Chargers Expert Proposes Interesting Solution To LA's Struggling Run Defense

Can the Bolts take the next step this season?

Oct 9, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day (69) and defensive tackle Christian Covington (95) celebrate after a fourth down stop during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

As your Los Angeles Chargers prepare for their 2023 season with an eye towards taking the next step in their cumulative development, the team seems to be at least somewhat aware it has a major defensive problem in its resume.

Per Chargers.com, the Bolts allowed 5.42 yards per rushing attempt, a league-worst rate. For a club that just hired a new defensive coordinator in Derrick Ansley, this seems imperative for LA to clean up heading into the new NFL year.

Jack Hefner of the Chargers Unleashed Podcast recently weighed in on the issue.

"This defensive unit obviously knows that they have to be better against the run this year," Hefner noted. "I said this months ago. If I was Derrick Ansley, the first thing I would have done, whether it was in this... minicamp this past week or if it's in the upcoming OTAs and training camp, the first thing I'm doing is I'm putting together a sizzle reel of every single play that opposing offenses ripped off for 40 yards against this defense. If you really want to light a fire under somebody's a-- that would be the first thing that I would do."

Hefner added that 6'4" defensive end Sebastian Joseph-Day, a Super Bowl champ with the loathed Rams in 2021, is aware of the Bolts' defensive issues stopping the run.

"And it's plain and simple: you know that you need to get better at that," Hefner continued. "Sebastian Joseph-Day obviously knows it. I'm sure the rest of the team knows it, and the coaches know it. So you just hope that, while you think on paper right now... that you have a plan as far as what you want to do, and to get better at. Ultimately you need to go out and execute it."

It will be fascinating to see if Los Angeles opts to implement Hefner's proposed approach.