Lessons from Chargers loss in preseason opener against Cardinals

Chargers defense:

Standouts:

Drue Tranquill: Tom Telesco has an unbelievable ability to pick gems in the late rounds of the draft, and the rookie from Notre Dame has a chance to be the next one. He is seemingly everywhere on the field, both in coverage and in finding the ball carrier. Tranquill finished the game with the highest defensive grade on the Chargers, per Pro Football Focus. His highlight of the evening was an interception in the third quarter that showed off his fluidity in coverage. With Kyzir White and Denzel Perryman both healthy, and the addition of proven veteran Thomas Davis, Tranquill could be a huge boost for the linebacker depth which became nonexistent down the stretch last season.

Chris Peace: The undrafted rookie from University of Virginia showed his explosiveness and ability to apply pressure in the backfield. Peace seemed to be a menace for the Cardinals every play, looking unbelievably quick off the snap. Registering a sack in this one, Peace is someone fans need to keep an eye on as the preseason progresses. Can he be the team’s next Chris McCain?

Adarius Pickett: The defensive back led UCLA in total tackles last season, but did not garner much attention during the first wave of UDFA signings. Following an impressive workout with the team, however, Pickett was signed with the Chargers. On Thursday, the safety led all defensive backs in tackles and was consistently near the football. It remains to be seen how much impact he can have on a roster with multiple starters and second-string mainstays at both safety positions, but any guy with the last name Pickett deserves to be given a shot.