The Los Angeles Chargers lost over a combined 1500 snaps along the defensive line as they allowed Austin Johnson and Nick Williams to leave in free agency and Sebastian Joseph-Day has now gone via trade late last season.
While the Chargers have built back some support by signing Poona Ford and Teair Tart, they will be relying on several players on rookie contracts to take on serious playing time this season.
The Chargers Need Promising Development From Young Defensive Linemen
Former 2022 5th-round draft pick out of UCLA, Otito Ogbonnia is one of those players.
When asked about the defensive line, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter singled out Ogbonnia for taking a big developmental leap he has made under D-line coach Mike Elston. Ogbonnia was the only player he praised who was on the team’s roster last year.
“Tito’s made a huge jump.” Minter said, “I’m really excited about him and his ability to help us.”
Last season, the 6 foot 4, 320-pounder played fewer than 20 percent of defensive snaps (223) last season. The top snap-getter was Austin Johnson who played 55 percent of snaps or 640 snaps.
With those free-agent additions, he won’t have to step into shoes like that, but he will have to move into heavier rotation, as Morgan Fox did last year. Fox played 437 snaps.
So far in the preseason Jim Harbaugh is playing Ogbonnia a starter’s share of reps. He’s played just 38 snaps over the first two games, without much direct impact on the game, posting just one tackle. Scott Matlock and Christopher Hinton have been the go-to players in the offseason. Poona Ford and Morgan Fox have played just a handful of series so far.
