Free-Agent Inside Linebacker Shayne Skov visits the Chargers

Aug 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Shayne Skov (44) reacts after a Houston Texans turnover during the second quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Free agent rookie linebacker, Shaye Skov, visited the Chargers last week according to Adam Caplan.

Former Stanford LB Shayne Skov worked out for the #Chargers late last week.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) October 27, 2014

As Chargers fans saw today, Tom Telesco is by no means afraid to admit when he was wrong and cut an underperforming player lose and bring in someone fresh. While interim inside linebacker Andrew Gachkar is not a likely roster casualty due to his strong special teams ability, his days at inside linebacker could be numbered.

The Chargers brought in former Stanford Cardinal inside linebacker Shayne Skov for a workout last week. Skov was undrafted earlier this year and signed with the San Francisco 49ers before being let loose during final cuts. He had a short stint on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad earlier in the year, but his lackluster NFL impact thus far does little to show the type of impact Shayne Skov could have.

Skov started over half of the games in the 2010 season for the Cardinal, and finished 3rd on the team in tackles as a true freshman. He increased that tackle total and added 7.5 sacks for Stanford. Due to his tenacious and reckless play style, he tore his ACL his junior year and red-shirted the rest of the season. He struggled the following year, but returned to form in his senior season posting a career-high 109 tackles.

But why does his college career matter? This is the NFL. Well, it matters because before that injury, Skov was considered a top-notch linebacker prospect. After the injury, scouts believed he lost his explosion and could not compete on the same level. Add in a 5+ 40-yard dash, and you have a recipe for a once great prospect to fall between the cracks of the NFL.

I believe that Skov could have a lot to offer the Chargers. Skov was a leader on the Cardinal defense and played with passion on every play. He is a fierce competitor and a sure-fire tackler, something the Chargers have sorely lacked over the past couple weeks. Inside linebacker speed is not as important in a 3-4 as it is in the 4-3, so John Pagano will be able to hide that aspect of his play, just like Te’o.

Speaking of, Te’o could still be a couple weeks ago from returning from that broken foot, so the Chargers may want to add some depth at the position to avoid sending Gachkar out there any more than they need to. Although TT could just be looking at Skov for the practice squad at this point, that type of play is contagious and could spark some fire into the defense.