Chargers safety Alohi Gilman, the sixth-round pick of the 2020 NFL draft, was primarily a special teamer and didn’t receive playing time on defense until the final weeks of the season.
Heading into his sophomore campaign, Gilman is looking to assert himself into a role, and through a week at training camp he has been proving his worth to the coaching staff.
Playing with the first team at safety when the unit goes with six defensive backs (dime package), Gilman has displayed a sense of “calmness,” which is why he has earned that role in the early going.
“He communicates well with those guys,” defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill said about Gilman. “Those guys feel comfortable with him right now.”
Earlier this offseason, head coach Brandon Staley said that the team is “really excited” about Gilman.
Up to this point, he and rookie Mark Webb have been showing that they can be relied on outside of starters Derwin James and Nasir Adderley.
At a group that’s lacking depth, they’re both in prime positions to make the 53-man roster.