Have the Chargers Solved Their Kicking Issues?

Last season http://www.chargersfootballauthentics.com/kyzir-white-jersey-authentic , the Los Angeles Chargers were one game short of making the NFL playoffs with nine wins and seven losses. Arguably, the Chargers lost at least two games simply due to their inability to convert on field goal attempts that most teams’ kickers would have made.At the end of the preseason, the Chargers cut veteran kicker Josh Lambo in favor of rookie kicker Younghoe Koo. Lambo ended up signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars and played in the AFC Championship Game while Koo was cut after only four games and three missed field goals. The Chargers would cycle through three more kickers before the season ended. Nick Novak, Travis Coons, and Nick Rose combined to make 17 of 24 attempts.This offseason, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco decided not to return any of last season’s four kickers and brought in two veteran kickers to compete for the job in former Philadelphia Eagles kicker Caleb Sturgis and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Roberto Aguayo. Sturgis lost his job with the Eagles due to injury and Aguayo famously was overdrafted by the Bucs prior to an objectively disastrous run with them in which he missed 9 of 31 field goal attempts.The general sentiment heading into training camp was that the Chargers were in a relatively strong position in the kicking game given that Sturgis is a reliable veteran and Aguayo was unlikely to provide much challenge. Sturgis allowed Chargers fans to breathe a sigh of relief after he converted on his first attempt of the preseason, but then he missed his second. The question now is “have the Chargers solved their kicking woes from 2017?” Sturgis’ track record suggest the answer is “yes,” but Chargers fans have to still be nervous as we look forward to game 2 of the preseason.Update:Los Angeles Chargers Rank 11th in ESPN’s Pre-Season Power Index If you haven’t been tuning in, this is officially the doldrums of the NFL offseason.There aren’t many areas that our favorite teams can compete with each other during baseball season, but there are still ways we can cheer our teams on:Power Rankings!ESPN released its first ‘official’ Football Power Index for the 2018/2019 season.These rankings are more than just writer opinions—they take in offense, defense Womens Isaac Rochell Jersey , QB, backup QB, returning starters, and Vegas Sportsbook numbers to tabulate their ranking system.The Vegas projections are already one of the most accurate ways to gauge next-year success, but ESPN modifies those numbers with personnel turnover in mind.The Chargers come in at number 11 on the list, which is already a pretty good sign for the team.What is even more impressive is that only the Patriots and the Steelers are above them in the AFC.Other than the Eagles snuggling between those at ,2# these impressive teams make up the top 3.The Chiefs hit the board at #13.ESPN.comSuper Bowl Bound?The Football Power Index also prognosticates postseason chances, and their findings might be of interest to Chargers fans.They mark the Chargers at 8.7 wins in 2018.They also predict a 54% chance of reaching the playoffs, 37% chance of clinching the division, 8% chance of making the Super Bowl, and 4% chance of winning the whole darn thing.If that sounds a bit low Authentic Brandon Mebane Jersey , it is because nothing is a sure thing in the NFL.The Chiefs have an 8.6 wins/51%/33%/7%/3% stat line for the same.The Raiders have a 20% chance of winning the division, and the Broncos are looking at a 10% chance. Interestingly, aside from the Packers, there is only one other team favored by the FPI calculations to win its division that didn’t win it last year: the Chargers (37%).The Packers did not have Aaron Rodgers very much last year, so don’t underestimate this stat.All of that said, my analysis of these numbers doesn’t necessarily indicate an incredible leap in odds for the Chargers this year.Instead, I think that we’ve seen the Chiefs, Broncos, and Raiders all get worse since the beginning of last season.The Chargers have maintained their status quo and/or improved, and should be very optimistic about this coming season.-Jason “Another winning week in the books” Michaels