Brandon Staley’s fourth-down selections had been a seasonlong story across the Chargers.
Solely twice did the subject turn out to be raging, nationwide debate, nonetheless.
Not surprisingly, each events had been the results of Staley’s selections failing in additional time losses in entrance of nationwide tv audiences when the Chargers had been taking part in the one NFL recreation occurring on the time.
On Dec. 16 throughout a Thursday night time at house in opposition to Kansas Metropolis, Staley handed up three makeable field-goal makes an attempt.
Then, on Sunday night time in Las Vegas, he went for it within the third quarter of a three-point recreation when the Chargers had been at their 18-yard line.
“What we’re making an attempt to do is give our workforce the very best likelihood to win,” Staley mentioned Wednesday. “I feel we’ve been clear about our course of and proudly owning the errors in the event that they occur.”
After the Chargers ended with a 9-8 file, right here’s a more in-depth take a look at fourth-and-Staley, simply one of many themes that emerged throughout his rookie season as a head coach:
- The Chargers’ offense began the season by changing its first seven fourth-down tries and completed by changing eight of its closing 9.
- General, the workforce was 22 of 34 (64.7%), that share tying New England for fourth-best within the NFL.
- Solely two groups — Detroit and Chicago — went for it extra usually on fourth down than the Chargers did. L.A.'s 22 conversions led the league.
- Two different fourth downs was first downs when the Chargers drew defensive penalties. Since every, statistically, is categorized as a “no play,” it was not counted as a conversion by the offense.
- Transformed fourth-quarter fourth downs had been essential in wins at Kansas Metropolis, in opposition to Cleveland and at Philadelphia. “A whole lot of the selections which can be being second-guessed,” Staley mentioned, “a few of those self same selections gave us an enormous alternative to be within the hunt.”
- The 22 conversions helped prolong drives that produced 11 touchdowns and three area objectives for 86 factors.
- After the 12 failed makes an attempt, the opposition scored six occasions — 5 area objectives and one landing for 22 factors.
- Two of the conversions had been Justin Herbert landing passes — to Keenan Allen at Cincinnati and to Joshua Palmer at Las Vegas.
- 4 conversions led to no factors, these possessions as an alternative ending in a punt, a turnover on downs, an interception and a fumble.
- On the 12 failed conversions, Staley handed up cheap field-goal makes an attempt six occasions.
“I do know that I can enhance,” he mentioned. “However I really feel like for my first 12 months as an NFL head coach, I wouldn’t change lots.”
Anybody anticipating Staley to re-evaluate his fourth-down strategy in 2022 doubtless can be disenchanted.
“We’re going to do the very best we are able to to make the very best selections that we really feel like are going to present us the very best likelihood to win,” he mentioned. “And I don’t see that altering any time quickly.”
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