One of the areas the Chargers are looking to improve is defending the run.
Los Angeles finished bottom of the barrel in run defense last season, allowing 5.4 yards per carry (most in the NFL).
It starts in training camp, where Kellen Moore’s offense has challenged Brandon Staley’s defense.
Defensive tackle Morgan Fox, who was re-signed this offseason after a great season with the Bolts, emphasized the tasks at hand for the defensive unit.
“It’s tough,” Fox said. “They do a lot of stuff that messes with certain rules, and they move around a lot, they let [Justin] Herbert throw his arm and do what they do and get the running backs open get them moving.
“They have a great run game and mechanics,” Fox added. “It’s been a challenge every day, but it’s a good challenge. Everyone says iron sharpens iron and we’ve definitely been getting better.”
Staley made a point to bolster the run defense with last offseason’s additions of Fox, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson and Otito Ogbonnia. However, Johnson and Ogbonnia’s seasons were cut short after sustaining injuries.
Those losses made L.A. more susceptible to big gains up the middle of the defense. But the issues did not just stem from there. After the loss of Joey Bosa in Week 3, opposing running backs were having plenty of success with carries on the outside.
Additionally, players at the second and third levels of the defense struggled a good amount at tackling in open space.
The Chargers have been hard at work to get better in this department, and it’ll help to get back these players that were out last season from their respective injuries, as well as the addition of veteran Eric Kendricks in the middle of the defense.
“I think our dedication to improving it is definitely starting to show through,” Fox said. “Guys are communicating really well when it comes to our adjustments in the run game, taking on the mentality of being more physical, being more sound and understanding where they fit within the defense.
“That has been a huge point of emphasis for everyone; understand where you fit in the scheme,” Fox added. “I think guys have really emphasized and taken it as a point of pride to improve that.”
