DevonteRoss

Sep 10

Under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, the Los Angeles Chargers have reason to be optimistic on the offensive side of the ball

again. After two years of stagnancy and unimaginativeness under Greg Roman, the offense not only has an innovative playcaller at its disposal, but it also has a full arsenal of weapons to implement that playcaller's vision. But all of this hinges on the bellcow capabilities of second-year running back Omarion Hampton. If he's able to get consistent, down-to-down gains in McDaniel's outside-zone run attack, the offense will have a baseline of forward momentum it can establish. Heading into his sophomore season, many of those projections remain the same—only under an entirely different scheme. The Miami Dolphins ran the ball at the tenth-highest rate in the NFL last season under McDaniel, and De'Von Achane (the Dolphins' primary back) finished the season with 238 rushing attempts and 1,350 yards across 16 games. … When you combine that with his pass-catching skill set—evidenced by his 73 receptions over his three seasons at North Carolina—Hampton has a chance to be one of the most productive backs in the league and the key cog for the Los Angeles offense this season.

Daniel Wade·Aug 14

Thompson’s first NFL action produced two catches on six targets for 30 yards, including a long reception of 16 yards. His most important moment came on a pass over the middle when Trey Lance left him exposed to a hard hit. Thompson, listed at roughly 160 to 165 pounds, absorbed the contact, got back up and continued playing, providing an early indication that he could handle the physical demands of working across the middle. He also made a contested catch on a Lance throw placed into a very small window. On another target, Lance delivered a pass that could have become a pick-six, but Thompson fought through the defender and made the interception more difficult. Most of his offensive snaps came on the outside rather than in the slot, giving him an opportunity to show that his role did not have to be limited by his size. Thompson also returned a punt for 12 yards, forcing three missed tackles and nearly breaking free after using his speed to get outside.