Scott Matlock's Innovation on the Los Angeles Chargers Field

In the NFL, where opponents study film relentlessly and defenses are built to counter predictable plays, innovation can be a player’s greatest asset—and for the Los Angeles Chargers’ third-year defensive lineman Scott Matlock, that innovation has become his signature. Beyond his reliable tackle totals and run-stopping ability, Matlock has distinguished himself by inventing creative techniques, adapting to new roles on the fly, and even suggesting tactical adjustments that have reshaped the Chargers’ defensive and special teams strategies. His willingness to think outside the box—whether it’s a new pass-rushing move or a situational alignment—has turned him from a solid rotational player into a tactical wildcard for head coach Jim Harbaugh’s squad. Scott Matlock's Innovation on the Los Angeles Chargers Field explores the unique ways he’s redefining his position, outsmarting opponents, and contributing to the Chargers’ success through creativity.

Scott Matlock's Innovation on the Los Angeles Chargers Field begins with his signature “stutter-step swim” pass-rushing move—a hybrid technique he developed to counter the league’s top offensive linemen and generate consistent pressure. Traditional swim moves rely on a quick, linear motion to bypass blockers, but Matlock noticed that elite linemen (like the Chiefs’ Joe Thuney or the Broncos’ Garett Bolles) often anticipated this and adjusted their stance to cut him off. So, he added a subtle stutter step to his approach: instead of charging straight at the lineman, he pauses for half a second, forcing the blocker to shift his weight prematurely, then uses a quick swim move to slip past. The result? Matlock has recorded 6 sacks and 14 quarterback hits in 2025—career highs—with 4 of those sacks coming directly from the stutter-step swim. “Scott didn’t just copy a move from someone else—he built one that fits his strengths and counters what opponents do,” Chargers defensive line coach Giff Smith said. “He’s a student of the game, and he’s always looking for ways to get an edge. That stutter-step swim isn’t just a move—it’s a strategy, and it’s working.” Matlock even refined the technique mid-season, adding a slight shoulder fake to the stutter step, which helped him sack Bills quarterback Josh Allen in Week 9 after Allen’s offensive line had shut down the Chargers’ other rushers.

A second example of Matlock’s innovation is his role as a “flexible nose tackle” in the Chargers’ new “nickel-front” defense—a position he helped design to confuse opponents and shore up run defense in passing situations. Traditional nickel defenses use five defensive backs and four linemen, but Matlock noticed that opponents were exploiting this by running power plays up the middle, where the smaller nickel linemen struggled to hold the line. So, he proposed a tweak: instead of playing a standard 4-technique defensive tackle (aligned outside the guard), he shifts to a 0-technique nose tackle (directly over the center) in nickel packages, using his 300-pound frame to clog the middle while still maintaining the speed to rush the passer. The Chargers implemented the change in Week 6, and the results were immediate: opponents averaged just 2.8 yards per carry up the middle in nickel situations over the next eight weeks, down from 4.5 yards before the adjustment. “Scott came to me with film of three plays where we got gashed in nickel, and he showed me exactly how shifting his alignment could fix it,” defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said. “Most players just execute the playcall—Scott helps design them. That’s the kind of innovation that makes a defense dangerous.” Matlock’s flexibility also allows the Chargers to avoid substituting linemen between packages, keeping the defense fresh and preventing opponents from reading personnel changes to predict plays.

Scott Matlock's Innovation on the Los Angeles Chargers Field also includes his innovative approach to special teams—specifically, his “angle-blocking” strategy on punt returns that has turned the Chargers’ return unit into one of the league’s most explosive for the Los Angeles Chargers. Punt return blocking typically relies on linemen forming a straight wall to protect the returner, but Matlock noticed that opponents were often penetrating this wall by rushing the edges. So, he suggested a change: instead of blocking straight ahead, the interior blockers (including Matlock) should angle their blocks 45 degrees toward the sideline, creating a “funnel” that forces edge rushers wide and opens up a clear lane for the returner. The Chargers tested the strategy in Week 8 against the Bears, and returner Derius Davis responded with a 68-yard touchdown—the team’s first punt return score since 2022. “Scott’s angle-blocking idea changed everything for us,” special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken said. “We’d been stuck in a rut with our punt returns, but his innovation gave us a new identity. He doesn’t just block—he thinks about how to make the entire unit better. For the Los Angeles Chargers, that kind of team-first innovation is invaluable.” Through 12 weeks, the Chargers rank 5th in the NFL in punt return average (12.3 yards per return), up from 22nd in 2024—with Matlock credited with 8 “key blocks” that directly created 10+ yard returns.

Another layer of Matlock’s innovation is his use of pre-snap “visual cues” to communicate with teammates and adjust defensive alignments in real time— a system he developed to counter opponents’ last-minute formation changes for the Los Angeles Chargers. NFL offenses often shift their personnel or formation just before the snap to confuse defenses, but Matlock noticed that the Chargers’ linemen sometimes struggled to adjust quickly, leading to misalignments and big plays. So, he created a simple system of hand signals: a tap to the helmet means “shift left,” a fist means “blitz,” and two fingers mean “double team the center.” He worked with the other defensive linemen to memorize the cues during practice, and by Week 4, they were using the system in games. The impact was clear: the Chargers’ number of misalignments dropped from 3.2 per game in 2024 to 1.1 per game in 2025, and opponents’ success rate on pre-snap shifts fell from 65% to 38%. “Scott’s visual cues have made us faster and more disciplined,” fellow defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu said. “Before, we’d scramble to adjust when the offense shifted, but now we know exactly what to do—all because Scott took the time to create a system that works. For the Los Angeles Chargers, that kind of leadership through innovation makes our defense harder to beat.” The system even caught the attention of head coach Jim Harbaugh, who praised Matlock for “turning a problem into a solution” during a post-game press conference.

Finally, Scott Matlock's Innovation on the Los Angeles Chargers Field wraps up with how his innovative mindset has inspired a culture of creativity within the Chargers’ locker room—and what it means for the team’s long-term success for the Los Angeles Chargers. Matlock’s willingness to experiment, share ideas, and challenge the status quo has encouraged other players to do the same: rookie linebacker Trey Moore developed a new coverage technique after working with Matlock, and offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer proposed a tweak to the run-blocking scheme that the Chargers adopted in Week 10. “Scott has changed how we think about the game,” Harbaugh said. “He’s shown that every player—whether you’re a starter or a backup, an offensive or defensive player—has something to contribute. Innovation isn’t just for coaches anymore; it’s for everyone. For the Los Angeles Chargers, that’s a game-changer.” Matlock’s impact also extends beyond the field: he hosts a weekly “innovation session” where players from both sides of the ball gather to share ideas, watch film, and brainstorm new strategies. This cross-positional collaboration has led to several other adjustments, including a new screen-pass blocking scheme that the offense started using in Week 11. As the Chargers push for a playoff spot in 2025, Matlock’s innovation isn’t just helping them win games—it’s building a sustainable culture of creativity that will keep the team competitive for years to come. Scott Matlock's Innovation on the Los Angeles Chargers Field ultimately shows that in the NFL, talent wins games, but innovation wins championships—and Matlock has become the Chargers’ most valuable innovator.