{"id":113203,"date":"2021-05-07T16:12:55","date_gmt":"2021-05-07T20:12:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=113203"},"modified":"2021-05-08T08:49:06","modified_gmt":"2021-05-08T12:49:06","slug":"improved-los-angeles-chargers-offensive-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/05\/07\/improved-los-angeles-chargers-offensive-line\/","title":{"rendered":"The New and Improved Los Angeles Chargers Offensive Line"},"content":{"rendered":"

The biggest issue the Los Angeles Chargers had to fix this off-season was the offensive line. After Mike Pouncey<\/a> retired and Trai Turner<\/a> was cut, that left only one reliable starter on the entire line. The Chargers got off to a good start in free agency, but there was one glaring hole left: left tackle. The Chargers finally solved that in the draft when they took Rashawn Slater at No. 13 overall. And while right guard is still mildly iffy, this still now leaves us with four solid starters out of five offensive line positions \u2013 enough to the point where we can safely say the Chargers have fixed their offensive line. Let\u2019s take a look at the new (presumed) lineup.<\/p>\n

Looking at the Los Angeles Chargers Offensive Line Post-Draft<\/h2>\n

Left Tackle: Rashawn Slater<\/a><\/h3>\n

While it was a mild disappointment that the Chargers weren\u2019t able to trade up and get Justin Herbert<\/a>\u2019s former Oregon teammate Penei Sewell, Rashawn Slater is the second-best option they could\u2019ve hoped for \u2013 and they were lucky he was available. It\u2019s quite likely the New York Giants would have taken him at 11th<\/sup> overall if they hadn\u2019t traded down.<\/p>\n

Despite having more of a body fit for offensive guard, scouts were impressed with him. He gave up zero sacks in 2019, which included a matchup against Chase Young<\/a> \u2013 proving he can go up against tough opponents. If he can keep up the good work in the NFL, Herbert won\u2019t have much to worry about on his blindside. In fact, after Slater got drafted, he had this to say to Herbert: \u201cI got your back.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

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Left Guard: Matt Feiler<\/a><\/h3>\n

While the Chargers didn\u2019t tell Feiler whether he would be playing left or right guard (he can do both), it\u2019s fair to presume that he\u2019ll be left guard \u2013 he seems to do a little better over there, and there aren\u2019t really any other options. While Feiler isn\u2019t as big a name, he was a solid run blocker with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, and there\u2019s not much reason to think he\u2019d be a liability at pass blocking. Even if run blocking remains his primary strength, that\u2019s still something that needed fixing too \u2013 the running backs did not have much room to run last year.<\/p>\n

Center: Corey Linsley<\/a><\/h3>\n

This was the big splash signing for the Chargers in free agency. Corey Linsley was coming off an All-Pro season with the Green Bay Packers and had long been a reliable starter for them. Despite this, the Packers did not retain him, and the Chargers ended up making him the highest-paid center in the league instead (though that already got broken by Frank Ragnow of the Detroit Lions).<\/p>\n

Given how big of a deal center is \u2013 both in communication and in blocking \u2013 it\u2019s fitting that the biggest Chargers move was getting a long-term center for Herbert, especially after Pouncey\u2019s retirement. At the time it seemed perplexing that they didn\u2019t invest big in left tackle as well in free agency, but that ultimately paid off in the Draft.<\/p>\n

Right Guard: Oday Aboushi<\/a> or Brenden Jaimes<\/a><\/h3>\n

This is the one position that still has some minor question marks. The Chargers added veteran Oday Aboushi in free agency. While this wasn\u2019t a bad signing, Aboushi had always been more of a depth guy and not a long-term starter (he is a heavy hitter at least). However, the Chargers also added Brenden Jaimes in the fifth round of the Draft \u2013 who is a little bit of a wild card, given that he can play tackle or guard. There\u2019s a chance that he could compete with Aboushi for the starting right guard job.<\/p>\n

Either way, even though they may not be liabilities (jury\u2019s out on Jaimes), this is still the weakest spot on the line. One can\u2019t help but think that in a normal year where the cap hadn\u2019t been reduced, they might have kept Trai Turner \u2013 who struggled heavily with injuries last year and got cut due to his large contract this off-season. Nevertheless, only one question mark on the line is better than what they\u2019ve had for a bit.<\/p>\n

Right Tackle: Bryan Bulaga<\/a><\/h3>\n

Bryan Bulaga is the lone carryover from last season. While he had some injury issues of his own (six missed games), he was dependable enough when he was available \u2013 and while he\u2019s nothing special, he\u2019s good enough that right tackle was the one position on the line going into the off-season that *wasn\u2019t* a concern. Hopefully, he can stay more healthy this year and help keep the right side of the line in working condition.<\/p>\n

The Depth<\/h3>\n

Most of the depth isn\u2019t anything to cheer about \u2013 that\u2019s why they\u2019re the backups. But despite Trey Pipkins somehow losing the left tackle spot to Sam Tevi last year, he\u2019s a solid enough backup to have. And XFL pickup Storm Norton remains an intriguing piece to watch, even if he\u2019s not starter material at this time. And whoever between Aboushi and Jaimes isn’t starting should be a good backup. Most of the remainder of the depth even Chargers fans probably haven\u2019t heard of, but one could do worse than Scott Quessenberry \u2013 he at least can play both guard and center.<\/p>\n

That is one other notable thing about this group of offensive linemen, though \u2013 how many of them are versatile. Feiler can play either guard position. Jaimes can (allegedly) play guard or tackle. Slater could also supposedly switch all around the line if necessary. That versatility is a good thing to have if players start going down.<\/p>\n

Before and After<\/h3>\n

This is basically the scenario that Chargers fans wanted, but it\u2019s still rather remarkable what was accomplished in one off-season. The Chargers offensive line went from a lineup consisting of Sam Tevi, Dan Feeney, Forrest Lamp, whoever Trai Turner\u2019s backup was, and Bulaga to the lineup shown above with the one carryover (and it\u2019s a good carryover too). The offensive line has gone from a mess of injury-prone veterans and a couple of draft busts to a much more optimistic outlook. The Chargers look to have succeeded in their number one mission of the off-season: protect their young franchise quarterback. Now let us just hope none of these new additions start struggling with injuries too.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>