The Chargers may have drawn plenty of attention this offseason for the moves they didn’t make, but two additions on the margins could end up mattering a lot more than most people realize.
ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen included new Chargers fullback Alec Ingold and tight end Charlie Kolar in his Top 50 most impactful offseason additions, putting both players among the league’s most notable pickups. That’s not the kind of list that usually gets dominated by blocking specialists, which makes Los Angeles’ double showing stand out even more.
Bowen made the case for Ingold by pointing to the role he can fill in the offense. “Ingold signed with the Chargers to keep playing for Mike McDaniel, his former coach in Miami.
Last season, the Dolphins ran 234 snaps of 21 personnel (2 RBs, 1 TE, 2 WRs), the second most in the league. Ingold will play a critical role in L.A.'s run game, plus he can align on the edges to create 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs) looks.”
Kolar earned similar praise for the value he brings as both a blocker and a receiver. “One of the best blocking tight ends in the league, Kolar will play a key role in the Chargers' ability to win on the edges in the run game.
Plus, he can work the seams and find open turf underneath as a route runner. Kolar had two receiving touchdowns and a 75.5% run block win rate in Baltimore last season.”
That’s the real point here: the Chargers added players who can change how defenses line up before the snap. With fullbacks and tight ends who can block at a high level and still do damage in the passing game, Los Angeles has more ways to stress a defense than it did before.
The personnel mix matters. More two-back looks or heavier tight end packages force defenses into uncomfortable choices.
Load up with defensive backs, and the Chargers can lean on the run. Match with linebackers instead, and Los Angeles can target those matchups through players like Ingold and Kolar.
The headliners of the offseason may have gotten the biggest spotlight, but these are the kinds of additions that can quietly shape what the Chargers do best once the games start. Keep an eye on Ingold and Kolar as they begin their first season in Los Angeles.
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