Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa set an NFL record with 19 sacks in his first 20 career games.

He recorded at least 10 1/2 sacks in each of his first two seasons [url=http://www.jetscheapstore.com/thomas-rawls-jersey-cheap]Thomas Rawls Jersey Jets[/url] , but Bosa and the Chargers insist the best is yet to come.

"I think there's so much I have to work on that I have an idea in my head of what I want things to look like and how I want to be as a player, and I'm not anywhere near those things, but I know I'm making the right steps in that direction," Bosa said Sunday.

Cornerback Casey Hayward has never been shy in sharing his belief that Bosa could become the best defender in football. It was only reinforced last season as Bosa's pass rush skills helped contribute to Hayward intercepting four passes.

"Made my life a lot easier," Hayward said. "A couple of my picks last year came off Joey hitting the guy, wobbly ball, I take all of them."

Entering his third season, the next step in Bosa's development could come from a better understanding of coordinator Gus Bradley's 4-3 defense. The Chargers were productive in 2017 while transitioning to Bradley's system, finishing third in points per game allowed, tied for fifth in sacks, and sixth in takeaways. Those rankings could improve as the coaches, players and front office are more comfortable with what will allow the defense to succeed in this iteration.

The Chargers added depth in the draft [url=http://www.lionscheapstore.com/da_shawn-hand-jersey-cheap]Da'Shawn Hand Jersey Lions[/url] , with Bosa praising defensive lineman Justin Jones and linebacker Uchenna Nwosu for their ability to get to the quarterback. The progression of second-year defensive end Isaac Rochell could result in Bosa staying fresh by allowing Bradley to rotate more. The 280-pound Bosa could play inside if Rochell is capable of creating pressure off the edge consistently, allowing Bradley to use his most disruptive players together in obvious passing situations.

Bosa, who had 12 1/2 sacks last season as the bookend to Melvin Ingram, could cause more havoc if opponents cannot focus all their attention on stopping the two standout defensive ends.

"Joey can improve," coach Anthony Lynn said. "I don't think he has reached his peak yet at all, and the better we get on that defensive line and create more one-on-one matchups, that's going to help his success as well."

But Bosa will never put a target on his individual production going into his season after recognizing that chasing personal goals often comes at the expense of both the individual and the team.

"If you want to get 15 sacks and you're out there doing your own things to get sacks, more than likely you're going to hurt the team and not get a sack rather than you just doing your job and you falling into one," Bosa said. "I've come to realize when I'm really out there trying to make a play like that, I do something wrong and they'll break a run or whatever. But if I I stay within myself and the defense, it usually works out pretty well."

Bosa's zen mentality carries over to his offseason workouts. He stresses developing his overall athleticism rather than addressing any particular football technique. That regiment makes the first week of training camp something of a transition period, with Bosa joking he is focused on "lining up right."

Still [url=http://www.ravenscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-hayden-hurst-jersey]Authentic Hayden Hurst Jersey[/url] , Hayward sees how Bosa approaches the game spilling over to the rest of the team. If Bosa can improve on his momentous initial returns, that bodes well for the Chargers as a whole.

"That's definitely contagious. You see that, you want to work just as hard as he does," Hayward said.

NOTES: Rookie tight end Austin Roberts tore his ACL on Saturday, Lynn said. . The Chargers will practice in full pads for the first time Monday.

__

Saints punter Thomas Morstead figured he had a good command of his value after nine NFL seasons, and he had no interest in playing or living anywhere but New Orleans.

Morstead said Friday that he has signed a new five-year, $20 million contract with the Saints.

He told The Associated Press that his new contract begins in the current league year, replacing the final year of his previous contract that was due to expire after next season. The deal guarantees $9 million over the first two seasons and includes the possibility for additional bonuses, Morstead said.

The 32-year-old Morstead served as his own agent on what is his third NFL contract since being drafted in 2009 and helping New Orleans capture its only Super Bowl championship as a rookie.

The Saints ”approached me about doing (a new contract) and we love living in New Orleans,” said Morstead, who is raising a family in the city. ”They extended me early after my third year and they extended me again after my ninth. And I didn’t have any feeling in my body that the grass is greener elsewhere. We love New Orleans. We love our neighbors. I love playing for (Saints coach) Sean (Payton). There’s a tremendous amount of stability and we were thrilled at the chance to stick around.”

Morstead has averaged 47 yards per punt during his career. That ranks third all-time in the NFL, less than a yard behind the averages of the two players ahead of him [url=http://www.thetexansfootballauthentic.com/justin-reid-jersey-authentic]Youth Justin Reid Jersey[/url] , Shane Lechler and Johnny Hekker.

Last season, Patriots coach Bill Belichick raved about Morstead before facing the Saints in Week 2, saying the only way to prepare for the Saints punter is to ”take the JUGS machine, crank it up on high and shoot the ball about 65 to 70 yards downfield, a yard from the sideline like he does most of the time. … There are not many guys who can punt the ball like him.”

Morstead said he made the goal of striving for elite consistency ever since retired quarterback Peyton Manning spoke to the Saints during training camp and urged players to think about how they want to be remembered.

”I started kind of outlining qualitative goals about what people would say about me,” Morstead said. ”There’s a lot of value in having a specialist that there’s not a lot of ups and downs with.”

”It’s not just about hitting bombs, hitting high punts,” Morstead added. ”It’s good distance with good hang time in a corner that pins guy with quick get-off. I’m really proud of the standards that we’ve set.”

Morstead also has enjoyed a surge in popularity in Minnesota – if not nationally – since he volunteered to return to the field from the locker room, despite having injured his ribs, so Minnesota could formally complete its dramatic, last-second playoff victory over the Saints by running a required point-after attempt. Morstead was the first Saints player out of the locker room. The Vikings took a knee, not needing to score on the play.

Afterward [url=http://www.billsfootballauthentics.com/russell-bodine-jersey-authentic]Youth Russell Bodine Jersey[/url] , Morstead noticed a surge of donations from Minnesota to his What You Give Will Grow foundation, which benefits children undergoing hospital treatment for serious illnesses. Morstead returned to Minneapolis during the Super Bowl to present a check for a little more than $221,000 to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. He also donated $120,000 to similar efforts in Louisiana.

Morstead’s deal is one of a handful of moves by New Orleans since the beginning of free agency on Wednesday. Those include the signings of cornerback Patrick Robinson to what his agent, Ron Butler, said was a four-year, $20 million deal; linebacker Demario Davis to a reported three-year, $24 million contract; and defensive end Alex Okafor to a two-year extension for a reported $10 million.

The Saints have also added veteran quarterback Tom Savage as a potential backup to Drew Brees, who signed a two-year, $50 million extension the day before free agency started.

—

.