The Los Angeles Chargers have two excellent starting offensive tackles in Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. But their three other starting offensive line positions seemed to be up for grabs when training camp opened last month.
Last season, they had to get by with Bradley Bozeman starting at center, and he was very underwhelming. With his retirement has come an opportunity for a number of young players, including rookie Jake Slaughter.
Slaughter, a second-round pick in April’s NFL draft out of the University of Florida, has looked so solid this summer that he has earned the starting center spot, at least for now.
Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel sound impressed
Tyler Biadasz, whom the Chargers signed to a three-year, $30 million contract during the offseason, is out for the year after he suffered a knee injury during a joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers days ago. That led to head coach Jim Harbaugh declaring Slaughter as the team’s starter at that position.
Harbaugh made it clear that he’s impressed with certain aspects that Slaughter, as well as Travis Burke, another rookie center, have displayed.
“Talent, effort, and just very aware,” Harbaugh said, via Alex Insdorf. “The mind is sharp from presnap, snap, to the whistle. The way he understands the position is really good.”
“He, Travis Burke, those two young linemen-they have the talent, they have the makeup, and they have shown to have that to be game one starters as first year players.”
In addition, new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said that Slaughter is coming along well.
“I’m very excited for Jake and our team,” McDaniel said, via Insdorf.
“We’ve been very impressed. He’s very ahead of where your rookie interior lineman usually are.”
“I’m happy that we came into the season with some depth there.”
Slaughter’s run blocking has left something to be desired in L.A.’s first two preseason games this summer. Pro Football Focus gave him a 46.4 run-blocking grade for the Aug. 13 game versus the Houston Texans, and a 52 run-blocking grade for this past Thursday’s contest against the San Francisco 49ers.
But the publication gave him a 72.5 pass-blocking grade for Week 1 of the preseason and a 75.5 pass-blocking grade for last week’s game. In 60 snaps played through both games, he allowed a total of one quarterback pressure and one quarterback hurry.
It should be noted that against Houston, Slaughter played 36 of his 51 snaps at left guard and the remainder of them at center.
Bolts fans may feel a bit queasy about starting a rookie on the team’s offensive line, especially after the beating quarterback Justin Herbert has taken over the last few years. But another very solid performance this Thursday versus the Los Angeles Rams could truly sew up the starting center role for Slaughter.
