Tag: Chargers minicamp

Justin Herbert shares thoughts on Jim Harbaugh: ‘He’s a competitor’

Justin Herbert spoke highly of Jim Harbaugh on Thursday.

The Chargers look much different than they did just a few months ago. On Thursday, Justin Herbert gave his two cents on getting the opportunity to play under Jim Harbaugh. 

“He’s a competitor. He’s done such a great job of taking this team and getting them to where he wants us to go,” Herbert said. “He’s won wherever he’s at and he’s a guy that people want to follow and play for. Really excited to get to play for him.”

Herbert isn’t the only one excited for the Harbaugh era. Harbaugh’s arrival sparked a new wave of excitement for the majority of Los Angeles. 

“It’s really cool. For him to come into the quarterback room and share his thoughts, it’s great perspective,” Herbert said. “He’s done it, and has coached and played at such a high level for so long that any advice like that is great for us.”

Like the rest of his teammates, Herbert now has the chance to develop under a football maestro—something fans have been waiting and hoping for since he arrived as a rookie from Oregon.  

“It’s been an honor to play for him so far and to share that quarterback room with him. He’s definitely a very intelligent, committed and competitive guy. He wants to win whatever he’s playing.”

Based on what we’ve heard from the coaching staff and players, grit will be a characteristic of this year’s team. 

“We’re going to keep fighting,” Herbert said. “We’ve got the guys in here to keep fighting and especially the head coach that wants to make that happen. We’re all for it.”

Derwin James ready to reclaim place as one of NFL’s top safeties

Derwin James is going to benefit from playing in Jesse Minter’s defense.

Derwin James Jr. is eagerly waiting for the season to begin. Based on his comments on Thursday, his eagerness will transfer to his performance on the field—so prepare for an outstanding season from James. 

“It feels amazing. It feels like Christmas,” James said Thursday. “I can’t wait to play. I can’t wait until September gets here.”

Jim Harbaugh thinks highly of James and wants others on the team to emulate his energy. 

“One and a half practices in way back in April, it was clear to be like, ‘Derwin James, Jr. Okay guys, do whatever Derwin James is doing,'” Harbaugh said about James. “However he approaches the training environment, the way he approaches the meetings, the way he approaches the practices, what he wears, what he does, what he says, the way he goes from meeting to meeting, the way he communicates. Everything he does.”

James’ approach to the game is unique and desirable, so it’s not surprising that Harbaugh spotted that so early on in his time in Los Angeles. 

“Just look at No. 3 and do everything that he is doing and it’s going to be really good for you,” Harbaugh added. 

James has always been a respected leader for the Chargers but his success had been somewhat stagnant last year. 

“Every day, I just try to be the example, set the standard, be here every day and be present, not just be here,” James said. “Working hard and pushing guys.

Although he wasn’t as successful performance-wise last season, he remained a faithful leader for his teammates. 

Most of James’ performance concerns stemmed from the myriad of roles he had in the previous defensive scheme under Brandon Staley. However, under Jesse Minter, his responsibilities have been more suitable. 

“Just looking at who I am as a player, day in and day out, how he sees me in his scheme … every day he just reminds me of who I am,” James said about his early conversations with Minter. “Like I said, I just been getting better every day and he’s a straightforward guy.”

Rather than a play-to-play basis, James will have a set role each game and will stick with it. If he’s asked to cover a tight end, he’ll do that for the entire game. If James is asked to play a single-high safety, he’s doing that for all 60 minutes.

“I feel like I’ll be moved around,” James said. “But I feel like it will be very detailed on an assignment that he wants me to have.”

It’s no secret that James is an exceptional leader for the Chargers’ defensive unit. However, now that he is adjusting to a new scheme, he seems hungry for success.

Joey Bosa on returning to Chargers with pay cut: ‘It was a pretty easy decision’

Joey Bosa would like to finish his career with the Chargers.

Joey Bosa had his first media availability session of mandatory minicamp since returning to the Chargers on a reworked contract this offseason. When asked about that process and returning, Bosa had this to say:

You know, I want to win. I want to be on this team. I want another shot with the guys in this room, especially [OLB] Khalil [Mack]. Yeah, that’s what it was and winning football games is more important to me right now than making some extra money. I think we have a great opportunity here. Who knows, maybe I’ll have a great year this year and things change down the road. I think if a guy like Khalil is coming off a year with 17 sacks and can take that cut, it shows the kind of guy that he is and the kind of culture we have brewing here. That’s who I want to be with. It was a pretty easy decision.

Bosa added that the addition of Jim Harbaugh was a factor in his mind, noting that he could be the “final piece” the team needs to get over the top. But his history with the organization in “wanting to be there for the moment” was an important piece as well. Later on in the media availability, he went on to say that he would ideally want to finish his career with the Bolts.

Bosa was asked if it felt different in the building throughout this offseason and had this to say:

Yeah, you know it’s not like these last eight years I’ve come in and thought we were going to lose or have a bad year [laughter]. I felt like every year when I tell you things are feeling good and I feel optimistic, it wasn’t a lie. But yeah, I think things are definitely, like I said, trending in the right direction. Everybody is on the details. I’m sure it’s a word that you’ve heard a million times. I think it just feels like Coach [Harbaugh] is leading the team the way it should be led. It has a feel of being back in college with [former Ohio State Head] Coach Urban Meyer. The message is sent from the top and it doesn’t get mixed up as it’s moving down the ladder. It’s, ‘Boom, this is how we’re doing things,’ and everybody is following that. I think it’s impressive, the details that everybody has been on, the effort and just the competitiveness that has been going on over the last few weeks. It’s been great.

Bosa mentioned his fight to stay healthy and on the field several times throughout the presser. Right now, he says his hamstring and foot are “good.” In perhaps slightly new information, Bosa ended up having offseason surgery on his finger.

He mentioned that his foot sprain against the Packers got worse when he tried to return to practice afterward, resulting in reaggravation and, ultimately, Bosa being shut down for the rest of the season. Asked about Giff Smith, he noted that he wanted to return within those last few weeks for him. It just never made sense with the nature of the injury and the direction of the season.

Chargers minicamp: Rookie CB Tarheeb Still shines on Day 2

Tarheeb Still is going to compete for the starting slot spot.

Mandatory minicamp is an excellent way for rookies to catch the attention of the coaching staff ahead of training camp.

On Day 1, it was wide receiver Ladd McConkey. On the second day, it was cornerback Tarheeb Still who stole the show.

According to the team’s writer, Eric Smith, Still nabbed an interception in a seven-on-seven drill and added a pair of pass deflections.

“Tarheeb has, probably in the last three or four practices, made a really, really good jump that you sort of expect a guy to make after being able to digest five or six practices,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said.

Still, the fifth-round selection of this year’s draft, was a ball magnet coming out of Maryland as he finished his final collegiate season with five picks, which was tied for the fifth-most in the FBS. He was one of only two players to have two multi-interception games.

Still has a refined skillset, with the reactive athleticism to stay with receivers in coverage and the ball skills to create turnovers.

Still can play inside or outside, but he is likely to play in the slot and compete with Ja’Sir Taylor for the starting job.

Highlights from Day 2 of Chargers mandatory minicamp

The Chargers wrapped up their second day of mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, which saw standout performances from Justin Herbert and Tarheeb Still.

The Chargers wrapped up their second day of mandatory minicamp on Wednesday.

To experience some of the action that went down at Hoag Performance Center, here are a few clips from the team’s official Twitter account and members of the media.

Jim Harbaugh praises Justin Herbert’s conditioning and leadership

Jim Harbaugh raved about his quarterback.

Jim Harbaugh was asked about Justin Herbert’s progression this offseason and had a lot to say about his quarterback:

He’s been incredible. I think it’s probably the reaction that everybody has. From my standpoint, I knew he was really good, but you’re right up next to him watching where you can feel the way the ball comes out of his hand. When it comes out, it’s going a lot faster than you think, than it looks on tape. He’s bigger, taller than you’d think watching TV. Every kind of sense, smart. It’s incredible the way he picks things up and masters things. Every detail, every small detail. The conditioning test was another eye-opener. Just when you think he can’t go another rung on the ladder of my esteem, anyway, he finds another one. He smashed the conditioning test last Thursday. I mean, crushed it, like out in front with people trying to keep up with him. To the point, the athleticism and strength, really, he could play tight end here. He could play edge rusher here. And the arm talent is even better than advertised. It’s an exciting thing. I found myself just sitting at my desk at times, going, ‘He’s on our team!’ You know it’s not just in shorts because I’ve seen him do this in 11-on-11, NFL, padded football games.

Perhaps Herbert being an aesthetically pleasing football thrower and a detail-oriented player are not particularly surprising things to hear. But the idea that he is attacking the challenge of Ben Herbert’s new conditioning program positively is certainly a step forward into the new regime.

Harbaugh was also asked about Herbert’s leadership and had more to say:

There have been so many guys that have stepped up into that role of example-setter, tone-setter. Here every day, every meeting, every weight room session, every practice engaged. Every day, every hour, every minute. Nobody more than [S] Derwin James [Jr.] and Justin Herbert. Those two have been really off the charts and incredible, set the tone and been leaders by example the entire offseason.

Harbaugh also credited Herbert for how he’s picked up the system. Previously, in a mic’d-up video, Greg Roman and Marc Trestman both marveled at Herbert’s acumen for learning as many offensive systems as he has in the last number of years. He mentioned instances of Herbert’s blitz pickup and recognition improving under the current system.

Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh reveals starting offensive line ahead of minicamp

The Chargers’ offensive line is already beginning to take shape.

The Chargers offensive line has been a topic of conversation since the end of last season. Now, as the 2024 season approaches, five players are cementing their spots as the starting linemen. 

“I think it’s on track to be a top-tier offensive line in the NFL,” Harbaugh said. “Rashawn [Slater], Zion [Johnson], Bradley Bozeman, probably right now Trey Pipkins and Joe Alt. Those five have really separated themselves.”

According to Harbaugh, this group will likely make up one of the best units in the league. 

In team drills, Alt has been playing right tackle, and Pipkins has been positioned at right guard, which is quite impressive since he has only played tackle throughout his career. 

“Extremely capable of doing it,” Harbaugh said about Pipkins. “He’s an outstanding player, he’s an outstanding tackle and he’s an outstanding guard.”

Pipkins’ versatility seems to be paying dividends for the Chargers offensive line; however, the ultimate test will be when the season begins. 

“The idea of getting to our best five at all times and playing that, it may shake out in what the rotation is but you need five really good ones, five best you have, playing as one,” Harbaugh said. “Pretty much every team we play, they have really good edge rushers on both sides.

“They have interior rushers that are good on both sides. Not having a weak link is critical,” Harbaugh said. “I think we’re trending to really having a top-to-bottom outstanding offensive line.”

Training camp will ultimately be when the final starters are chosen but this gives Chargers fans at least a good idea of what’s to come. 

Chargers minicamp: Justin Herbert, Ladd McConkey building fast rapport

Ladd McConkey is already showing to be Justin Herbert’s favorite target.

The departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were a big hit to Justin Herbert, as they were his favorite targets. However, Herbert seems to be building a new connection with another wideout.

Herbert and rookie Ladd McConkey were clicking as the Chargers opened up mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.

According to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, McConkey caught four of Herbert’s passes, including a third-down conversion. Popper added that McConkey primarily worked out of the slot and highlighted his route running.

The strong chemistry between Herbert and McConkey has carried over from OTAs (organized team activities), where the two began to develop their rapport.

McConkey is arguably the best separator in the group. Like Allen when he was on the Chargers, he got the ball a lot because of his ability to consistently make himself open at all levels of the field.

It will be fun to watch the connection continue to materialize.

Chargers to hold Day 1 of mandatory minicamp at Camp Pendleton

The Chargers are returning to San Diego for a day.

The Chargers’ mandatory minicamp will be held at Hoag Performance Center in Costa Mesa, CA, but only for two days.

The first day, which is on June 11, will be at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA, per the military base’s website.

Located at 11 Area Football Field, practice is open to base patrons from 12:15 to 2 p.m. No registration is required.

A meet-and-greet will also be held with the players from the Chargers.

This will be the Chargers’ first return to the San Diego area since they moved to Los Angeles ahead of the 2017 season.

Jim Harbaugh returns to his old stomping grounds, as he played quarterback for the then-San Diego Chargers during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

See it: Chargers’ Justin Herbert, Ladd McConkey get reps together for first time

Justin Herbert linked up with his newest weapon for the first time on Monday.

Phase 2 of the Chargers’ offseason program continued at Hoag Performance Center in Costa Mesa, CA, on Monday.

Following the team’s rookie minicamp, most of the veterans took the field, which marked the first time quarterback Justin Herbert and his newest weapon, wide receiver Ladd McConkey, linked up.

While it’s not against any defenders, it’s good to see Herbert and McConkey getting reps and developing chemistry early on.

After losing Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, McConkey will look to be Herbert’s safety blanket and potentially develop into the No. 1 role.