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5 Final Thoughts Ahead of Chargers-Dolphins in Week 6

JustinHerbert

The Chargers are on the road in Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins.

Kickoff is at 10 a.m. (PT) from Hard Rock Stadium.

The Chargers-Dolphins betting line shows the Bolts are the favorites on Sunday.

Here are five final thoughts ahead of Week 6.

1. Snap the skid

The Chargers have looked like two different teams through the first five games of the 2025 season.

The first three weeks of the year, all wins, showcased a complete team that looked like a potential threat to go deep in the playoffs.

But the past two games have delivered inconsistent performances marred by miscues and penalties that have led to back-to-back losses.

How do the Bolts get back on track?

"Focus inward. Focus on what you can do, what your assignment is," Derwin James, Jr. said. "If everybody takes that approach and just worries about what they can do, I feel like we'll be better overall as a team."

Teair Tart added: "Consistency. Everything starts at practice. Go out, evaluate the film and correct what needs to be corrected. It's a next-play mentality."

Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh echoed those thoughts and said it will take a full-team effort to get to 4-2 on Sunday against the Dolphins.

"It's just a time to shine for players, for coaches, for everybody in this organization," Harbaugh said. "When the going gets going, the tough get going.

"I look at it as an opportunity to do that," Harbaugh added. "Time to shine, step up."

Offensively, keep an eye on the state of the Chargers offensive line against the Dolphins.

With Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins III ruled out for Week 6, and with Jamaree Salyer listed as questionable, the Chargers will have to make do with Austin Deculus at left tackle and either Salyer, Foster Sarell or Bobby Hart on the right side.

"We've got a good plan, a good week of practice," Harbaugh said. "Anticipated that Joe Alt would be out again this week. We've been preparing ourselves for that."

And look for a fresh face on defense as edge rusher Odafe Oweh makes his Chargers debut after being acquired in a trade with the Ravens earlier this week.

Oweh doesn't have a sack yet this season but Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter said he envisions plenty of productivity from the former first-round pick.

"He plays really hard and plays really disciplined. He has a [high] pressure rate and he's not getting frustrated," Minter said. "It's very similar to Tuli [Tuipulotu] and how he was playing where we're not going to be shocked when all of the sudden he goes out there in a game and has three sacks."

The Chargers face a crucial point in their season Sunday in Miami against the 1-4 Dolphins.

How will Harbaugh's squad answer the bell?

"Anybody in the NFL is a dangerous team if you don't go out and prepare the way you need to," James said. "We need to make it about us."

The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms with outside linebacker Odafe Oweh.

2. Jefferson, Mickens in the spotlight

It was a week of change for the Chargers safety room after Gilman was traded to the Ravens.

Players and coaches made it clear this week that they will certainly miss the veteran who spent the past six years with the Bolts.

"We know it's part of the business but that's my brother, man," James said. "Got so many great memories, I love him as a brother."

Tony Jefferson added: "It's tough. Lo' is a staple guy who was loved dearly, more than just a teammate, but as a dude. I talked to him before he left. He's going to a great organization, one that I'm pretty familiar with and knowing that he'll be taken care of."

Minter also gave his thoughts on the deal.

"It's always hard. I love Alohi, tons of love and respect for him. You bring it up and think it all through and figure out what's best for the situation, where you have depth and maybe where you feel like you could use a little bit," Minter said.

He later added: "I do feel like that's a position where we have depth, or otherwise it's a move you may not be able to make."

Even with Gilman gone, expect the Chargers to still be able to roll out three safeties on the field with James, Elijah Molden and Jefferson, with the latter taking on a full-time starting role.

"It's business as usual," Jefferson said. "Even going back to last year, I had that role and this year in the beginning when Elijah was out the first two games. Pretty much just back to business."

But since the Chargers had used a safety rotation the past two weeks, that could also mean an opportunity for rookie RJ Mickens, too.

"No matter what my role was, I always tried to approach the game like I was the guy, like I am the starter," Mickens said. "Learning that from Alohi, Derwin, Elijah taught me how to take great notes.

"They've all poured into me in different ways and I've always prepared the same ways. Regardless if I'm look team or on the defense, it doesn't matter," Mickens added. "Opportunity comes and you got to be ready when it comes. There is no predicting when the opportunity is, you just got to be ready at all times and that's the approach I've taken since I got here."

Everyone, from Harbaugh to Minter to James, raved about Mickens' progress over the past few weeks.

"He doesn't lack confidence," James said with a laugh. "He's always [around] me, pulling on me like, 'How can I get better?'

"Just having that is going to help him a lot," James added.

Minter said: "RJ has done a phenomenal job … probably knows the gameplan better than anybody. I'm excited to see him get his shot and continue to progress."

Harbaugh added: "He has a real quality of covering the field sideline to sideline, he's got great range and good ball skills. A real understanding of the defense, that's come along very well. We feel like it's his time to shine."

There's a bit of a different vibe in the safety room going forward with Gilman now in Baltimore. But the Chargers expect that group to keep the same high standard they've shown since the beginning of last season.

Check out the best photos from practice on Thursday at The Bolt in El Segundo!

3. Tart returns to Miami

Tart has been a revelation since joining the Chargers last August in the middle of the preseason.

He's injected good vibes into the locker room with his infectious personality but has also been a steady player in the trenches, too.

"He's been what I thought he could be," Minter said this week.

He later added: "He's a guy, that when he's going that way and playing that way, he can be really disruptive. He's had a bunch of games like that … I'm happy with where he's at."

Entering Week 6, Tart has also been among the league's best interior defensive linemen.

According to Pro Football Focus, Tart ranks first among defensive tackles who have played at least 100 snaps with a PFF defensive grade of 90.8. He's the only player above 90 in the league.

Tart's PFF run defense grade of 91.4 ranks second in the NFL. The 28-year-old credited Minter and Chargers defensive line coach Mike Elston for helping raise his game to another level.

"I think I always was capable of playing at this level," Tart said. "It's just having the right opportunity and being put in the right position and just doing it consistently.

"I feel like something I definitely took a huge step in is just being able to do it down-in and down-out," Tart said. "I credit Elston and the coaching staff, too. Coach Minter definitely tries to put me in the best position to succeed."

Now, Tart is gearing up for a game in Miami against the team that cut him two days before he joined the Bolts.

Is he extra motivated for this one?

"Ain't no extra juice, man," Tart said with a smile. "It's just another name on the schedule. Go out there and have fun, you know what I'm saying?"

Well, mostly.

Tart then said he's looking forward to going against Dolphins center Aaron Brewer, whom he's friends with from his time in Miami.

"It might be a little bit between the center, he's my boy," Tart said. "We're going to be going at it, but other than that, I'm just ready to go out there and compete."

4. Dolphins speed on offense

Miami will be without wide receiver Tyreek Hill for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

But even without the eight-time Pro Bowler, the Dolphins still feature plenty of speed on offense.

De'Von Achane was clocked at 4.32 seconds in the 40-yard dash while wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (4.37) and running back Jaylen Wright (4.38) can also turn on the burners.

"It's a really explosive offense in the sense that they have weapons … they just have a bunch of really, really fast guys with the ball in their hands," Minter said. "They've played well on offense, better than their record indicates."

So, how do the Bolts combat that speed? By playing team defense.

"Get to the ball," James said. "You need all hats to the ball and can't assume one guy is going to make the tackle. With that speed, we all have to get there."

Miami's offense is orchestrated by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is known for his quick release.

Tagovailoa's average time to throw is 2.60 seconds, which ranks as the fifth-fastest in the league. And his throw's are mostly short as Tagovailoa's average depth of target is just 7.08 yards, which is the fifth-shortest among quarterbacks.

"If he knows what you're in and the guy is breaking, he's throwing the ball on time to a spot," Minter said. "It's about being disruptive and changing the picture whether it be pre snap or on the snap, whatever it is.

5. Clean it up offensively

Yes, the Chargers are dealing with injuries on offense, namely to Alt, Pipkins, Omarion Hampton and others.

But that simply means those are who are on the field need to be sharper in order to help make up for it.

"With all the attrition that's gone on, us as an offense, we have to tighten down things and play a cleaner game," Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said this week.

He later added: "When we do it right, it looks pretty good. We, as an entire offense, just need to keep cleaning things up to where we're not shooting ourselves in the foot. I think that's the major thing."

The Chargers as a team have been called for 24 penalties for 192 yards over the past two weeks, both losses. Offensively, the unit has been whistled for 10 infractions, which is tied for the fourth-most in the league.

The Bolts offense has also been hit my pre-snap issues such as misalignments and miscommunication.

If the Bolts want to break their two-game skid, being cleaner in all areas, especially on offense, would go a long way in helping that.

"It's always an emphasis," Justin Herbert said. "But it starts with those pre-snap alignment details. Just using the cadence to make sure we're not jumping offsides and having those penalties and setting ourselves behind the chains."

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