2. Taylor, Leonard turn tide on special teams
Hopkins’ heroics were only made possible by a game-changing play on special teams.
With both offenses stuck in the mud in overtime, the Chargers recorded their lone takeaway halfway through the extra period.
Scott unleashed a booming 48-yard punt that Denver’s Montrell Washington tried to corral at the 32-yard line. But Chargers rookie Ja’Sir Taylor made a heads up play by blocking P.J. Locke into Washington, who muffed a punt that rookie Deane Leonard pounced on.
“Once I saw the fair catch and saw him relax, his teammate was standing right in front of him,” Taylor said. “Instead of just letting him catch it, I decided to just make a play and bump the defender into him.”
“It feels good. I’m just making the most of my role,” Taylor later added. “I’m a special teams player, I got out there, give it my all and I’m glad it paid off tonight.”
Leonard explained the technique Taylor used, and what he saw on the play.
“We knew we were backed up and they were going to send pressure. Our coach was telling us the returner was dangerous and an explosive guy, so we had to get on his hip,” Leonard said. “Ja’ made a great play and dumped the other corner. The ball fell right in front of me and I got on it.
“It’s called ‘dumping,’ it’s a drill we do,” Leonard added about Taylor’s maneuver. “It sounds dumb, but it was a big turnover in the game.”
The takeaway changed the tide of the game, as Leonard recovered at the Denver 28-yard line, which set up Hopkins’ game-winner four plays later.
“Ja’Sir and Deane were able to get down there and make something happen,” Staley said. “The fact that you go beat your man, and then you go do the right thing when you get close to the returner.
“Those are young guys, so for them to make that type of impact for our football team says a lot about [Special Teams Coordinator] Ryan Ficken and [Assistant Special Teams Coach] Chris Gould,” Staley added. “Hopefully, those guys continue to improve.”
3. Bolts defense…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at News…