COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Russell Okung spent most of his offseason work watching film of himself with new Los Angeles Chargers offensive line coach Pat Meyer, focused on improving his technique.
That attention to detail has continued during the regular season for Okung and the rest of the offensive line.
“We’re watching, like, seven to 10 games a week [on our opponent],” Okung said. “We’re going back, man. We’re doing a lot of film study. There’s a lot more respect here for watching film in certain situations, understanding that situation and how we’ll sort of attack that situation.
“It’s all about understanding the craft and understanding what’s going to happen while you’re on the field. Our mantra here is it’s all about being a well-prepared team. And these past few weeks have been evident of that.”
The offensive line’s diligence has paid off. After being sacked 36 times last season, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been sacked just 13 times in 12 games. The fewest times Rivers has been sacked in a full 16-game season is 22 times, in 2007.
Meyer spent the past two seasons working with Chargers coach Anthony Lynn in Buffalo.
“He’s a technician,” Okung said about Meyer. “He’s a little bit of a perfectionist. He’s always pushing us to understand that sort of perfection, and he keeps harping on taking pride in protecting Philip and getting this run game going. He’s a big part of why we’re having success.”
The Chargers are starting four different offensive linemen this season, and so far they have done a good job of maintaining continuity and staying healthy. The Chargers have used just three starting offensive line combinations this season through 12 games.
“You want to see improvement over the course of the season, and you want to peak now,” Meyer said. “You want all of the techniques down and the schemes down. And you want them to peak now through December and moving on. I’ve been pleased by the way they’re working at it and still learning.”
Kenny Wiggins, the Chargers' longest-tenured offensive lineman, said the team’s new offensive line coach offers a different approach to pass blocking.
“He’s brought out a lot of new techniques that we haven’t used here in the past,” Wiggins said. “And it’s benefiting us a lot -- more of an aggressive style of pass protection, which I like, because I’m a taller guard and I get my hands on them faster and not set back off the ball and let them get started.
“I’ve said it all year: If all five of us, Phil and the backs are all on the same page, we can block anybody.”
Along with teaching an aggressive approach to pass blocking, Meyer said players must be adaptable and willing to change, depending on the game situation.
“What the defense gives you dictates it at times,” Meyer said. “But when we can be aggressive, we want to be aggressive to take the fight away from the quarterback as far as you can -- that’s our philosophy in doing it.
“But it’s not just the line. Phil gets rid of the ball quickly, the receivers are getting open and backs are protecting -- all of that is taken into account with protection. It’s not just us.”
Lynn said Meyer has done a good job of creating a cohesive unit up front in his first season with the Chargers.
“I was with Pat the last couple of years in Buffalo, and I loved our protection schemes, keeping the quarterback on his feet and not throwing hot all the time,” Lynn said. “That communication is a process. It’s a lot of work throughout the week. His techniques in jumping on pass-rushers and how we stop them, it’s pretty good. I think it’s pretty obvious. We have improved in that.”