Below are three takeaways from Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman, Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter and others following Thursday's media availability:

Working towards 'Winning Defense'

Fresh off the bye week, the Chargers defense is looking to build on what's been quite the opening stretch of the season.

The Bolts defense leads the league in EPA/play with -0.218, slightly ahead of the Vikings (-0.211) and also rank second in defensive DVOA (-15.9 percent) through the first five weeks.

They are also allowing 12.5 points per game, good for best mark in the league and have allowed 282.5 yards per game, which slots them fifth.

Still, there continues to be a growing sense of there's more on the table for the group even after the early success.

And after a bye week of self-review, Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter says his group is eager to get back on the field and turnaround the recent results.

"I think the guys are in a great place mentally because they do feel some confidence from how we've played, but at the same time we're really hungry to flip the result of the last couple of games," Minter said. "Like where we're at in that regard.

"We've done some good things, I appreciate the guys' work, their buy-in to how we want to play," Minter later continued. "That to me is what I'm most pleased with, the buy-in to how you play defense. Like I said, some of it is scheme related but a lot of it is not. The physicality, the communication, the want to, the way they prepare.

"Happy with where that's at but certainly we're chasing to play… winning defense," Minter added. "We've done that in a lot of spurts but we need to do it for four quarters, we need to do it consistently, we need to do it at the biggest moments."

The term "winning defense" has come up multiple times through this early part of the season and was a topic on Thursday for the defensive play caller.

Minter detailed what the term looks like expressed on the field and did mention the Bolts have done it in spurts.

Now, the goal coming off of the bye is to try and do it for all four quarters.

"Winning defense is limiting explosive plays, controlling the run game, tackling really well in space," Minter said. "The way offenses play today, where it might be shot to checkdown, you've got to be able to be able to tackle those checkdowns and limit those plays.

"There's been times where we've done all that stuff, but like I said just doing it," Minter continued. "It doesn't matter if it happens in the first quarter or the fourth quarter, when those things happen they lead to bad results."

He later added: "Pleased with how our guys are playing from a mentality standpoint, but at the same time, we are chasing winning football, and we just need to be able to do it for four quarters."

Minter also mentioned third down defense as an area of improvement on Thursday, as he mentioned a couple moments on third downs in Week 4.

The Chargers defense ranks 20^th in the NFL on third down with a percentage of 39.29 heading into Week 6 and allowed nine out of 16 conversions to the Chiefs in their last game.

Getting an offense off the field is a point of emphasis coming out of the week off.

"To me third down and certain [down and distance] plus, there should be zero conversions," Minter said with a laugh. "That's just the mentality.

"It's not always going to be that way, but you get a team in six, seven plus in this league you have to get off the field," Minter added. "We know there's great players on the other side, but at the same time that's the mentality we need to have."

Nonetheless, the early returns for the Chargers defense have been encouraging.

But the unit feels as if there's a lot more left for them — and they're determined to get there for this second stretch of the season.

"I feel like we're kind of surfacing," Khalil Mack said on Thursday. "I heard coaches explain it before, trying to figure out where we want to go. Whether we want to level out or continue to stack and build on it, keep getting better and better.

"I think that's the only option," Mack added. "To keep getting better as a defense and stacking days throughout the week and getting ready on Sunday to go against a pretty solid offense in the Broncos."

Still steps up in 1st start

Down a few members on the defensive side of the ball, the Bolts turned to their depth in their last game.

One of those players was rookie Tarheeb Still, who was not only making his first career start but was active for the first time all season.

And the Chargers fifth-round pick was ready for the moment.

"I'm always a confident guy, but a lot of guys in my room always tell me, 'Be ready, you never know what's going to happen,'" Still said. "They would tell me that every day, every week.

"I really started to focus in on that, being ready, having a good mindset so when it did happen, [the moment] wouldn't be too big," Still added.

Still played 42 defensive snaps in Week 4, primarily in the slot corner position as Ja'Sir Taylor and Derwin James, Jr., who spend time in this position, did not play.

Minter praised Still's preparation for the moment, as the rookie has been working hard all season even without having seen any game action up to that point.

"You're talking about a rookie, first game active in the lineup. I thought he showed a lot," Minter said Thursday. "Really happy with how he prepared over the course of the first month."

That preparation helped him feel comfortable and he was able to play free and confident from the moment the ball kicked off.

Still credited that to everyone around him, coaches, players, who have been vital to the early part of his NFL career.

"I would say me being able to play fast and being comfortable out there was all due to the functions of my teammates and making sure I was prepared," Still said. "Coach Minter, Coach [Steve Clinkscale], all the defensive coaches and then my teammates making sure I had confidence and had the game plan so I'm prepared out there ready to play fast.

"We've put in a lot of time for that," Still added. "So, I just thank them for the preparation."

The No. 137th overall pick finished with five combined tackles (three solo) — and a half sack on third down that got the Bolts off the field.

On a third-and 9 past the halfway point of the second quarter, Still perfectly timed the snap and burst into the backfield off the edge on a blitz and was able to grab hold of Patrick Mahomes.

Linebacker Troy Dye, who also came on the blitz, helped out his rookie teammate as the two combined for the sack and forced a punt.

"I didn't really celebrate, but just lined up and did my job," Still said about his sack. "It was a blitz called that play to go get the quarterback. Had a good disguise, got a good jump on it and Troy helped me finish the play off so it was a really fun moment."

His first NFL action might have taken a couple of weeks into the season, but Still continues to stay ready.

"I give him a lot of credit," Minter said. "I think after the first couple of weeks, really learned the value of preparation and went out there and did a nice job for us.

"Excited to continue to see what he can do for us the rest of the year," Minter added.

Offense focused on avoiding 3^rd-and-longs

The Chargers have shown flashes on offense through four games while also battling some inconsistencies.

The biggest area of focus during the bye week for Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman?

Finding a way for the Bolts to avoid getting into third-and-long situations.

"As far as third-down execution and efficiency, we're looking to have marked improvement from that," Roman said Thursday. "A big part of that is that we've been in third-and-11-plus more than anyone I can ever remember being around or associated with.

"We took a hard look at the offense in those situations," Roman added.

Entering Week 6, the Chargers offense ranks 21^st overall in third-down conversions at 36.36 percent.

But, as Roman alluded to, the Bolts have been hampered of late by unfavorable distances on third downs.

The Chargers have faced 55 third downs this year, with nine of them being third-and-11 or more. All nine of those plays have come in the last two games, both losses by the Bolts.

"We've got to get to the point where — taking nothing away from our opponents — but we can't be ourselves," Roman said. "That's first things first in the NFL. Coaches, players, we all just have to do it a little bit sharper."

Roman said Thursday the onus is one everyone to be just a little bit better going forward.

If the Chargers can get in more third-and-short situations, it would allow Roman to have an active menu of plays to choose from rather than just a handful of when it's third-and-long.

"There's a lot of stuff we haven't even touched yet and been able to put out on the field," Roman said.