https://chargerswire.usatoday.com/lists/studs-and-duds-from-chargers-34-17-win-over-rams/

Alex Insdorf
August 12, 2023 10:51 pm PT

Stud: WR Derius Davis

Welcome to the NFL, Derius Davis. The key moment of his night was when
he went 81 yards for a punt return in the blink of an eye.

The quickness of Davis’ two cuts turning into a house call was a sight
to see. College football’s fastest player once again was able to hit
over 21 MPH on the run in tracking.

Davis left many of those questioning his fourth-round draft selection in
the dust, along with the Rams’ special teams. He also had two catches
for 21 yards.

Dud: S JT Woods

It wasn’t an all-around bad performance from Woods. He tackled well for
the most part with OK coverage. But unfortunately for him, his
unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Rams wide receiver Ben Skowronek
allowed the Rams to score a touchdown on a drive that otherwise would’ve
been stopped near the goal line.

Rams WR Puka Nacua cashed in on a touchdown pass from Stetson Bennett a
few plays later. Woods will want that back as he watches the tape later
this week.

Stud: RB Elijah Dotson

I can’t say I had six carries, 92 yards, and two touchdowns on my
preseason bingo card for Dotson entering the game tonight. Dotson turned
on the jets with two 35+ yard scampers for scores.

As a 4.55 40-time player, Dotson should’ve never been considered slow.
But that speed as he turned the corner both times jumped off the screen
more significantly than many thought it could. Making the active roster
is probably a stretch for Dotson, but a practice squad spot should at
least be in play after tonight.

Dud: CB Ja'Sir Taylor

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Taylor tonight. Asante
Samuel Jr. did not play in any capacity, which should tip people off
where the coaching staff is leaning in that competition.

On a Rams’ first-half drive that ended in a touchdown, Taylor had an
illegal contact penalty, a dropped interception that should’ve been a
Pick 6, and was near Nacua during his touchdown. It’s hard to imagine a
much worse sequence of events that could’ve happened for him tonight.

Stud(s): Tuli Tuipulotu, Chris Rumph and the entire EDGE room

Chris Rumph had a sack and several pressures. Rookie Tuli Tuipulotu had
a number of visible pressures as he was wreaking havoc on defense. But
the depth of the EDGE room in pass rush struck me. Andrew Farmer had a
big sack, while Brevin Allen had a good QB hit. Head coach Brandon
Staley went out of his way to praise the depth of the edge defender room
in their performance on Saturday.

Dud: OT Foster Sarell

This should’ve been a quality start for Sarell, especially after all of
the offseason hype and promise of improvement after his work with Duke
Manyweather. If I’m being honest, it felt a lot like the same player we
saw previously.

Sarell got beat badly on a Max Duggan sack by Daniel Hardy. Earlier in
the game, he allowed what would’ve been a sack on Easton Stick that got
called back due to a face mask penalty. The slow reactions and jumps off
the line didn’t look much different from last season.

Stud: QB Easton Stick

Stick has come a long way as a preseason player in his five years with
the Chargers. He looked poised tonight as he entered this game as the
undisputed QB2 for the first time in his tenure with the team. Stick
finished 14-21 with 109 passing yards and a touchdown.

More important than the actual numbers was his leadership. Despite
Quentin Johnston dropping some passes earlier, he returned to him on the
touchdown to settle the rookie down. He led a terrific two-minute drill
at the end of the first half, and several sustained offensive drives.

This was Stick’s best preseason performance as a Charger I’ve ever seen.