Chargers and that 4-3 Defense Everyone Wants

Jan 5, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; San Diego Chargers inside linebacker

(56) celebrates after a sack during fourth quarter of the AFC wild card playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Talking about our need for a nose tackle, brought up the topic of running a 4-3 defense again. Of course it did. It always does. We have not had a quality nose tackle since Jamal Williams and we keep plugging in random players to take on that load. It has not been working and the team cannot generate a pass rush with the 3-4 defense since Shawne Merriman was cut loose. We have struggled on the defensive side of the ball for the last couple of seasons. Time to change things up.

The Chargers roster already has good pieces that they can use in a 4-3 system. They don’t have a huge nose tackle to take on the middle, but they have players like Corey Liuget and Kendall Reyes that can attack their gaps from a defensive tackle position. They have a right defensive end that can get to the quarterback in Dwight Freeney. Melvin Ingram can move all around the defenseve line and can play linebacker if he has to. He moved all along the line in South Carolina. Jarret Johnson also could play defensive end for the team.

Dec 1, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers linebacker Manti Te

Donald Butler could play the middle linebacker and chase everyone down on defense. Manti Te’o could move to the weak side linebacker spot and flow to the football and would have to worry less about taking on blockers. We would just need to pick up another linebacker for the strong side in the draft to play along with them. Kyle Van Noy looks perfect for that strong side spot.

The secondary needs help. Weddle still will be over the top. Jahleel Addae will be the other safety and we find corners. We need to make some good moves in the draft to get people to play back there.

Everyone in the league is throwing the crap out of the football. Time for us to adjust and make use of our players in a better way. Let’s do this Pagano. Liuget, Reyes, Ingram and Freeney will be able to get after quarterbacks. Butler and Te’o would be able to make plays on running backs and tight ends.

Why do we continue to run a defense without the main cog? No nose tackle… no 3-4 defense. Make a switch!