Surge or Static: Cheap Mike Williams Jersey , rookie defenders flourish It seemed like every other time Austin Ekeler touched the ball last year, there was a thought that popped into my mind. I didn’t give this thought much acknowledgement as it seemed to get crazier the longer it lingered. But it kept coming back.When the former UDFA out of Western State took the first carry of his career 35 yards to the house against the Eagles, that was the spark.When he started catching passes down the field on wheel routes and tip-toeing sidelines for touchdowns against the Jaguars, the flames were fanned.These uncomfortable feelings persisted throughout the rest of the 2017 season and are still here at this very moment. For those that are confused, here is the question I’ve been wrangling with for the entire offseason: Is Melvin Gordon really the best running back on the team?(Gasp!)I know, I know. It’s pretty crazy to try and fathom such a thing, but it isn’t that much of a stretch from reality. When Ekeler is in the game, he becomes a real spark-plug for the offense. He hits his holes with eye-popping quickness, sticking his foot in the ground at a moment’s notice to get north and south.In the latest tilt against the Saints, Ekeler was his usual efficient-self. He maximized his limited attempts on the ground while becoming a reliable dump-off target for Rivers. That’s the type of back we want in the game, no matter if it’s Ekeler, Gordon, or even rising UDFA Detrez Newsome.And if you haven’t guessed already yet...SurgingRB Austin EkelerEkeler touched the ball seven times on the opening drive, alone. He started the night by breaking off a 21-yard run up the left sideline. His next run went for another 12 yards as he followed FB Derek Watt off left tackle, showing some patience as his blockers set up a nice lane. His next two runs went for six and nine yards, respectively. If you blinked, you may have wondered how the Chargers got into the Saints’ red zone so quickly.On the night, Ekeler collected just nine touches Cheap Kyzir White Jersey , three of those being catches, but turned those into 63 total yards and averaged a stellar 7.0 yards per touch.With TE Hunter Henry out for the season, I instantly started pounding the table for OC Ken Whisenhunt and the offense to start using more two-RB, three-WR sets to maximize the amount of playmakers on the field. Can you imagine a package with Gordon, Ekeler, Keenan Allen, Tyrell, and Mike Williams all on the field at the same time? Come on, son.LB Kyzir White/S Derwin JamesI couldn’t decide between White and James because, quite frankly, they’ve both been phenomenal this preseason. To no one’s surprise, they’ve both played their way into a starting spot with this defense. Earlier today, head coach Anthony Lynn finally confirmed that James will start week 1, allowing fans to breathe a long sigh of relief.White, on the other hand, may not “start” according to their base defense package but he will most definitely have a role as the nickel/dime linebacker. Due to the mass volume of plays they spend in these packages, White should be considered a starter with the rest of the defense in the same vein that CB Desmond King is essentially a starter as the team’s slot corner.I couldn’t be more excited about these two players as they add a level of versatility that allows this defense to be extremely multiple without needing to sub a number of players every time they get a new look from the offense. One aspect in particular that I am stoked about is just how well these two match-up with opposing play-makers, specifically the rash of dual-threat running backs across the league. Staying StaticNT Brandon MebaneMebane just ain’t for the middle of this defensive interior. Once a free agent signing that got fans excited for a run-stuffing presence next to DT Corey Liuget http://www.chargerscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-virgil-green-jersey , the former-member of those historic Seattle Seahawk defenses is, and has been, on the wrong side of 30 years old for some time now.In this preseason alone, Mebane has been constantly moved around against his will. Yes he is tasked with taking on double-teams but it is fairly evident he no longer has the strength in his lower haunches to buckle down against interior offensive linemen. What makes matters worse is the supposed depth behind Mebane at the 1-technique. DT Justin Jones was drafted in the third round of the 2018 draft to possibly be the heir-apparent but even he doesn’t quite fit the bill for what the team needs. At 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, he is the next biggest body that the team has other than DT Bijohn Jackson, a UDFA out of Arkansas who tips the scales at 339 pounds. Unfortunately, Jackson has been close to non-existent this preseason. The only other listed “nose tackle” on the roster is Damion Square who finds himself closer to 290 than 300-310.LB Jatavis BrownI mentioned some of these views in my “Thoughts” piece following Saturday’s game, but they warrant another go-round due to my frustration about the subject.Brown was a flashy player during his rookie year. Splash plays were the theme of his game and they always came when the team needed one the most. It was obviously hard not to get excited about him and his future, until last year, that is.In his sophomore campaign, Brown suffered a slump that stemmed from a combination of a nagging foot-injury and the new playbook from Gus Bradley that had the defense change from a 3-4 to a 4-3 front. After the 2017 season came to an end, most just chalked up the decline in play as a loss and chose to look forward to 2018 where Brown would be able to heal up, get a handle on the playbook, and get back to his old self.Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the case up to this point.Brown got most of his run in Saturday’s game with the backups and third-stringers. You would expect Brown to look pretty good as he cleans up against lesser competition. This also wasn’t the case. During the last third of the game, Brown missed a handful of tackles and was visibly outplayed by the likes of Hayes Pullard, who quietly went from one of the worst graded players by PFF to the Chargers’ #1 rated defensive player this preseason. Although Philip Rivers has only faced the Seattle Seahawks three times in games that count, he knows nearly everything about their defense because of Gus Bradley.Rivers used that know-how to get the Los Angeles Chargers off to a strong start in their first victory of the preseason.Melvin Gordon rushed for a short touchdown to cap a strong 70-yard opening drive by the Bolts' first-teamers http://www.chargerscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-russell-okung-jersey , and Rivers went 6 of 7 for 62 yards in Los Angeles' 24-14 preseason victory over the Seahawks on Saturday night.Rivers played only two series in his first action of the preseason, but he had six consecutive completions. He also made a few plays by capably eluding the Seattle rush and connecting with strong throws on the run.None of it surprised Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Bradley, the Chargers' defensive coordinator, ran Carroll's defense in Seattle for four years, and Los Angeles' scheme is awfully similar."Philip had us a couple of times," Carroll said. "He knew what he was going against, and he did a great job. He plays against our defense every day (in practice)."Russell Wilson was 13 of 21 for 193 yards while playing the entire first half for the Seahawks (0-2). His offense was limited to two field goals by execution mistakes in the red zone, and Wilson was repeatedly flushed from the pocket by Melvin Ingram while the Chargers' destructive pass rusher had an outstanding first half.David Moore made the Seahawks' biggest play of the first half, hauling in a 52-yard catch between two Chargers downfield. Seattle could have kept it closer, but Chris Carson had a touchdown run waved off by a penalty and later fumbled at the goal line in the first half."In the red zone in particular, we've got to stay on schedule," Wilson said. "That's the lesson we learned from tonight, but the great thing was really the score should have been 21-7 pretty early. First three drives, we get three touchdown opportunities, and that's what we look for. We go to the truth of what we did and where we can get better."JJ Jones returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown late in the first half, and Mike Williams caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith in the second half of the Chargers' preseason home opener in their second season at compact StubHub Center. Coach Anthony Lynn was infuriated by 14 penalties, but otherwise pleased."Classic example of bend-but-don't-break defense," Lynn said. "They didn't let them in the end zone http://www.chargerscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-mike-pouncey-jersey , and that's the most important thing."Smith then made a strong argument for the Chargers' backup job, going 6 of 8 for 85 yards. His TD pass came on an eye-opening catch by Williams, who jumped over Seattle cornerback Akeem King and hauled in the first score of his NFL career for a 21-6 lead.Seahawks rookie Alex McGough led a solid drive in the final minutes, hitting Malik Turner with a 12-yard touchdown pass.Robert Aguayo hit a 39-yard field goal with 40 seconds left, boosting his bid to win the Chargers' kicking job.BIG MIKEWilliams was the seventh overall pick in last year's draft, but the Clemson product's career got off to a slow start because of injuries. He is healthy and eager to become a force in the Chargers' already bulging receiving corps alongside Pro Bowler Keenan Allen, Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams."It's good to see Mike take the drill to the field," Lynn said. "He's playing with a lot of confidence right now."KICKING INJones made another argument for a spot on the regular-season roster with a spectacular burst through the heart of the Seahawks' punt coverage team on the way to a score. The undrafted free agent from West Georgia has turned heads throughout camp."That was a backbreaker, and the difference in the game," Carroll said.INJURIESSeahawks: RG D.J. Fluker dislocated his finger, but Carroll doesn't think it's serious: "He's an offensive lineman. I think he can handle that."Chargers: S Jaylen Watkins started, but was helped off the field late in the first half with a right knee injury. Ingram fell on his teammate on the play, and Watkins couldn't put weight on his leg. He will have an MRI exam Sunday, Lynn said.ANTHEM UPDATEChargers left tackle Russell Okung raised his right fist during the national anthem. Three Seahawks stayed off the field during the anthem for the second consecutive week: offensive tackle Duane Brown, defensive end Branden Jackson and defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson.UP NEXTSeahawks: At the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 24.Chargers: Host the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 25.