Bumpus: How Seahawks can get after 2 Chargers stars in Week 7

After a Week 6 win over the Arizona Cardinals, the Seahawks are back to .500 and are tied for first place in the NFC West. Now, Seattle hits the road to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers.

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The Chargers enter the contest at 4-2 after an overtime win over the Denver Broncos and former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson on Monday Night Football, and they are tied for first place in the AFC West.

L.A. was a popular pick to make the playoffs this season after a step forward last year and an eventful offseason, so the Chargers have some good players on each side of the ball.

Former NFL receiver Michael Bumpus thinks the Seahawks should – and can – be aggressive and get after two of the biggest names on the Chargers’ roster this Sunday. He explained during Thursday’s Bump and Stacy on Seattle Sports 710 AM.

First on the list? Quarterback Justin Herbert, the 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year and a 2021 Pro Bowler.

Herbert has completed 66.1% of his passes and has 10 touchdowns and has been sacked just seven times despite leading the NFL in completions and passing attempts.

So how can the Seahawks get after the young quarterback?

“Seven sacks. When I saw this number, I automatically thought that Justin Herbert and the guys are really good with their quick game and that they’re gonna get the football out fast and that offensive line doesn’t have to protect as much,” Bumpus said. “As I dive deeper into the film, yes, they do have quick game, but they like to take their shots. They actually hold on to the football a bit longer than I thought.”

So what do the Seahawks need to do to apply pressure on the Oregon product?

“You’ve got to be solid on the back,” Bumpus said. “We always talk about the defensive linemen in that box, right? Getting after the quarterback to help the back end. So now let’s flip it. Let’s have that back end be so solid, because you’re gonna go up against Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Gerald Everett, (Austin) Ekeler. How about that back end be solid and allow this defensive line to get after the quarterback (and give them) more time to get after the quarterback?

“And I still want to see the stuff that I saw last week. I want to see the stunts, I want to see the slants. You have to be creative when you’re going up against a team that’s solid on that offensive line and a quarterback who will pat the ball two or three times before he lets it go.”

On the other side of the football, the Chargers paid big money to sign Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson, who leads the NFL in interceptions the last four seasons with 25.

While Herbert has played well once again, Jackson has struggled with his new team to the point he was actually benched in Monday’s win over the Broncos.

Despite Jackson being a big name with tons of talent, Bumpus thinks the Seahawks need to go after him.

“I’m reading about him, I’m watching him on film, he is not confident,” Bumpus said. “I respect the man, he is obviously a baller. But when a man is down, you go after him, and I’d take a shot at him right now.”

Despite being benched last week, Jackson will be back starting this week, head coach Brandon Staley announced.

“Go after that dude. Now if he looks good, the hips look good, he’s breaking on the football, he’s making plays, then maybe you don’t go after him as much,” Bumpus said. “… Go after him and see if he’s ready.”

“Mentally, he’s battling right now. If you listen to him talk and you read the articles, he is in a mental battle right now,” Bumpus later added.

Listen to the second hour of Thursday’s Bump and Stacy at this link or in the player below.

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