Odds are you haven't been able to read about the Los Angeles Chargers' defense without hearing about the defensive line. In fact, USA Today recently named it the top unit in the NFL.
Leading the charge in the trenches is the pass-rushing duo of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, who figure to wreak havoc in their second year playing alongside one another.
Training camp marks the first time to see the two in action under new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, and everyone is eager to see how they'll be deployed.
The 22-year old Bosa is fresh off one of the most dominating first seasons by a defensive player in NFL history. He was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 10.5 sacks in 12 games. His 10.5 sacks were the most by an NFL rookie since 2011, and rank second behind Leslie O'Neal's 12.5 in 1986. He ended the season with at least a half sack in the final six games, which is longest stretch by any Chargers player since Marcellus Wiley had sacks in seven straight in 2001. As a result, his peers voted him one of the NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2017.
Meanwhile, Ingram enters his sixth season with a brand new four-year contract. The speedy edge rusher has come into his own over the past two seasons as his 18.5 sacks are tied for the 12th most in the league. Ingram ranked second on the team a year ago with eight sacks while also notching 66 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and a team-high 23 QB hits.
Each player made it clear this offseason they believe they can take the NFL by storm alongside one another.
"Honestly, I think we were just scratching the surface of what our productivity could be last year," Bosa said shortly after Ingram inked his contract. "There were a lot more plays we left out there that we could have had. I think with more reps and time working together, we'll only get better. But it does feel good to have a guy you can trust to play his butt off and also be a sick football player."
"I feel like the sky's the limit on that," Ingram added. "We're trying to create something special. Time can really only make that possible, so the more time we get reps (and) get to playing with each other, it can be something very special."
