Tag: Justin Herbert

Eagles’ Jalen Carter, James Bradberry to compete in ‘The Catch’ saltwater fishing tournament

Philadelphia Eagles stars Jalen Carter and James Bradberry are set to compete alongside 17 other NFL players in a saltwater fishing tournament benefiting the Coast Guard Foundation

The quarterbacks have ‘The Match,’ and now a handful of NFL stars, including Jalen Carter, are heading to the sea for a good cause.

The Eagle’s second-year defensive tackle and veteran cornerback James Bradberry is among seven-star players participating alongside Sport Fishing Championship’s leading anglers in “The Catch” saltwater fishing tournament on CBS live from the Fontainebleau Miami Beach on Saturday, April 20.

The players will compete to raise awareness for Sport Fishing Championship’s ocean-based “community champions.” The competition will also benefit the Coast Guard Foundation.

The coastal waters off Miami will be the arena as two teams are divided and captained by the SFC’s Billfish Championship top competitors, including reigning 2022 Champion Capt. Justin Drummond of Team Quantified, 2022 SFC Fan Vote Angler of The Year, Jaselyn Berthelot of Rising Sons, and 2022 SFC Wahoo Champion and Atlantic Division rival Capt. Taylor Sanford with Team Gypsea.

Here’s more about the competition via Sport Fishing Championship’s press release:

The coastal waters off Miami will be the arena as two teams are divided and will be captained by the SFC’s Billfish Championship top competitors, including reigning 2022 Champion Capt. Justin Drummond of Team Quantified, 2022 SFC Fan Vote Angler of The Year, Jaselyn Berthelot of Rising Sons, and 2022 SFC Wahoo Champion and Atlantic Division rival Capt. Taylor Sanford with Team Gypsea.

The competition will use SFC’s billfish catch-and-release scoring system. The exhibition will showcase the Coast Guard Foundation – the premier non-profit organization supporting active U.S. Coast Guard members, veterans, and their families through investments that support families, bolster unit morale and honor the Coast Guard’s national mission.

The Catch, Powered by Verizon, is a made-for-TV competition pairing SFC angling stars with the NFL’s biggest names and takes place April 18-20 at Pier Sixty-Six, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Viewers can tune in to the broadcast on the CBS Sports Network, Saturday, April 20, from 3-5 p.m.

Former Pro Bowl safety has lofty expectations for Jim Harbaugh in Year 1 with Chargers

Jim Harbaugh has proven to be a winner everywhere he has coached, and one of his former players sees it being no different with the Chargers.

Jim Harbaugh has proven to be a winner everywhere he has coached. Now, as the Chargers’ head coach, one of Harbaugh’s former players believes it will be no different.

Former Pro Bowl safety Donte Whitner, who played under Harbaugh when he was the 49ers’ head coach, heaped high praise on him, foreseeing a lot of success for Los Angeles with Harbaugh as the leader.

“I believe that Jim Harbaugh and the LA Chargers are going to be in the AFC Championship Game this year,” Whitner said on a recent episode of Kay Adams’ show Up & Adams.

Whitner backed up his claim by mentioning Justin Herbert and calling Harbaugh the “quarterback Whisperer,” highlighting the success he had with former Niner Colin Kaepernick and Michigan’s JJ McCarthy.

“Any of the quarterbacks that were under the tutelage of Jim Harbaugh, he figures out what your strengths are, and he tailors his offense around that in the running game,” Whitner added.

Whitner then brought up the defensive side of the ball and how physical and fundamentally sound Harbaugh requires his players to play.

“And then his defense they have you know [Joey] Bosa on one side and then um of the guy Mack, Khalil Mack on the other side along with the secondary and how fundamental and physical he demands his teams to be.”

Harbaugh will have a lot of top-end talent to work with, but the depth of the roster still leaves a lot to be desired. If they can nail the draft, then we could start forecasting a successful 2024 season for the Bolts.

Ben Herbert highlights the goal of Chargers offseason program

Executive Director of Player Performance Ben Herbert shared his approach and thoughts on the new training regimen. 

The first day of the Chargers’ offseason program began on Tuesday and Executive Director of Player Performance Ben Herbert shared his approach and thoughts on the new training regimen. 

Herbert made a questionnaire that the players filled out to give him a better understanding of where the players stand at the moment.

The foundation of Herbert’s program is consistency and attention to detail. 

His goal for the program is to develop stronger and “harder to break” players. To accomplish this, he will focus on five key areas: neck, shoulders, hips, hamstrings, and ankles.

“Consistency is incredibly valuable to me,” said Herbert, who also relayed a story about why putting weight back correctly on the rack is important.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s the second plate of the 10th plate, it goes back precisely,” Herbert said. “It’s no different than a DB’s eyes of his footwork. Or an offensive lineman’s hand placement.

“We practice attention to detail,” Herbert added. “We train a certain way but it’s also how we keep the room.”

Herbert made it clear that his approach is not to break the players down and build them back up, but rather, he hopes to equip them to endure the challenges of playing in the NFL.

He is also keen on building rapport with the players in order for them to be successful in their training. 

“I’m here to impact them and this team in the most positive way.”

Ben Herbert kicks off Chargers offseason program

Executive Director of Player Performance Ben Herbert began his offseason training regimen with the Chargers on Tuesday. 

Executive Director of Player Performance Ben Herbert began his offseason training regimen with the Chargers on Tuesday. 

As the head of the offseason program, Herbert had the opportunity to meet the players as a group. 

“To say I was excited for today would be an understatement,” Herbert said.

This is Herbert’s first time leading a program in the NFL. Herbert comes from the University of Michigan, where he spent six seasons. In that time, he developed 22 NFL draft picks, including six first-round selections. 

As the offseason program started, Herbert chose not to converse much with players throughout their weight room sessions. Instead, he showed the group how he wanted things done. 

His philosophy is to show, not tell. 

“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say,” Herbert said. 

The saying may sound familiar since it is often used by head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Herbert said it was a “no-brainer” when Harbaugh asked him to join the Chargers coaching staff, especially since the two share similar football philosophies. 

“The game of football, building a team, coaching a team is very important to him,” Herbert said. “If you see it that same way and it’s important to you … if you’re willing to sacrifice and commit … you’re going to have a great relationship and great rapport with Coach.”

The Chargers are still months away from the regular season, but Herbert ensures that they will be ready as they will seek peak performance every day.

“The time we spend together will have value. I’m confident they realize it after Day 1,” Herbert said. “With each passing day, they will reap the rewards of what we do in that training environment.”

Look: Chargers arrive for first day of offseason workout program

Check out the Chargers back in action.

Since the Chargers have a new head coach in Jim Harbaugh, they began their voluntary workout program before any of the other NFL teams, as players and coaches were back in the building on Tuesday.

It’s only the first phase of the program, which consists of meetings and weight room training. Once Phase 2 begins, players can get on the field and begin running drills, not in an 11-on-11 setting, however.

To see the Bolts return to the facility and in action in the weight room, here are some photos and a video, courtesy of the team’s official social media.

 

Takeaways from Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh’s offseason program press conference

Jim Harbaugh gave his first press conference as the Chargers opened up their voluntary offseason program on Monday.

Jim Harbaugh gave his first press conference on Monday as the Chargers opened their voluntary offseason program. He last spoke at the owner’s meetings before this week. Clearly, he was excited after mentioning April 2nd’s start to the program more than once.

First, Harbaugh stressed the importance of Ben Herbert’s being with the Chargers. In Phase 1 of this install, it seems like a lot of detailed work is being done.

We just got right into football, putting the schemes in offensively and defensively, baseline training. Ben Herbert is huge in this Phase 1.

In his own press conference, Herbert would later discuss the “baseline training” and the Chargers’ players filling out an introductory performance questionnaire.

When asked about how the team would start establishing physicality, Harbaugh went on to say:

We’re really big on what you do speaks so loudly that we can’t even hear what you’re saying. What you do speaks so loudly. The rest is talk. I’m not going to talk, just talk about it. When you get to the point where the players know that they’re physical, they’re dominant, they’ve trained themselves to be there, in that place, then I won’t have to get up here and say anything, they won’t have to get up here and say anything.

Harbaugh laid out various conditioning-related Harbaugh-isms such as “Fat is the enemy of speed” and “Do you want a steel rod in your neck or do you want a noodle?” He and Herbert so far have every intention of trying to carry their sports performance program to the NFL in a more significant way than seen in previous Chargers’ staffs.

Harbaugh played it coy when asked about the Chargers potentially trading the fifth pick. “When does Joe [Hortiz] talk? The week prior to the draft? That’s a phenomenal question for Joe Hortiz. You get to go into as much depth as he’ll go into a week before the draft. [laughter]”

Tuesday was offensive and defensive meetings day. Harbaugh was involved in setting up and participating in both. Special teams meetings will be held on Wednesday.

Harbaugh echoed very positive sentiments of what he said a few months ago on SportsCenter in regards to starting the Chargers’ job. When asked about the first three months:

This is just true, it’s been the best damn job I’ve ever had to start out with I hope that it ends that way, but it’s been a tremendous start. Hiring coaches, free agency — that’s not just one day, that goes for a while — getting ready for the draft. Really excited about the coaching staff and the amount of work that has been produced over the last month-and-a-half. It’s been a lot, they’ve done a great job. It’s been locked, cocked, ready to rock, just needed the players to come in, and we got that today. It’s been really good.

In regards to the new acquisition, Kristian Fulton, Harbaugh essentially said the goal is to get him healthy and playing well. He talked about getting Fulton with Ben Herbert to address soft tissue injuries that have impacted the former Titans cornerback’s availability in the past.

When asked about attendance, Harbaugh reiterated that the program is voluntary. It would seem that not everyone is in Costa Mesa yet. Pictures released on the Chargers’ website of player entrances show approximately 30-40 different players entering the facility, including Justin Herbert. OTAs will take place in May, while mandatory minicamp will be in June.

Chargers announce 2024 offseason workouts, OTA dates

Find out when the Chargers will start their offseason workout program.

The start of the 2024 regular season is still months away, but preparations for it are set to begin this week.

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.

  • First Day: April 2
  • Organized Team Activities (OTAs): May 20-21, May 23, May 29-31 and June 4-7
  • Mandatory Minicamp: June 11-13

Because Jim Harbaugh is a new head coach, Los Angeles can start earlier than other NFL teams.

Commanders watch as North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye impresses at pro day

Another Justin Herbert comparison for Drake Maye after his pro day performance.

“I would say the last ten minutes of that pro day can’t go much better.”

That was how ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky described Drake Maye’s workout today in front of NFL representatives, including Adam Peters and Dan Quinn.

As soon as the North Carolina pro day workout had concluded, ESPN went to a panel that discussed Maye’s passing workout.

Here is every Drake Maye throw from today’s UNC Pro Day.

“If you had asked me, Hannah (Storm), the number one thing that pops on tape is how good he throws the ball downfield. You know, the 15-25 yard throws.”

“When we were watching I said, ‘My goodness he has a hand cannon.’ Just the throws down the field, the last ten throws were absolutely spectacular. There was a couple misses early on. He missed a slant, he missed an out — that’s going to happen at times.”

“I think with what we saw, which was the great majority of his throws, you have to be really encouraged. I think the thing I was looking for most, Mike T (Tannenbaum), was how were his feet going to look?”

“Those definitely looked much improved when it came to the rhythm of his throwing, rather than the natural talent and athleticism of him throwing.”

Tannenbaum responded, “To that point, Hannah (Storm), I think he looked a lot like Justin Herbert: big, strong, and athletic. I think what we saw in the pro day sort of punctuated that because the ball came out really easy, and he could get the ball down the field flawlessly.”

Chargers get best player available, fill holes in Chad Reuter’s latest 4-round mock draft

Breaking down the Chargers’ picks in Chad Reuter’s latest four-round mock draft.

The Chargers have a smidge bit of leeway heading into the NFL draft after addressing a few positional needs in free agency, but there are still some critical spots on the roster that need to be filled next month.

In NFL Media’s Chad Reuter’s latest four-round mock draft, he sees Los Angeles taking the best player available at a glaring position of need in the first round and building out the depth chart the rest of the way out.

In Round 1, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. falls in their lap.

The Cardinals, who have the No. 4 overall pick, trade back with the Vikings in this scenario. Minnesota takes their quarterback of the future in J.J. McCarthy, leaving Harrison for the taking.

With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams gone, the Bolts must add to the wideout room in the worst way.

Harrison is a bonafide star skill player with athleticism, speed, route-running savvy and elite ball skills. He would quickly develop close chemistry with Justin Herbert and boost the offense significantly.

In Round 2, L.A. takes defensive tackle Braden Fiske.

Fiske, the 6-foot-4 and 292-pounder, was a standout at the NFL Scouting Combine. He led all defensive tackles in the vertical (33.5″), broad jump (9’9), and 40-yard dash (4.78 seconds).

That immense athleticism shows up on the football field, as Fiske plays with good movement skills and quickness. While he possesses below-average length, Fiske is crafty with his hands and is strong at the point of attack.

The Chargers signed Poona Ford last week, but they still need to fill out the interior part of the defensive line depth chart.

In Round 3, the Chargers select cornerback DJ James.

James has a lot of experience, having spent his final two seasons at Auburn after three with Oregon. He is a great athlete with the desired coverage skills and knack for the football, as evidenced by leading the SEC in forced incompletions (15) in 2023.

With their first pick in the fourth round, Los Angeles selects running back Will Shipley.

Shipley shows the burst, decisiveness, and receiving ability to be a rotational back, which are all traits that the Bolts could use in the backfield as they look to finish building out the group.

With the additional fourth-round pick they got from the Bears in return for Keenan Allen, L.A. takes offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea.

Jim Harbaugh wants to be more physical up front to aid the running game and that means bolstering the offensive line with his guys. Laumea is an experienced player who logged 44 straight games between right tackle and right guard. He is a fleet-footed mover with a nasty streak.

Antonio Pierce calls GM Tom Telesco ‘magician’ in terms of drafting quarterback

Is Tom Telesco really the ‘magician’ in terms of drafting quarterback that Antonio Pierce thinks he is?

Regardless of how you feel about the hiring of Tom Telesco, for the Raiders, the former Chargers is seen as the right guy at the right time.

First and foremost, Mark Davis opted not to go with any first time GM’s because he had already decided to go with first time head coach Antonio Pierce. In this situation, Pierce was to be surrounded by experienced people to allow Pierce to focus on motivating his players.

But there’s also the issue with the Raiders heading into the draft with a need at QB for the first time in a decade. That’s an area where they like Telesco’s experience.

“I got Tom Telesco in there. Got the magician. Figure out what he’s got up his sleeve,” Pierce told NFL media’s Carol Smith. “He’s done it for a long time. I got a lot of trust in him. I think he’s seen it wherever he’s been. Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, becomes a GM with the Chargers, Philip Rivers, Justin Herbert. So he knows something about quarterbacks. So I’m going to let him figure it out.”

Yes, Telesco has “seen” great quarterback play. Though he can’t really be credited much for it.

The Chargers landed franchise QB Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick after Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa had been selected. Making for one of the more no-brainer picks in the draft as the Chargers were moving on from Philip Rivers and there was a significant dropoff at QB in the draft after that. They were taking whichever of the three QB’s were on the board.

Andrew Luck’s selection carried even less suspense. Telesco had just been promoted to VP of football ops from director of player personnel. The Colts had the number one overall pick and Luck was the obvious choice at first overall.

Peyton Manning was also a number one overall pick and he was selected the same year Telesco joined the team as an area scout. So, needless to say Telesco was not influencing anything with that pick. Philip Rivers was already a veteran on the Chargers when Telesco joined those team.

So, at best Telesco may be a good judge of the kind of intangibles great quarterbacks should possess because he shared a building with several in his career. He’s been lucky enough to have only experienced one full season without one of those four quarterbacks behind center. And that was the notorious “Suck for Luck” season.

Pierce and the Raiders are banking on Telesco’s up-close-and-personal experience with these QB’s translating to the Raiders finding their own answer at quarterback in this year’s draft.

The Raiders currently sit at 13 overall. Most expect the top four quarterbacks — Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and JJ McCarthy — to be off the board by then, with a dropoff at the position after that.

Next up would be Michael Penix and Bo Nix, but both are considered late first round or early second round prospects.

This means for the first time in his front office career Telesco’s QB magic skills will be truly put to the test.