The Los Angeles Chargers have a bright future ahead of them. With a promising coaching staff, a revamped offensive line and a hotshot quarterback with weapons to spare, the Chargers look poised to make a push for the AFC West’s top spot. Unfortunately, not all is sunshine and rainbows in LA. There are some concerns for the team that weren’t properly addressed this offseason. Here are some of the Chargers issues to address.
The Not-So-Tight Ends
Hunter Henry’s departure for New England has a massive impact on the Chargers’ potential success in the short passing game. Tight ends have always been crucial for short passes, as well as in blocking on running plays. Henry, though injury prone, was talented in both of these categories. Sadly, general manager Tom Telesco deemed it unecessary to extend his contract, although it would have been expensive. With Henry’s departure to New England, the Chargers needed a replacement, which they found in free agent Jared Cook. While Cook is not necessarily the tight end of the future for the team, he will be a solid placeholder for the Chargers in the meantime.
The Chargers also have Donald Parham Jr., a second-year tight end who was showing flashes of talent towards the end of the season. If Parham and quarterback Justin Herbert are able to develop chemistry during training camp, he should prove to be reliable. As it stands, though, Parham needs more experience and consistency to become a true TE1.
As it stands, the Chargers’ tight end room does not inspire confidence. Though Cook could definitely impart some veteran wisdom to Parham, there is still work to be done before the tight end unit could be considered a strength.
The Mediocre Defensive Line
The defensive line has not been a strong suit of the Los Angeles Chargers, especially as of late. With defensive end Melvin Ingram leaving in free agency, the defensive line is missing a key edge rusher. Star defensive end Joey Bosa needs a new rushing mate, and there is no clear replacement. Outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu has been a solid player through his first few seasons, but he needs more time to establish himself as a true replacement.
Defensive tackle/end Jerry Tillery, the Chargers’ first-round pick in 2019, has not lived up to expectations. While he has been impressive in some games, he has overall been a disappointment, only starting in 11 games last year. On the other end, defensive tackle/end Justin Jones has done decently well. He’s not been a magnificent player, but he has been serviceable for a 2018 third-round pick.
Meanwhile, on the interior, Linval Joseph was a highly-regarded nose tackle for the Minnesota Vikings before signing with the Chargers in the 2020 free agency. In his first season with the Chargers, Joseph had a decent season with the Chargers, but nothing extraordinary.
Hopefully, a change in coaching staff and new defensive scheme will more properly utilize their respective skills. That way, they can live up to their potentials as menaces for the opposing offensive fronts.
The “Special” Teams
The Chargers’ special teams unit is, to put it nicely, mediocre at best. After cornerback/return specialist Desmond King was traded to the Tennessee Titans last season, the Chargers have been looking for a replacement. Wide Receivers KJ Hill and Joe Reed have been attempting to fill his role at punt and kick return, respectively. Unfortunately, neither has yet been able to live up to the hole that King’s departure left.
Meanwhile, kicker Michael Badgley had a…tumultuous year. After showing promise as a rookie, hitting 94% of his field goals and going 27/28 on his extra points, a mix of injuries and high expectations have caused his play to become subpar. In 2020, Badgley hit only 73% of his field goals, a 21% decrease from his rookie year. Badgley needs to stay healthy and improve on these numbers if he wants to stay a Charger in the future.
Punter Ty Long has been a serviceable punter, averaging 47 yards per punt over his two-year career. There’s not much to say about him, and he isn’t necessarily an issue that needs to be addressed like Badgley.
Summary
The Los Angeles Chargers are a well-rounded and talented team, but, as with every other team, they have their own set of issues. While Telesco did a wonderful job in improving the team’s most dire needs at the offensive line and secondary, it came at the cost of neglecting the aforementioned issues. If the Chargers want to become a more well-rounded team, these issues must be addressed as soon as possible.
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