Backups in backfield keys to Super Bowl run
By Kenneth Miller, Publisher
The aspirations are high for both the Super Bowl Champion Rams and seemingly always underachieving Chargers, but with the regular season now in sight and one meaningless preseason game remaining there appears to be more questions than answers as to what unfolds ahead.
Let’s start with the Chargers which will finish their preparation on the road against the New Orleans Ain’ts, a team that has no illusions of grandeur post Drew Brees and free agent head coach Sean Payton.
We can bet that all word quarterback Justin Herbert will throw for more yards than a certified used Benz has miles and on paper the defense with papered up Derwin James, Jr., Asante Samuel Jr., Kenneth Murray Jr., Nasir Adderley, new acquisition Khalil Mack and anchor Joey Bosa acclimated to the new defensive schemes is one scary football team, regardless how hyped up the West is.
The concern is who will get the ball at running back behind Austin Ekeler, one of the most underrated players in the NFL?
Although schematically, the running game is not nearly as featured as it would be with other teams in the league with Herbert slinging the ball downfield to ultra-reliable Keenan Allen, the physical Mike Williams and the emerging Joshua Palmer, but a combined 67 yards from Isiah Spiller and former UCLA Bruin Joshua Kelly is discerning.
Besides that, the Chargers just have not been fundamentally sound in the preseason, giving up massive yards on special teams to the Cowboys, missing tackles after head coach Brandon Staley admitted the team had been practicing well during weeks leading up to the two dull preseason defeats games.
Staley in his second year has the weight of SoFi on his nimble shoulders this season, especially with Payton not on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, the champs are not saying this, but there is growing concern about quarterback Matthew Stafford.
He’s barley even visited SoFi and has only participated in limited drills since being discovering with an injury to his throwing elbow.
Head coach Sean McVay has offered such caution saying he hasn’t seen an injury like this on a quarterback, indicating that the injury is something picther in baseball has.
Bryce Perkins has been the darling of the preseason for two consecutive years, but this year even playing against back-ups and players who will ultimately be release his QBR has been off the charts, 256 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and a rating of 118.192.
John Wolford hasn’t thrown a touchdown chunking for 142 yards, no INTs and a pedestrian 82.01 rating.
Wolford does have some regular season experience, but does anyone think either of these dudes could lead the Rams to a significant playoff win?
The Rams final preseason tune-up will come at Cincy, in a rematch of the Super Bowl.
