Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh is officially back in the NFL, even if it was just a preseason game.
"It felt good to be back in the saddle," Harbaugh said.
The Bolts opened preseason play with a 16-3 loss to the Seahawks on Saturday night at SoFi Stadium.
Here are five takeaways from the Chargers first preseason game:
1. Defense starts strong
The final stats will show the Bolts defense gave up 300-plus yards against Seattle, but keep in mind they were on the field for a whopping 79 total plays.
Overall, Harbaugh came away impressed against with Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter's side of the ball as the unit surrendered just 16 points, six of which came on a short field.
"I thought our defense played winning football," Harbaugh said.
He later added: "There was a lot of real good from my eye on the field. Did a lot of things right."
The highlight of the night was perhaps a run stuff on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line when linebacker Shane Lee turned the Seahawks away at the goal line.
"I thought Shane Lee made a heck of a play on the goal line," Harbaugh said.
He later added: "Incredible goal-line stand."
And while the Bolts didn't register a takeaway, the defense notched a trio of sacks, tallied seven tackles for loss and had seven pass breakups.
Nick Niemann, Troy Dye and Thomas Harper had the sacks for the Bolts.
"It was good," Niemann said of the overall defensive effort. "Kind of our first chance to go out there and put our brand on tape and show everyone who we are. We're all new here, so people are going to look at us and wonder what we're about.
"So just try to go out there and play hard and do the stuff that we talk about, communicate, play physical, tackle, do all that type of stuff," Niemann added. "A lot of ups and downs, a lot of stuff to learn from but there was good stuff to take away, too. Just trying to do that every week."
Tuli Tuipulotu added a pressure while rookie Tre'Mon Morris-Brash nearly forced a fumble when he hit the quarterback's arm to force an incompletion.
"I think we did solid," Tuipulotu said. "We just got to tune a little couple of things. I think we're right there, we'll get it fixed for next week."
Browse through live action photos of the Bolts Preseason Week 1 matchup against the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.
2. Miscues on offense
Offensively, nobody came away happy with how the unit performed against Seattle, especially in the first half.
The Chargers managed just 15 yards on their first 13 plays of the game. At halftime, the team had 71 yards on 25 total plays. Overall, the unit finished with 198 total yards of offense.
"The offense struggled. Took us until our seventh drive to get a first down," Harbaugh said. "There's work to be done. A lot of work to be done.
"Now we've begun, which is positive. We have place to start," Harbaugh added. "Offensively, there were some good things but not near enough. Back to work on Monday."
Easton Stick got the start for the Chargers at quarterback, completing five of 13 passes for 31 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.
"Frustrating, obviously," Stick said. "A bunch of three-and-outs and the turnover. Frustrating."
Max Duggan played the third quarter before Luis Perez, who was signed on Tuesday, came in for the final stanza.
Harbaugh was quick to point out that the offensive woes were in both the run and the pass game, and that the overall timing was off in both facets.
Harbaugh also said the struggles were "widespread" and "offensive-wide," meaning he didn't put it all on the shoulders of the quarterbacks.
"It's 11 guys," Harbaugh said.
Stick concurred, saying the struggles were "a little bit of everything."
The Bolts rushed for 77 yards on 18 attempts. Take away scrambles from Stick and Duggan that totaled 27 yards, however, and Chargers running backs tallied 50 yards on 15 carries.
Browse through the top pregame photos of the Bolts prepping to take on the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium
3. Looking at the QBs
Harbaugh said Thursday that the team brought in Perez in order to challenge Duggan and Casey Bauman for reps behind Stick.
Justin Herbert, of course, remains in a walking boot after being diagnosed with a plantar fascia injury in his right foot.
Harbaugh was asked Saturday if the team felt comfortable with the quarterbacks on the roster behind Herbert.
"I don't think we're in a position to be comfortable," Harbaugh said. "We just have to attack it. Attack the improvement, there's a lot there to be had."
He said "anything is possible" when asked if the Bolts could bring in more arms at the position.
Harbaugh also noted that upcoming practice reps will decide which quarterback starts Saturday against the Rams.
"To be determined," Harbaugh said. "We're going to look at and evaluate all positions this week, why wouldn't we?
"I'm not naming a backup Week 2 starter at quarterback right now," Harbaugh added. "I'll let this week's practice reps determine that."
Perez led the Chargers with 61 passing yards including a long of 36 to rookie Jaylen Johnson.
"I felt pretty good," Perez said. "Obviously still learning and trying to master the plays and get the timing right and all of that.
"That will just come with time," Perez said. "Hopefully now that we got through this game, I have more time for next week."
4. Shining on special teams
Chargers Special Teams Coordinator Ryan Ficken has turned the Bolts into an elite unit in that phase.
The group got off to a strong start Saturday with splash plays in multiple areas.
Cameron Dicker drilled a 58-yard field goal, which would have been a career long in a regular-season game.
"It's the same as every kick," Dicker said. "You try to make them all. Haven't put any emphasis on those or anything. It's all opportunity and trying to take advantage."
The punt coverage unit also excelled as the Bolts only allowed 11 return yards on eight punts from JK Scott.
Scott's hangtime didn't allow the Seahawks to return five of his punts, while one Seattle did return went for a minus-2 yard loss.
Overall, Harbaugh said the unit played "winning football" on special teams.
5. The new kickoff format
Saturday was the Bolts first look at the altered kickoff format in live game action.
And the game started with a bang with Jaelen Gill breaking a 43-yard return to the Seattle 45-yard line.
The Chargers later smothered a Seattle kickoff return for only 14 yards.
Harbaugh used the term "interesting" multiple times to describe the play, which is sure to be in focus this season.
"We popped that first one. We covered one really well," Harbaugh said. "It's interesting. I thought our guys were schemed up well and thought they played the play with the intensity that play deserves."
The Seahawks also had a kickoff fall short of the landing zone that begins at the 20-yard line as the Bolts took over at their own 40.
"A lot of things happened," Harbaugh said.
Dicker concurred with his coach's assessment.
"New kickoff is interesting. Everybody kind of figured that out today," Dicker said. "We'll see what we do next week."
