While quarterback Justin Herbert and coach Jim Harbaugh get most of the attention for the Los Angeles Chargers, coordinator Jesse Minter’s improvement of the defense has gone largely unnoticed.
In their 26-8 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the defense did not allow a touchdown for the second time this season. This is the first time since 2013 that the Chargers (4-3) have gone without giving up a touchdown in two of their first seven games.
The defense is allowing the fewest points in the league, with an average of 13 points per game. They’ve given up only nine touchdowns, which is the second-lowest total in the team’s history after seven games.
“It feels like we have the script sometimes. It’s like whatever they’re running, we’re prepared for,” safety Derwin James said after the game. “We just play our rules. We play fast, just get to the ball and don’t overthink stuff. You see the results we’re getting.”
Minter was the defensive coordinator for two years at the University of Michigan and was one of nine assistants who joined Harbaugh when he became the Chargers’ coach after leading Michigan to a national title last season.
After the Chargers allowed a game-winning field goal to Arizona last Monday, the defense was determined to keep the Saints from scoring a touchdown at the end, even though they had already secured the win.
New Orleans got to run a play with no time left on the clock due to a roughing-the-passer penalty. However, they failed to convert when Jake Haener’s pass to Chris Olave fell incomplete.
“It did mean something. It’s not meaningless; it’s points against our defense, and we don’t want to give up any points,” James said. “I don’t care if it’s the last two minutes, I don’t care if we have the lead. We’re trying to finish strong in the fourth quarter.”
The Chargers also kept their opponents from scoring a touchdown in their 26-3 win over Carolina in Week 2. While these shutouts have come against teams with a total of three wins, Harbaugh doesn’t downplay the team’s achievements.
“We’re playing real good defense and the competition has been good,” Harbaugh said Monday.
The biggest improvement for the defense has been against passing plays. The Chargers are allowing 193.4 yards per game, which is the ninth-best in the league, compared to 297.4 yards at this time last year.
The defense has also forced opponents to go three-and-out on 28.6% of their drives, the highest percentage since 2010. James believes the Chargers can improve their defense even more for the rest of the season.
“Every week we go in there (ticked) off because we know it’s plays that we’re leaving out there, and a few technique stuff we can get better at to be dominant. We’re just trying to do that,” he said.
