Game overview:
Seattle won this 16-3 in regulation. They could’ve played 4 or 8 more quarters and the Chargers were not going to score a TD here. Not because of the Seattle defense, but because of a putrid 2nd+ team offense...from the QB issues to the terrible RBs to the ‘nothing’ WRs, this was bad...a bad collection of secondary+ talent on the Chargers.
Seattle was not really impressive either...they won because they were less worse than LAC.
The Chargers actually played really good defense in this game, but they had no support from their offense. If Justin Herbert misses any time due to his Plantar Fasciitis, LAC is screwed...and their schedule is begging them to start 2-0/3-0, but if Herbert is out...it’s 1-2/0-3 time.
Scouting Notes from the game:
-- Seahawks RB report...
When I saw Zach Charbonnet (2-6-0, 0-0-0/1) starting this game with the B-team...any minor provisions I had for some hope he’d fight Kenneth Walker (DNP by decision) for some split of touches...it’s now gone. It’s time for me to slash and burn Charbonnet’s projections...he’s just another ‘cuff RB. And it’s time to raise Walker’s numbers again.
On top of being the B-team starter, Charbonnet looked defeated. He gave the poorest/meekest effort I’ve ever seen from him. He looks like he knows his fate with the new regime. More reason I have to change his 2024 outlook even worse than I did the past 2 weeks.
Kenny McIntosh (8-40-0, 2-1-0/2) is getting more enthusiasm and good words from training camp, and he ran like he knew he had life with the new regime in this game. Solid showing by the likely #3 RB for Seattle.
Rookie UDFA George Holani (6-24-1, 2-6-0/2) looked OK...not as glowing as some camp reports made it seem. He’s the #4 RB...or practice squad candidate.
-- Chargers RB report...
Wow...not good.
Jaret Patterson (7-38-0, 1-4-0/2) started here, and gave a decent performance but he’s just not a frontline RB to get excited about. He’s experienced and gritty...and, currently, the #3 RB for this team.
Isaiah Spiller (5-5-0, 3-18-0/3) came in next...and...it was...not...good. Put a fork in this thing. He should just go to the UFL or into car sales now.
Elijah Dotson (3-7-0, 2-11-0/3) was the 3rd back in the game for LAC and looked OK. I liked him a lot last preseason, as a deep sleeper...but he looked very average to me here.
Kimani Vidal’s (DNP) FF value is leaking like the Titanic. At this rate, this dude isn’t even making the team. Although, he has a shot because of the weak competition.
-- Seahawks QB report...
Sam Howell (16-27 for 130 yards, 1 TD/0 INT) was ‘Sam Howell’...flashes of goodness with his strong arm...flashes of trouble with erratic throws trusting his arm too much...good pocket escape-ability.
P.J. Walker (4-10 for 61, 0 TD/0 INT) is arguably as good or better than Howell, but in a different style. Howell will be the #2, however.
-- Chargers QB report...
This was one of the bright spots for me, in the midst of a lot of bad news, weak performances in this game: Max Duggan (4-7 for 41 yards, 0 TD/0 INT, 2-15-0) is coming around...he looked pretty decent here. I feel better that I was not totally crazy, because I thought Duggan had something coming out of TCU (I rated him/scouted him higher than Bryce Young for the NFL Draft last season, which is as much a Bryce issue as anything)...but then Duggan was a total disaster last preseason, like really bad...like career over ‘bad’. But he was firing strikes on-and-off here...looking confident, playing pretty well. A glimmer of hope now.
Duggan certainly looked better than starter Easton Stick (5-13 for 31 yards, 0 TDs/1 INT, 1-12-0). The Chargers are screwed if Justin Herbert’s plantar fasciitis is worse than expected and he needs surgery (6 weeks of recovery/rehab then). They are hoping to fix non-surgically...we’ll know in a week or so if they were wrong about treating Herbert’s issue.
-- Seahawks WR report...
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2-13-0/2) was in with the backups for quite a while...sending us and him a message = the new regime is none too thrilled with him. They aren’t as tied to him as the regime that drafted him. JSN looks like, to me, that he has little interest in football or contact. This is moving towards ‘bust watch’ potential (the new Jerry Jeudy). Being anti-JSN last year was the right call, I’m thinking...and it’s holding up so far in 2024. He was everyone’s #1 WR in the mainstream last year among the rookies.
-- Chargers WR report...
Speaking of 2023 draft bust WRs, Quentin Johnson (0 targets) was in this game for a bit too...and when D.J. Chark (0-0-0/3) and Hayden Hurst (0-0-0/1) were starting then gone...QJ was still in. Another message to us -- that the new regime is not too thrilled with him – but on this one, the world already sees he was a bust from 2023. His career is on the verge of being over.
Rookie UDFA Jaylen Johnson (1-36-0/4) looks better than Quentin Johnston does, already. He’s got an outside chance to make this weak/thin WR roster.
LAC also just signed a watch list UDFA WR we liked, but then saw Atlanta cut...Isaiah Wooden from Southern Utah. He might get a chance at some work this week in their preseason game.
-- DST Report...
The single best thing I saw from this game: The Chargers, not Seahawks, defense. To be fair, Seattle wasn’t really playing any starters, but LAC had a few ‘1s’ playing early on.
The Chargers defense was flying around to the ball...3 sacks, 7 TFLs, 7 PDs. They looked WAY better than the offense did, an offense that gave them no support. This defense may turn around before the offense does...and this DST faces LV then CAR then PIT the first three games of the season...a potential nice DST to start the season with...IF there is a turn happening on defense.
-- IDP Report...
Seattle rookie DT Byron Murphy (1 tackle, 1 TFL) was impressive here as soon as he got in the game...then a little bit after I saw him laboring and winded and ineffective. Draft analysts and fans saw the cool moments...but I saw the long gaps of Murphy making an impact in games. Both can be true, but one of them is the ‘norm’.
Seattle rookie LB Tyrice Knight (4 tackles) was a letdown for me here. I was hoping to see this tackling machine in action, and I got a late reaction chaser not making plays/hits instead.
LAC LB Nick Niemann (12 tackles, 1 sacks, 2 QB hits) had a great stat line...but, honestly, I didn’t really notice him playing like this stat line. Did I miss it, or was it just a quiet accumulation? I need to go back and rewatch it, but I’ll do that later this week...it’s not a priority item. He’s not IDP viable right now.
