The San Diego Chargers have plenty of questions to answer on offense after the loss of key wide receivers and shifting on the offensive line, but the defense presents an equal challenge for head coach Mike McCoy. The first-year head coach is trying to re-create a team that has not made the playoffs since 2009, finishing 7-9 last year. The defense is equal parts veteran leadership and rookie inexperience and 33-year old Dwight Freeney is finding himself as the unit's leader.
Freeney did not have the easiest free agent run after getting released from the Indianapolis Colts. After Melvin Ingram went down with an injury, Freeney was signed to fill the role of pass rusher. Most teams did not believe Freeney was an every-down type of player anymore, something the veteran remained very adamant that he was. Now in San Diego, defensive coordinator Joe Pagano has been nothing but impressed with Freeney, increasing his reps.
"He's going to be an every-down guy for us," Pagano said, via Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. "Need him on first, second, third down. He's going to play all downs. If you spot guys here and there, they never get into the defense. They never get the defense. They don't understand the whole process of the defensive calls. That's the mindset he has. Otherwise, you never learn the why. He is a why guy."
The Chargers are expecting for Freeney to lineup in multiple looks at both defensive end and linebacker. As uncertainly remains in some positions, Freeney will be a constant figure. One unknown that remains is rookie Manti Te'o. After impressing in offseason workouts, a foot injury is hurting his progress.
Te'o has been at practice, but in a walking boot. That is not exactly the look the team was hoping for.
"He will be out there when he is ready to go," McCoy said. He's getting better every day and working extremely hard with James and the rest of the crew inside. When he's ready to be out there, he will be practicing."
Te'o is not expected to be active for the team's preseason game against the Cardinals and might not be ready for Week 1. The rookie says that right now he is learning by watching and getting "mental reps." While he is spending a lot of time studying the playbook and other players, it does not substitute getting reps on the field. There was an idea that Te'o could start right away, but now it does not look likely.