The NFL is back and so is our weekly Chargers preview story: “Who To Watch For.” This is where we identify three Bolts who are going to have an impact on that week’s game, staying away from the obvious guys like Philip Rivers and Eric Weddle who are going to have a giant say in what goes down EVERY week.
The Chargers open with the Detroit Lions at Qualcomm Stadium and that means the San Diego secondary is going to be tested. Like, a lot. Megatron is coming and he’s going to have a huge role in how the story on Sunday unfolds (unlike when Megatron shows up in Michael Bay films and there is no story to unfold).
So, let’s take a look at our first three players to watch for the 2015 season:
Melvin Ingram, OLB
We know the Lions are going to try and throw the ball. Calvin Johnson is going to the Hall of Fame, Golden Tate is an unrecognized star and Matthew Stafford has the ability to get them the ball at pretty much any spot on the field. Stafford’s arm strength and ability to extend plays with his feet make things tough on defensive backs that have to hold their coverage longer than usual. It will be of utmost importance to keep Stafford from having the time to find his pair of Pro Bowl wideouts. Ingram flashed a brand new spin move and better acceleration off the edge during the preseason. If he has become the real deal, the double digit sack pass rusher the Bolts were hoping they had when they took him in the first round in 2012, it will go a long way in helping Jason Verrett and Brandon Flowers as they run up against the best wide receiver tandem they’ll face all season.
Chris Watt, C
At this time last year Nick Hardwick was the Chargers starting center. How long ago does that feel? Since then Hardwick has retired and shed the equivalent of a 9th grader while Watt worked his way in to the starting center job. Chris has shown flashes of being really good and flashes of being overmatched. He just started learning the position a year ago so the future looks bright for him. However, that future had better not be distant. The Chargers need Watt to be the anchor of that line and his first test of 2015 comes in the form of five-time All-Pro tackle Haloti Ngata. The Lions added him from the Ravens when Ndamukong Suh left for Miami. Ngata is easily the best of Detroit’s defensive linemen. If Watt can neutralize him the Chargers offense will be in good shape. If Chris needs consistent help from a guard it will open up big problems for Rivers and company.
Josh Lambo, K
The undrafted rookie from Texas A&M won the job with his monster kickoffs and perfection on field goal tries in the preseason. His ability to drive the ball through the end zone will help the Chargers with starting field position and, possibly more important, keep them healthier. Kickoff returns are violent plays that take a toll on the human body. Avoiding as many of those as possible would mean the world to a team that’s lost so many players to injuries the last few seasons. It will help that the weather will be hot, which helps the ball fly a little farther. Lambo outfought Nick Novak, one of the most reliable and popular players on the team, to earn the job. Now he needs to prove the Bolts were right in keeping him.
Derek’s Prediction
If this game lives up to the expectations it’s going to be a heck of a way to start the year. We have two very different types of offenses but both of them are potent. The Chargers work to control the ball and the clock, moving methodically and occasionally taking the big chunk plays. The Lions are always looking to hit the big one because they have the personnel to do it.
On defense the Chargers come in to the game at as close to full strength as they could hope to be. The Lions will likely not have their best defensive player, DeAndre Levy, who is fighting a hip injury. Levy is your classic sideline-to-sideline linebacker and nearly impossible to replace.
The Motor City Kitties will have their share of big plays. It’s impossible not to with Johnson on the field. But with Rivers directing the offense and finally getting solid, consistent production from the running back hydra of Melvin Gordon, Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver, Detroit won’t have enough firepower to get out of San Diego with a win.
Final score: Chargers 31, Lions 27
