A strong offensive line is a priority for Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh talks about the importance of the offensive line.

Going into the 2024 season, a strong offensive line is crucial for Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. He believes the offensive line is directly related to the success of the entire offensive unit. 

“The offensive line to me is important,” Harbaugh said, per the team’s official website. “If I asked you the question like, ‘What position group depends on no other position group to be good, but every other position group depends on them to be good. What position group is that?’. Offensive line

“They’re not relying on any other position group to be good. They go out, yet every other position group relies on the offensive line to be good,” Harbaugh added.

The offensive line struggled last season, which led to several problems for quarterback Justin Herbert. Instead of helping him, the offensive line often became a burden. 

Several starters return from last season, including Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Jamaree Salyer, and Trey Pipkins III. The Chargers also acquired center Bradley Bozeman in free agency. 

Harbaugh believes the key for a strong offensive line is for the group to work together—as one. 

“I think they’re really good, I think they’re really willing and then just the mentality of that group, that’s like a fist, there’s five of them,” Harbaugh said. “There’s one, two, three, four, five, playing as one on that offensive line.

“Just can’t wait to get in the room, get in the weight room, get on the field and coach guys and be around them and build that group. Excited about that as well.”

Chargers OL Jamaree Salyer questionable to return vs. Chiefs

Jamaree Salyer exited the game with an eye injury.

Even Week 18 has not provided a safe harbor for the Chargers.

Starting guard Jamaree Salyer exited the game late in the first quarter with what the team called an eye injury. It’s unclear when the injury occurred, but such a designation suggests that Salyer was likely poked in the eye during a blocking assignment.

Salyer has started every game for the Chargers this season at right guard. He was replaced by Austen Pleasants, who was elevated from the practice squad for the game.

Film room: Breaking down Chargers’ dominant run game vs. Dolphins

Dissecting one of the best overall team rushing performances in team history.

While it may not have been the 1-0 start the Chargers were hoping for, Los Angeles had one of the best overall team rushing performances in team history. In fact, their 66.7% success rate is tied for the seventh-best rushing performance in the league over the past decade.

How did offensive coordinator Kellen Moore scheme it up?

Projecting Chargers’ offensive depth chart for Week 1 vs. Dolphins

Here’s how we project the Chargers depth chart to look for the start of the regular season.

The Chargers are just days away from their season opener against the Dolphins

The positions are set after finalizing their 53-man roster, but the team has yet to release the official depth chart.

So let’s dive into how the offensive side of the ball could shape up heading into the 2023 season, highlighting who is likely to start and serve as depth pieces behind them.

Quarterback

Starter Backup Reserve
QB Justin Herbert Easton Stick

The Chargers elected to roster two quarterbacks instead of three, as they have frequently done in the past.

Running back

Starter Backup Reserve Reserve
RB Austin Ekeler Joshua Kelley Isaiah Spiller Elijah Dotson

Kelley will get most of the carries behind Ekeler to start the season. He earned every bit of the backup job, flashing when he was on the field last year and during the summer. Spiller had a great training camp and preseason, too. He will be playing more snaps as the season progresses. Dotson will likely be an inactive player on game days.

Starter Backup
WR1 Keenan Allen Quentin Johnston
WR2 Mike Williams Derius Davis
WR3 Josh Palmer

Allen and Williams will be the top two receivers, while Palmer gets the majority of the snaps as the third receiver early on. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will draw up plays for Johnston to take advantage of yards-after-the-catch skills. Davis will primarily serve as the return specialist, with some gadget plays and to keep the defense honest with his speed here and there.

Tight end

Starter Backup Reserve Reserve
TE Gerald Everett Donald Parham Tre’ McKitty Stone Smartt

Nothing surprising here. Everett will be the featured tight end, with primarily receiving responsibilities. Parham is another option as a receiver and should have blocking duties, as he was one of the best in that department before dealing with his respective injuries. McKitty will strictly be a blocker, but he will need to show improvement in this area after underwhelming during the summer. Smartt will be a core special teamer, but he deserves offensive snaps after proving to be the best tight end during training camp and preseason.

Offensive line

Starter Backup Reserve
LT Rashawn Slater Foster Sarell
LG Zion Johnson Brenden Jaimes
C Corey Linsley Will Clapp
RG Jamaree Salyer Jordan McFadden
RT Trey Pipkins

The starting five have been set in stone for quite some time, so there aren’t any changes here. Sarell will be the primary swing tackle, meaning he will slide in at the left or right tackle should an injury occur to Slater or Pipkins. McFadden is the swing guard. Clapp is the swing center. Jaimes can play all interior spots.

Chargers OT Rashawn Slater ready to roll after season-ending injury

The Chargers will benefit immensely from the return of their star left tackle.

After one of the best rookie seasons by an offensive tackle, Rashawn Slater was set for a sensational sophomore campaign. Unfortunately, it was cut short by a torn biceps injury that he suffered in Week 3 against the Jaguars.

Slater missed 15 games in total, including the playoff.

Ten months later, fully healthy, Slater is ready to roll and return to his dominant ways. But now

“I definitely want to be like the best version of myself,” Slater said. “I think I’ve improved as a player since then, just in the way that I see the game and in my technique. I definitely think there was a lot to improve upon that year.

“I don’t anticipate taking any steps back, that’s for sure,” Slater added. “The nice thing about this is that it healed up really well, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”

Slater, the No. 13 overall selection of the 2021 NFL draft, allowed only 26 pressures and four sacks on 752 pass-block snaps while imposing will in the run game in Year 1. He was named a Pro Bowler and earned Second-Team All-Pro.

As Slater prepares to return to live-game action, he’s benefited from going up against the dynamic duo of edge defenders Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in training camp as the team is now in pads.

“I take away a lot from those like. Joey and Khalil, they’re so smart in the way they play off of O-linemen,” Slater said. “Every training camp it’s like, if you have just one little mistake in your technique here, they’re going to find a way to exploit that. They really keep you honest.”

“The margin for error is so small, I think it really teaches you quickly what you’re doing wrong and what you need to fix because once they see something, it’s over,” Slater added. “They take advantage of it so well.”

Slater will be a key cog in what is arguably the most complete offensive line that the Chargers have had in many years.

Jamaree Salyer, who started in place of Slater last season, will be the starter at right guard, while Zion Johnson moves over to left guard. They also return center Corey Linsley and right tackle Trey Pipkins, who re-signed on a three-year deal.

Projecting the Chargers’ offensive line depth chart in 2023

Projecting the nine players to make up the offensive line room to open the 2023 season.

Over the next couple of weeks leading up to training camp, I will be breaking down the depth chart for each Chargers position.

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Next up, I project what the offensive line room will look like heading into the 2023 season.

Kellen Moore says left side of offensive line will be a strength for Chargers in 2023

Kellen Moore was particularly bullish on the left side of the Chargers’ offensive line.

The Chargers are on the rise at their organized team activities, and one thing that has drawn attention is the offensive line, particularly the left side.

In an interview after practice on Wednesday, a reporter asked about the strength of his front five, and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore wasted no time in telling the media about the unit’s potential.

I think we’re building this left side that is going to have some tremendous strength behind it. Those guys’ ability to use strengths — the right side, as well — to kind of solidify these positions, to get these guys working together. I think that’s one of the biggest things with offensive line is that it’s five guys that have to be in sync. The more those guys spend time together, I think, is critical. We’re really excited about the way it’s laying out.

Star left tackle Rashawn Slater is back after missing nearly the entire 2022 season with a torn biceps.

“I love it. I’m so excited to be back,” Slater said. “I feel like we’ve all — it’s a young group, but now we had last year, especially with Zion and Jamaree.”

Slater had a dominant rookie season en route to being named to the Pro Bowl and earning Second-Team All-Pro honors.

After playing next to Matt Feiler in his first season, Slater will play next to second-year Zion Johnson, who is making the switch from right guard to left guard.

Johnson, the 2022 first-round pick, experienced some growing pains but he still flashed dominance, especially as a run blocker.

With the guys up front, the Chargers’ coaching staff won’t be content with anything short of excellence from the team’s offensive line in 2023. And if Moore’s comments are any indication, fans should be optimistic about this group’s trajectory.

Chargers’ Jamaree Salyer explains difference in approach between guard and tackle positions

Jamaree Salyer talked about the different approaches that are necessary to excel at the guard and tackle positions.

The Chargers need their offensive line to come through in a big way for them in the 2023 season, and Jamaree Salyer is poised to play a key role for the unit after taking on a starting spot as a rookie last year.

Originally drafted as a guard, Salyer played tackle in 2022 following an injury to Rashawn Slater, who held down the left side of Los Angeles’ line early in the season. Now slated to move back to guard in 2023, Salyer talked about the difference in approach between the two positions.

“Tackle, it calls for more explosion, as far as with your feet,” He explained. “Guard, I feel like, is more quick twitch. Things happen a lot faster on the inside than they do on the outside. Most of the time, as a tackle, you blocking, probably, the best pound-for-pound player on the field, he’s a good athlete, but you’re normally just blocking that person for like 70 percent of the game.

“At guard, there are twists, linebackers, nickels that come, safeties that show up on the inside, so you have to think a lot faster at guard, whereas at tackle, you have to play a lot faster, but it’s not as much thinking – most of the time, you’re just kind of out there playing the game.”

Clearly, his experience playing outside of his natural position last year gave Salyer valuable insight regarding the nuance of playing at the tackle position. He would be wise to leverage his newfound versatility moving forward, as his ability to fill in at multiple spots on Los Angeles’ front-five could prove to be a boon for the team if injuries play a role in their 2023 season.

Chargers 2023 NFL draft preview: Where does Los Angeles stand at offensive line?

Our Chargers’ NFL draft preview series continues with the offensive line.

After taking a steady approach in free agency, signing just one external player in linebacker Eric Kendricks and re-signing a handful of their own, the Chargers now have their sights set on the draft where they will look to bolster their roster with their selections and make a deeper run in 2023.

Before, we’re going position by position to break down where Los Angeles stands entering the draft.

Next up is the offensive line.

Catch the previous previews here:

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Brandon Staley on Jamaree Salyer’s move to guard in 2023: ‘That’s his natural position’

Brandon Staley said that Jamaree Salyer’s move to guard should better suit his skill set.

For the Chargers, offensive line play has never been more important as the team looks to maximize the contributions of quarterback Justin Herbert in 2023. In their pursuit of keeping their signal caller upright and operating in a clean pocket, the team is looking to reshuffle their front five next season to give themselves an edge over opposing pass rushers.

Brandon Staley spoke to the media on Monday about Jamaree Salyer, who will transition from the tackle position to guard. Staley told reporters Salyer is built to play the interior spots up front, and the third-year coach expects positive results from this latest shake-up to the team’s line.

“I think that’s his natural position,” Staley explained. “But as he proved last year, we know that Jamaree can play outside, but we kind of feel like he’s best suited to play inside. A lot of strengths as a player fit better inside.

To have him, Zion [Johnson] and Corey [Linsley] in the middle of your pocket, that’s certainly what you want to design from an offensive line standpoint. When you have that type of anchor in the middle, athleticism and then when your tackles are athletic like Trey and Rashawn [Slater] are, they have the range and the athleticism to kick to these rushers.”

Tom Telesco said the intention is to put Salyer at right guard and move second-year Zion Johnson to the left side.

Salyer started 15 games at left tackle in place of Rashawn Slater, who suffered a biceps injury in Week 3 that required surgery. Salyer entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick in the 2022 draft and found himself with more responsibilities than expected. Despite some struggles, he played reasonably well, especially given the circumstance he found himself in.

Whether this move will bear fruit for the Chargers or Salyer will remain to be seen until the 2023 season gets underway. Still, Staley’s conviction in changing the 22-year-old lineman’s position can’t be understated.

If Staley’s assessment of his game is accurate, Los Angeles may have converted a serviceable tackle into a Pro Bowl-caliber guard with this relatively minor offseason decision.