2020 Chargers Training Camp and Final 53 Discussion

[Bolt-O]

Football still requires 7 players on the line of scrimmage, and the 4 remaining are 'backs'. The flanker was just a pass catcher that was just behind the line of scrimmage. The two players on the ends of the line of scrimmage just happen to be eligible to catch passes, one was usually 'tight' and one 'wide'.

I don't know when the term 'flankerback' faded, but I recall Johnny Rogers was drafted as a Flanker. I'm guessing the terminology ended around the early 70's, probably around Air Coryell. I think in the old days the Flanker was the faster receiver, who they wanted to keep off the line of scrimmage to avoid him getting jammed, and was on the opposite side of the Wide (or Split End). Now, wide receivers are asked to play on the line (X), opposite but off the line (Z) or between the Tight End and the Z, (Y, or Slot).

[21&500]

Never heard the term "flankerback" but that makes sense.

[chargeroo]

This has nothing to do with the Bolts but it's kinda funny so I'll share it -

My wife and I had our first night out since Covid hit on Friday. I swear we had not been out at night in all that time but Friday, I took her to the emergency room. She had a few tests and found out she's doing fine and we got home about 10:30 On the way home I told her this is our new date night - she didn't hit me too hard. I just think it's funny that the only time out since March was to the darn hospital.

[21&500]

This has nothing to do with the Bolts but it's kinda funny so I'll share it -

My wife and I had our first night out since Covid hit on Friday. I swear we had not been out at night in all that time but Friday, I took her to the emergency room. She had a few tests and found out she's doing fine and we got home about 10:30 On the way home I told her this is our new date night - she didn't hit me too hard. I just think it's funny that the only time out since March was to the darn hospital.

You’ve got a good woman Romeo!
haha

[powderblueboy]

Who do you think was playing OC next to Lamp for the few snaps he played before injury last season?
Feeney’s strength is his run blocking prowess. Dan gets in trouble with 1 on 1 pass blocking assignments against speed/power guys. He gets his shoulders over his toes when he misses his initial punch and his balance & anchor is ruined.

He needs to give the hand punch extra oomph or he'll get steamrolled backwards...that's what that tells me; everything has to be perfect. At 6'4" - 305 pounds, that's not a lot of bulk in NFL trenches. The only other way to look at it is: 3 years and he can't correct that? How does he spend his time? Feeney gets out to the 2nd level really well, and he gets outside quickly on pulls; however, he's not the kind of guy who, if you need 1 yard, you run behind him. Schofield & Feeney's lack of physicality hurt the teams efforts running in the red zone last year. I pointed out last preseason that his functional strength is not on par with the average NFL guard....i got no takers. People started pointing out his combine bench press numbers (26 reps) as demonstrating good enough power.

[powderblueboy]

You’ve got a good woman Romeo!
haha

Next time Chargeroo needs to take his wife to a burger and shakes joint before coming home...two straws for one milkshake. That will officially be a date.

[FoutsFan]

Football still requires 7 players on the line of scrimmage, and the 4 remaining are 'backs'. The flanker was just a pass catcher that was just behind the line of scrimmage. The two players on the ends of the line of scrimmage just happen to be eligible to catch passes, one was usually 'tight' and one 'wide'.

I don't know when the term 'flankerback' faded, but I recall Johnny Rogers was drafted as a Flanker. I'm guessing the terminology ended around the early 70's, probably around Air Coryell. I think in the old days the Flanker was the faster receiver, who they wanted to keep off the line of scrimmage to avoid him getting jammed, and was on the opposite side of the Wide (or Split End). Now, wide receivers are asked to play on the line (X), opposite but off the line (Z) or between the Tight End and the Z, (Y, or Slot).

In my first team I played on in pads our ends played the on the same side all game. When the strong side was on the right the end was Tight and the weak side was “Split” and the Flanker was on the strong side. When the strong side was on the left the end came in “tight” the flanker went left and the right end split out “wide” I am dating myself LOL with these formations but it made it simple. And our strong side was dictated by which hash the ball was on.

[like54ninjas]

These are the Chargers training-camp battles to watch

Several showdowns loom, with the backup running back job between Jackson and Kelley looking like a contrast in styles

Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn has several position battles to oversee in training camp this summer. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo, File)By

GILBERT MANZANO | gmanzano@scng.com |
PUBLISHED: August 15, 2020 at 2:13 p.m. | UPDATED: August 15, 2020 at 5:53 p.m.
The way Austin Ekeler raved about Justin Jackson this week might make the Chargers reconsider having Jackson compete for the No. 2 running back job this training camp.

Ekeler is known for making dynamic plays, and he spent three years watching two-time Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon, so Ekeler’s review of Jackson shouldn’t be taken as an exaggeration.

“If he can stay healthy, this man is so unique,” Ekeler said about Jackson. “Just his running style, I’ve never seen anyone like it. Even at practices, I’m trying to emulate him. He’ll laugh, but I’m actually trying to, but I can’t because my body just doesn’t function the way his does.”

With that type of praise, the Chargers would be wise to hand Jackson the No. 2 running back position


But the key words in Ekeler’s evaluation are “if he can stay healthy.” The Chargers likely agree with the praise. They’ve seen Jackson make special plays when he’s on the field, but he’s played in only 20 of 32 games in his first two seasons.

The injury concerns were big enough for the Chargers to use their fourth-round pick on former UCLA running back Joshua Kelley.

Kelley doesn’t have Jackson’s experience, but his ability to run between the tackles gives him the edge in filling Gordon’s vacant role, or at least be utilized in short-yardage situations. Gordon signed with the Denver Broncos in the offseason.

Jackson has a similar style to Ekeler, but when he gets the ball, he produces at a high rate. Jackson averaged 7.9 yards per carry during the three September games Gordon missed last year during his contract holdout. But a calf injury forced him to miss nine games and derailed his season.

Jackson has the inside track to be Ekeler’s No. 2 for a backfield of double lighting, but Kelley’s thunder will make it interesting once the pads come out for the first time Monday.

Here are other notable training-camp battles this summer:
QB: Tyrod Taylor vs. Justin Herbert


Whenever there’s a quarterback competition, that’s often the biggest storyline of training camp, but Chargers coach Anthony Lynn took some luster off the battle by saying Tyrod Taylor will likely be the starter come Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

But Lynn didn’t close the door entirely after saying he wants rookie quarterback Justin Herbert to compete and stay prepared to start, especially in a season of uncertainty.

The Chargers will be patient with Herbert’s progression. They don’t plan on rushing him, despite how good he looks in throwing accuracy sessions on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”

It’s Taylor’s job to lose, but this quarterback battle will brew fast if the Taylor-led Chargers aren’t winning early in the season.
WR3: Joe Reed vs. K.J. Hill


The Chargers had a revolving door last season for the third starting wide receiver behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

They never found Tyrell Williams’ replacement after he signed with the Raiders last year. The Chargers realized the importance of having a quality third wideout and drafted Joe Reed in the fifth round and K.J. Hill in the seventh round.

Hill is likely more polished than Reed because of his ability to get open as a crisp route runner, but the Chargers already have that in Allen and use Ekeler and tight end Hunter Henry heavily in the short-passing game.

The Chargers need someone to stretch the field and expand the playbook. That’s what Reed can provide with his 4.47 speed in the 40-yard dash and as a former All-American kick returner at Virginia.

Reed will serve as the trick-play specialist and deep threat, but don’t count out Hill for the No. 3 job. This will be one of the fiercest competitions of the summer.
LT: Trey Pipkins vs. Sam Tevi


Social media investigators were quick to point out Sam Tevi was positioned at left tackle with the Chargers’ starting offense during a walk-through scene on the opening episode of “Hard Knocks.”

Lynn confirmed Friday with reporters that Tevi is the current starter, but he’ll compete with second-year lineman Trey Pipkins.

Perhaps Tevi is the early frontrunner because Pipkins is dealing with discomfort in his knee. Lynn said Pipkins was wearing a knee brace during Friday’s practice because he had a setback a few days ago.

If he’s healthy, Pipkins might still hold the advantage after a promising rookie 2019 season. But the Chargers need to have a backup plan in case Pipkins isn’t ready to start in Year 2.

Tevi was inconsistent his first three seasons, but he at least has experience as the starting right tackle the past two seasons. Bryan Bulaga became the new starter after leaving the Green Bay Packers to sign with the Chargers in March.

The left tackle position is the biggest question mark on the Chargers’ roster. They’ll need someone to step up or Taylor and Herbert will be seeing plenty of pressure from the blindside.
LG: Dan Feeney vs. Forrest Lamp


This has been a recurring camp battle since the two offensive guards were drafted in 2017.

Dan Feeney has won every time, but mainly by default due to Forrest Lamp’s injuries.

Lamp, a former second-round pick, missed his entire rookie season because of a torn ACL and appeared in only nine games the past two seasons. Feeney has started 41 games the past three seasons, but his inconsistent play continues to leave the door open for Lamp to take the left guard job.

This is a make-or-break season for both players as they enter the final year of their rookie contracts.
DT: Justin Jones vs. Jerry Tillery


Justin Jones’ name is often brought up when players and coaches are asked who’s poised for a breakout season.

Jones is probably the heavy favorite to start at defensive tackle, but Jerry Tillery will get a fair shot to compete after he was the team’s first-round pick in 2019.

Tillery struggled to create pressure in the trenches. He’ll need to improve in that area or a positional change to the outside of the defensive line could be on the horizon.
MLB: Drue Tranquill vs. Denzel Perryman vs. Kenneth Murray


This will be a three-way battle among three players with middle linebacker experience.

Drue Tranquill flourished toward the end of his rookie season as the middle linebacker and excelled in pass coverage.

But if the Chargers want their middle linebacker to defend the run on early downs, then Denzel Perryman has the edge if he’s able to stay healthy.

Kenneth Murray will be in the mix because he played the position in college, but the Chargers will likely utilize his versatility as a pass rusher and put him on the outside. If Murray isn’t comfortable in that role, he’ll be the frontrunner for the middle linebacker job with Tranquill on the weakside and Perryman as a backup.

Murray and Tranquill hold the advantages by being able to play multiple linebacker positions. But stopping the run has always been a point of emphasis for Lynn.
Slot CB: Chris Harris Jr. vs. Desmond King


Judging from Chris Harris Jr.’s comments since signing with the Chargers in March, the slot cornerback position belongs to him.

Lynn hasn’t confirmed that because he prefers competition and likely wants to motivate Desmond King, an All-Pro slot cornerback in 2018.

The Chargers will have a good problem if King shows in training camp he’s back to top form after a disappointing 2019 season.

If Harris lands the job, King will likely serve as the sixth defensive back in dime packages, but expect the Chargers to find unique ways to keep both on the field.
FS: Rayshawn Jenkins vs. Nasir Adderley


Lynn sung Rayshawn Jenkins’ praises for his 2019 play starting at free safety. Jenkins earned the job heading into this training camp, but it will likely be an open competition.

Second-year safety Nasir Adderley had a quiet rookie season because of a lingering hamstring injury. With the high expectations of being a second-round draft pick, Adderley likely pushed too fast without letting the hamstring fully heal.

Perhaps with Jenkins penciled in as the starter, Adderley will tone it down and focus on the mental aspects. But Adderley’s athletic ability and knack for creating turnovers will keep him in the race.
PR/KR: King vs. Reed vs. Darius Jennings


King will be in two competitions this summer.

He’s been the punt returner the past few seasons, and it’s still his job to lose, but Lynn is concerned with his ball security.

Lynn mentioned Reed has experience returning punts in college and will also give Darius Jennings a look. Jennings was the Tennessee Titans’ kick returner last season.

Reed and Jennings will likely battle for kick return duties, but they could give King a push in punt return if he doesn’t stop putting the ball on the ground, to paraphrase Lynn.
FB: Gabe Nabers vs. Bobby Holly


Nothing is more old school than a fullback brouhaha in training camp.

With the Chargers likely shifting to a run-heavy offense, finding a quality fullback to replace Derek Watt is high on the team’s priority list. Watt signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason.

Lynn recently spoke highly of Gabe Nabers because of his versatility as a former tight end at Florida State. That could give Nabers the advantage if they’re looking for their own Kyle Juszczyk, the versatile Pro Bowl fullback for the San Francisco 49ers.

But Bobby Holly has the strength and blocking skills to serve in the more traditional fullback role.

[Formula 21]

We should have had a game today. Wahhhhhh...

[Fleet]

Guys thanks for posting and keeping the discussion going. I had to hit Urgent Care a couple days ago for some issues. Im fine but im taking some down time.

Really appreciate you guys keeping me informed with whats happening in chargerville.

[like54ninjas]

[like54ninjas]

Guys thanks for posting and keeping the discussion going. I had to hit Urgent Care a couple days ago for some issues. Im fine but im taking some down time.

Really appreciate you guys keeping me informed with whats happening in chargerville.

We got you Fleet. My girl had to go the the ER last night so we will be home even more than usual, if that’s possible, for the next week. I will be on often.