Tag: Otito Ogbonnia

5 defensive tackles Chargers could consider signing

A look at five defensive tackles the Chargers should consider amid season-ending injuries to Christian Covington and Otito Ogbonnia.

The Chargers are down to three defensive tackles on the active roster following the season-ending injuries to Austin Johnson and, most recently, Christian Covington and Otito Ogbonnia.

Head coach Brandon Staley confirmed Monday that the team will promote Joe Gaziano from the practice squad and add two more players to fill the position group.

Tyeler Davison was signed off the Browns’ practice squad on Tuesday morning, which means they could look to sign one more.

Who else could Los Angeles add to the room?

Let’s take a look at five interior defenders that would make sense.

Chargers’ Otito Ogbonnia, Christian Covington out for season

The Chargers have gotten even thinner along the interior part of the defensive line.

The Chargers have gotten even thinner along the interior part of the defensive line.

Rookie defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia (patellar tendon) and veteran Christian Covington (pectoral) were ruled out for the season after suffering injuries Sunday night against San Francisco.

Ogbonnia’s injury was initially thought to be a knee issue, as it looked like he had suffered a non-contact injury while defending a goal line run play in the second quarter. Covington injured his pectoral in the fourth quarter.

It’s a big loss for Los Angeles, who had rotated the two players on Sunday after losing Austin Johnson for the season last week against the Falcons.

Ogbonnia had played 46% of the defensive snaps against Atlanta, his second-highest mark of the season, and was in line to play more on Sunday. Covington played 48% of the snaps on Sunday before getting injured after playing 64% against Atlanta last week.

The rookie from UCLA had 14 tackles with a tackle for loss in seven games this season. Covington had 12 tackles with a tackle for loss in four games.

Without Covington or Ogbonnia in the lineup, the Chargers were down to just three defensive linemen against San Francisco: Sebastian Joseph-Day, Morgan Fox, and Breiden Fehoko.

They remain the only three healthy defensive linemen on the roster, with Joe Gaziano and rookie Christopher Hinton on the practice squad.

Everything to know from Chargers’ loss to 49ers

Highlighting all the important stuff from the Chargers’ Week 10 loss to the 49ers.

The Chargers lost to the 49ers on Sunday night.

To recap the game, here is everything to know:

Otito Ogbonnia questionable to return vs. 49ers with knee injury

The Chargers’ defensive line is getting thinner.

The Chargers’ defensive line is getting thinner.

Rookie Otito Ogbonnia was injured on Los Angeles’ first defensive drive and has been ruled questionable to return. Ogbonnia appeared to suffer a non-contact injury to his knee while fighting to stop Christian McCaffrey on the goal line. He was eventually carted back to the locker room after being unable to place much weight on the injured leg.

Ogbonnia was starting Sunday in place of Austin Johnson, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last week against the Falcons. L.A. also waived Jerry Tillery on Friday after rumors of locker room tension between the former first-round pick and coaching staff surfaced.

With Ogbonnia injured, the Chargers have Sebastian Joseph-Day, Morgan Fox, Christian Covington, and Breiden Fehoko available on the defensive line for the remainder of this game.

Chargers DT Austin Johnson out for season with knee injury

The Chargers will be without their best interior defender for the remainder of the 2022 season.

One of the Chargers’ most underrated defenders will miss the remainder of the season.

Defensive tackle Austin Johnson has an MCL injury and fractured knee, per Brandon Staley. The injury cuts short what had been a stellar campaign for Johnson, who was playing like Los Angeles’ best run defender up the middle.

With Johnson likely heading to IR, look for Otito Ogbonnia and Christian Covington to split his starting role. Ogbonnia played 46% of snaps Sunday against Atlanta, while Covington played 39%. Both saw larger roles with Jerry Tillery out, and Tillery is a candidate to receive more snaps when he returns from his own back injury.

Johnson’s injury may also open a path for preseason favorite Breiden Fehoko to garner an active roster spot after being waived in favor of Covington between Weeks 1 and 2.

The 28-year-old was tied for the team lead in run stops with 14 but led the team in run stop percentage at 11.4%. His average depth of tackle was 2.7 yards. Ogbonnia has stopped the run at a 5.1% clip with an average depth of 4.1 yards, while Covington stops 6.3% of plays with an average depth of 3.6 yards.

Jerry Tillery relishing new role with Chargers

The Chargers have put Jerry Tillery in a role that plays to his strengths.

Jerry Tillery, the 2019 first-round pick, struggled to live up to his draft billing and was being written off.

While he flashed as a pass-rusher, Tillery was a liability as a run defender. Tillery failed to push the pocket and take on double teams, which turned into gaping holes, as evident from the league’s worst run defenses last season.

That led to head coach Brandon Staley bringing the proper personnel to the defensive line room to aid the run game, signing Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson and Morgan Fox, and drafting Otito Ogbonnia.

The additions led to Tillery being relegated to a rotational role that plays to his strengths – getting after the quarterback. And since then, it’s been a night and day difference.

Looking like a revamped player, Tillery is winning at the line of scrimmage with strength, his length, and more technically sound counters to discard blockers.

As a result, Tillery has ten pressures, eight of which came in the last three games.

The team has utilized his versatility. He has aligned primarily as a three-technique (outside shoulder of the guard), but he has seen snaps as a 4i-technique (over the tackle) and on the edge.

Playing in the final year of his rookie deal after the team elected not to pick up his fifth-year option, Tillery is auditioning for a new deal.

Even though he might not be as well-rounded as others at his position, interior defenders that can rush the quarterback well don’t come around often. For that reason, Tillery might be an appealing option on the market if he continues to perform.

1 bold prediction for every Chargers positional unit: Defense

Making predictions for the Los Angeles Chargers’ dynamic defense.

The Chargers kick off their season this Sunday against the Raiders after an offseason makeover that included the addition of Khalil Mack, JC Jackson, and Sebastian Joseph-Day, among others.

How will the positional groups shape up? Here’s a bold prediction for each unit on defense.

Interior Defensive Line

LA finishes in the top ten in run defense DVOA

The last time the Chargers finished in the top ten in run defense DVOA was 2010 when the likes of Luis Castillo and Jacques Cesaire were patrolling the defensive line. For another idea of how long ago that was: Antonio Gates was in his eighth season out of an eventual sixteen in 2010. His son, Antonio Jr., is a true freshman wide receiver at Michigan State this season.

Last season, Los Angeles was 30th in run defense DVOA, somewhat generous considering how porous the line was. Brandon Staley emphasized improving the group this offseason, bringing in Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, and draftee Otito Ogbonnia. Breiden Fehoko earned a roster spot over veteran Christian Covington. It’s a completely revamped group with familiarity with Staley’s defense. In 2020, when Staley served as Rams defensive coordinator, the team was third in run defense DVOA. The coaching is there, as are the players. All that’s left now is to set a precedent.

Edge defender

Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack have the most sacks of any duo in the NFL

The league is filled to the brim with outstanding pass rush duos. Even within the division, Chandler Jones has teamed up with Maxx Crosby on the Raiders. Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory are a high-upside duo in Denver. In Dallas, Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence are a formidable team. Then, of course, the Rams, Steelers, and 49ers all have at least one top-flight option as well.

Still, Bosa and Mack might be the best of them all. Bosa has logged ten or more sacks in four out of his six seasons as a pro – in the two he didn’t, he also missed at least four games apiece. Mack hasn’t had more than ten sacks in a season since 2018, but he’s looked like a new man since arriving in LA this offseason after four seasons in Chicago. 2018 was also the last season Mack spent with Staley as his outside linebackers coach. If both players stay healthy and produce to the levels they’re capable of, there’s no reason why they can’t lead the league in sacks.

Linebacker

Kenneth Murray emerges as an impact player

Murray is listed as a second-team linebacker behind Kyle Van Noy and Drue Tranquill as of Monday. Still, there are several reasons to feel optimistic about his projection this season. First, the Chargers only kept three edge rushers on the initial 53-man roster, suggesting that Van Noy will have a big role in that area. Murray will therefore have plenty of reps available to him next to Tranquill. Additionally, the former first-round pick’s struggles have at least partially stemmed from an inability to get off blocks. But with a much improved defensive line, Murray should stay mostly clean this season, giving him the freedom to harness his freak athleticism and make plays all over the field.

The former Oklahoma product has only been practicing for a few weeks after coming off the PUP list as he recovers from off-season ankle surgery. However, by giving Murray the time he needs to heal completely, the Chargers are also allowing him to regain confidence in his movement skills. That confidence will prevent hesitation and allow Murray to hit a playmaking stride.

Secondary

Michael Davis cements himself as CB2

Davis told reporters that distractions in his personal life prevented him from being at his best last season after signing a three-year, $25.2 million extension last offseason. With those distractions now resolved, Davis made a strong case for the starting job opposite JC Jackson in training camp. Davis and Asante Samuel Jr. will likely start on Sunday as Jackson recovers from ankle surgery, giving the Chargers a unique opportunity to continue their evaluation of both players. If he plays to the level he did in 2020, Davis will be at least solid on the boundary.

Chargers HC Brandon Staley emphasizes position battles during training camp

There will be fierce competition throughout the next few weeks.

When asked about depth chart battles up and down the roster, Brandon Staley preached the importance of competition.

Competition within position groups, yes, but more importantly competition between groups. Offensive line versus defensive line, wide receivers versus secondary, a constant battle to smooth out internal evaluations for the depth chart.

It starts at right tackle, where Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton are in the most important camp war on the roster. With likely four above average linemen slated to start, the Chargers will need a solid performance from their right tackle to keep Justin Herbert clean and open lanes for Austin Ekeler. When asked what will decide their duel, Staley said “consistency and performance” will be key, and added that LA has the benefit of getting accurate evaluations in practice. That’s because no matter what day it is, the tackle taking first team reps will be up against either Joey Bosa or Khalil Mack. Hold their own against those superstars, and the job is yours. Falter, and the top spot on the depth chart may slip from your grasp. Staley also touched on fit with the other four linemen on the squad and emphasized again that the team has confidence in both of them. No wandering eyes for late external additions here.

Many have crowned fourth-round pick Isaiah Spiller as the team’s RB2 because of pre-draft pedigree and disappointing performances from Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree. But Staley said Wednesday that the fight for the spot behind Ekeler will be a “full competition.” That competition will not be just about the best rusher, Staley said, but will hinge on special teams value and “who can be the most complete running back.” Spiller played two special teams snaps throughout his entire career at Texas A&M, per PFF. If special teams is going to be a key aspect of the battle, Spiller may have more of a Herculean task ahead of him than previously thought.

On the defensive line, the Chargers suddenly have a crowded meeting room after adding four players from outside the organization this offseason. Those four (Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, and fifth-round pick Otito Ogbonnia) are locks for the roster barring drastic changes. Another four – Christian Covington, Jerry Tillery, Breiden Fehoko, and Joe Gaziano – played significant snaps for LA last season. Still, Staley hinted that the team will have “five or six” active linemen on game days. That emphasizes players competing for specific roles, but Staley said that the battles will come down to who can “sustain consistency” once the pads come on next week. Again, the talent on the other side of the ball will help sort the mess, as the interior trio of Matt Feiler, Corey Linsley, and rookie Zion Johnson has the potential to be among the league’s best. The Chargers will be confident that any defender who can produce against them can also produce against their opponents.

In the secondary, LA possesses the immensely talented duo of JC Jackson and Derwin James, who did not practice Wednesday as the team continues to work on his contract extension. Beyond them, there are several players with starter-level traits and even more with the talent to add quality depth. That’s intentional in LA’s case, with Staley saying that he believes a team can never have too much depth on the back end. Beyond traditional corner and safety, there are depth chart squabbles to settle at the star and money positions (slot corner and dime backer, respectively), as well as special teams roles to dole out. Staley extolled the virtue of having such a talented room, saying that “when you bring quality DBs together, it’s going to bring out the best in those guys.” Consistent toughness, physicality, and discipline were mentioned as the key factors the coaching staff will watch out for as depth players battle for end -of-the-roster spots in the position group.

6 position battles to watch at Chargers training camp

Exploring Los Angeles Chargers’ six position battles to watch entering the start of 2022 NFL training camp.

After an offseason of retooling the roster, the Chargers are ready to hit the field for training camp which is slated to begin this week, Wednesday, July 27.

There are a few key spots yet to be filled, and the same goes for a few at the bottom of the depth chart at various positions.

With that being said, here are six positional battles for Chargers fans to keep an eye on this summer:

Projecting Chargers’ interior defensive line depth chart in 2022

Taking a crack at projecting what the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive line room will look like in the 2022 season.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will break down the depth chart for each Chargers position.

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Offensive line

Today, the focus is on how the interior part of the defensive line will look heading into 2022.

Sebastian Joseph-Day

The Chargers finished with the worst run defense last season, which led to the signing of Joseph-Day, who is a top-tier run defender and is familiar with Brandon Staley. When Staley oversaw the Rams’ top-ranked defense, Joseph-Day had a career-high 33 run stops, two passes defended, and a forced fumble. He was on his way to surpassing those in 2021, but an unfortunate torn pectoral sustained in Week 7 kept him out. Still, with a combination of speed, power, and violent hands, Joseph-Day can win one-on-one matchups and eat-up blockers to let his fellow teammates roam freely. Joseph-Day has 55 defensive stops since 2020, tied for 15th. Every other player in the Top 15 has at least 1,000 snaps over the span, whereas he’s put up 55 stops on just 728 snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

Austin Johnson

Johnson was also added in an effort to improve the run defense. After spending the first four years of his career with the Titans, who drafted him in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, Johnson spent the past three seasons with the Giants, in which he did not miss a single game. After serving as a rotational defender, Johnson became a full-time starter in 2021 and had a monster year with 72 combined tackles while adding 37 run stops, 22 quarterback pressures, 3.5 sacks, and seven quarterback hits. Both Joseph-Day and Johnson can line up as a nose tackle over the center or line up further from the ball.

Otito Ogbonnia

To continue stockpiling defensive linemen to revamp last year’s front, the Chargers selected Ogbonnia in the fifth round of this year’s draft. Ogbonnia tallied 76 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and six passes defended in his four seasons with UCLA. At 6-foot-4 and 324 pounds, Ogbonnia’s time as a former shot putter shows up on the football field as he wins with brute strength and heavy hands to control and move defenders off the line of the scrimmage. Ogbonnia was primarily a nose tackle in the Bruins’ defense, but he occasionally bounced out to a 3-tech. He projects best as a nose tackle and as a ‘jumbo five-tech,’ where he should see the field on run downs.

Morgan Fox

While improving the run defense was the priority, bettering the pass rush from the interior was also a key focal point that was factored in during the team’s offseason evaluations, which led to the signing of Fox. Fox previously played with the Panthers, where he appeared in all 17 games, starting nine of them. He accounted for 34 tackles, 26 pressures, two tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks. Before his stint with Carolina, Fox had his best season under Staley in 2020. Fox played nearly 40% of the snaps and finished with 27 tackles, 25 pressures, eight tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Fox displays a high level of technicality in getting to the quarterback. While primarily expected to play inside, his ability to flex out to the edge should open up multiple options up front.

Christian Covington

Covington was among the few who were re-signed after he appeared in 16 games with three starts, where he totaled 52 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack. Signed last offseason, Covington had to play more snaps than anticipated due to injuries up front, but when he is in a rotational role, he can really be a difference-maker in the run game.

Breiden Fehoko

This position could consist of just five players, but I get the sense that Staley will want to be deep here because of the run defense woes from last season. If they roll with six, this will be a heated battle between Fehoko, Joe Gaziano, Forrest Merrill and the most notable, Jerry Tillery. The decision to make the surprise cut of Tillery is solely based on him being the biggest liability against the run a season ago, and it’s worth noting that the Chargers did not pick up Tillery’s 2023 fifth-year option in May. While he brings a solid presence as a pass rusher, Fox offers more value than Tillery in this area. Therefore, that leads to Fehoko earning the final spot, as he proved to make an impact in the trenches in his limited opportunities. On 65 run snaps, he had a stop percentage of 16.1, which ranked fourth, according to Pro Football Focus. As for Tillery, the team could look to trade him for draft compensation.