Madden 19: Los Angeles Chargers Player Ratings, Roster, Depth Chart & Playbooks

By Toby DurantHead of Content

The Chargers were a staple of the AFC playoffs in the 2000's. Under Marty Schottenheimer and then Norv Turner's leadership and with all-time greats like LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates in their prime they were a constant threat. That threat never turned into a Super Bowl appearance though, as New England and Pittsburgh consistently stood in their way. The modern Chargers have a sense of disappointment about them. Philip Rivers is still at the helm, but their last playoff appearance was in 2013 and they suffered back to back losing seasons in 2015 and 2016. There is excitement around the talent of this roster every year, but injuries and bad luck seem to consistently get in their way.

*All stats correct at time of writing

Team Rating

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The Chargers have a very reasonable 80 overall. They are far from the best team in Madden 19, but they are also by no means poor. The Chargers 83 offense score comes from the good quarterback play of Philip Rivers along with the likes of Keenan Allen, Melvin Gordon, and Hunter Henry. It's a well-rounded offense with few holes and a pretty good offensive line. The Chargers are solid on defense too, receiving a score of 83. This is based on the deadly pass rushing duo of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram as well as strong cornerbacks in Casey Hayward, Jason Verrett, and Desmond King II.

Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver (OVR 91)

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Age: 26

Development Trait: Star

Contract: 3 years/$30.56m

2018 Cap Hit: $8.73m

Best Stats: Speed (88), Catching (94), Catching In Traffic (92), Short Route (93), Medium Route (91), Release (92), Jumping (91)

Keenan Allen joined the Chargers as a third-round pick in the 2013 draft. From day one he was exceptionally productive for the Chargers despite his less-than-ideal athleticism. Allen racked up 71 catches, 1,046 yards, and eight touchdowns as a rookie thanks to his very impressive route running skills and ability to create separation with the technical, rather than physical, side of his game. Injuries have hampered his play in recent years, but he played all 16 games in 2017, finishing with 102 catches for 1,393 yards and six scores.

Casey Hayward Jr, Cornerback (OVR 91)

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Age: 28

Development Trait: Star

Contract: 4 years/$29.5m

2018 Cap Hit: $6.91m

Best Stats: Speed (90), Man coverage (90), Zone Coverage (93), Play Recognition (96), Press (90), Catching (80)

Casey Hayward's NFL career began in green Bay, where he was a second-round pick in 2012. Hayward played well, if inconsistently, for the Packers in his four seasons with them, but he never really locked up a starting role for them and was allowed to walk in free agency in 2016. He was signed by the Chargers and his talents quickly established him as a vital piece of the defense. He led the NFL in interceptions with seven in 2016 and was voted to his first Pro Bowl. In 2017 he returned to the Pro Bowl and could easily have been an All-Pro.

Melvin Gordon III, Running Back (OVR 91)

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Age: 25

Development Trait: Star

Contract: 2 years/$7.49m

2018 Cap Hit: $3.66m

Best Stats: Speed (92), Carrying (93), Juke Move (94), Break Tackle (90), Elusiveness (86), Catching (69)

Melvin Gordon was the 15th overall pick for the Chargers in 2015. He took some time to acclimatize to the NFL and also struggled a little with workload early on. In his rookie year behind a poor offensive line, Gordon averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and failed to find the endzone. That began to change in 2016 though, and he now has 2,743 yards on the ground to his name and 24 all-purpose touchdowns. Gordon has started to become a bigger piece of the passing game too and made 58 catches last season.

Joey Bosa, Defensive End (OVR 90)

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Age: 23

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 2 years/$13.28m

2018 Cap Hit: $6.26m

Best Stats: Strength (87), Power Moves (89), Finesse Moves (95), Play Recognition (93), Acceleration (87), Awareness (93)

Drafted third-overall in 2016 Joey Bosa is from a long line of football players. His grandfather was a guard for the Baltimore Colts in the 60s, and his father was a defensive end for Miami in the late 80s. Bosa arrived in the NFL as one of the most technically gifted pass rushers in a long time. With a strong repertoire of moves and an exceptional feel for the game, any shortcomings Bosa has physically is made up for in his effort and excellent use of technique. In two years in the NFL he already has 23 sacks.

Depth Chart & Full Roster

QB
OVR
Speed
Throw Power
Short Accuracy
Medium Accuracy
Deep Accuracy
Throw Under Pressure
Play Action
Philip Rivers
90
62
90
93
88
86
95
95
Geno Smith
68
85
91
83
78
71
72
67
HB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Elusiveness
Carrying
Juke Move
Catching
Melvin Gordon III
91
92
92
86
93
94
69
Austin Ekeler
82
92
92
84
83
85
71
Justin Jackson
71
89
89
79
78
86
62
Detrez Newsome
68
88
84
74
82
80
62
FB
OVR
Speed
Strength
Carrying
Pass Block
Run Block
Lead Block
Impact Block
Derek Watt
67
81
74
75
65
59
67
53
WR
OVR
Speed
Agility
Catching
Short Route
Medium Route
Deep Route
Catching In Traffic
Spectacular Catch
Release
Jumping
Keenan Allen
91
88
92
94
93
91
88
92
90
92
91
Tyrell Williams
82
91
94
84
81
84
85
84
88
79
91
Travis Benjamin
81
93
96
83
78
83
84
82
84
75
90
Mike Williams
80
89
84
88
81
82
79
87
91
84
82
Geremy Davis
64
89
91
84
57
57
55
80
74
79
87
Artavis Scott
62
88
87
80
67
66
63
79
77
60
76
TE
OVR
Speed
Agility
Catching
Short Route
Medium Route
Deep Route
Run Block
Hunter Henry
88
84
80
87
81
78
73
81
Antonio Gates
82
77
80
88
74
71
66
63
Virgil Green
78
85
82
79
71
66
62
63
Sean Culkin
69
82
77
74
62
57
52
64
Mike Windt
47
72
66
65
40
35
30
54
OL
OVR
Speed
Strength
Pass Block
Run Block
Lead Block
Impact Block
Mike Pouncey
80
66
88
80
79
90
93
Russell Okung
78
63
88
82
74
82
81
Forrest Lamp
76
72
91
77
80
87
86
Dan Feeney
74
64
91
72
77
86
84
Joe Barksdale
72
59
88
77
71
76
79
Scott Quessenberry
68
69
82
75
73
78
75
Sam Tevi
67
62
79
72
75
78
78
Michael Schofield III
66
71
83
72
75
48
73
Cole Toner
62
62
78
69
70
51
76
DE
OVR
Speed
Agility
Strength
Block Shedding
Finesse Moves
Power Moves
Joey Bosa
90
80
85
87
76
95
89
Melvin Ingram III
90
81
85
83
83
93
81
Issac Rochell
72
76
69
88
68
59
75
Chris Landrum
63
79
83
74
68
69
57
DT
OVR
Speed
Strength
Power Moves
Finesse Moves
Block Shedding
Impact Block
Corey Liuget
84
72
90
84
65
75
89
Brandon Mebane
78
62
91
74
54
69
87
Darius Philon
74
74
79
64
78
77
82
Damion Square
70
63
80
78
60
69
83
Justin Jones
69
69
83
74
73
76
81
OLB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Tackle
Hit Power
Play Recognition
Pursuit
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Jatavis Brown
77
88
84
85
84
72
79
63
74
Uchenna Nwosu
73
84
82
81
83
63
80
54
62
Kyle Emanuel
71
81
76
75
75
72
78
61
71
Kyzir White
70
83
83
80
87
62
78
66
74
MLB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Tackle
Hit Power
Play Recognition
Pursuit
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Denzel Perryman
75
82
79
82
89
81
80
62
74
Nick Dzubnar
65
83
72
85
68
70
73
52
67
CB
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Agility
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Press
Casey Hayward Jr
91
90
91
92
90
93
90
Jason Verrett
86
92
92
94
86
86
82
Desmond King II
83
88
90
93
85
86
79
Trevor Williams
83
91
90
89
83
81
73
Michael Davis
67
92
89
88
75
68
67
Brandon Facyson
65
88
90
83
73
70
78
FS
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Agility
Play Recognition
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Derwin James
82
90
91
89
73
81
75
Rayshawn Jenkins
68
89
89
84
62
60
63
SS
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Tackle
Play Recognition
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Jahleel Addae
81
84
87
72
84
78
81
Jaylen Watkins
76
90
92
64
70
77
73
Adrian Phillips
76
87
90
70
76
70
77
K
OVR
Kick Power
Kick Accuracy
Caleb Sturgis
75
94
83
Michael Badgley
69
88
77
P
OVR
Kick Power
Kick Accuracy
Donnie Jones
76
85
81

The Chargers roster isn't loaded with talent, but there are some studs dotted around the roster. On offense they have the talented Keenan Allen (94 catching, 93 short route) and Melvin Gordon (92 speed, 93 carrying), but there is also tight end Hunter Henry (87 catching, 87 spectacular catch) and deep threat Travis Benjamin (93 speed, 84 deep route). All of this talent is marshaled by quarterback Philip Rivers (93 short accuracy, 95 throw under pressure) who despite his age is still a quality option under center.

On defense Chargers have quality pass rushers on either side in Joey Bosa (95 finesse moves, 89 power moves) and Melvin Ingram (93 finesse moves, 81 power moves) that can bring the heat and force quarterbacks into bad throws. With strong cornerback options that include Casey Hayward (90 man coverage, 93 zone coverage) and Jason Verrett (86 man coverage, 86 zone coverage) that is a really nice combination. The Chargers used their first round pick this year on safety Derwin James (90 hit power, 81 man coverage) who brings some versatility to the position. The defense does lack severely at linebacker though.

Los Angeles Chargers Playbook - Offense

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I Form Pro

I Form Slot Flex

I Form Tight

I Form Twin TE

Strong I - Pro

Strong I - Wing

Weak I - Pro

Weak I - Wing

Singleback - Ace

Singleback - Ace Pair

Singleback - Bunch

Singleback - Deuce Close

Singleback - Dice Slot

Singleback - Wing Pair

Singleback - Wing Slot

Singleback - Wing Tight

Singleback - Y Trips

Pistol - Trips

Pistol - Wing

Shotgun - Bunch

Shotgun - Doubles

Shotgun - Doubles HB Wk

Shotgun - Doubles Y-Flex

Shotgun - Empty Base Flex

Shotgun - Empty Trey Stack

Shotgun - Spread Flex Wk

Shotgun - Tight

Shotgun - Trey Y Iso

Shotgun - Trips TE

Shotgun - Trips TE Flex

Shotgun - Trips Y-Flex

Shotgun - Wing Stack

Shotgun - Y Off Trips Wk

Shotgun - Y Trips Wk

The Chargers offensive playbook doesn't seem overly special at first glance, but it is very well balanced and has a couple of really nice formations in it that can be schemed into strong offensive game plans. Singleback Deuce Close is always a good formation and offers a lot of run variations and play action passes. Shotgun Trips TE includes the money play PA Shot Post and there are runs like Strong I Wing HB Toss that are a guaranteed 5 yards minimum if you read the blocks correctly.

Los Angeles Chargers Playbook - Defense

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4-3 Normal

4-3 Over

4-3 Over Plus

4-3 Under

4-3 Wide 9

46 Normal

Nickel Normal

Nickel Double A Gap

Nickel Wide 9

Big Nickel Over G

Dime Normal

Quarter Normal

Quarter 3 Deep

Dollar 3-2-6

Goal Line Defense 5-3-3

Goal Line Defense 5-4-2

The Chargers defensive playbook is, like the offensive one, unspectacular on the surface. Unfortunately, it is also unspectacular underneath as well. There is little that makes it stand out against other 4-3 playbooks and while there is a good mix of trap coverages and nice blitz looks there is little unexpected that you can throw at an opponent. You would be better served by using the Jaguars playbook if you want to keep this team as a 4-3 defense.