The Los Angeles Chargers open their first week of the preseason against the Arizona Cardinals. Here’s who to keep an eye on this Saturday…
Football is back, and the Los Angeles Chargers are geared up with the best roster they’ve had in the last decade.
Exciting, young players on both sides of the ball share the field with grizzled veterans seeking a championship title. Right now, the depth chart shakes out like this:
With so many new and returning faces to keep an eye on, it’s hard to keep track of what positions and players are worth studying the most. Here are a few of the important Chargers to focus on.
Michael Schofield
There is a legitimate chance that Schofield opens the regular season as the starting right guard for the Chargers. Second-year draft pick Forrest Lamp is slowly recovering from an ACL injury that has kept him out of any meaningful playing time. A solid and capable backup at right tackle last season, Schofield may be relied on more than initially expected to protect Philip Rivers.
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This has a Spencer Pulley/Max Tuerk feel to it, in which case the surprise player landed the job over a drafted one simply because they were healthy. Not only did Pulley hold the job for the entire 2017 season, Tuerk never even saw the field. I believe the Chargers won’t cut Lamp, but will not be shocked if Schofield retains the job for over half the season especially if he is playing well.
Geno Smith and Cardale Jones
Despite backlash for the acquisition of Smith, there was a possibility that if he came out and looked polished in the preseason he could be traded for a draft pick. A low-cost pick-up for the Chargers that could net something positive.
However, Smith has begun to emerge as the favorite for the second-string job behind Rivers, leaving Jones as possible trade bait. Jones, however, would likely not command any kind of attention that would get the Chargers more than a seventh-round pick, which is what they initially gave up for him a year ago.
There are three ways the preseason could go for the Chargers backup quarterbacks:
- Smith plays well, Jones doesn’t, Jones is cut
- Jones plays well, Smith doesn’t, Smith is cut
- Both play well, one is traded
- Both are awful, fans resort to praying for the health of Rivers
The Bolts would prefer the third option. Keep a careful watch on these two guys this Saturday.
Jatavis Brown
Remember when Brown had 14 total tackles, one sack, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit, and a key forced fumble to seal the win against the Denver Broncos on Thursday night football? That’s the Jatavis Brown fans may get a chance to see again in 2018.
Reports are that Brown dealt with a leg injury throughout last season, a possible explanation for not only his decreased playing time but also his lowered playing ability. Something wasn’t right.
Now, the Bolts drafted a rookie in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft (more on him later) and it’s got Brown not only eating better but playing better. If the Chargers can get the same player from 2017 that was a legitimate Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, this defense is going to skyrocket.
The rookies
Derwin James is the no-brainer highlight to watch this Saturday, as any exciting and talented first-round selection should be. Despite limited practice time, the Chargers safety should be occupying multiple roles on different plays. His movement across the defense will be exciting to watch.
Uchenna Nwosu and Kyzir White are going to have substantial roles throughout the preseason and are expected to rotate with the starters at their respective positions all year. Nwosu has shined in camp so far and should have a meaty role carved out for him against the Cardinals. He may have a role similar to the last second-round selection at defensive end for the Chargers, Jeremiah Attaochu, who went on to have just one combined tackle in his first game. Look for Nwosu to be featured on second and third down.
White has also been a star in training camp and is built to look the part. Something about a big, physical linebacker patrolling the box sounds fun to watch. His athleticism is there, and if he can show a solid understanding of playing defense then I can imagine more snaps for him against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. The competition between him and Jatavis Brown should be exciting.
Scott Quessenberry is currently the team’s backup at left guard behind Dan Feeney and should get meaningful snaps as well. In fact, the entire second string unit could feature every healthy 2018 NFL Draft selection for the Chargers.
Rookies Justin Jones, Dylan Cantrell, and Justin Jackson do not appear to be ready to play this Saturday for varying degrees of injury.
Additional storylines to follow:
- K Caleb Sturgis vs K Robert Aguayo (and hoping it’s not a mess).
- Tight end usage and rotations (and health).
- RB3 behind Austin Ekeler. Chargers have a history of finding UDFA additions here.
- CB4 after Casey Hayward, Trevor Williams, and Desmond King. Someone needs to step up.
Chargers fans, we made it. Here comes the NFL season, and the Bolts are back in business. Here’s to an exceptional 2018.