SAN DIEGO -- One priority this season for the San Diego Chargers was getting early leads.
Too often last year, the Chargers fell behind early, which limited the team’s play-calling options and forced Philip Rivers to throw too much.
However, this season the Chargers have scored touchdowns on six of the team’s nine opening drives, which ranks best in the NFL.
It’s one of the reasons that San Diego has outscored opponents by 65 points in the first three quarters, good for No. 4 in the league.
Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt does not attribute his group’s success on the reliance of a set of predetermined, scripted plays practiced during the week, but rather San Diego’s ability to use a diverse group of personnel and formations that varies from week to week.
Whisenhunt says that unpredictability makes it hard for teams to hone in on tendencies in San Diego’s offense.
“The one thing about us is we’ve changed every week -- we’ve been a different style of offense,” Whisenhunt said. “The Denver game we were more two-tight end sets and bigger guys. This past game [versus the Tennessee Titans] we were all three wide receivers and one tight end.
“A lot of it is dependent on what we feel like gives us the best chance or best attack against our opponents. And that’s a credit to our quarterback and our players that we can do that.”
Something to consider for the Chargers in the team’s matchup against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday is Miami’s defense gives up 6.9 yards per play with two tight ends on the field, third-worst in the NFL.
The Dolphins allow just 5.2 yards per play with three-receiver personnel on the field, which ranks No. 7 in the league.
So Whisenhunt could use a lot of personnel groupings with tight ends Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry against Miami’s defense.
Here are five things to watch for in San Diego’s contest against the Dolphins.
Stop the run: Just as they had to last week with the Titans, the Chargers have to limit Miami’s run game. Jay Ajayi is the third running back in Miami history to have three straight games with 100 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. The only Dolphins player to do it in four straight games is San Diego native Ricky Williams (2002). One reason for Ajayi’s success is a healthy, mobile offensive line. With Branden Albert, Laremy Tunsil, Mike Pouncey, Jermon Bushrod and Ja'Wuan James all in the game, Miami averages 5.7 yards per carry. When at least one is off the field, the Dolphins average 4.2 yards per rush. The Dolphins are 4-0 this season when rushing for at least 100 yards and 0-4 when they rush for fewer than 100 yards. The Chargers have allowed one team to rush for 100 yards against them this season (the Atlanta Falcons), tied for the fewest allowed in the NFL.
Run to win: On the flip side, Miami’s defense allows 136 rushing yards a contest, third-worst in the NFL. That’s surprising for a defense that has game-wrecker Ndamukong Suh in the middle. San Diego's offensive line should get a push up front, so Melvin Gordon should be able to get the offense moving. Gordon rushed for a career-high 196 yards and finished with 261 yards from scrimmage last week. Per ESPN Stats & Information, no San Diego player has totaled at least 200 yards from scrimmage in back-to-back games.
Tackle on special teams: The Dolphins have an explosive return game led by Akeem Dent and Kenyan Drake. Dent has a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown to his credit, while Drake has returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score. So tackling on special teams will be very important on Sunday.
Keep the turnover train moving: San Diego’s defense has forced 18 turnovers through nine games, No. 2 in the NFL. And it’s important that the Chargers continue to take the ball away, particularly with the defense’s struggles in the red zone. While pleased with the team’s proclivity to get the ball out, defensive coordinator John Pagano wants his group to do a better job of keeping points off the board. The Chargers allow 27.4 points a game, which ranks No. 26 in the NFL.
Unleash Mr. Bolo Tie: Rivers needs just two passing touchdowns to become the ninth quarterback in league history with 300 career touchdowns. New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, a member of the 2004 draft class with Rivers, has 306 touchdown passes. The 2004 duo would join Dan Marino (420) and John Elway (300) as the second quarterback tandem from the same draft class to each reach 300 career passing touchdowns.