Tag: Morgan Fox

Projecting the Chargers’ interior defensive line depth chart in 2024

Taking a crack at projecting what the Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle room will look like entering the 2024 season.

Over the next few weeks ahead of training camp, I will continue to break down the depth chart for each Chargers position.

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Offensive line

Edge rusher

Next, I project what the interior defensive line room will look like heading into the 2024 season.

Morgan Fox

Fox joined the Chargers ahead of the 2022 season, where he had a career year. He recorded 40 pressures, 6.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits. For his efforts, Fox was re-signed last offseason. He continued to be an impactful interior pass rusher, finishing with 37 pressures and five sacks. Fox is in the final year of his contract.

Poona Ford

The Chargers lacked veterans in the positional room aside from Fox, so they went out and signed Ford on a cheap deal. Like Fox, Ford will be able to come on as a pass rusher from the middle of the defensive line. He can play on early downs. While he hasn’t been as a good defending the run the past couple of seasons, he has shown the ability to put on strong in this department in his early playing days with the Seahawks.

Justin Eboigbe

After signing Ford, the Chargers still needed more reinforcements up front so they selected Eboigbe in the fourth round of this year’s draft. Eboige is an interior defender who is tough and well-built with the strength to anchor at the point of attack and eat up double teams. While his strong suit is in run defense, he showed the explosiveness and technicality to get after the quarterback last season.

Otito Ogbonnia

After being selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft, Ogbonnia made a name for himself in his rookie season. While he may not have stood out on the stat sheet, with 14 tackles and a tackle for loss in seven games, Ogbonnia was a reliable run defender by penetrating the backfield to cause havoc and occupying double teams. Unfortunately, a ruptured left patellar tendon during Week 7 cut his season short. Ogbonnia worked his way back and appeared in eight games last season, totaling 21 tackles and two QB hits.

Christopher Hinton

I expect the Chargers to roster five interior defenders, which means this will be a battle between a handful of players, including Hinton, Scott Matlock and Jerrod Clark. Hinton, the former five-star recruit, gets the nod because of his familiarity with Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. Hinton has shown flashes of being a nice rotational piece.

6 reasons Chargers fans should be hopeful for next season

Fans of the powder blues should be ecstatic for next season.

The Chargers are not only having an electric offseason, but the franchise itself is undergoing a striking transformation. Fans of the powder blues should be ecstatic for next season and here are six reasons why.

Jim Harbaugh

The man. The myth. The legend. Harbaugh has already begun to change the culture of the Chargers organization. It’s like a Hollywood movie, a dream come true. Harbaugh not only takes the team to new heights, but brings a household sports name to the Los Angeles team. Harbaugh is known for rescuing losing teams and reshaping them into winning programs. He’s done so with Stanford, the 49ers and Michigan. Fans have been craving a purposeful change for years–and Harbaugh is it. 

Justin Herbert

Harbaugh said it best: Herbert is the “crown jewel of the NFL.” Chargers fans have known this since he started for the team, but other football fans have had their doubts about Herbert. This is because the Bolts’ most prized possession has been overshadowed by a struggling team. Nevertheless, Herbert is a talented asset on the field and has proven so time and time again. With a new coach leading the way, it’s likely Herbert will have his best season as he gets to develop under such a valuable teacher like Harbaugh and an offensive mindset in Greg Roman, who should aid Herbert by elevating the run and play-action game. 

Jesse Minter

Under Minter, Michigan had one of the most dominant units in all of college football, finishing in the top 10 in various categories. If you watched the Wolverines on defense the past two seasons, you would be able to take away that they attacked aggressively and made life difficult for opposing offenses. Minter believes in adapting the defense to your best players and your opponent, not forcing your players into your defense. This will apply to players like Derwin James, who struggled in Brandon Staley’s defense as he was forced to do too much.

The front office

In Harbaugh’s introductory press conference, he stressed the importance of the team’s togetherness. It may seem insignificant, but it’s unmistakable that everybody has the same goal starting from the top of the organization–everybody wants to win. The Spanos family hiring Harbaugh essentially remade the franchise. The front office made the right moves in the offseason to set up the team for success and it is sure to be one of the organization’s most exciting seasons. 

Joe Hortiz

While Harbaugh should have an impact on the Chargers, Hortiz should just as much, too. Hortiz was with the Ravens for a long time, where he helped build one of the most talented rosters in the league during his tenure. He has a good eye for talent in free agency and the draft. This should pay dividends when it comes to reconstructing the roster now and in the future.

No. 5 overall pick in the draft

As if this offseason couldn’t be any sweeter, the Chargers have the fifth overall pick in the upcoming draft. Though it’s unclear what position they will be going for, this is an opportunity to add even more star power to the team with someone like LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers or Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. Hortiz revealed that the team will be choosing the best player available in every round they have a pick. 

Chargers DT Otito Ogbonnia working way back from knee injury

Otito Ogbonnia was spotted at practice on Tuesday working off to the side with a trainer.

It’s been nearly since Chargers defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia last touched a football field.

Ogbonnia, the 2022 fifth-round pick out of UCLA, missed Los Angeles’ final 11 games last year after suffering a ruptured left patellar tendon during Week 7 against the 49ers.

As a result, Ogbonnia began this season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Now that four games have passed, he is eligible to be activated off the list.

It remains to be seen when that time will come, but Ogbonnia was spotted at practice on Tuesday working off to the side with a trainer, according to NFL Media’s Bridget Condon.

It’s very encouraging to hear. Getting Ogbonnia back would give the Chargers a boost on the defensive line.

While he may not have stood out on the stat sheet, with 14 tackles and a tackle for loss in seven games in 2022, Ogbonnia was a reliable run defender by penetrating the backfield to cause havoc and occupying double teams.

We will continue to monitor the status of Ogbonnia.

Projecting Chargers’ defensive depth chart for Week 1 vs. Dolphins

Here’s how we project the Chargers defensive depth chart to look for the start of the regular season.

The Chargers are just days away from their season opener against the Dolphins

The positions are set after finalizing their 53-man roster, but the team has yet to release the official depth chart.

So let’s dive into how the defensive side of the ball could shape up heading into the 2023 season, highlighting who is likely to start and serve as depth pieces behind them.

Defensive line

Starter Backup Reserve
DT Sebastian Joseph-Day Christopher Hinton
NT Austin Johnson Nick Williams
DE Morgan Fox Scott Matlock

Johnson will start the season on the active roster after fracturing his left knee and injuring his MCL, while Otito Ogbonnia is on the reserve/PUP list. It remains to be seen if Johnson will be a full-go. If not, Williams, Hinton and Matlock should see split-up snaps.

Edge defender

Starter Backup Reserve
EDGE1 Joey Bosa Tuli Tuipulotu
EDGE2 Khalil Mack Chris Rumph II

Bosa and Mack will be the starters. There is plenty of excitement around that tandem after Bosa missed most of the 2022 season with a groin injury. Tuipulotu should see the field in third-down situations. Rumph will be mixed in too, but he will primarily be a special teamer.

Inside Linebacker

Starter Backup Reserve
ILB1 Eric Kendricks Tanner Muse Amen Ogbongbemiga
ILB2 Kenneth Murray Daiyan Henley Nick Niemann

Kendricks and Murray are the starters in the middle of the defense. As for the rest of the group, they will be making their money on special teams.

Cornerback

Starter Backup
CB1 J.C. Jackson Deane Leonard
CB2 Michael Davis
Nickel Asante Samuel Jr. Ja’Sir Taylor

The biggest question that still looms is whether or not Jackson will be ready for Week 1. Luckily, the Chargers have the depth regardless of the outcome. If Jackson is not ready, Samuel will start on the outside opposite Davis with Taylor in the slot. If Jackson is ready, Samuel was the slot corner battle over Taylor and would start there with Jackson and Davis on the outside.

Safety

Starter Backup Reserve
FS Alohi Gilman JT Woods AJ Finley
SS Derwin James Raheem Layne

James and Gilman are the starting safeties. Woods will be the third safety behind them. When James is playing “Star” or “Money” in sub packages, a safety must come on to replace him in the deep part of the field, which will be Woods. He flashed in the summer, showing off his coverage skills and improvement as a tackler. Can it materialize when the games matter?

Chargers DT Scott Matlock developing into key depth piece

Scott Matlock has been a summer standout for the Chargers.

Rookie defensive tackle Scott Matlock, the Chargers’ sixth-round pick, has strung together a solid summer. He has stood out at training camp and has made eye-popping plays in the first two preseason games.

In the first game against the Rams, Matlock flashed his pass-rush skills, chasing down and pressuring quarterback Stetson Bennett, which resulted in an incomplete pass.

In the most recent preseason contest against the Saints, Matlock made a few notable plays, with the first being a tackle for loss. Later in the game, New Orleans set up a screen for running back Ellis Merriweather and Matlock used his range and effort to track him down in space.

“That screen play, you want to talk about a big-time play. He has been solid,” head coach Brandon Staley said. “He has proven himself against the 1s. He’s improving and he’s the right guy to be coaching.”

In addition to his athleticism and motor, Matlock has shown the desired strength to take on single blocks and double teams to allow his teammates to roam freely.

Defense isn’t the only department Matlock has made plays. He has been on special teams, as well. While a penalty negated it, Matlock blocked a field goal attempt this past Sunday. At Boise State, Matlock blocked three kicks, one of which led to a touchdown return.

Matlock finished his college career with a total of 115 tackles (64 solo), 11.5 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and one force fumble.

With defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia still working his way back from his season-ending injury in 2022, other members along the interior part of the defensive line will have to step up during the regular season. Matlock is showing that he could be one of them.

Chargers’ defense dominates in first joint practice with Saints

The Chargers’ defense reigned supreme on Day 1 of joint practices with the Saints.

The Chargers kicked off the first of two joint practices with the Saints on Thursday.

For Los Angeles, their defense reigned supreme during 11-on-11 drills.

It all started up front with the defensive line, headlined by edge defender Khalil Mack who met his former teammate, quarterback Derek Carr in the backfield early and often.

Mack’s constant pressure ended up leading to an erratic throw made by Carr, which was picked off by safety Derwin James.

“That’s what we expect,” Mack said. “We expect that day-in and day-out, whether it’s our offense or any other offense. We want to affect the quarterback.”

Mack’s partner-in-crime, Joey Bosa, was also very active, whether applying pressure or making positive plays in the run game.

Defensive tackles Sebastian Joseph-Day and Morgan Fox made their presences felt, both having tackles for loss. Fox also added a pair of sacks in the red zone drill.

Other standouts included EDGE Chris Rumph II, who had a tackle for a loss on Saints running back Jamaal Williams. Additionally, linebacker Kenneth Murray and safety JT Woods had solid days.

Overall, New Orleans only scored one touchdown in the entire practice, which was an RB Alvin Kamara run from four yards out on the final play of the red zone period, according to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.

“I thought that we were physical,” Staley said of the defense. “I thought that we played hard. The technique was good for the most part and the communications was good for the most part.”

Morgan Fox talks Chargers’ emphasis on improving run defense

The Chargers finished bottom of the barrel at defending the run last season.

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.”

Predicting the Chargers’ starting defense before training camp

Predicting what Brandon Staley’s defense will look like come the first week of the regular season.

Training camp is usually when teams begin finalizing their depth charts. This year, however, it seems as though the Chargers have largely set their starting lineups before players even report to camp.

Let’s run through the starters, continuing with the defense.

Chargers 2023 NFL draft preview: Where does Los Angeles stand at defensive tackle?

Our Chargers’ NFL draft preview series continues with the defensive tackle position.

After taking a steady approach in free agency, signing just one external player in linebacker Eric Kendricks and re-signing a handful of their own, the Chargers now have their sights set on the draft where they will look to bolster their roster with their selections and make a deeper run in 2023.

Before, we’re going position by position to break down where Los Angeles stands entering the draft.

Next up is the defensive line.

Catch the previous profiles here:

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Offensive line

Edge rusher

Morgan Fox on re-signing with Chargers: ‘It’s really exciting’

Chargers DL Morgan Fox spoke to the media on Monday.

The Chargers brought back a handful of players, but one of the most notables was the re-signing of defensive lineman Morgan Fox.

“It’s really exciting,” Fox said on being brought back. “I’m excited to be back with staff, with the guys, first and foremost. We have a great room across the board; offense, defense. I just love being around the guys.

Being around them, seeing all the work we put in, we’re trying to go a little farther than we did. Being back with a staff that believes in you and believes in the team is awesome.”

Fox was inked to a veteran minimum contract last May to supply a pass-rush presence from the interior part of the defensive line. He went on to outplay that deal.

Fox set a career-high in sacks (6.5). His previous best was 5.5, which he set with the Rams when Brandon Staley was their defensive coordinator in 2020. Fox also finished in the top 10 in Pro Football Focus’ pass rush efficiency metric for interior defensive linemen.

“Coach Staley believes in me and he gives me opportunities to go make plays” Fox said. “That’s something that he’s always done, every year that I’ve been with him, is just a plethora of opportunities. He puts me in positions to win and believes in my abilities to win.”

While lauded for his pass-rush prowess, Fox’s play against the run continuously improved after being put into a starting role. He had 21 run stops on the season.

Given that Los Angeles’ defensive line room is predominantly filled with run defense specialists, Fox’s return is huge due to his ability to get after the quarterback. Additionally, he will be a vital piece in general as Otito Ogbonnia and Austin Johnson work their way back from their injuries.