CBS Sports' Ian Eagle, Chargers radio analyst Daniel Jeremiah, The Athletic's Vinny Bonsignore and NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano joined Thursday's episode of Chargers Weekly to preview all angles of Sunday's cross-town matchup against the Rams.
Highlights from each interview are below.
Eagle on the Chargers' early season success on offense:
"I think they're more dangerous than they were last season, and they were already a prolific offense, certainly over the last nine weeks of last year. But their running game, which isn't traditional – the fact that they can do it with (Melvin) Gordon and (Austin) Ekeler with different looks. Those two guys are so dangerous coming out of the backfield. Right now, (Offensive Coordinator) Ken Whisenhunt has a lot of different options to go with, and (quarterback) Philip Rivers is pushing the right buttons."
Jeremiah on safety Derwin James' impact in Week 2:
"He can play everywhere and that's the challenge – is just finding where the best place to play him is; where he can be the most disruptive, and I've always believed when you put him in the box, he just wrecks a game plan down there. Playing high, he can read and react and make some plays on the ball, and he's an outstanding free safety, but to me he can destroy your game plan when you put him in the box."
Bonsignore on what the Rams are saying about the Chargers:
"The Chargers legitimately have gotten their attention, and rightfully so. This is a very good football team in the Chargers. I watched the Chiefs game. Even that Chiefs game, I don't think (it) was as bad as maybe the final score or certain scores along the way in that game indicated. There were some mistakes that the Chargers made, some dropped balls that really put them in some bad situations, but they were moving the ball in that game and Philip Rivers was playing good, and you can see the talent that they have offensively and really defensively as well. So, this is not something that the Rams are overlooking at all. They're excited about this matchup. Not necessarily the LA-LA thing, that's kind of cool for all of us to talk about. But from their perspective, it's a really good football team, and they know that they're going to have to bring it on Sunday, or else bad things can happen."
Siciliano on forcing turnovers against the Rams:
"The thing about the Chargers, though, is when they force the turnovers, they have to turn them into points. They have to. They can't settle for field goals if and when they force turnovers because the Rams are still going to score 30, one way or the other."
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