By Omar Navarro, Chargers.com
Kimani Vidal
The Bolts wrapped up their second exhibition game Saturday night at SoFi Stadium.
Here are five players who stood out against the Rams:
RB Kimani Vidal
Chargers running back Kimani Vidal welcomed himself to the preseason right away Saturday night.
Vidal’s took his first carry of the game 13 yards, weaving and bursting his way through traffic to pick up a first down.
“Oh yeah, very fired up,” Vidal said postgame about his first run. “I was kind of itching, especially after not playing last week, just being able to see everything.
He added: “It was just good to be out there on the field and play.”
He followed it up the very next play with another impressive run of eight yards to keep the offense moving for the Bolts.
“It felt great. On one of the runs, I saw Zion [Johnson] got up on the second level and I saw the green grass,” Vidal said. “It was really good to see that.
“Even on the other run, being able to turn the corner and getting contact and being able to break tackles, it felt really good,” Vidal added.
Vidal finished the day with 11 rushes for 49 yards, three of them going for first downs. He also showed his pass catching ability as well by adding two catches.
It was the first time we got to see the rookie sixth-round pick in live action after not playing in the preseason opener last week.
Overall it was a solid first time out for the running back who continues to settle in to the NFL.
“His vision,” Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said about what stood out about Vidal. “He was running low, getting his pads down, showed some elusiveness, showed being able to move the pile.”
Vidal added: “It felt great. Just getting out there, getting my feet wet.”
DB Deane Leonard
The Chargers secondary was around the ball a lot through the air Saturday, finishing with seven passes defensed as a team.
Deane Leonard made arguably the biggest play among them.
After the Rams got inside the five-yard line following a pass completed with Leonard in coverage, he rebounded in the biggest way possible on back-to-back plays.
Leonard first played great coverage on a goal-line fade attempt on second-and goal to force an incompletion.
And on fourth down at the 1-yard line, the defensive back played his zone to perfection, jumping underneath the pass near the back corner of the end zone to come down with a pick.
“Staying resilient, having short memory as a corner,” Leonard said about his interception. “I was reading my keys, saw it, jumped under the zone and he threw the ball right at me.”
The third-year defensive back finished Saturday’s strong performance with three pass breakups, finding his way around the ball and making a play.
“I feel like an emphasis throughout the week was just eye discipline,” Leonard said. “I felt like my eyes were in the right spot for most of the game.
He added: “Follow your keys properly and it’s going to take you to the ball.”
LB Daiyan Henley
Daiyan Henley has carried his strong offseason into the preseason so far.
The second-year linebacker has started in the middle of the Chargers defense in both exhibition games so far and arguably had his strongest showing Saturday against the Rams.
Henley finished with four total tackles and one pass defensed.
He started the day out firing, notching his lone pass breakup of the day early in the first quarter when the Rams were driving.
On a first-and-10 with the Rams in plus territory, Henley read and reacted to a pass quickly on the right side, getting a hand in to break up the play.
He also had an impressive run tackle shortly after, reading the play and able to get the stop.
But perhaps one of the areas he was able to flash the most was when he was able to rush the passer.
With the Rams backed up in their own end zone, Henley came in with a physical blitz up the middle, creating some pressure in the backfield.
He continued to show what he could do later in the game, rushing off the edge on multiple occasions including on a fourth-and-6 where the Bolts forced a turnover on downs.
Henley has taken grasp of one of the linebacker spots on the first team defense the entire offseason, and could be an intriguing weapon for the Chargers defense when the regular season rolls around.
Browse through live action photos of the Bolts Preseason Week 2 matchup against the Rams at SoFi Stadium.
WR Simi Fehoko
The Bolts passing offense had its ups and downs in the second preseason game, but wide receiver Simi Fehoko was able to provide some juice on a pair of occasions.
Fehoko, who finished as the team’s leading receiver with 52 receiving yards, made his first play with over five minutes in the second quarter to keep the chains moving for the Bolts.
On a third-and-8, quarterback Easton Stick was able to find Fehoko for a chunk play of 22 yards that took them into Rams territory.
The two found another connection on the next offensive possession, with Fehoko breaking free deep down the right side for a 30-yard gain that set the Bolts up in field goal range.
“It felt good. I think probably my best day out here,” Fehoko said. “I just felt like it was smooth and Stick was putting the ball in a good place.
“All the receivers are doing a good job, so it all ended up working out,” Fehoko added.
Fehoko’s value went beyond the offensive side of the ball as well, as he’s become a big part of the special teams unit.
He made his mark Saturday on a kickoff when he found some space and made a big tackle on the returner to pin the Rams back inside their 20-yard line.
“For me, it’s sort of the more you can do,” Fehoko said. “Adding to the resumé, whether it’s playing special teams or continue making catches, things like that. Whatever adds to your value, I think it’s huge.
“I love playing special teams out here, especially with Coach Fick,” Fehoko added. “It’s been fun.”
K Cameron Dicker
It was another day at the office for Cameron Dicker.
The Bolts kicker continued to be a steady hand Saturday against the Rams, knocking in three field goals.
His first came midway through the first quarter from 55 yards out, as he booted in the first Chargers points of the evening. It was his second straight week with a field goal from at least that distance after knocking in a 58 yarder in the preseason opener.
Dicker later nailed another from a shorter distance, 37 yards, right before the half before hitting from 27 yards in the fourth quarter.
It continues to be an impressive summer for Dicker, who is now four for four in the preseason.
