The Los Angeles Chargers, more than anything else on Thursday night, needed to show some juice in the run game.
They averaged just 1.6 yards per carry outside of Lance's major scramble against the San Francisco 49ers, and given the way the Chargers' run game has looked over the past couple of seasons, they desperately needed a reason to be optimistic about what it could look like under Mike McDaniel.
Of course, things should look better in theory. The Chargers have running backs with the burst and athleticism to maximize their talents in McDaniel's outside-zone run scheme, and McDaniel is known for running his offense through the ground game. But the first two preseason matchups left much to be desired for Los Angeles.
Their matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, though, brought good tidings. They totaled 204 yards on the ground, and they got a monstrous performance out of UDFA running back Gregory Desrosiers.
The problem now comes in sorting out who will stay with the organization past the roster cuts deadline on Aug. 30.
The Chargers have some serious decisions to make when it comes to the RB room
From the outset of training camp, the three running backs who will ultimately make the Chargers' 53-man roster were already set in stone. Omarion Hampton is clearly the RB1, while Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal were set to duke it out for RB2/3. There was never a real chance for anyone outside of that trio to challenge unless there was an injury.
Sure, Vidal hasn't had the most impressive preseason, and there are still some major adjustments he'll need to make to find his footing in McDaniel's scheme. But he earned this opportunity with how he stepped in last season with the injuries that Los Angeles suffered, and he'll get plenty of time to figure things out during the regular season.
Of the remaining running backs on the 90-man roster—Amar Johnson, Desrosiers, and Jaret Patterson—it's likely that only two at most will be able to stick on the practice squad, though.
Johnson was the star of the matchup against the Houston Texans, posting two receptions for 68 yards and earning two touchdowns on the ground. He showed an explosiveness and an athleticism that are vital to McDaniel's scheme, and although he had somewhat limited showings in the other two preseason matchups, he seemed like a practice squad lock heading into the final game.
But Desrosiers certainly threw a bit of a wrench in things with his performance. He saw relatively significant touches against the Texans and the 49ers but produced limited results. Against the Rams, he posted 118 yards on nine carries, showcasing the skill set the Chargers knew he had when they brought him in as a UDFA this offseason. He might not have the same receiving upside as Johnson, but it's hard to deny his potential as a threat in the ground game.
Patterson might be the odd man out here, but it's important to note that he's spent the last two seasons with the organization. That continuity has to count for something, especially with Jim Harbaugh.
Perhaps one of these pieces is picked up on waivers, and that eliminates the problem entirely.
But if they don't, the Chargers have a wealth of depth at the position, and that's a luxury that not many teams have. Desrosiers' performance on Thursday night, at the very least, makes this storyline a whole lot more interesting.
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