Tag: trey pipkins

Jim Harbaugh bullish on Chargers offensive line

The Chargers want to run the ball at a high level and it all starts up front in the trenches.

The Chargers have undergone quite the transformation, but when it comes to matters on the field, the offensive line is the unit that is amidst quite the redesign. 

Jim Harbaugh made it clear that he wanted the Bolts to be a physical football team. Once offensive coordinator Greg Roman came to Los Angeles, he also made it clear that the Chargers were going to be a team that could run the ball with gumption. 

Just a few weeks before training camp in July, the Chargers’ running game coordinator and tight ends coach echoed Harbaugh and Roman with his insight on the offensive line’s current status. 

“This is going to be an O-line-centric building,” Bischoff said. “When it comes to our strength program, it’s built around the O-line. Everybody else fall in line.

“Some people don’t value offensive linemen. We do,” Bischoff added. “That will be shown in how we approach everything — from how we stretch to how we lift, to how we run the ball, to how we protect. This is a place where O-linemen are going to want to come and play because it’s an O-line-centric space.”

The Chargers stuck to their guns and drafted the best offensive tackle available in Joe Alt in April. The Bolts also added veteran center Bradley Bozeman in free agency.

It’s clear the Bolts mean business and are looking for a more versatile offense this season. 

From left to right, Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bozeman, Trey Pipkins III and Alt have made up the starting squad. 

“Not having a weak link is critical,” Harbaugh said. “I think we’re trending to really having a top-to-bottom outstanding offensive line.”

There have been a few position changes including Alt moving to right tackle and Pipkins switching to guard. 

“Whether it’s guard, whether it’s tackle, you can rely on him to be whatever we need him to be,” Justin Herbert said of his teammate Pipkins. “He’s done such a great job with that, especially in the weight room.

“His commitment, his leadership, the guy he is in the locker room, we’re glad to have guys like him on the team,” Herbert added.

The Chargers coaches have certainly built high hopes for this year’s offensive line. They are crucial to the offense’s functionality, and it’s common knowledge that any winning team in the NFL can run the ball well. 

“I can’t speak highly enough of how those guys are working,” Roman said. “You can start to visualize some things you can do with those guys.

“They’re very versatile, very good athletes, they pull well, they can come off the ball and knock people back,” Roman added. “They can go reach people. We’re really excited about that group.”

Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh reveals starting offensive line ahead of minicamp

The Chargers’ offensive line is already beginning to take shape.

The Chargers offensive line has been a topic of conversation since the end of last season. Now, as the 2024 season approaches, five players are cementing their spots as the starting linemen. 

“I think it’s on track to be a top-tier offensive line in the NFL,” Harbaugh said. “Rashawn [Slater], Zion [Johnson], Bradley Bozeman, probably right now Trey Pipkins and Joe Alt. Those five have really separated themselves.”

According to Harbaugh, this group will likely make up one of the best units in the league. 

In team drills, Alt has been playing right tackle, and Pipkins has been positioned at right guard, which is quite impressive since he has only played tackle throughout his career. 

“Extremely capable of doing it,” Harbaugh said about Pipkins. “He’s an outstanding player, he’s an outstanding tackle and he’s an outstanding guard.”

Pipkins’ versatility seems to be paying dividends for the Chargers offensive line; however, the ultimate test will be when the season begins. 

“The idea of getting to our best five at all times and playing that, it may shake out in what the rotation is but you need five really good ones, five best you have, playing as one,” Harbaugh said. “Pretty much every team we play, they have really good edge rushers on both sides.

“They have interior rushers that are good on both sides. Not having a weak link is critical,” Harbaugh said. “I think we’re trending to really having a top-to-bottom outstanding offensive line.”

Training camp will ultimately be when the final starters are chosen but this gives Chargers fans at least a good idea of what’s to come. 

Joe Alt receiving first-team reps at right tackle, Trey Pipkins at right guard at Chargers OTAs

Jim Harbaugh said that they’re going to start their best five offensive linemen.

This early in the process is when different looks and lineups are incorporated to see how players mesh with one another.

But a notable development came during Chargers OTAs. According to the team’s official reporter, Eric Smith, Joe Alt received starting reps at right tackle while Trey Pipkins slid inside to right guard.

Smith mentioned that when the Chargers went to 11-on-11 drills, Brenden Jaimes came in for Zion Johnson. Alt replaced Pipkins, who slid inside to right guard.

Jim Harbaugh emphasized that they’re going to start the best five linemen when the season comes around.

At the moment, left tackle Rashawn Slater, center Bradley Bozeman and Alt are likely the only ones with starting spots locked up. Meanwhile, there will likely be a competition for the guard spots, with Johnson, Salyer, Pipkins and Jaimes in contention for them.

How the offensive line shakes up will be one of the biggest storylines when training camp begins in July.

Chargers sign former first-round pick Alex Leatherwood

The Chargers added to the offensive line with the signing of Alex Leatherwood.

The Chargers have signed former 2021 Raiders first-round selection Alex Leatherwood to the roster. In Leatherwood, the Chargers are getting an offensive lineman who has started games at both tackle and guard.

Leatherwood played his most recent regular season snaps in 2022 with the Bears at right tackle and left guard. In 2023, he was a member of the Browns’ practice squad. He was not signed to a futures reserve deal in January.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh once offered Leatherwood at Michigan when he took a visit in 2016. The promise of his prospect nature as a first-rounder and college profile certainly could be at play here. Aside from any potential projection down the road, the Chargers have asserted that they’re building through the trenches. So depth is still needed at any spot. Another body at tackle may mean the team is committed to seeing a potential Trey Pipkins-guard experiment play out if it ends up that way.

In his last full season as a starter, Leatherwood committed 14 penalties, allowed eight sacks, and gave up 65 pressures. The Raiders tried transitioning him to guard before fully moving on in the 2022 season.

The former highly touted Alabama prospect’s career has been tumultuous. Clearly, the Chargers believe he can still contribute in 2024.

2024 NFL draft: Watch highlights of new Chargers WR Ladd McConkey

Get familiar with the newest member of the Chargers, Ladd McConkey.

The Chargers improved the wide receiver room with the selection of Ladd McConkey at No. 34 overall.

There were questions about when Los Angeles would address the position after taking Joe Alt in the first round. They answered them by moving up three spots to get McConkey, arguably the best route runner in this class.

To get familiar with the newest member of the Bolts, here are some highlights of McConkey:

 

2024 NFL draft: Watch highlights of new Chargers OT Joe Alt

Get familiar with the newest member of the Chargers, Joe Alt.

The Chargers bolstered the offensive line with the selection of Joe Alt at No. 5 overall.

Many wanted a wide receiver, but Jim Harbaugh stuck to his guns by adding a physically imposing player who will not only keep Justin Herbert upright but improve the ground game.

To get familiar with the newest member of the Bolts, here are some highlights of Alt:

 

 

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.”

Kellen Moore on Chargers offense: ‘A work in progress’

The Chargers offense has been uneven this season.

When Kellen Moore was hired, the thought was that he would take the Chargers offense to another level. The team is midway through the season, and it has yet to transpire completely.

Specifically, Los Angeles wanted to be more explosive in the passing game and run the ball more efficiently. However, there have not been a lot of shots down the field from Justin Herbert and the running game has been stagnant.

Moore’s offense has only scored two second-half touchdowns in the past five games. His unit ranks 26th in second-half offense.

“It’s a work in progress,” Moore said. “You go through ebbs and flows and you have a few guys go down, navigate some different roles and we would certainly love to play better. It’ll happen over time. We will get better.”

There are some factors in the offense’s inability to be at its full potential, starting with Herbert breaking the middle finger on his non-throwing left hand during the Week 4 game against the Raiders. Since then, he has worn a splint on it, which has hindered him to a certain extent.

Along the offensive line, Corey Linsley has been out with a heart issue. Will Clapp, Linsley’s replacement, has struggled. Herbert has been sacked five times in two of the past three games. Linsley’s absence has negatively impacted the group as a whole, and the consistent pressure has given Herbert little time to throw.

At wide receiver, the Chargers have been without Mike Williams, who suffered a torn ACL against the Vikings in Week 3. Joshua Palmer, who is on injured reserve with a sprained knee, will be out for at least the next three games. Quentin Johnston has shown flashes but has yet to play to his first-round billing.

Furthermore, they have lacked blocking production from the tight end position since the start of the season.

“We are where we are right now. I think that this group is still figuring it out together, but I like the group that we are coaching and I like the way this group’s competing,” Brandon Staley said.

As Los Angeles gets into the second half of the season, they need to quickly figure out the offense if they want to find themselves in the playoffs again.

Studs and duds from Chargers’ 27-6 win over the Jets

Let’s look back at the notable performers from the Chargers’ win over Jets.

The Chargers extended their winning streak to two with a dominant 27-6 win against the Jets at Met Life. Traveling to the East Coast is never easy and LA got it done against one of the tougher defenses in the league.

For the second time this season, the Bolts are back at .500 with a chance to get back into playoff contention.

Before diving into Week 10’s Lions matchup, let’s look back at the week’s notable performers.

Stud: EDGE Joey Bosa

It’s a night and day difference when Joey Bosa is healthy in the lineup. Bosa had just six pressures and one sack in the three games that he was dealing with a broken toe on the injury report. In the last two weeks that he’s been in the clear medically, Bosa has 11 pressures, four sacks, and nine stops in the backfield. He’s rushing the passer and stopping the run at a high level.

Bosa just looks a half second faster off of the line initially and is playing with notably more force in front of him. If he’s able to keep up this production with the development of Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack’s bounce-back season relative to last year, LA’s defensive front may be able to give some of the best offensive lines in the league some trouble.

Dud: RB Austin Ekeler

Since his return against the Cowboys in Week 6, Ekeler has yet to have a game where he averages more than 3.4 yards per carry. Against the Jets, he had one carry for 20 yards. The rest of his 13 opportunities went for 27 yards.

Uncharacteristically, Ekeler also had three drops on Monday. In his seven seasons with the Chargers, he had never had a game with more than two.

The offensive line situation hasn’t been optimal, but it’s clear at this point that the Ekeler of years past isn’t here right now. Whether it’s his previous ankle injury this season or just a lack of burst from hitting the running back wall, the running hasn’t been as precise or impactful.

Time will tell if Ekeler maintains his current usage or if the team will feel the need to bump up Joshua Kelley’s usage, but the clock is ticking.

Stud: S Alohi Gilman

Alohi Gilman received his second elite PFF grade of the season with a 90.8, leading the Chargers’ defense in teams’ weekly scores. Gilman forced a fumble, returned a fumble recovery and had a pass breakup. On pace to play the most coverage snaps of his career, Gilman has given up just seven completions.

He has a clear nose for the football in being around turnovers and lays hits hard. While Gilman’s presence in previous seasons had seemed more incidental to the Chargers’ success, he’s been the engine of the secondary when it has been at its’ most potent and aggressive this year.

In a contract year, Gilman is balling when it matters.

Dud: TE Gerald Everett

Coming back from a hip injury certainly isn’t easy, but Gerald Everett has largely had a side role in the Chargers’ offense this year. After six straight seasons of increasing receiving production from the vet, Everett is on pace for his lowest yardage total since 2020. Week 2 against the Titans was the only game in which he produced more than 30 receiving yards this season.

The lack of pass-catching productivity from the Bolts’ receiving room is particularly felt at a time when the team is missing Joshua Palmer and Mike Williams. Everett also fumbled despite the Chargers’ recovering the ball. He’s had two fumbles on the season after having zero last season.

Stud: WR Keenan Allen

The Vikings game will likely remain Keenan Allen’s best of the season from a production standpoint throughout the year, but there’s an argument for his game against the Jets being high up on a list of his best performances.

Eight receptions on 77 yards may not seem that impressive on the box score but consider the circumstances. Absolutely no one else on the Chargers’ offense was able to produce consistently on Monday night. Four of Allen’s eight catches came against the elite Jets’ secondary trio of Sauce Gardner, Michael Carter II, and D.J. Reed.

It was Allen’s second-highest PFF offensive grade of the season. The route running prowess, the big-time catches to extend drives when the Chargers had to have them, and the insanity of the spinning around near the sideline catch…it’s hard to believe it’s year 11 for Slayer.

Dud: The offensive line

One step forward last week, two big steps back this week. After the Chargers allowed just eight pressures on Justin Herbert last week, the offensive line allowed 22 against the Jets.

Rashawn Slater and Trey Pipkins combined to allow 15 pressures, 3 QB hits and a sack. The days weren’t much better for Will Clapp, Zion Johnson and Jamaree Salyer.

In fairness to the Chargers, the Jets’ defensive front is an absolute struggle to play with the amount of pressure they’re able to get on three and four-man rush looks. But it would’ve been nice to see some progression for the Chargers after the Bears game. Instead, the line looked just as overwhelmed as it did against Kansas City and Dallas.

From Slater’s ankle injury to the absence of Corey Linsley, the Chargers have a lot of confounding factors for why the offensive line performance has been poor. But they’re running out of time to figure it out.

Chargers offensive snap count leaders at the bye week

Taking a look at the Chargers’ offensive players who have seen the field the most.

With four games played and the Chargers on bye week, I figured it’d be a good time to take a look at which players are going to benefit the most from this time to rest and recover before entering the final stretch of the season.

With that said, here’s a glance at the Bolts’ top-10 offensive snap leaders after four weeks.