San Diego Chargers Need A Nose
Oct 14, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers assistant director of public relations Scott Yoffe (right) talks with defensive end Corey Liuget (94) and defensive tackle Cam Thomas (92) before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The San Diego Chargers have struggled on defense all season long. Teams have been able to move the football on the team in whatever manner that they have chosen. The Cincinnati Bengals struggle to throw the football, so they decided to move the football on the ground on Sunday. The Chargers have been a mess. The biggest struggle this season has been at the nose. We lost Aubrayo Franklin in the offseason and the team has not been able to adjust without him.
In the Chargers 3-4 defense, nose tackle Cam Thomas has not been able to fill his role. It has hurt everyone around him. Corey Liuget has struggled without a nose. Kendall Reyes has struggled without a nose. The middle linebackers have struggled without a nose. If the Chargers want to ride with the 3-4 defense next season, then they better find someone to take over that role. Cam Thomas is not the answer.
A prospect that the Chargers might want to be watching in the draft is Louis Nix. He is the big nose tackle in Notre Dame and could declare for the draft this year. He is out for the rest of this season after suffering a torn meniscus, but teams know how productive he is when he is on the field. His former teammate Manti Te’o should know how valuable he is also.
If the team can get production at the nose, then all kinds of other players on the defense will become much more productive. Hopefully the team can find some production at the position or they better flip the defense to a different scheme.