Ingram

[Beerman]

Here's hoping Melvin keeps it up.

[Formula 21]

Ingram needs to be our starting OLB.

And when talking about the age of a team, having old guys as leaders is a plus. The old guys teach the young guys how to win.

[MakoShark]

Last year I believe it was Luiget who also sang the praises of having a guy like Freeney around. Said the same things the Ingram is saying here.

[Wheels]

LOL, I sure wish it was Shaun Phillips mentoring Ingram instead of Freeney.

[Geezbolt]

The signing of Freeney seems to continue to pay dividends in more ways than just his play on the field. I sometimes just assume younger players are paid big money now and should know how to be professionals but the more I read things like this the more I realize it is a learned skill or set of skills just like other aspects of the game.

[Panama]

Ingram needs to be our starting OLB.

Um, he is a starting OLB, with JJ as the other starter.

Freeney and Attaochu are backups in the rotation.

[Formula 21]

Um, he is a starting OLB, with JJ as the other starter.

Freeney and Attaochu are backups in the rotation.

He is? It appeared to me that Freeney and JJ were the starters with Ingram as a swing OLB.

[Bolt-O]

He is? It appeared to me that Freeney and JJ were the starters with Ingram as a swing OLB.

Does it really matter here? Pass rushers should be rotated in, and I'd prefer the younger guy on the field more often. Being named a starter really only affects contract negotiations.

[Steve]

Don't worry about who has the label of starter. Johnson is almost definitely going to be one "starter", but he is also going to be on the field a whole lot less, because he is a run down guy.

Our pass rush success largely depends on Ingram and Freeney, and to a lesser degree, Attaochu. Freeney and Ingram will probably get most of the reps, and Attaochu will pick up a lot of the rest, with a few more sprinkled in to Walker and Williams.

[MakoShark]

Steve, if possible I hope we can find a way to limit Freeney's snaps. We need to preserve that old body for the important stretch run and beyond don't ya think?

[Steve]

I don't think we save him for "beyond". At his age, it's about now. I do think we will probably give some more reps to Jerry as the season goes on, and Walker is going to be active for ST and as a backup LB, so we will have bodies to mix it up. You are correct we do need to keep him somewhat fresh for the end of the season and potentially the playoffs.

vs AZ< JJ got some rushes in the 4 man line, and I think that was about keeping guys legs fresh, because JJ is not much of a pass rusher. JJ is another guy we could mix in as an inside (Joker) pass rush LB, besides just Ingram.

I am pretty happy with the way we have been mixing people in, so I don't think it will be a problem. The big thing is we need to get to a bigger lead and get up sooner. Both Sea and Az were mixing in runs to the end. We make teams one dimensional by getting them behind, add that pressure, plus the ball control to shorten the game, I think our pass rush will be downright impressive.

[Panama]

He is? It appeared to me that Freeney and JJ were the starters with Ingram as a swing OLB.

http://www.chargers.com/team/depth-chart.html

Of course, nowadays the concept of starter is rather nebulous. We usually start in our base package, but the majority of plays run are not in the base package.