There were a lot of positives to the Chargers’ 30-10 victory over the Dolphins last Sunday. Among them was that guard Forrest Lamp finally received a consistent amount of playing time.
Even though it wasn’t a lot — only 17 snaps played, Lamp gave fans a glimpse of a player that deserves to be in the starting lineup.
Prior to Sunday’s matchup, Lamp was primarily used as an extra offensive lineman. But during this game, the former Western Kentucky saw the field in snaps that mattered.
Lamp product rotated in with Dan Feeney at left guard for an entire series, served as an extra lineman in jumbo packages and came in and played left tackle in garbage time.
Lamp made his first appearance in the second quarter at left guard on a drive that ultimately ended in an 18-yard Austin Ekeler touchdown.
On the first play, Ekeler ran behind Lamp. He helped offensive tackle Trent Scott with Dolphins defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and picked up linebacker Trent Harris, who was attempting to shoot through the A-gap.
Lamp could have done a better job latching onto Harris, but he still disrupts him on the move and luckily, Ekeler is just too quick to evade the defender, which allows him to pick up positive yardage.
On this play, it’s an incomplete pass to wide receiver Keenan Allen, but this just goes to show Lamp is great at looking for work when unoccupied. He is quick to recognize linebacker Vince Biegel coming off the edge and helps Scott with him before the ball is released.
On the scoring play, Lamp shines in a one-on-one situation with Godchaux. Lamp shows good footwork, drops his hips and anchors mid-shuffle and finishes with sound hand usage to keep him off balance.
Here, Lamp came in as an extra offensive lineman when they went into their jumbo package. Ekeler runs outside behind Lamp. He doesn’t sustain the block for a second, but he’s able to readjust, continues to drive his feet and latches on to drive the defender to the ground.
Again, Lamp is used as an extra offensive lineman, but this time he is on the left side. Linebacker Jerome Baker (#55) is lined up directly over him. Despite it being a loss of two yards, Lamp buries Baker.
Lamp moved over to left tackle for the final drive of the game, replacing Trent Scott. Even though the play went to the opposite side, Lamp looks natural and smooth in his shuffle off the line of scrimmage. He engages the defender quickly and demonstrates good timing with his punch.
Here, we have another rep in pass protection. He exhibits a fluid kick slide with sound footwork, initiates contact and shows great skill with his ability to displace the edge defenders rush move.
“You don’t want to disrupt the chemistry up front, but I don’t think Forrest is going to disrupt that chemistry. He’s been here for three years. He hasn’t been in games, but he’s been in the meeting rooms, he understands communication, and I trust the young man,” coach Anthony Lynn said, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.
Seeing Lamp out there playing snaps that matter is a good sign. From his performance last Sunday and Lynn’s comments, we can expect to see him playing more often and hopefully it’ll lead to a starting job within the coming weeks.
