Will Shaun Phillips return to form in 2012?
The San Diego Chargers desperately needed another pass rusher besides Antwan Barnes to show up during the 2011 NFL season. San Diego went from being tied for second in the NFL with 47 team sacks during the 2010 season to being tied for 23rd in 2011 with 32 sacks. Shaun Phillips missed four games during the 2011 season and finished with 3.5 sacks. The 2010 Pro Bowl selection tied his career high with two interceptions in 2011, but San Diego missed his ability to be a nightmare for quarterbacks.
Phillips recorded at least seven sacks from 2005-2010 with an average of nine sacks per season. He was also tied for ninth in the NFL with 11.5 sacks during the 2006 season despite missing two games and tied for 10th in the NFL with 11 sacks during the 2010 season. San Diego’s defense was ranked first during the 2010 NFL season, but fell to 16th in 2011 due in part to the team’s inability to consistently put pressure on quarterbacks.
Barnes missed one game and was tied for 11th in the NFL with 11 sacks. The combination of Barnes and Phillips could have been a dynamic duo for the Chargers in 2011. One would have to think that Phillips’ injury was just a setback in 2011 based on his production from 2005-2010. If Phillips can return to form, it will take pressure away from a San Diego secondary that finished 13th in pass defense. The return of Phillips would also give a San Diego offense that ranked 10th in 2009, first in 2010 and sixth in 2011 more opportunities to put up points against teams.
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