Tag: LA Chargers

Reactions to Ladd McConkey’s rookie debut

Former Georgia football star Ladd McConkey juked two defenders for a clutch touchdown in his head-turning Los Angeles Chargers debut

Former Georgia Bulldogs star and Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey left a pair of Las Vegas Raiders defenders in the dust to score his first career touchdown.

McConkey’s clutch touchdown gave Los Angeles a 22-10 lead over the Raiders with 3:40 left in the game. The Chargers went on to win 22-10. McConkey finished the contest as Los Angeles’ leading receiver, but the Chargers’ passing game managed just 140 passing yards.

“The lack of talent in the wide receiver room was evident as players struggled to separate. McConkey led the group with five catches for 39 yards and his first NFL touchdown,” said Gavino Borquez of Chargers Wire.

McConkey got the better of his former Georgia teammate, Brock Bowers, who had a strong debut with a game-high six catches for 58 receiving yards.

Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniels is high on McConkey. “Chargers have no speed or burst at WR and I said how I thought Ladd (McConkey) would become their No. 1 from Day 1… Justin (Herbert) trust him more than any of his WRs,” said Daniels via social media.

A look at McConkey’s nifty touchdown

“Rookie Ladd McConkey showed chemistry and trust right away with Justin Herbert in his professional debut,” said NFL analyst Joe O’Leary via social media.

We think Ladd McConkey is the Chargers’ best wide receiver, which is not saying much, but McConkey should post big numbers as long as he stays healthy. His NFL career is off to a great start.

Look: Chargers 2024 media day highlights

Here’s a selection of social media posts from Media Day.

With the Chargers’ offseason program nearing an end, the team showcased their players’ looks at media day as they got pictures and videos to use in upcoming promotional material.

With some of the best uniforms in the NFL, Los Angeles highlighted a handful of notable players, including rookie Joe Alt and veteran Khalil Mack among others.

Check it out:

Los Angeles Chargers 2024 schedule: Downloadable wallpapers

Keep track of every Chargers game in 2024 with our downloadable wallpapers.

The Chargers begin their road to Super Bowl LIX on Sunday against the Colts. Along the way, they will be tasked with tough matchups against teams like the Chiefs, Ravens, and Bengals.

Keep track of every Bolts game in 2024 with our downloadable wallpapers, which are perfect for desktops and mobile devices.

Desktop

Mobile

Watch Ladd McConkey’s NFL draft call with the Los Angeles Chargers

Watch UGA football wide receiver Ladd McConkey’s epic NFL draft call with Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers selected Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Ladd McConkey in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft. The Chargers traded up to the No. 34 slot in the draft to pick the speedy Georgia receiver.

McConkey impressed NFL teams throughout the draft process and will have an opportunity to be the Chargers’ top pass catcher as a rookie. Los Angeles has a thin wide receivers room and needs help.

McConkey should have a massive rookie season. Alex Katson of Chargers Wire writes that McConkey has a lot of potential in year one with Los Angeles.

The upside here is that McConkey will be a more direct replacement for the traded Keenan Allen as an underneath player who wins with route-running savvy. We know Justin Herbert likes those kinds of players: all Allen did last season was set the franchise record for receptions in a single season.

Before we get carried away with analysis on Ladd McConkey, let’s take a look at the moment he discovered the Chargers were drafting him.

McConkey watched the NFL draft with family and friends and did not have to wait long to hear his name called on Day Two. It’s always fun to see how players react when they get the call on draft day.

Former Georgia Bulldogs OL receives big performance-based bonus

Former Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer received one of the NFL’s biggest performance-based pay bonuses for his 2023 season

Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer has quickly found a role for himself in the NFL. Through two years in the NFL, Salyer has already started 31 games for the Chargers.

In his second season with Los Angeles, Salyer played in 99% of the Chargers’ offensive snaps. Salyer primarily played right guard from the Chargers after playing left tackle a year ago.

Salyer received the NFL’s ninth-highest performance-based bonus. The NFL’s performance-based bonus system is designed to reward players that are paid less than most other NFL players, but still play a ton of snaps. Last season, Salyer received over $840,000 in performance-based bonuses. Salyer had a base salary of $870,000 in 2023 and a $43,982 signing bonus, so his performance-based bonus nearly doubled his pay.

Salyer played college football at the University of Georgia and was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft. The Chargers got an absolute steal in Salyer.

Salyer started at left tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs throughout the 2020 and 2021 college football seasons. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound offensive lineman allowed only two hurries and no sacks during his final season with Georgia.

Salyer won’t be an NFL free agent until 2026, so the Chargers have him on a bargain contract for a couple more seasons.

5 potential landing spots for Odell Beckham Jr. after he pens goodbye letter to Ravens

We’re looking at 5 potential landing spots for Odell Beckham Jr. after his release from the Baltimore Ravens

The Odell Beckham Jr. era is over in Baltimore after the Ravens decided to release the veteran wide receiver with a Post June 1 designation.

Beckham confirmed the move with a goodbye on his Instagram account.

https://instagram.com/obj/p/C4olbKLPu29/?hl=en

“Swea on everything I appreciate the Flock more than yall could EVER imagine. Did everything I could wit the opportunities I had. Wish I got to do it big for yall. Thank you for the Vibez! To the City of Baltimore I f— wit yall forever FRRRR. And most importantly to my brothers over there this sh-t a lifetime sentence, I love yall! BiggestTruzzz”

The revision will allow Baltimore to spread the dead money out over 2024 and 2025, as opposed to it all hitting in 2024.

Beckham had 64 targets during his lone season in Baltimore, logging 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns.

With the move now complete, we’re looking at potential landing spots for the talented pass catcher.

Former Scarlet Knight Gus Edwards signed a two-year deal with the LA Chargers

On Monday, former Rutgers running back Gus Edwards signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.

On Monday, former Rutgers running back Gus Edwards signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. After playing five seasons with John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens, Edwards will join John’s brother Jim on the West Coast in 2024.

Edwards started his career at Miami before transferring in 2017 for his final season of eligibility. He was a standout at Rutgers, earning All-Big Ten honors in his lone season with the program.

The report has Edwards signing a two-year deal with the Chargers.

Also, the former-Scarlet Knight will be reunited with former Ravens and current Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman in Los Angeles. Edwards should transition easily to the Chargers’ offense under Roman, who held the same position in Baltimore from 2019-2022.

With former Charger running back Austin Ekeler signing a two-year deal with the Washington Commanders, Edwards can finally have the chance to be a lead back in the NFL.

[lawrence-related id=35824]

 

In the past five seasons with the Ravens, Edwards has recorded 699 carries for 3,395 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Also, the 6-foot-1, 238-pound running back added 30 receptions for 374 yards through the air.

[lawrence-related id=36191,36185]

Edwards appeared in 69 games for Baltimore with his best season coming in 2023. Last season, the former Scarlet Knight logged 198 carries for 810 yards and 13 touchdowns in 17 games, averaging 4.1 yards per attempt.

 

Chargers head coaching candidate profile: Dan Quinn

Examining who Dan Quinn is, where he comes from and why he’d be a good choice to be the head coach of the Chargers.

As the 2023 season comes to a close, the Chargers will head into the offseason head coach hiring cycle for the first time in three years. Unlike the 2021 process, they will also look for a new general manager to take control of the franchise’s football operations for the first time since 2013.

One candidate that has been floated around in several early reports is Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Quinn spent six seasons as head coach of the Falcons after meticulously crafting the “Legion of Boom” defense with the Seahawks. After Atlanta lost their first five games in 2020, Quinn was given the boot in a mid-season firing.

As mentioned earlier, Quinn has been with Dallas as DC under head coach Mike McCarthy for three seasons. From a results standpoint, the Cowboys got what they were asking for in a defensive upgrade. Dallas’ 2020 defense ranked 21st in EPA/play before the arrival of Quinn. Since 2021, the Cowboys’ defense has been at least top four in EPA/play every season. 3rd in 2021, 2nd in 2022 and 4th in 2023.

Suppose the Chargers wanted to go with a defensive-minded head coach. In that case, Quinn is easily the most qualified after having several great seasons as a defensive coordinator and a head coaching tenure that resulted in a Super Bowl run. From a resume standpoint, only someone like Bill Belichick could top his success as a defensive coach.

He has interviewed in two previous head coaching cycles since becoming Cowboys’ DC in 2021 but has withdrawn his name both times. Earlier this week, Quinn said, “I think it’s important to know how to compartmentalize,” in regards to finishing out the 2023 campaign with Dallas.

There’s been a buzz around the potential pairing of Quinn and Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. If LA didn’t want to overhaul the coaching staff completely, bringing Quinn on board could hint at a partnership with Moore. After all, they’ve already proven their synergy during their two years as coordinators in Dallas.

From Moore’s perspective, he probably didn’t get the boost in his resume that he was hoping for following the Chargers’ rocky season under Staley. But with Quinn’s hiring, Moore could get another shot to prove himself as a head coach candidate. And the best part? He wouldn’t have to overhaul the offensive system around Herbert. This could be a win-win situation for both parties.

Another speculation of Quinn building out a potential staff is Cowboys defensive backs coach Al Harris potentially coming with him. Harris could work as Quinn’s defensive coordinator or defensive backs coach. The skill in the development of several key Dallas defensive backs, like Trevon Diggs, Daron Bland, and others, would certainly be appealing for the Chargers as they rebuild their defense.

There’s a good reason why most would project an offensive-minded head coach to lead the organization, but defensive coordinators shouldn’t be ruled out entirely. Suppose the Chargers wanted to go with a defensive-minded head coach again. In that case, Quinn is easily the most qualified of that group, with several successful coordinator seasons and previous head coach experience.

Former Scarlet Knight Sebastian Joseph-Day was released by the LA Chargers

After starting 14 games for the LA Chargers this season, former Rutgers defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day was waived on Friday.

After starting 14 games for the Los Angeles Chargers this season, former Rutgers defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day was waived on Friday.

The Chargers’ former team captain signed a three-year, $24 million contract with LA in the 2022 offseason, recording 32 tackles and three sacks this season. In the last five games, Joseph-Day logged 11 tackles and one sack. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive lineman played two seasons with the Chargers, recording 88 tackles, five sacks, one force fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception in 30 games.

[lawrence-related id=33283]

Joseph-Day was drafted into the NFL in 2018 when the Los Angeles Rams drafted him in the sixth round (195th overall). While with the Rams, the Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania native registered 137 tackles, six sacks, and one forced fumble in 39 games during his three seasons in Los Angeles.

Before entering the NFL Draft in 2018, Joseph-Day played five seasons with Rutgers from 2013 to 2017. The former Scarlet Knight recorded 97 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles in 50 games. After the conclusion of his senior season, Joseph-Day received Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (Coaches) honors while capturing the 2017 Homer Hazel Award and the David Bender Trophy. Also, in his final season with the Scarlet Knights Joseph-Day received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

 

Chargers head coaching candidate profile: Jim Harbaugh

Examining who Jim Harbaugh is, where he comes from and why he’d be a good choice to be the head coach of the Chargers.

The Chargers will head into the offseason head coach hiring cycle for the first time since 2021. Unlike that year, they will also be looking for a new general manager to take control of the franchises’ football operations for the first time since 2013. With Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley out, the Chargers have to nail their next hires.

First in our offseason coaching search series is Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh. There’s been a lot of recent smoke around the Chargers being interested in Harbaugh’s return to the NFL. Bleacher Report insider Jordan Schultz said that the Chargers have interest. Harbaugh also shot to the top of BetOnline.ag’s odds for the next Chargers’ head coach at +200 on Thursday.

Harbaugh’s career ascended to NFL heights in 2011 with the Niners after successful, program-defining stops at San Diego and Stanford. At the NFL level, Harbaugh was 49-22-1. After successfully rebuilding Michigan’s football program following his San Francisco stint, he enjoys a 142-52 collegiate head coaching record.

What is motivating Harbaugh to a potential NFL return? NCAA violations, first and foremost. Harbaugh’s Michigan program was hit with several recruiting-related violations by the NCAA and was involved with a sign-stealing scandal that got him suspended for three games this season. A return to the NFL with the right ownership would allow the former San Diego Chargers quarterback to leave college on winning terms while not dealing with potential sanctions.

His current situation is reminiscent of the end of Pete Carroll’s USC tenure in the late 00’s. While several NFL media members say the league will not give Harbaugh “safe harbor” from NCAA charges, history says owners are willing to overlook a lot if it can help their organization. I don’t foresee the Harbaugh situation playing out differently in that regard.

But the question comes down to whether it’s actually time for Harbaugh to jump. He’s flirted with NFL interest for multiple offseasons but has returned to Ann Arbor each time. After an unsuccessful interview with the Vikings for their head coaching vacancy in 2022, Harbaugh said he was done chasing NFL interest. He also reportedly interviewed for the Broncos head coaching vacancy in 2023.

One of two things is true. Perhaps recent NCAA bureaucracy has changed Harbaugh’s mind, and he now wants to move to the pros. Or, as he has previously, Michigan’s head coach is leveraging NFL interest into a college extension. Reportedly, an $11 million AAV extension is waiting for Harbaugh in the offseason.

After going through three first-time head coaches in the Telesco era, Harbaugh’s reputation as a program and football culture builder is what the team needs at this juncture. As high as I am on someone like Lions OC Ben Johnson, he’d be an unknown commodity compared to the former Niners’ coach.

Unlike most coaches trying to make the jump from college to the pros, Harbaugh is a proven NFL winner, as previously mentioned. His run as the head coach of the 49ers ended with three NFC Championship games plus a Super Bowl appearance. Other college coaches have yet to match that production outside of Carroll. Urban Meyer, Chip Kelly, Kliff Kingsbury, Matt Rhule, etc., all failed in different ways after being unable to handle NFL HC responsibilities.

One thing that will be interesting to watch is personnel control. Harbaugh’s time in San Francisco was rather infamously ended after 2014 when the team failed to make the playoffs. Reportedly, tensions and differences with then GM Trent Baalke were too much to overcome. Will Harbaugh want to work under a GM or even a President of Football Operations like John Spanos? Or will he want complete control over personnel in acting as GM? What the Chargers are willing to give up in that regard could prove crucial to the hiring process if they are genuinely interested in him.

If the Chargers want an elite offense, Harbaugh and Lions OC Ben Johnson remain the top candidates. Pairing either of them with Justin Herbert makes sense in having a consistent structure on that side of the ball going forward. At some point, it would be nice for Herbert not to need a new play-caller or system from his time at Oregon almost every year.

Until after the College Football Playoff, Harbaugh’s candidacy remains a hypothetical until he decides on his future at Michigan. If truly available, the Chargers should interview him as part of a candidate cycle that looks much stronger than the 2021 field.