The Los Angeles Chargers offensive linemen appear to be bonding just fine despite having no in-person interaction.
(Photo courtesy of NBC Sport’s Peter King)
The NFL has closed team facilities in an effort to slow down the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in teams turning to virtual offseason programs. Chargers players will participate in virtual meetings and workouts with the team’s coaching staff during the virtual program.
NBC Sport’s Peter King recently got a behind-the-scenes look at what Los Angeles’ virtual offseason program looks like for the offensive line.
The team’s offensive line, meets from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. PT, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with new positional coach – James Campen. The rookies and four undrafted free agents do their work separately with Campen and assistant line coach David Diaz-Infante.
Campen joined the Chargers after spending the majority of his coaching career with the Packers and a season with the Browns.
Even though he comes from an old school approach where technology hasn’t been used as much and everything has been accomplished hands on, Campen feels like the transition to the video teleconferences with his group has been smooth for the most part.
Campen teaches a section of the playbook each day. He can open the team’s offensive playbook and call it to the screen and click on a section for the day.
I actually think it’s easier to do now because of the generation we’re in. They all use Surfaces or iPads. They watch film on the iPad, they get the game plan on the iPad. Parents say, ‘Video games are keeping my kid inside. I don’t like that.’ But that has enhanced the teaching ability in the NFL, because players are so equipped to learn this way now, so equipped to use those things. When we were getting used to Zoom, I taught them how to use the ‘Annotate’ button, so they can write on the screen and everyone can see it, and to not talk over each other, and to mute when they’re not talking. We’ll be learning a play, and I’ll say to Mike, ‘Who’s your assignment here?’ Mike [Pouncey] will circle the linebacker.
There’s always a positive about a very bad thing. This thing makes you interact with the guys. Mike and Bryan are good veterans. Their voices are prevalent in the room, and they’re making sure when they get on the field, they can trust these guys to all be on the same page. We’re not dreading these meetings, at all. It’s very different. The only difference between this and normal is we’re not in a classroom together. But we’re accomplishing what we need to.
Campen reunites with tackle Bryan Bulaga, who played under him for nearly all of his professional career with Green Bay. Bulaga was acquired via free agency.
The 31-year old knows what it’s like to have a close bond with his positional group, having been in the league for so long. So he admits that it might be challenging to gain that being limited with training camp and practices, most likely. But the Zoom calls have helped to gain the sense of closeness.
The biggest adjustment for me is going into a place where I really only knew Camp. [Campen formerly coached the Green Bay line.] You want to be somewhere and get to know them. I didn’t know . . . Am I gonna be able to bond with these guys and earn their respect through a computer screen? When we get back to the facility, who knows? It’s probably gonna be training camp, maybe a short one, and you won’t have time to build those relationships. We’re gonna have to jump into those things quick. It’s been very good, though, overall. Guys are learning, picking up the playbook. We’re doing the best we can with what we have.
Being in the league for 10 years, you know how the offensive line bonds. It’s the most unique in every building, I think, because of the personalities. We all log in a little bit early, just to shoot the breeze with the guys for 10, 15 minutes. Maybe you bust balls for 10, 15 minutes. Banter back and forth. Today I got busted up a little bit, because I belong to a country club out here. I don’t see what’s wrong with that. I enjoy golf. Why wouldn’t I enjoy a golf club?
With the situation going on outside, it’s a very difficult time in the country. But for the players, this work has been a positive. Not being in the building has its disadvantages, but I do know I’m also saving my legs a little bit for the season too.
Center Mike Pouncey is entering his third season with the Chargers. Pouncey has yet to be medically cleared after suffering a severe neck injury last season. However, he is hopeful that he will be good to go when the season starts.
For the past few seasons, Pouncey has been the only veteran on the offensive line aside from offensive tackle Russell Okung. But he knows that’s changing with the additions of Bulaga and guard Trai Turner.
It’s a different experience. Most of the guys are new. A lot easier to accept guys when they already have the respect factor from playing in the league. Our league is built with alpha dogs. The biggest part for me and Bryan is to be professionals for the young guys who are learning. They’re on these calls, seeing how we learn, how we conduct ourselves. If you’ve been in the league a while, you’ve seen most of these plays. Maybe the terminology is different, but you can learn it pretty fast.
We got two new guys who’ve played a lot of ball, Bryan and Trai Turner. The veteran transition to the team is a lot easier, because they’re vets. They’re already accepted in our brotherhood. They’re just changing jersey colors. They’ll learn this stuff pretty easily. The whole experience is strange, but it’s the same everywhere.
Maybe we start a new thing. Maybe the first two weeks of this program should be virtual, to protect guys. I’m the union rep for the Chargers. I have really enjoyed the process, made the most of it. Learned a lot of the playbook, probably more than I normally would, because in the building you’d be working out and getting to know the guys.
Starting on May 18, each team can choose to continue its offseason workout program, virtually or on-field, if teams have been allowed to report to their facilities. The virtual period will end and the on-field period will begin for all teams when all NFL team facilities are allowed to reopen. The off-season workout programs must end for all teams by June 26.
