Chargers Defensive Lineman Discusses The Importance of Their Newest Offseason Addition
The Los Angeles Chargers had one of the worst defenses in the league in 2022. It was uncalled for with the type of talent they had at their disposal and was the main reason for their disastrous end to the season.
The defense needed to be fixed, and Chargers GM Tom Telesco went to work to improve that side of the ball. Injuries played a factor, but there was no doubt the team needed reinforcement, and they did just that by adding All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks. Kendricks will now be the man in the middle for the much-improved Chargers defense and will be responsible for anchoring the squad.
The LA brass and players are happy to welcome Kendricks, including defensive lineman and Super Bowl champion Sebastian Joseph-Day. SJD spoke to Chargers' insider Eric Smith and said he feels like Kendricks will help tremendously
"I think having Eric back there is going to definitely help us make those adjustments faster, less wasted time, less thinking," Sebastian Joseph-Day said this week of Kendricks. "He will be able to see that faster and get it communicated to us. That will help, honestly, everyone play faster."At the end of the day, you can't play defense slow," Joseph-Day added. "The moment you're a step behind or you miss something, that's how you get got. It's definitely going to help us, for sure."
Even at 31 years old, Kendricks still has some gas left in the tank. He will enter his ninth season in the league and is coming off a good 2022 season with the Minnesota Vikings.
Overall, he's started in 113 games out of 117, he has 919 combo tackles, 54 tackles for loss, 29 QB hits, 15 sacks, and 51 passes defended. Kendricks has done all he can on the football field but gets himself a Lombardi trophy. He hopes to accomplish that with the Bolts, and it will all start with the defense.
