3 LA Chargers who could lose their starting job this offseason
By Jason Reed
2. Storm Norton
I mean, this one is pretty obvious. Storm Norton technically was the starter for the LA Chargers last season and instead was a backup who played the entire season. Bryan Bulaga was tabbed to be the starter, played one half in Week 1 of the season and did not appear for the team again.
Norton was a really interesting player to watch on the LA Chargers in 2021. There were games in which he actually looked halfway decent and held his own. However, when Norton was bad he was really bad and the result was the second-most pressures allowed in the NFL in 16 games played. At his pace, playing all 17 games would have resulted in him allowing the most pressures in the league.
Norton was fine as a run blocker but he got a lot of help in the team's blocking schemes that made him look a lot better than he was. The Chargers can accomplish the same run-blocking success with a tackle who is better than him in the pass-blocking regard.
Norton had his worst game of the season in Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders and it is almost a good thing for Charger fans. The former XFL tackle was playing well in the second half of the season, allowing more than three pressures in a game just once. However, Norton went out and allowed 11 pressures (per Pro Football Focus) to Maxx Crosby to hammer home the point that the Chargers need help at right tackle.
There are several realistic options to start at right tackle for the Chargers in 2022. One thing is for certain: it should not be Storm Norton.