2021 Official Chargers Season Discusssion

[like54ninjas]

[like54ninjas]

[like54ninjas]

[like54ninjas]

Article has tons of clips….some posted , some not, but all in 1 place.

https://chargerswire.usatoday.com/2021/07/28/los-angeles-chargers-training-camp-day-1/

[Xenos]

Popper’s Day 1 observations. I love hearing about the sports science aspect. Hopefully it helps minimize the soft tissue injuries we always have:

https://theathletic.com/2736892/2021/07/28/chargers-training-camp-report-day-1-prioritizing-health-defensive-versatility/

COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Chargersopened training camp Wednesday morning with their first practice of the summer at Jack R. Hammett Sports Complex.

Fans packed the bleachers and lined the sideline behind the barrier. Justin Herbert went over after practice ended, giving first bumps and taking pictures.

Football is back.

Here are my observations.


Prioritizing health
The first thing that jumped out about Wednesday’s practice: how short it was. The Chargers practiced for exactly 75 minutes. League rules would have allowed them to practice for two hours. But this length was, as coach Brandon Staley said, “by design.”

Staley continues to make the health of his team a priority.

During OTAs and a minicamp, Staley had an open conversation and negotiation with his leadership council, and the two sides came to a compromise: no competitive team drills or one-on-ones. This philosophy has carried over into training camp. Practices will be ramping up now. The Chargers went full speed in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills. The approach, however, is still similar.

NFL teams are allowed to practice for a maximum of six days straight in training camp. The most practices the Chargers will hold in a row is four — the first four practices of camp. They then have an off day Sunday. Then three days on, followed by another off day. Then three days on, followed by yet another off day.

Staley said the three-days-on, one-day-off schedule more closely resembles the “rhythm” of the regular season. He added that six practices in a row is not what the Chargers “feel like is best for a player.”

The players want to get to Week 1 healthy after their past two seasons have been derailed by training camp injuries. Staley has a new-school approach of putting the health and well-being of his players above relentless on-field drilling and practicing. He also listens to his players and makes decisions based on what they are saying to him.

“What we’ve really tried to do is phase out practices in properly,” Staley said. “I wanted our guys to kind of get to the end of the practice and say, hey, I could have gone longer than that. But this is our first time competitively together, going 11-on-11. So what we’re trying to do is phase this in properly, get our guys the right tactical work, but make sure that we’re building during training camp, and that we’re ready to play when it matters.”

That’s a change from the previous coaching staff, to some degree. Anthony Lynn, at his core, was a Bill Parcells disciple. Parcells was notorious for grueling training camps. In 2019, for instance, the Chargers practiced for six straight days to open camp.

The start of Wednesday’s practice was also noticeably different. The stretching — or “activation,” as Staley calls it — portion of practice was longer and more extensive. It was at least 20 minutes before the players actually put their helmets on and began individual drills. New director of sports performance Anthony Lomando was leading that part of practice.

“We’re trying to make that a winning edge for us,” Staley said of the activation period.

Finally, Staley said he is going to be acutely aware of his more veteran players and their workloads. He specifically mentioned DL Linval Joseph, TE Jared Cook, RT Bryan Bulaga and CB Chris Harris — all of whom have played 11 or more years in the league,

“Those guys are different players than a first- or second- or third-year player,” Staley said. “And just being mindful of their specific program, and as we go, being mindful of all the GPS data that’s available to us. … Our staff do such a great job of keeping us informed as coaches so that we can make good decisions.”

Will it work and buck the trend of recent Chargers seasons? I do not know the answer to that. But the intent is there. And that is a good start.


Defensive versatility on display
With the Chargers running their first full-speed and competitive 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills of the offseason, we finally got a good look at what Staley’s defense will look like in 2021. And the themes we have talked about all offseason — multiplicity and disguise — were evident.

It is still early, and the Chargers defense was largely in its most simple formations. But there were nonetheless glimpses of how Staley’s vision will actually manifest itself. I counted four different players covering the slot at different points against the first-team offense: Chris Harris, Asante Samuel Jr., Derwin Jamesand even edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu. James aligned quite literally all over the field on different plays.

“You’re going to see me everywhere,” James said.

James even joked that he was trying to get some run at nose guard.

At one point, Harris adjusted from his typical cornerback position just before the snap and ended up as the deepest player in the defense, defending the middle of the field. He nearly came up with an interception.

The disguise elements of the defense will only become more apparent as the Chargers install more of the scheme in ensuing practices. Herbert, though, is already noticing these wrinkles — like varying personnel packages and fronts — and is expecting it to aid in his development.

“They’ve done such a great job disguising their looks,” Herbert said. “They’re really well coached, and they’ve got some really talented guys on that side of the ball. It’s a special opportunity for us to go against them, because they’re going to make us better, and hopefully we’ll be able to do that same thing for them.”


Offensive highlights of the day
• In the first round of 7-on-7 drills, wide receiver Joe Reed got an explosive release off the line of scrimmage and ran a go route down the left sideline against cornerback John Brannon, who was in man coverage. Reed used his 4.47 speed to break away, and Easton Stickfloated a beautiful touch deep ball. Reed jumped, adjusted, and hauled in the big gain. Reed is battling for a roster spot. Plays like these will help him earn it.

• Herbert is already showcasing a solid rapport with Cook, who signed with the Chargers as a free agent this offseason. Herbert completed two balls to Cook in team drills, including a pinpoint throw on the run off a play-action bootleg. Cook was running a crosser and made a strong catch.

• Herbert also completed an impressive throw to Keenan Allen in 11-on-11 drills. Allen made one of his signature toe-tap catches along the sideline. He beat James in coverage.


Defensive highlight of the day
• The play of the day in coverage came from Michael Davis, who signed a three-year extension this offseason. Davis was defending Jalen Guyton, who ran a short out route to the sideline. Davis read it, jumped the route and made a diving pass breakup.

• Later, in 11-on-11 drills, defensive lineman Cortez Broughton batted down a Herbert pass, getting pressure from the interior.

• The first-team defense got the best of the first-team offense in the final 11-on-11 period. The group produced negative plays on three straight snaps. First, Harris shot a gap from his corner spot and picked up a tackle for loss on a pitch to the right side. Next, Joey Bosa perfectly read an attempted screen pass and swatted away Herbert’s pass attempt. Last, Kyler Fackrell got home from his edge-rushing position for a sack.

• Undrafted free agent linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga batted down a Stick pass off play action on the final play of practice.


News and notes
• All 86 rostered players were accounted for Wednesday, including 84 on the field. Two players did not practice — RB Justin Jackson, who is on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and WR John Hurst, who has started training camp on the PUP list. Staley said he expects Jackson to return “by the end of the week.” According to NFL protocol, vaccinated players who test positive can return after two negative tests 24 hours apart, as long as they are asymptomatic. Non-vaccinated players must stay isolated for 10 days.

• The Chargers held two 10-minute special teams periods Wednesday. Both periods were spent exclusively on punting. Guyton, Tyron Johnson, K.J. Hill and Austin Proehl rotated at punt returner. The first team punt unit included Ty Long at punter and Cole Mazza at long snapper. RB Joshua Kelley, TE Stephen Anderson, CB Brandon Facyson, CB Ryan Smith, Fackrell, LB Cole Christiansen, Reed, FB Gabe Nabers and LB Drue Tranquill were also on that unit.

• Facyson worked in with the first-team defense at outside corner when Harris moved inside.

• The Chargers are approaching a 90 percent vaccination rate among players. That number was confirmed by the amount of players not wearing masks during the stretching portion of practice.

• Tranquill was wearing the green sticker on his helmet, indicating a headset linked to the coaches, and was relaying the plays to the defense in the huddle.

• Staley was calling the defensive plays on a walkie-talkie during 11-on-11s. He was on the defensive sideline. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi was running the show for the offense.

• Corners and safeties separated during individual drills. Donte Vaughn, who spent last season on the Chargers practice squad, was working with the safeties. Vaughn also played corner during team drills.

• Seventh-round pick Mark Webb was working as a two-high safety alongside Alohi Gilmanwith the second- and third-team defenses.

• The starting offense line aligned as expected: Rashawn Slater at LT, Matt Feiler at LG, Corey Linsley at C, Oday Aboushi at RG, Bulaga at RT.

• Chase Daniel got eight reps in team drills. Stick had 9. Herbert had 18.

[wu-dai clan]

Uchenna Nwosu to Slot Corner...

for the win !!!

[Topcat]

The start of Wednesday's practice was also noticeably different. The stretching -- or "activation," as Staley calls it -- portion of practice was longer and more extensive. It was at least 20 minutes before the players actually put their helmets on and began individual drills. New director of sports performance Anthony Lomando was leading that part of practice.

^ This. Avoid injuries by proper stretching. Smart.

[Topcat]

• In the first round of 7-on-7 drills, wide receiver Joe Reed got an explosive release off the line of scrimmage and ran a go route down the left sideline against cornerback John Brannon, who was in man coverage. Reed used his 4.47 speed to break away, and Easton Stick floated a beautiful touch deep ball. Reed jumped, adjusted, and hauled in the big gain. Reed is battling for a roster spot. Plays like these will help him earn it.

Wonder if Horseface is watching...Bolts better be sure they know what they're doing if, as some have suggested, we try to stash Stick on the PS...

[Scott Green]

Uchenna Nwosu to Slot Corner...

for the win !!!

time to move him to safety with Jammer

[Bolt Dude]

Anyone else think it was interesting that Tranquil was wearing the green dot today? If we’re gonna be in nickel and dime most the time shouldn’t the dot go to a safety?

Are we gonna play more base sets to keep 2 ILBs on the field?

[Formula 21]

Anyone else think it was interesting that Tranquil was wearing the green dot today? If we’re gonna be in nickel and dime most the time shouldn’t the dot go to a safety?

Are we gonna play more base sets to keep 2 ILBs on the field?

Sounds like Tranquil is a 3 down lb.

[Topcat]

time to move him to safety with Jammer

Can he turn his head?