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5 Takeaways From Chargers' 29-22 Preseason Loss vs. Rams

What are the main takeaways we learned from the Chargers' preseason loss
to the Rams?

Nicholas Cothrel
2 hours ago

The Chargers kicked off their preseason slate by dropping their first
game to the Rams by the final score of 29-22.

Here are five takeaways from the preseason opener:

Joshua Kelley sits firmly in the mix for the RB2 role

The Chargers battle for the second running back spot is up for grabs
between Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller and Larry Rountree. Each player
has shown promising things in training camp, but come game action, it
provides a new layer of clarity for how things stack up.

Kelley, the team's third-year back, looks like a new rusher thanks in
part to his offseason training regimen. He took months this offseason to
get on a new workout and nutrition plan, assisting him with muscle
growth, and that became quite evident during Saturday night's contest.

Kelley received the start at running back, logging 28 yards from
scrimmage on the first offensive series. He also broke a tackle on third
and long to fight for the first down and keep the chains moving.

"I thought all the backs tonight competed hard. I thought they were on
their tracks," head coach Brandon Staley said after the game. "They were
trying to run with physicality. They were a factor in the passing game.
But Josh has done what he's done, you know throughout camp which is just
be really steady and strong."

Kelley finished the game with three carriers for 16 yards and three
receptions for 28 yards (44 all-purpose yards). He still has his work
cut out in order to enter Week 1 as the No. 2 running back, but Kelley
appears to be firmly in the mix to hold those duties – at least early on.

Chris Rumph's added strength this offseason was noticeable

Rumph too came into camp with a bigger frame, physically. The
second-year edge defender looks much more suited to get off his block
with the additional strength he now has at his disposal.

Rumph recorded four tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack in the
first half.

"I thought he flashed tonight," Staley said of Rumph. "He's one of the
guys I highlighted. I thought he played very well tonight. I felt him,
we all did. He was active in the run game and in the pass game, which is
what we really have been on him about and be a complete player. You
could definitely feel his confidence and his game right now."

Rumph also had another play in the first half where he came storming
into the backfield in what looked to be a sack developing before
ultimately coming up short. Nonetheless, he showed flashes of taking a
step forward in each facet of his game – rushing the passer and
defending the run.

Rumph figures to slot in as the team's third or fourth edge rusher,
backing up Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and in some instances Kyle Van Noy.

Quarterback play looked sharp

Chase Daniel got the start under center and played the entire first half
before Easton Stick came in for the final two quarters.

For two passers who don't see a whole lot of looks in game action, the
two signal-callers were very efficient. Collectively, they completed 27
of 40 passes for 236 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. Stick
also ran in a touchdown.

On the first series of the game, Daniel orchestrated a nine-play,
77-yard drive, as he hit a wide open Joe Reed for a 41-yard touchdown.

"That is exactly how we drew it up. I've been playing 14 years and I can
count 20 times in 14 years of games that a play has been drawn up
exactly for coverage and it works exactly how it should work," Daniel
said. "Very rarely does it, but for me, my read, I was just staring at
the corner. The corner took Bandy and Joe Reed just ran by the safety."

Michael Bandy and Joe Reed raise their play under the spotlight

Some players shrink under the bright lights and others elevate. Michael
Bandy and Joe Reed were the latter.

Reed hauled in four grabs for 61 yards and one touchdown. He also served
as the team's kick returner, averaging 20 yards per attempt across three
returns.

“Joe had some really big catches tonight. He had some possession
catches, he had the deep catch, and then he was on the kickoff returner.
We’re really going to try and take a long look at him on special teams
and see if he can carve a role for himself on offense," Staley said.
"He’s improved a lot as a player. He works extremely hard. Coming off
the injury last year, I think he’s had just a great mindset in terms of
coming back and really being the best version of himself."

Reed led the charge in the first half and it was Bandy's turn in the
second half. Bandy logged seven catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. He
consistently showed the knack of shaking defenders to create adequate
separation for Stick to hit him in stride.

“Michael Bandy is one of us. He’s having an outstanding camp. You can
see the way his teammates feel about him when good things happen,"
Staley said. "Our team expects him to play that way because he’s earned
that on the practice field."

Penalties and missed tackles were problematic

As the game went on, so did the volume of penalties and missed tackles.

The Chargers committed nine penalties for 120 yards. And it was missed
tackles galore. The most costly one of the night came when rookies Deane
Leonard and JT Woods had Rams pass-catcher Lance McCutcheon down the
sideline in coverage when Bryce Perkins fired a deep shot as Leonard
turned the wrong way and Woods came up empty on a tackle, prompting the
Rams to score a 60-yard touchdown.

It's worth noting that players aren’t tackling each other to the ground
during training camp practices, meaning that this was the first time
they've encountered full speed tackling in many months. However, it must
get cleaned up to run a more complete operation.

“It’s that modern day question that every coach has to go through, every
organization has to go through, because it’s a big part of the game,
getting guys on the ground," Staley said. "But, the way it is now, it’s
just a topic that is always going to be up for up for debate. But the
games give you that chance to get out there live and experience it.
Certainly, our guys felt that tonight, what it is like the truly finish
live. There is a difference. That’s why training camp, there’s a month
of it, month-plus of it, three games. You take a lot of pride in
teaching the best you can, but until they do it live to the ground, you
have to learn your lessons. We learned some tonight.”