The Los Angeles Chargers enter the 2018 NFL season with perhaps the best passing-rushing tandem in the league.
Defensive end Joey Bosa, who turned 23 in July, is at the start of what could end up being a decorated and historic pro career. Bosa's early success, though, can't be discussed without mentioning his fiery counterpart. Melvin Ingram, 29, plays the game with a passion that matches his rare talent as a pass rusher.
"I think Joey Bosa is going to have a better career because he's playing with Melvin Ingram – not just because of (his) skill set, (but) because he's got a veteran that's showing him the way, and that day after day is right along with him with that intensity," said NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal, who was a guest on Tuesday's episode of Chargers Weekly.
Ingram had 10.5 sacks last season, with all but three coming in the first five games. His hot start set the tone for a defense that finished tied for fifth in the NFL in sacks (43) and sixth in takeaways (27).
Together, Bosa and Ingram earned Pro Bowl recognition after combining for 22.5 sacks in 2017. The tandem presents headaches for opponents, especially given how close they are in talent level.
"If you don't even know which one of those two guys are better, that's an incredible situation because you don't know where to slide protection and they're just kind of warriors that snap-after-snap – they're not taking snaps off," Rosenthal said.
ESPN's Field Yates, who also joined Tuesday's podcast, added that Ingram is going to be a "sack machine" in 2018. Yates also referred to him as "maybe one of the 20 or so best players in terms of raw, physical abilities the league has."
Ingram's sheer talent is on par with the relentlessness he displays on the football field. It's a model example for a unit expecting to improve in the second year under Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley.
"I would be afraid if I was one of his teammates to let him down because he comes to the field with so much intensity, and you can tell how (much) it means to him," added Rosenthal.
Listen to Tuesday's entire episode and subscribe to Chargers Weekly on Apple Podcasts. A five-star rating/review is appreciated and will help spread the word to other fans this offseason. Chargers Weekly is also available on Stitcher, TuneIn or Google Play.
The Chargers' 2018 training camp schedule is official, so mark your calendars to watch the Bolts prepare for the upcoming season! The team will hold 14 practices open to the public between July 28 and August 23. For more information, please visit**www.chargers.com/camp**.
