Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers did what they needed to do to come out on top of the Chiefs in the season opener. Everyone played their hearts out, and that includes right guard Mekhi Becton who fought through an illness to make sure he gave his team everything he had.
Curious to see how the team’s snap shares played out? Let’s go ahead and check out the numbers.
Ladd McConkey and Will Dissly each led their respective position groups in snaps with 85 percent and 57 percent, respectively. Rookie running back Omarion Hampton was always going to get the lion’s share of the carries in this game led the entire backfield with a massive 80 percent. Expect that number to shrink each week as Najee Harris ramps up his conditioning following the eye injury he sustained in July.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith out-snapped fellow rookie receiver Tre’ Harris 14 snaps to 5. That’s a bit surprising, but that may have just been a personnel decision as opposed to who is ahead on the depth chart at this point.
Alohi Gilman, Derwin James, and Daiyan Henley did not come off the field against the Chiefs. Third safety Elijah Molden also still played 90 percent of the defense’s snaps, showing just how much the Chargers value those three being on the field at the same time.
Veteran Da’Shawn Hand led the defensive line room with57 percent of the snaps. Teair Tart was second with 43 percent. Rookie Jamaree Caldwell was third at 41 percent.
While fourth-round rookie Kyle Kennard was inactive, edge rusher Caleb Murphy played 23 percent of the snaps.
Based on his four snaps played on defense, free-agent signing Benjamin St-Juste is apparently the team’s CB5.
We have our first look at the team’s special teams aces. Linebackers Del’Shawn Phillips and Marlowe Wax, along with cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor, all led the team with 15 snaps on special teams. Kendall Williamson was close behind with 13.
