Last season, the San Diego Chargers finished sixth in the NFL in run defense. The addition of middle linebacker Manti Te’o in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft will help them maintain that ranking.
2013 NFL Draft: Manti Te’o fills San Diego Chargers’ MLB need
Of all the teams that could have drafted the Notre Dame linebacker, San Diego is one of the better fits for the All-American linebacker.
Jonathan Daniel
With the Chargers, Te’o will benefit from learning under defensive coordinator John Pagano and linebackers coach Joe Barry. He’ll be allowed to play straight forward and not worry about playing too much outside the tackle box. As long as the front three can keep blockers off of him, that’s where Te’o excels.
Following the release of Takeo Spikes in March, the Chargers greatly needed to add a linebacker to call the shifts and audibles for the front seven. That’s something Te’o did well at Notre Dame.
Of course, Te’o will now have to overcome more than just jokes that will follow the fake girlfriend scandal. Te’o will, perhaps unfairly, be compared to Chargers all-time great Junior Seau.
Before the Te’o selection, the Chargers were faced with starting Jonas Mouton at middle linebacker. Just a second-round pick in 2011, Mouton has barely been on the field for the Chargers. Mouton was regularly a healthy scratch for the Chargers last season.
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