passing attacks.

Special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken led a dramatic turnaround for the Chargers in his first season with the team in 2022. The Chargers finished 11th in special teams EPA. But his group has gotten off to a sluggish start this season. The Chargers ranked 27th in special teams EPA through four weeks. In particular, the Chargers’ punt team has regressed, and that includes punter JK Scott. The Chargers ranked sixth in punt EPA last season. Scott was tremendous, and he parlayed that great season into a two-year, $4 million deal in free agency. Through four games this season, though, the Chargers rank 24th in punt EPA. The unit’s 38.7 net average ranks 26th. Scott has mis-hit far too many punts thus far. The coverage has been lacking at times, as well. “(Scott) knows he needs to be better,” Ficken said.

^{via Daniel Popper, The Athletic}

One significant contributor to this issue is the Chargers’ punting game. Poor field position resulting from subpar special teams performance opens up opposing offenses’ playbooks and exposes LA’s defense to big passing plays. The gravity of the situation is not lost on fans who have followed the team for a while, as they remember how special teams mishaps have, in the past, turned a contender into a couch-sitter come January.

“Scott’s poor job to start 2023 isn’t a good sign, and long-time Chargers fans know just how badly special teams can burn a team from contender to a spot on the couch come January,” emphasizes the writer.

As the 2023 season progresses, the LA Chargers can only hope that their special teams unit will show improvement before it’s too late. Their fate hangs in the balance, reminiscent of the dreaded 2010 season when special teams struggles marred their playoff aspirations.