SAN DIEGO – Asked to fill in at inside linebacker last week, San Diego Chargers edge rusher Kyle Emanuel did his best to get ready for the position change.
Emanuel said he basically started from scratch with inside linebackers coach Bob Babich last week, learning what he installed with rookie linebackers during offseason workouts.
“It was like I was in college studying for a test again, trying to cram as many things as I could in without overloading myself,” Emanuel said. “So it was different, but when I got to the game that’s when you just have to let it go and play.”
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Emanuel played 13 of his 24 defensive snaps at inside linebacker in a win over the Tennessee Titans last week, finishing with three total tackles.
“It’s completely different,” Emanuel said about the position change. “At outside linebacker you’re basically a defensive lineman. We’re on the line of scrimmage pretty much every play.
“I think the biggest thing is when you’re playing outside linebacker, everything you read is down the line, and there’s basically one level of offense that you’re looking through. When you’re playing inside there’s flashes, motions, guards pulling, play-action and you have to see the run -- there’s just a lot of different things. So the week of preparation was big for me and helped me be prepared for the game.”
For the season, Emanuel has 25 total tackles in 281 snaps, with 62 percent of his snaps at outside linebacker.
Emanuel still sees himself as an edge player. But he’s willing to do whatever the team asks of him, which means if Denzel Perryman and Jatavis Brown are not healthy enough you could see Emanuel back at inside linebacker this week against the Miami Dolphins.
Here’s a closer look at the snap counts for the Chargers in their 43-35 win over the Titans in Week 9:
OFFENSE (Based on 80 snaps)
Quarterback – Philip Rivers 80.
Running back – Melvin Gordon 65, Kenneth Farrow 15, Derek Watt 9.
Wide receiver – Dontrelle Inman 76, Tyrell Williams 66, Griff Whalen 49, Jeremy Butler 10, Travis Benjamin 7, Isaiah Burse 1.
Tight end – Antonio Gates 66, Sean McGrath 17, Asante Cleveland 8.
Offensive line – Matt Slauson 80, D.J. Fluker 80, Joe Barksdale 80, King Dunlap 80, Orlando Franklin 61, Spencer Pulley 19, Kenny Wiggins 11.
Offensive analysis – San Diego’s 42.7 percent on third down offensively on the season is No. 8 in the NFL. ... The Chargers finished with a season-high 14 accepted penalties for 107 yards against the Titans. Tackle Joe Barksdale leads the team with seven accepted penalties. ... San Diego has 23 drops on the year, No. 19 in the NFL. ... Rivers has completed 10 passes this season of 40 yards or longer, second in the NFL to the Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan (13). Rivers needs just five more 40-plus yard completions to set a new career high. In 2010, he led the NFL with 14.
DEFENSE (Based on 65 snaps)
Line – Joey Bosa 51, Corey Liuget 47, Tenny Palepoi 31, Brandon Mebane 30, Damion Square 27, Darius Philon 15.
Linebacker – Korey Toomer 64, Melvin Ingram 55, Kyle Emanuel 24, Joshua Perry 13, Tourek Williams 12, Deon King 10, Chris Landrum 9.
Secondary – Casey Hayward 64, Brandon Flowers 64, Dwight Lowery 63, Adrian Phillips 50, Dexter McCoil 33, Trevor Williams 25, Steve Williams 23, Darrell Stuckey 5.
Defensive analysis – The Chargers have scored 60 points off takeaways, which is third in the NFL. ... San Diego’s defense is tied for fourth in the NFL with 24 three-and-outs this season. ... The Chargers own the NFL’s fifth-leading rush defense (85.3 yards per game) and have held eight of their nine opponents this season to less than 100 yards on the ground. ... Toomer leads the team with three forced fumbles and all three have come in the Chargers’ last four games. Toomer didn’t join the Chargers until Sept. 28 when he was signed off Oakland’s practice squad.