The Chargers pass rush has come alive over the last couple of weeks, becoming one of the driving forces of the current two-game win streak to get back at .500.
After an 8.0 sack performance as a team in Week 9, the Bolts now sit with the second-most sacks in the NFL with 31. They also lead the NFL with 19.0 sacks on third downs this season and are one of only two teams in the league to have four players with 4.0 sacks.
There are multitude of reasons for the success, including the health of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, but it’s been the depth when getting after the quarterback that has shined to most, as almost every game it’s someone else making a play.
And in the middle of it all is rookie outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, who has added to that depth and made quite the impact now halfway through his first season in the NFL.
The Chargers second-round pick recorded his first career multi-sack game last Monday night, his first time notching a sack since Week 3 — something the rookie was well-aware of and hopes could get him back rolling once again.
“It felt good,” Tuipulotu said Wednesday about his game in Week 9. “I think I was going through a slump for a couple of weeks so good to bounce back with a two sack game and hopefully stay consistent throughout the season.”
Tuipulotu’s numbers stack up there with the top defensive rookies through the first nine weeks. In addition to his 4.0 sacks, the second-round pick also has seven tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits.
Tuipulotu has the second-most total pressures (29), second-most run stops (14) and best run defense grade (84.3) among all rookie edge rushers who have played at least 20 percent of the snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
But the word ‘consistency’ is something the rookie harped on, as he holds himself to a high standard even as a first-year player.
“I think I’m kind of behind of what I wanted to do,” Tuipulotu said about his rookie season. “I don’t really have any personal goals, my biggest thing is just being consistent.
“I think I kind of fell off a little bit and then luckily, I bounced back this past week,” Tuipulotu added. “Like I said, I really just want to be consistent and contribute every week. That’s my biggest thing.”
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