Tag: Chargers minicamp

Highlights from Day 2 of Chargers mandatory minicamp

Take a look at the Los Angeles Chargers during the second day of minicamp practices.

The Los Angeles 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.

Drew Brees gives high praise to Chargers QB Justin Herbert

Drew Brees believes that Justin Herbert is in good hands being in Joe Lombardi’s offense.

The Chargers had a special guest at Day 2 of mandatory minicamp, as former Saints quarterback Drew Brees was in attendance.

Officially retired and making the transition to broadcasting, Brees was also there for a mock production meeting with NBC Sports.

With Brees there, there was some familiarity on the field. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi was his quarterbacks coach in New Orleans, and now Lombardi is tasked with the continued development of QB Justin Herbert.

Brees, who’s been really impressed with the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, was asked what he thought of him by media.

“There’s no doubt, I think his physical tools are as good as anybody I’ve ever seen,” Brees said. “By all accounts, he’s a great worker. He’s got great leadership qualities, he’s got a lot of intangibles. So I think the sky is the limit for a guy like him.

Brees believes that Herbert is an ideal situation with him playing in Lombardi’s offense.

“I love the fact that he’s in this offense with Joe Lombardi. Lombardi comes from the New Orleans Saints, was my quarterbacks coach for almost all 15 years there.

So I think he brings a ton of knowledge and experience — not only coaching quarterbacks but also within the system that we ran. And I think he’ll be able to tailor-make that for Justin’s skills, and obviously the tools and weapons that he has around him.”

Chargers CB Chris Harris Jr. values familiarity with defensive system

Chargers cornerback Chris Harris Jr. expressed his excitement to be playing in a system he’s familiar with.

This won’t be the first time that cornerback Chris Harris Jr. has been on the same team as Chargers head coach Brandon Staley.

Harris spent nine seasons with the Broncos, which included one with Staley (2019), who was then Denver’s outside linebackers coach.

His lone stint with Staley was also the only year that Vic Fangio coached Harris. This is significant because Staley’s scheme is going to draw some similarities to Fangio’s, so Harris already has a leg up.

“This year, I feel very comfortable [being in a system I’m familiar with]. I’m able to be that extra quarterback back there for these guys because they’re still learning the system, so it’s good to have me back there to be able to speed up their thinking and to help them out.”

In Staley’s defense, Harris, who has been practicing at multiple spots, will be tasked with playing his natural position inside the slot, near the boundary and dimebacker.

Harris will have more man coverage responsibilities, which is what he’s more comfortable with as opposed to heavy dosages of zone with former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley last season.

Harris said that Staley’s scheme is “night and day” and the “complete opposite” of Bradley’s scheme.

Chargers LB Drue Tranquill throws shade at former defensive coordinator

Chargers linebacker Drue Tranquill is eager to play in Brandon Staley’s defense.

Tuesday marked the first time that Chargers linebacker Drue Tranquill spoke to the media since he suffered a season-ending injury in the first game of the 2020 campaign.

After enjoying a solid rookie season, it was expected that Tranquill was going to take another step in Year 2, but the injury put everything to a halt.

Now heading into his third year, Tranquill will be one of the starting linebackers alongside Kenneth Murray in new head coach Brandon Staley’s defense.

When asked about what’s different with this defensive scheme, Tranquill made a not-so-subtle jab at former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.

Tranquill brought up a play towards the end of his first year against the Chiefs where he was tasked with running up the middle of the field with speedy wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

Bradley’s defense required linebackers to match up with even the fastest skill players in coverage, whereas Staley’s scheme is going to put players in the right position to win.

While there will still be coverage responsibilities, Tranquill said that Staley’s defense is going to allow them to be more “downhill” on run action and really play linebacker, reiterating what Murray talked about last week.

TE Jared Cook on Chargers offense: ‘Has what it takes to become high prolific’

Chargers tight end Jared Cook believes Los Angeles has better offensive talent than what they had in New Orleans.

Heading into the new season, the Chargers will have some of the same faces from last year, but they will be joined by some new ones, including veteran tight end Jared Cook.

Cook signed with Los Angeles earlier this offseason after spending the last two seasons with the Saints, which is the team that new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi comes from.

With Lombardi taking over the offense, it’s expected that he will bring over  elements of New Orleans’ system.

Today after the first session of mandatory minicamp, Cook said that 30-40%” of the Saints playbook is present, adding that everything else is new and he likes the new offense.

In addition to influence from New Orleans’ scheme, wrinkles of the 49ers offense will be brought over, but most importantly, it’s going to be tailored to quarterback Justin Herbert’s strengths.

Cook said Herbert is a “smart quarterback.” He said he has been with quarterbacks of his age in the past who can’t get the offense down, but that has not been the case with No. 10. “He is on it, man….he is on it.”

With the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year engineering the offense, a slew of talented skill players to distribute the wealth to and a revamped offensive line, the sky is the limit in the upcoming season.

“I definitely think this offense has what it takes to become a high prolific offense in the NFL,” Cook said.

4 things to watch for at Chargers mandatory minicamp

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez jots down with should be enticing at Los Angeles’ two-day mandatory minicamp.

The Chargers are set to enter their final week of offseason activity with mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.

Los Angeles has had three weeks of organized team activities, which are voluntary workouts, in which they had nearly perfect attendance. After Wednesday, players will get a month off before returning near the end of July for training camp.

With this week’s workouts mandatory, anyone that does not show up will be fined. Here’s a few things to watch out for as the Bolts round up for the last set of workouts.

Offensive blueprint

With Joe Lombardi taking over as the offensive coordinator, the new system will have elements taken from the Saints and the 49ers coupled with new concepts to build around quarterback Justin Herbert.

In the words of wide receiver Keenan Allen, the new offense will allow them to “play more freely.”

Herbert is already becoming well-versed with the scheme, but seeing how the skill players around him are adapting is just as important. There are plenty of storylines that will be intriguing as they unfold.

How is Mike Williams enduring the “X” receiver role? Will rookie Josh Palmer be deployed outside and in the slot? Is Tre’ McKitty used more than just an in-line blocker? How is the competition for the backup running back spots?

Defensive deployment

After playing in Gus Bradley’s 4-3, Cover 3 and zone-heavy defense the past few seasons, the Chargers will move to a 3-4 base defense that’s hybrid and is constantly mixing up looks.

The presumed starters are:

Linval Joseph, Jerry Tillery

Joey Bosa, Uchenna Nwosu

Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill

Michael Davis, Chris Harris Jr., Asante Samuel Jr.

Derwin James, Nasir Adderley

But what I’m looking for is how these players are lined up because Staley’s defense requires versatility.

I will also have my attention shifted to rookies Chris Rumph II, Nick Niemann and Mark Webb, all of whom could play a role aside from just on special teams.

Kicker battle

Strengthening the special teams department is one of the biggest priorities for the Chargers ahead of the 2021 season after finishing as the league’s worst in 2020.

Los Angeles did a fine job of adding players to aide with the coverage units, but now the team must determine who will be their starting kicker.

L.A. has three kickers on the roster who will be fighting for the starting job: Michael Badgley, Tristan Vizcaino and Alex Kessman.

Offensive line chemistry

The Chargers knew they needed to get more and better protection for Justin Herbert, so they signed Corey Linsley, the NFL’s best center, as well as Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi in free agency. On top of that, they drafted left tackle Rashawn Slater in the first-round.

All four guys, who join Bryan Bulaga, will now have to gel with one another to make it all work. Talent on the offensive line is one thing, but making sure everyone is on the same page with the blocking schemes and play-calls is just as pivotal.

Chargers announce 2021 offseason workouts, OTA dates

Find out when the Chargers rookies and the rest of the roster will be hitting the practice field.

The start of the 2021 regular season is still four months away, but preparation for it is set to get underway.

The NFL released the schedule for each team’s offseason workout programs, including the Chargers’ dates.

Below is the team’s official news release on the program schedule.

  • Rookie minicamp: May 14-16
  • OTAs: May 24-25, May 27, June 2-4, June 7-8, June 10
  • Mandatory minicamp: June 15-16

Starting next week, the drafted and undrafted free agents will get to hit the field as a pro for the first time.

Shortly after, the rest of the roster will all come together to get ready for a new era under first-year head coach Brandon Staley.

Chargers announce 2021 offseason workouts, OTA dates

Find out when the Chargers rookies and the rest of the roster will be hitting the practice field.

The start of the 2021 regular season is still four months away, but preparation for it is set to get underway.

The NFL released the schedule for each team’s offseason workout programs, including the Chargers’ dates.

Below is the team’s official news release on the program schedule.

  • Rookie minicamp: May 14-16
  • OTAs: May 24-25, May 27, June 2-4, June 7-8, June 10
  • Mandatory minicamp: June 15-16

Starting next week, the drafted and undrafted free agents will get to hit the field as a pro for the first time.

Shortly after, the rest of the roster will all come together to get ready for a new era under first-year head coach Brandon Staley.