The Chargers began their preseason with a success in the Battle for LA, whipping the Rams 34-17.
It was our veryfirst appearance at the mostcurrent variation of the Bolts, including a brand-new offense helmed by Kellen Moore and a revamped defense with Derrick Ansley at the helm.
The Chargers’ offensive line played bully ball all night, opening lanes for Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller, and business, no matter the workers groupings. The beginning 5 of Foster Sarell, Zion Johnson, Will Clapp, Jamaree Salyer, and Austen Pleasants were especially reliable. Even after Johnson and Clapp subbed out for novice Jordan McFadden and Zack Bailey, that group continued to control a Rams defense playing a good portion of its beginners.
Kellen Moore’s offense likewise included much more pulling action from the left guard area on Saturday, whether it was Johnson or McFadden. That’s a great indication for the Chargers’ capability to run to the best, where Salyer and Trey Pipkins are currently a powerful run-blocking tandem.
In the 2nd half, the Chargers slowed down alittle in the 3rd quarter however chose it back up when undrafted novice Elijah Dotson got into the videogame. LA endedup the videogame with 216 lawns hurrying on 29 brings, omitting 2 Max Duggan kneel-downs, excellent for 7.4 per bring.
With an athletic guard like Johnson moving with a complete head of steam in that instructions, LA needto be able to pound the rock in methods that haveactually been notavailable to them hence far in the Justin Herbert age.
Nobody is shouting for Stick to get regular-season action beyond trash time. But the backup QB area was a concern mark goinginto this season – Stick hadn’t made much development in his NFL profession and Max Duggan is a seventh-round novice who hadn’t made a strong impression in training camp.
So, it was motivating that Stick’s efficiency on Saturday was perhaps the finest of his profession. He stood under pressure, provided numerous determine passes, and extended plays without getting too exhausted. His advancement with brand-new coaches Moore and Doug Nussmeier is obvious in how he processed the videogame – that comes with the caution that this is preseason.
Still, thinkabout that the Rams played most of their protective beginners, and Stick’s efficiency starts to take on a bit more appeal. That bodes well for the Chargers, who maybe won’t feel forced to keep Herbert in videogames where he breaks his ribs going forward.
I wear’t think any of the pass rushes on the Chargers had an outwardly poor videogame on Saturday. Starters Tuli Tuipulotu and Chris Rumph II flashed plenty versus the Rams’ offensive line. Tuipulotu had 2 pressures on the videogame’s opening drive, while Rumph consistently beat Rams dealwith Logan Bruss to extend his stretch of preseason supremacy.
Once those 2 called it a night, LA ran a steady of Ty Shelby, Carlo Kemp, Andrew Farmer, and Brevin Allen. Shelby and Farmer were the most impactful in run defense, showcasing good pop in that location and rerouting runs back to the interior. Farmer likewise tracked down Stetson Bennett on a bootleg for his veryfirst NFL sack. Kemp had a coupleof great hurries that required Bennett to make fast choices under pressure. Allen had an outstanding general videogame, doing much of the unclean work in the trenches.
There are not enough identifies for all of these gamers, of course. Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Tuipulotu, and Rumph are locked in as the rostered pass rushes. One of the 4 backups would requirement to make their case indisputable to force LA into bring a 5th. But at least 2 will mostlikely sneak through to the practice team. Considering that the Chargers had to turn to the likes of Derrek Tuszka for snaps last season, that depth might show crucial.
The Chargers completed the videogame with 11 charges for 106 lawns after being the 4th-least punished group in football a season back. Now, it’s preseason, and some sloppiness is to be anticipated. But LA had anumberof back-breaking charges br