Tag: Chargers training camp

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler gives first impressions of QB Justin Herbert

Austin Ekeler knows that it will take some time for Justin Herbert to develop.

Chargers running back Austin Ekeler will have a new signal-caller distributing the wealth to him after having the luxury of Philip Rivers do so the past three seasons.

Tyrod Taylor will likely start out under center in 2020, but then the torch will eventually be passed on to first-round pick Justin Herbert.

While Ekeler and Herbert have been unable to develop a chemistry on the field due to the coronavirus outbreak, they have still partook in virtual meetings together.

Ekeler, who was featured on NFL Media’s Around The Horn, was asked about what he can say about Herbert so far.

“Definitely has a lot to learn. The NFL can be a big workload, especially for a quarterback coming in expected to learn the offense and play within the first couple of years. I think there’s going to be a workload that’s he going to have to work through and translate to the field when it comes to that time.”

Ekeler knows that it could take time for him to adapt, citing that it’s nearly always a struggle with rookie quarterbacks. He also mentions that it hurts not only Herbert’s development, but other rookies, without organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp.

Herbert is in an ideal situation by not being forced to start. Under quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton, the former Oregon product needs to continue to work on his mechanics and develop a better sense of the game from a mental standpoint before taking the reins.

Over time with the development, Herbert could be in a great position by playing in a system tailored to his strengths alongside a slew of solid skill players.

Herbert, Ekeler along with the rest of the team will take the field for the first time on July 28, as that marks the expected start date for training camp.

Chargers now have training camp start date barring changes

Progress is being made.

With COVID-19 still sweeping headlines, there are still a handful of uncertainties with the 2020 season. However, progress has been made as NFL teams now know when they’re expected to get ready for the upcoming campaign.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, teams will open up training camps 47 days before their Week 1 season opener.

For the Chargers, that date will be July 28. 29 other teams will open up camp on the same date, while the Chiefs and Texans, the two teams playing in the season opener on Sept. 10, will begin on July 25.

“This makes the training camp reporting date more uniform across the league. It used to be much more scattered, with teams reporting on various days over a weeklong period,” Schefter reported.

“There even used to be business departments that would push teams to start camp on a Wednesday so they could schedule the first padded practice four days later on a weekend, so as to best appeal to fans.”

It remains to be seen if fans will be allowed to attend sessions. If they are granted access, it’s likely that the capacity will be limited and there will be protocols to help prevent and limit any potential infection or spread of COVID-19.

NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero also reported on Wednesday that the league and players’ union are discussing the possibility of shortening the 2020 preseason from four games to two games to allow for a longer “ramp-up” period.

Chargers’ ‘most exciting’ undrafted free agent

Could there be an offensive line who makes some noise in training camp and preseason?

The Chargers inked 19 undrafted free agents to a deal following the draft. Based on the consensus, their UDFA class doesn’t stack up that well to the other teams in the NFL. But that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any players that make the 53-man roster.

I took a crack at predicting four UDFAs that could make the roster. However, there could be a player that included in my list who might make the team when all is said and done.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox listed the “most exciting” undrafted free agents for each team. For the Chargers, he slots former Florida State offensive tackle Ryan Roberts.

Here is what Knox had to say:

Whether the Los Angeles Chargers roll with journeyman Tyrod Taylor or rookie Justin Herbert at quarterback, they’ll need to sort out their offensive line.

Trading away Russell Okung to acquire Trai Turner left L.A. with a void at left tackle. Free-agent addition Bryan Bulaga may kick over to the left side to fill it—he played both tackle positions in college—but that would then leave things uncertain on the right side.

Right tackle Sam Tevi was responsible for four penalties and eight sacks in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus.

Former Florida State tackle Ryan Roberts should be able to add much-needed camp competition to the tackle position. A transfer from Northern Illinois, Roberts immediately entrenched himself as a starter for the Seminoles in 2019.

While Roberts may not beat out the likes of Tevi and Trey Pipkins III immediately, he adds an exciting long-term project to the mix.

Roberts spent one season at Florida State after transferring from Northern Illinois. He ended up starting 12 games at right tackle and then one game at left tackle in 2019.

Roberts helped clear the way for Cam Akers to become the third running back in program history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons. For his efforts, he was named Academic All-ACC.

The Chargers didn’t draft an offensive tackle, so they could afford to have Roberts on the roster for depth. Roberts would be in the perfect situation if he was to make the roster, as he would be playing for James Campen, one of the best offensive line coaches, to aide in his development.

3 burning questions for Chargers in 2020

The Los Angeles Chargers look to bounce back after a disappointing 2019 season.

After finishing 5-11 in a very disappointing 2019 season, the Chargers are hoping to turn it around as they enter the new season in their new stadium in Inglewood, CA.

After some changes to the roster on both sides of the ball this offseason, there are some questions surrounding Los Angeles heading into training camp that need to be answered in order for them to be contender.

Let’s look at those three questions:

What will the offense look like without Philip Rivers?

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The 16-year marriage between the Chargers and QB Philip Rivers came to an end this offseason. Taking over under center are Tyrod Taylor and rookie QB Justin Herbert, the No. 6 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The main difference between the two and Rivers is from an athleticism standpoint. However, that’s going to be the difference between how the offense was run with Rivers and now with Taylor and Herbert. Rivers was dropping back into the pocket with five to seven steps to buy him time to throw, with very little opportunities to scramble.

With the new system in place for Taylor and Herbert, there will be more pistol formation, more play-action and more run-pass option. The Chargers offense is going to look a lot more like the Ravens offense last season. Head coach Anthony Lynn and Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman coached together in Buffalo in 2015 and 2016.

Taylor and Herbert have the skill sets to run some of the concepts the Ravens do, like zone read and other quarterback option runs, which was hardly ever the case when Rivers was under center for Los Angeles.

Despite the change in offense, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Hunter Henry and Austin Ekeler will help guide the offense, along with newly added draft selections – Joshua Kelley, Joe Reed and K.J. Hill

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