Chargers’ D, Pagano show off GM’s speed moves
Tom Telesco, like Tom Cruise, felt the need for speed in San Diego.
Telesco sought fast players when he became General Manager of the Chargers. Said it leading up to his first draft. Then again last winter. Previewing his second draft, Top Gun Tom was consistent. “We want to improve our speed,” he said.
Craving especially a faster defense, the GM has made strides.
This defense is easier on the eyes. And its designer and playcaller, John Pagano, is enjoying the discovery process.
Take the chess match Sunday midway through the third quarter, when San Diego defended the speedy Seahawks on third-and-5 ahead by six points.
Donald Butler came off the field, a mild shocker. The Chargers signed the linebacker to a $51.8 million contract in March, off a postseason in which he made big plays. Injuries had sidetracked him in a few seasons, though. He has to stay healthy to pay off.
Rookie linebacker Jerry Attaochu trotted on, assuming one of two inside spots.
As fast as Butler is, Attaochu is sudden. His timed 10-yard dash last winter was .01 quicker than that of end-linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, the top draft pick.
Pagano assigned Eric Weddle to spy Russell Wilson. The Pro Bowl safety lined up next to Attaochu.
Rookie Jason Verrett crouched at left cornerback and bluffed press coverage, effectively done with 4.38 speed.
In the slot was Shareece Wright. He was the team’s fastest defensive back until Telesco drafted Verrett 25th.
At right end was Dwight Freeney, a bookend to Melvin Ingram. Telesco signed Freeney in May 2013 four days after Ingram tore up a knee. He’s 34 but has blown by blockers in both games, much like he did last September before tearing a quad tendon. Like Weddle, his football IQ can speed up teammates.
What happened on third-and-5? Supporting Verrett’s coverage, Ingram and Weddle harried a frustrated Wilson into a throwaway.
Rest dividends?
Butler cheered from the sideline. Six days earlier, he’d played all 74 snaps inside Arizona’s warm, if enclosed stadium.
Butler made plays, too. Took away Wilson’s best escape route on Freeney’s first-quarter sack.
And no defensive effort Sunday surpassed his lunging tackle of Wilson, midway through the fourth quarter.
It was a late-game, fresh-legs play in cruel heat, by a defender nagged by groin injuries in 2012-’13. Wilson had used his 4.54 speed to motor ahead on third-and-15. In open field Butler stopped him two yards short.
Attaochu wasn’t the only reserve linebacker who joined the third-down rotation as Butler spectated. On Seattle’s last-gasp series, Reggie Walker closed fast and hit Wilson to force a short pass.
The Chargers weren’t red-lining the tachometer to generate sufficient RPMs. Their talent ran deep. They ran with the Super Bowl champs. Sunday in Buffalo, it’ll be another test of fast feet.
