TILLERY HAS FAN IN BOLTS COACH STALEY
He has spent two seasons trying to confirm his status as a first-round draft pick, Jerry Tillery offering the Chargers both hope and frustration.
He has shone at times, rushing the passer up the middle and also stopping the run. But Tillery last season was called for eight penalties, including three 15yarders.
In new head coach Brandon Staley, the for- mer Notre Dame standout has a fan — one who’s already convinced.
“This guy’s production last year jumped off the page for me,” Staley said. “I know that people want to magnify some of the sack production. But I think the tape, what the film said, told me a different story.”
Tillery’s continued progress will be a main storyline along the defensive front in 2021.
With the Chargers shifting to more of a 3-4 look, the plan is for him to remain inside, though Staley said Tillery proved in 2020 that he also can play on the edge.
Tillery has five sacks and 47 combined tackles in 31 career games. He finished last season with 14 quarterback hits, second on the team to three-time Pro Bowl selection Joey Bosa.
“Where he’s going to give us the biggest advantage is in interior pass rush,” Staley said. “But we feel like this guy’s got a chance to be a complete player. This guy’s a lot more tough, physical and rugged in the run game than I was expecting.”
Rule changes
NFL owners approved eliminating overtime in preseason games and expanded selection of jersey numbers for receivers, running backs and defensive backs.
The league also will allow onfield officials to get certain “objective information” from the replay official and designated members of the officiating department “when clear and obvious video evidence is present.”
During a virtual meeting, the 32 owners also tabled a proposal by the Philadelphia Eagles that a team be given two chances per game to retain possession after a score by converting a fourthand-15 play from its 25-yard line. Some owners, general managers and coaches consider that too gimmicky, though they are eager to find a solution to the near-disappearance of the onside kick.
Owners did approve establishing a maximum number of players in the setup zone (between 10 and 25 yards from the kickoff) in hopes of enhancing onside kick opportunities. Defending teams will be limited to nine players in that zone.
Also approved were ensuring enforcement of all accepted penalties committed by either team during successive extra-point attempts, and adding a loss of down for a second forward pass thrown from behind the line of scrimmage, and for a pass thrown after the ball returns behind the line.
Rich McKay, president of the Atlanta Falcons and longtime chairman of the powerful competition committee, said a point of emphasis this year will be cracking down on taunting on the field.
Notable
Cornerback Darious Williams signed his restricted free agent tender to return to the Los Angeles Rams.
Williams had four interceptions and 14 passes defensed last season, and he added a 42yard interception return for a touchdown in Los Angeles’ playoff victory at Seattle.
Williams will make $4.766 million in 2021.
• The 49ers signed free agent running back Wayne Gallman Jr. to a one-year deal.