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AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 2h ago
Chargers Offensive Line Looked Formidable in First Preseason Game
It’s only preseason, but the Los Angeles Chargers gave fans plenty of reasons to feel better about their offensive line after Thursday night’s 27-7 win over the Houston Texans.
The offensive line has been one of the biggest question marks surrounding this team entering the season, particularly at left guard. However, the group looked much more encouraging than it did for much of last season and several players competing for that left guard job made strong cases for themselves.
One of the biggest standouts was rookie Jake Slaughter. The second-round pick started the game at center before moving over to left guard, giving the Chargers a look at his versatility. Slaughter played seven of the Chargers’ 10 offensive series and looked comfortable in both spots.
That versatility could be extremely valuable for the Chargers. Tyler Biadasz appears firmly entrenched as the starting center, but having someone like Slaughter who can step in at multiple positions gives the team some much-needed depth along the interior.
The left guard competition is still wide open, though. Kayode Awosika, Branson Taylor, Trey Pipkins III, Trevor Penning and Slaughter are all among the players competing for the job. Awosika in particular had a strong night, earning the highest offensive PFF grade among Chargers players at 90.1.
Branson Taylor also received plenty of attention for his performance, showing why the Chargers have continued to give him opportunities in the competition. Meanwhile, Penning made his presence felt as well, including a strong block on Amar Johnson’s touchdown run.
Perhaps the most encouraging part is that the Chargers were able to run the football effectively despite not having their top offensive players on the field. Johnson finished with two rushing touchdowns and the offense consistently found ways to move the ball. The Chargers ultimately outgained Houston by 170 yards.
Obviously, nobody should be declaring the offensive line fixed after one preseason game. The Texans were also playing plenty of backups and the Chargers were not putting their entire offensive scheme on display. There is still a lot of football to be played before the regular season.
Still, it was hard not to like what the Chargers showed up front.
After dealing with significant injuries and inconsistency along the offensive line last season, simply seeing multiple players competing for a starting job play well is a positive development.
If the Chargers can get Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt healthy, have Biadasz stabilize the center position and find a reliable answer at left guard, this could end up being a much better offensive line than many expected.
It’s just one preseason game, but the first impression was certainly a good one.
The ChargersTexansWithIt’sLos Angeles ChargersHouston TexansHoweverOneJake SlaughterChargersSlaughterTyler Biadasz
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