The Chargers have one of the most talented rosters on paper from top to bottom. They’re strong in certain areas, which rank among the best in the NFL, most notably their secondary.
However, there are other positional groups that aren’t getting as much love, but they certainly should as we head into the upcoming season.
On the offensive side of the ball, I believe the running back unit doesn’t get as much attention outside of the talented Austin Ekeler. But with the pieces they have, they could make some noise.
Ekeler has proven to be one of the league’s most dynamic skill players, finishing with 557 rushing yards on 132 attempts with three touchdowns along with 92 receptions for 993 receiving yards and eight receiving scores in 2019.
The former Western Colorado product will again serve as a ball carrier and pass-catcher out of the slot and out wide this upcoming season.
To ensure the team is able to get Ekeler lined up all across the formation, Los Angeles can afford to do so with the tandem of Justin Jackson and rookie Joshua Kelley.
Jackson, a seventh-round pick by the Bolts in 2018, has rushed 79 times for 406 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns in his 20 games (one start) in two seasons.
The former Northwestern product was hampered by injuries last season, but he has shown enough flashes to prove that he can be a threat when he is healthy.
Complimenting him is Kelley, the team’s fourth-round pick. The former UCLA product should see immediate snaps. A well-rounded back, Kelley makes the most of each touch, making it difficult for defenders to bring him down.
Expected to run the ball more so than previous years with their new offensive scheme, the players in this group are capable of becoming the focal point of the offense.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Chargers are strong across the board. But one unit that isn’t being recognized as much as others is the interior part of the defensive line.
Brandon Mebane is no longer a part of the crop, but his replacement – Linval Joseph – is an upgrade. Joseph, the two-time Pro Bowler is an athletic and powerful take-on player with the backfield vision and handwork to make an impact vs. the run, which is an area that was not a strong suit last season.
Justin Jones, the Chargers’ third-round pick in 2018, made a huge leap from Year 1 to Year 2 after using the offseason to shed weight and become more quicker and agile. Even though he missed four games due to an injury, Jones was arguably one of the team’s best interior defenders.
The former North Carolina State product finished the season with 30 tackles, six quarterback pressures, two tackles for loss, one pass deflected and a forced fumble.
Expectations were set high for 2019 first-round pick Jerry Tillery, but he was unable to meet them. However, throughout the course of the season he showed glimpses of untapped potential despite failing to make his presence known on the stat sheet.
Tillery also didn’t have a full offseason heading into his rookie season since he spent the majority of it rehabbing his torn labrum. Now healthy and a full slate ahead of him, Tillery has that to has full advantage to get bigger and stronger.
If he puts the pieces together in his second season, showing he can play with better leverage and out-power interior blockers, he could become the dominant pass-rushing defensive tackle the team was hoping to get.
Los Angeles could look to bring in another player to compliment Joseph at the nose tackle position. Damion Square and Sylvester Williams, both key contributors last season, are still on the market to fill out the room.