The Los Angeles Chargers fell on hard times in the 2023 season, and when they went from a playoff team in the 2022 season to last place in the AFC West with a 5-12 record, the team cleaned house and brought in Jim Harbaugh to become head coach and take over the operation.

In many ways, the pressure on Harbaugh will be deferred for at least one full season. Why? Remember, this team played non-competitively in several games last season and it appeared the team quit on former head coach Brandon Staley because his decision-making was questionable and his leadership was non-existent. The Chargers may have put on the worst performance of the season when they were obliterated 63-21 by the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15.

Despite the brutal 2023 season, the Chargers have quite a bit of talent on the roster. They arguably have one of the top quarterbacks in the game in Justin Herbert, and if he can stay healthy in 2024, Los Angeles has a chance to play respectable football.

The Chargers also made a move to help the defense late in free agency. Specifically, they signed former Steelers, Titans and Falcons linebacker Bud Dupree to provide some extra juice. The presence of Dupree should help the Los Angeles pass rush. The 9-year veteran has recorded 53.0 sacks in his career, and that included 6.5 QB traps last season with the Falcons. He had a career-best 11.5 sacks during the 2019 season with the Steelers.

The presence of Dupree could be problematic for AFC West quarterbacks who will line up against the Chargers twice in the 2024 season, including two-time defending Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs.

Jim Harbaugh inherits a defense that fell badly in 2023

The Chargers came into the 2023 season with significant confidence concerning their defense. They ranked 7th in yards allowed in 2022 and they also had the 12th-ranked pass defense.

They didn't come close to that kind of performance last year as they ranked 28th in yards allowed and 30th against the pass.

The Chargers have a couple of extremely talented performers in Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, and the presence of Dupree should only help them in that area. Bosa regularly faces double-team blocking when healthy and the presence of  Dupree should make it much easier for Bosa and Mack.

Bosa has been limited the last two seasons and he had a foot injury last year. He was able to play in just nine games last year and had just 6.5 sacks. He played in just five games in 2022 and was held to 2.5 sacks.

The 33-year-old Mack put on a remarkable performance last year despite the disintegration of the team. He finished the year with a career-best 17.0 sacks, and that marked the fifth time in his career that he had 10.0 or more sacks.

If Bud Dupree is a solid fit for the Chargers defense there appears to be little reason that this defense could not rebound from the struggling performance it had a year ago.

Jim Harbaugh should be able to help the offense step up, but it's clear the defense will have to be much better if the team is going to play respectable football this season