USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Chargers are now focused on dominating the 2023 season. The offense has improved (or at least it should) from last season with a healthy Justin Herbert, healthy offensive weapons, a healthy offensive lineman, and a new offensive coordinator set to make waves in the league. "

The offense should be the least of the team's concerns heading into this fall; however, the defense is another story. The 2022 defense came in the season with high hopes, only to be in the middle of the pack to the back end of many defensive categories, and this was with top-notch talent. Injuries played a big part in it; nonetheless, it was terrible. 

They hope to turn things around in 2023, and Chargers defensive linemen Morgan Fox is ensuring it. 

Fix spoke to team senior insider Eric Smith and said they must be better this upcoming season, and they will. 

"You know, definitely a lot of focus. We always have fun, it's hard not to have fun in there. But we're very focused and locked in on the fact that we have to improve from last year. We're not running from anything that happened last year. We know we've got to be better in the run game and that's a huge emphasis for us. We're not taking anything for granted and a huge focus for us is looking at those run stats from last year and making sure we do something to improve them."

(via Chargers.com)

Considering who they had on that end last season, LA was terrible. 

The Chargers ranked 23rd in points allowed, 20th in opponents' yards per game, 29th in opponents' yards per play, and 23rd in opponents' touchdowns per game. Their run defense was worse, as they were the worst team in the league in opponent rush yards allowing 5.4, and ranking among the bottom in opponent rush yards per game with 144.2. 

It can't get any worse, right? Last season, their star lineman Joey Bosa missed more than half the season, and they still ended up going 10-7 while missing critical pieces on the offensive end. 

Fox and others on that end will be responsible for improving the run defense, and having a healthy Bosa will be a massive help in both the pass and run.

It must improve, and I believe it will. If it doesn't, LA could be in huge trouble. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Stars center matches Gretzky feat as Dallas pushes Avalanche to brink
Gritty young Thunder take down veteran Mavericks in Game 4
Cubs acquiring veteran reliever from Mariners
Top-five NBA Draft prospect suffers scary non-contact injury
Hurricanes stay alive with third-period outburst vs. Rangers
Jaylen Brown's big three-pointer gives Celtics 3-1 lead over Cavs
Avalanche star placed in player assistance program
Mercury announce devastating injury on eve of WNBA season
Randy Moss' son makes major football announcement
Reds place key outfielder on injured list with broken thumb
Tom Brady's broadcasting debut set for Week 1 of NFL season
Struggling Cubs reliever placed on injured list 
Report: Justin Fields had ‘toxic' relationship with ex-Bears QB
Extension makes Lions QB Jared Goff one of NFL's highest-paid players
Kentucky's Reed Sheppard displays excellent skills at NBA Draft Combine
Knicks big man undergoes another ankle surgery
Flames CEO stepping down, transitioning to advisory role
Oilers star seemingly dismisses Arturs Silovs' performance in Game 3
Bengals QB Joe Burrow is making a notable change to stay healthy in 2024
Orioles designate outfielder for assignment