The Los Angeles Chargers missed the postseason for the third year in a row but managed to sustain the gradual improvement of their win-loss record over the same span after going 5-11 in 2019 and 7-9 in 2020. In 2021, the Chargers went 9-8 and looked like they were on track to play beyond Week 18 after a strong 4-1 start. There is still a lot of promise in the potential of Justin Herbert and the Chargers to make loud noises in 2022, and with large cap space to work with, they have the financial legroom to improve on a number of areas that need attention the most. With that said, here are three fixes the Chargers have to focus on in order to hurdle that big obstacle that has been preventing the franchise from joining the playoffs.

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3 major fixes the Chargers must make

3. Patch the holes on their leaky run defense

What the Chargers’ run defense showed in what turned out to be their final game of the 2021 NFL season served as an indictment of how terrible their run defense was. In Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders on the road, the Chargers needed a win or just a tie to make the playoffs, but got neither, in large part because they couldn’t stop the run. The Raiders rushed for 174 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries. The Raiders went 8/17 on third downs and had nine rushing first downs. It wasn’t just a one-game show of utter ineptness in run defense by the Chargers, as that was the story for their entire season.

In fact, Bolts’ opponents averaged 8.5 rushing first downs (worst in the NFL), 138.8 rushing yards (third-worst), and 1.3 rushing touchdowns (fourth-worst) per game. When it comes to stopping the opposing team’s rushing attack, the Chargers put up as much resistance as a wet paper bag, and running backs on the side it loved it. Strengthening their defensive line is an obvious important task for the Chargers’ front office in the offseason. The Chargers already have a high-octane offense that should consistently deliver again in 2022, but the team can’t afford to waste that group’s effort again with a stop unit that just keeps on letting opponents waltz through for easy first downs on the ground.

2. Fortify offensive tackle depth 

At this point of his career, it’s hard to trust Bryan Bulaga to last an entire season without getting hurt or spending time on the sidelines due to injuries. Since signing with the Chargers in 2020, Beluga has appeared in just 11 games. He played in just one game in 2021 as he got placed on the injured reserve because of back and groin issues. In other words, the Chargers must prioritize the depth in the right tackle, especially if they decide to move on from Bulaga and cut him in the offseason.

Storm Norton, a restricted free agency in 2022,  didn’t really impress when he took over the starting spot when Bulaga went down, and it’s uncertain whether the Chargers would want him back. The Chargers still have Trey Pipkins, who had shining moments in limited snaps (14.55%), but can he be trusted upon when given a larger snap share? The Chargers’ offensive line was among the best in the NFL in the 2021 regular season, and if they could find a clear answer at the right tackle spot, their offensive line could easily be ranked as among the five best in 2022.

1. Add another playmaker in the passing attack

Pending free agent wide receiver Mike Williams led the Chargers in 2021 in receiving yards with 1,146 on 76 receptions but he can be wildly inconsistent. The Chargers would love to have him back, and if they re-sign him, they will have to take the good with the bad that comes with the former Clemson Tigers star. Unless Joshua Palmer and Jalen Guyton (2022 restricted free agent) take big leaps in 2022, the receiver depth of the Chargers isn’t going to be ideal, whether they managed to retain Williams or not. Keenan Allen is a lock at WR1, so there’s no question about him.

Pass-catching tailback Austin Ekeler is an indispensable gadget for the Chargers’ passing game, and if the team could find another dynamic player downfield with reliable yards-after-catch ability, that could be a game-changer for LA that averaged 282.4 passing yards per game in 2021. The Chargers could source help for the wide receiving room from the 2022 NFL Draft – or hunt for that need in free agency, where a quality wideout could be signed for a reasonable amount.

Whichever direction the Chargers go in terms of addressing a seeming need in this area, it’s going to be a big plus for quarterback Justin Herbert, who guarantees the team someone who will efficiently distribute the ball downfield.