Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers LB Te'o looking to build on breakout 2014

Published Jun. 8, 2015 11:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Manti Te'o finally played like the star he was billed to be by season's end.

After struggling to adjust for the bestter part of two seasons, he found his groove. And the third-year inside linebacker out of Notre Dame says he's looking to build on that momentum in 2015.

“It feels so comfortable out there, to finally be out there and just play ball," Te'o told ESPN. "To be able to communicate with my teammates on certain levels, and not being the guy being told things. I understand things on my own, and now I can help other people out."

Some younger players take longer to transition than others. Te'o was exposed as a liability on defense a few times since his selection in 2013.

He turned it around in his sophomore season. Te'o played 424 defensive snaps in 2014 and looked like San Diego's most capable linebacker at times.

He contributed that turnaround to Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano. Now fully recovered from another broken foot, Te'o plans on continuing his role as Pagano's extension on the field.

“The fact that Coach (Pagano) trusts me out there -- that was another confidence boost for me," he said. "I can only imagine how much trust it takes for a coach to put a player out there for the first down on those money downs.

“So for a coach to trust me out there with the fellas to make plays, and to go out and make plays, is definitely something that I really needed.”

(h/t ESPN)