Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Spotlighting five defensive players to keep an eye on for the Chargers when they take on the Rams.
The Chargers roster will begin to take shape this Saturday when preseason play kicks off against the Rams.
Here are five players on the defensive side of the ball to keep an eye on.
Sean McVay named six Rams DBs who won’t play in the preseason, indicating they will be starters and key contributors this year
Since Sean McVay took over as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, he’s started a trend of not playing his key starters in the preseason. Very simply, he doesn’t see the risk of injury being worth the minimal reward of giving experienced players snaps in meaningless exhibition games.
That will continue this offseason, beginning on Saturday when the Rams face the Chargers. McVay told reporters on Wednesday that six defensive backs won’t play at all in the preseason: Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill, Jordan Fuller, Taylor Rapp, Nick Scott and David Long Jr.
None of those names are particularly surprising, but it is an indication that all six will either be starters or key contributors in the secondary – including Long. He seems to have a leg up on Decobie Durant, Derion Kendrick and Robert Rochell for the No. 3 cornerback spot.
David Long, Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill, Jordan Fuller, Taylor Rapp & Nick Scott all won’t play in the preseason, Sean McVay says. Seems like a good indication Long is the Rams’ starting CB.
McVay says he’s eager to watch Robert Rochell, Derion Kendrick, Decobie Durant in preseason.
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) August 10, 2022
This could also be a matter of Long simply having enough experience to warrant sitting out the preseason. Durant and Kendrick are rookies, and Rochell missed about half of his rookie year due to injury. So Long is the most experienced of the four.
Scott and Rapp are likely to keep battling for the starting safety spot alongside Fuller, but regardless of who wins that title, they both should get plenty of opportunities in nickel and dime sets this season.
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Highlighting the Chargers players who helped and hurt their stocks in the preseason opener.
The Chargers kicked off their 2021 preseason slate with a 13-6 victory over the Rams on Saturday night.
In games like this, the scoreboard is irrelevant and it’s the individual performances that matter the most.
Here are the best and worst outings that I saw:
Highlighting what stood out from the Chargers’ preseason victory over the Rams.
The Chargers kicked off the 2021 preseason with a win over the Rams in the first game that fans were allowed in SoFi Stadium by the score of 13-6.
With that being said, here are six of my biggest takeaways from the contest.
The Los Angeles Chargers will play their first preseason game. Here are 3 things to watch in the matchup against the Rams.
The Chargers are set to take on the Rams at SoFi Stadium in the first preseason matchup on Saturday night in preparation for the regular season next month.
While some of the team’s starters won’t see the field at all or for a small duration, there are still some compelling storylines to monitor throughout the game.
With that being said, here are three things to watch for in Los Angeles’ preseason opener:
Even though all of the team’s key players won’t be on the field, that doesn’t mean we won’t be able to see what head coach Brandon Staley and coordinators Joe Lombardi and Renaldo Hill are bringing to the table.
Going from Gus Bradley’s 4-3, Cover-3 defense to Staley’s multiple system, the Chargers will boast a scheme that’s more versatile and is consistently moving players around at all three levels to keep offenses guessing.
On offense, Lombardi’s philosophy is creating mismatches with various personnel packages. The plan is to incorporate the concepts he picked while with the Saints via the passing game and implement a zone run game, similar to 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan’s.
It will be quite the sight to watch it all unfold.
Headlining the group are tackle Rashawn Slater, cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. and wide receiver Josh Palmer, but there are others worth monitoring tonight.
Tight end Tre’ McKitty was drafted to serve as a blocker, but can he make an impact in the passing game?
Lack of size was an issue for edge defender Chris Rumph II, but can he mask that with pure athleticism and high effort?
After playing tackle his entire college career, how does Brenden Jaimes look at guard?
Larry Rountree is at the bottom of the running back depth chart, but can he do enough on the ground, as a receiver, a blocker and on special teams to make a push to be over Joshua Kelley?
Undrafted free agents worth watching for are linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga and kicker Alex Kessman.
The Chargers finished as the worst special teams department last season and they did everything to avoid replicating that by hiring Derius Swinton II and bringing in a few players to hopefully aide in it.
The kicker position is the most notable as there’s a three-way battle between Michael Badgley, Tristan Vizcaino and Kessman. Vizcaino currently has a slight leg up based on his performances in camp, but it’s anyone’s job to win in these games.
On the other hand, the coverage units are just as crucial. Not only will a fortified group go a long way, but who’s playing with which team and how they’re playing will tell us who has the edge to not only make the 53-man roster, but possibly head into the season as a starting special teamer.
Highlighting three Chargers defenders to keep an eye on in the preseason opener against the Rams.
Even though we likely won’t see much of the starters for the Chargers in the preseason opener against the Rams, there will still be enough to keep your eyes on Saturday night.
With that being said, here are three players on the defensive side of the ball to watch for when the two Los Angeles teams clash in SoFi Stadium, eager to make statements for themselves.
Entering the final year of his contract, Jones is equipped to have his best season to date. Based on glimpses at practices, Jones has not only shown the ability to hold his own against the run but the movement skills and baseline pass rush moves to disrupt the backfield.
With head coach Brandon Staley utilizing multiple alignments, schemed twists/stunts, pressure packages and 1-on-1 matchups up front coupled with his skillset, it’ll be enticing to see the dominant force that Jones is capable of truly being.
I’ve been tabbing White as one of the most underrated players on the team for years and after being overshadowed by others at the position, he is ready to make his mark in his fourth season.
White, who’s been lights out in camp, will be able to showcase his strength as a multi-dimensional defender in this system, with his ability to cover tight ends and play the run at a high level.
The Bolts drafted Samuel Jr. to strengthen the secondary and up to this point, it appears the selection was well worth it, as he has been impressive in coverage, even against wide receiver Keenan Allen.
Samuel Jr. has been lining up near the boundary and in the slot, which is what I’m expecting to be the case tonight. Seeing how he performs in both alignments and various coverages is something to watch for.
Find out how to tune in to watch the Chargers take on the Rams in the preseason opener.
The Chargers are set to begin their three-game preseason slate.
Today, they kick it off in a bout against the Rams at SoFi Stadium, the home of both teams.
Here is everything you need to know so you can tune in:
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Saturday, Aug. 14 — 7:00 p.m. PT
SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, CA
The game will be nationally televised on NFL Network and on KCBS-TV in Los Angeles and Orange County. Andrew Siciliano, Aqib Talib, Mina Kimes have the call on NFL Network while Spero Dedes, LaDainian Tomlinson, Dan Fouts will be on CBS.
ALT FM-98.7 (English broadcast)
FM 105.5/94.3 (Spanish broadcast)
NFL Game Pass
Identifying three Chargers players on the offensive side of the ball to keep an eye on when they take on the Rams.
Even though we likely won’t see much of the starters for the Chargers in the preseason opener against the Rams, there will still be enough to keep your eyes on Saturday night.
With that being said, here are three players on the offensive side of the ball to watch for when the two Los Angeles teams clash in SoFi Stadium, eager to make statements.
The Chargers struck gold with quarterback Justin Herbert and now they must protect him at all costs to keep his longevity. Up to this point at training camp, Slater has lived up to his first round billing, holding his own against the elite edge defender, Joey Bosa.
Confirmed by head coach Brandon Staley that he will play in the opener, Slater will have the opportunity to showcase to the nation why he’s generated a great amount of buzz and a glimpse of a potential Pro Bowl tackle, even if it’s against second and third-team pass rushers.
The battle in the backfield is one of the most compelling storylines heading into the three-game preseason slate. With Austin Ekeler not set to play at all and Justin Jackson likely to be on limited snaps, there will be an audition for the backup spot behind them between Kelley and rookie Larry Rountree.
After an underwhelming rookie season, Kelley has shown signs of improvement in camp, especially in the passing game. There’s no denying his potential, but Kelley must put it all together and display more confidence as a runner and that he can be an asset on special teams.
Palmer, the team’s third round pick, has been one of the better wideouts at camp, showing the ability to consistently get open at all three levels of the field even against the top corners and catching everything thrown his way.
Looking to establish himself as a reliable rookie, Palmer will have plenty of opportunities on the field to show his polished skill set and impressive size could make him a dangerous complementary target, even in a deep receiver room.
Fans will get their first good look at Tutu Atwell on Saturday night against the Chargers.
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Fans have been anxiously awaiting the chance to see exactly what the Rams got in rookie receiver Tutu Atwell, who they selected in the second round of the draft this year. He missed the start of camp due to COVID-19 but returned in time for the team’s joint practice against the Cowboys.
He’ll be on the field Saturday night against the Chargers in the Rams’ preseason opener, though, which will be the first real look at the rookie speedster for fans and coaches. He’ll not only get opportunities on offense, but he’ll also get the chance to return some punts.
Sean McVay told reporters Thursday what he’s looking to see from Atwell against the Chargers.
“Just continued growth. Just understanding what’s being asked of him from the receiver position within the framework of whether it’s the run game, the pass game,” he said. “He’s doing a good job. I like the progression. (WRs coach) Eric Yarber always does a great job with those receivers. If he gets the ball in his hands, want to see him be able to make some plays and then he’ll get an opportunity to catch some punts as well.”
Atwell seems to be among the favorites to start the season as the Rams’ punt returner, but he’ll face some competition from others such as Landen Akers, Jeremiah Haydel and possibly Otis Anderson.
We don’t have much clarity on how that battle is going, but Saturday’s preseason opener will tell us a lot about the pecking order.
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Only one team is a bigger underdog in the first week of the preseason than the Rams.
Preseason games don’t mean anything when it comes to teams’ regular-season records, but they matter to those who bet on the contests. As difficult as these exhibition games are to predict, especially when starters play so few snaps, there’s a lot of money wagered on the preseason.
For the Rams, they open as underdogs against their roommates, the Los Angeles Chargers. The two L.A. teams will square off on Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium and the Chargers are 3.5-point favorites over the Rams.
Believe it or not, but that’s the second-biggest spread of any preseason game in the first week. Only the Bengals (+5.5) are bigger underdogs. Here are the betting lines for Rams-Chargers this weekend, via Tipico.
Part of the reason for the Rams being 3.5-point underdogs is the fact that none of their top starters will play. Matthew Stafford, Darrell Henderson Jr., Andrew Whitworth, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and their other key players will all sit throughout the preseason, which obviously makes it difficult for the Rams to win these games against teams that are playing their starters for a quarter or two.
Not to mention, backup quarterback John Wolford is week-to-week after having an appendectomy, so it’ll be the Rams’ third- and fourth-string quarterbacks, Bryce Perkins and Devlin Hodges, leading the offense against the Chargers.
