2021 Official Chargers Season Discusssion

[Tol]

A week into Training Camp and no major injuries. Nice.

I think the Colts inherited all our bad juju.

I may or may not still be somewhat holding my breath for the next 4 weeks.

[Xenos]

[Bearded14YourPleasure]

Derwin does it all, but his ability to shut down Kelce is a major factor within the division. Taking that one player out of the equation makes the Chiefs’ offense seem mortal.

Not as lethal but Waller for the ‘duhs and Fant for the donkeys (if they find someone who can throw) are also huge threats in those offenses. TEs are a weapon in the AFCW.

[Bolt Dude]

Not as lethal but Waller for the ‘duhs and Fant for the donkeys (if they find someone who can throw) are also huge threats in those offenses. TEs are a weapon in the AFCW.

No doubt.
Derwin’s the TE eraser.
Such an asset.

[like54ninjas]

[like54ninjas]

[like54ninjas]

[SuperCharged]

Agree..... I compare him to Seau as a versatile athlete..... Seau was simply the biggest fastest, most impactful player on Chargers his entire career and even though he could cover receivers or TE's deep down the field, he was far more impactful and scary as an in the box player, where Seau could stuff the run, drop into coverage or leap over the line to quickly sack a QB or just faking a blitze was enough to force QB to throw away the ball the threat was almost greater then the action..... James is similar..... he can play deep safety or CB, BUT much more impact and a threat when he is in box stuffing run, blitzing QB's, or jumping a short pass..... make sure he is in QB's view.....and close enough to scare/worry him..... and if he is staring at James, K9 or Bosa can blind side him.......

and agree too that he needs to practice enough to know the new scheme but no need to risk his health in pre season games.....

I'll never forget all those sweeps that he would blow through the gap for that patented lasso tackle. I met him and got a pict with him. :cheers:

[Topcat]

I cringed when I saw him jumping with another player to celebrate a good defensive play. I don’t want his foot to get skewered again.

Yep...just say "no" to those lame "Jackboyz" celebrations...

[like54ninjas]

[Xenos]

Sounds like the defense did better yesterday. Facyson got some love in Popper’s observations.

https://theathletic.com/2750294/2021/08/03/chargers-training-camp-report-day-6-justin-herbert-in-command-of-2-minute-offense/

COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Chargers held their sixth practice of training camp Tuesday morning at Jack R. Hammett Sports Complex. It was initially planned as a padded practice, but the Chargers were forced to practice without pads after holding a padded practice Monday that violated an NFL memo.

Here are my observations.


Offense turns around sluggish start with two-minute drill TD
The first-team defense was the better unit for most of practice, besting the offense in the opening four periods of team drills — one red-zone seven-on-seven, two middle-of-the-field 11-on-11s, and one red-zone 11-on-11.

In seven-on-seven, Herbert twice had nowhere to throw because the coverage was so tight. On one of those reps, he checked down to Justin Jackson in the flat, and cornerback Brandon Facyson was there to hold him to no gain. On the second, Herbert just spiked the ball into the turf.

Facyson also had an aggressive and physical pass breakup on wide receiver Keenan Allenover the middle. On another play, Herbert overthrew Josh Palmer in the end zone on a corner route. Herbert managed to salvage the period slightly when he rolled to his right and delivered an accurate ball to wide receiver Austin Proehl in the front corner of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown. But that was the lone positive rep for the offense out of six snaps.

The starting offense then had a false start in its first period of 11-on-11s. In the second period, which was an extended 16-rep period that included eight reps for the first team, the offense had four negative plays in a five-rep stretch. First came a sack. Then defensive lineman Joe Gaziano batted down a ball at the line. Next, Herbert overthrew Allen on what would have been a surefire touchdown over the top. Allen broke free down the middle of the field, but Herbert’s throw sailed 5 yards deep. On the final play of the series, a third-and-long, Herbert was under pressure and nearly threw an interception on a dump-off to Austin Ekeler. Defensive lineman Christian Covington got his hands on the ball.

There were some positive offensive plays sprinkled in. Herbert hit Mike Williams on a comeback route. The timing was perfect on this throw. Allen also made a sensational catch over the middle on a high fastball from Herbert. But the negative plays outweighed the positive for the offense.

The red-zone 11-on-11 period was more of the same. This period looked especially disjointed for the offense. The Chargers attempted a play-action Herbert keeper to the right side, but he was bottled up by safety Derwin James and linebacker Kenneth Murray. Herbert then attempted to find Williams in the back of the end zone on third down, but James was in tight coverage and nearly came up with an interception. He settled for a pass breakup. On the next two plays, Jackson was dropped for a loss on a run, and Uchenna Nwosu came off the left edge unblocked for a sack.

This was the trend of Tuesday’s practice, until the two-minute drill that concluded the morning. The offense found a different gear.

It started on its own 25-yard line with 1:52 on the clock and drove 75 yards for a touchdown as time expired. Herbert was surgical and in command of the no-huddle offense. Brandon Staley’s defense, for really the first time this camp, looked overmatched.

Herbert started with back-to-back completions to Allen in the middle of the field. Then tight end Jared Cook beat James for a 6-yard completion. Palmer ran a really solid comeback route on the next play, but slipped coming out of his break and the pass was incomplete. Herbert went right back to Palmer on third down, connecting with the rookie on a crosser. This extended the drive.

Herbert scrambled on a 5-yard gain before Alohi Gilman broke up a pass intended for Jason Moore, bringing up another third down. Herbert went back to the Allen well. Allen shook Chris Harris Jr. out of the slot, and Herbert found him for a long gain. Palmer then came up with his second reception of the drive, breaking free on a post. It was a 24-yard gain and set up the Chargers at the 4-yard line with 10 seconds remaining.

Herbert then found Mike Williams on a fade route for the touchdown. Tevaughn Campbellwas in coverage, and Williams used his size to shield the cornerback and make the catch. Williams has been relatively quiet in camp thus far, but this was a big play in a clutch moment. Sound familiar?

The defense forced the offense into a three-and-out in Monday’s two-minute drill. So Tuesday’s turnaround was an encouraging development for Herbert and his group.


Defensive line rotations
Now that we are six practices into camp, I am starting to get a better sense of how the defensive line rotations will shake out. And one noteworthy trend is how often Staley is mixing up his fronts in both base and sub packages.

Sometimes, the Chargers have three defensive linemen and two edge rushers on the field — even when they bring one or two extra defensive backs on. Other times, they morph into what more closely resembles a 4-3, with two interior defensive linemen and two edge rushers playing more traditional defensive end roles.

When the Chargers have three defensive linemen and two edge rushers, the clear-cut starters are Jerry Tillery, Linval Joseph and Justin Jones. I have been seeing more of a rotation when the Chargers go to those hybrid four-man fronts. Covington, Breiden Fehokoand Gaziano have all been working with the first team.

As I have written repeatedly so far this camp, Staley’s scheme is predicated on versatility and multiplicity. That applies to the defensive line, just as it applies to the secondary.

Justin Jones said the multiple fronts prevent teams from making successful adjustments.

“It keeps the offensive linemen on their toes,” Jones added. “They’re not going to know who’s blitzing, who’s coming, who’s not coming. We’re showing different people on the line, we’re pulling guys away, we’re bringing guys all the time. We’re never a standstill defense, and that’s going to make us really hard to beat.”

Center Corey Linsley knows this firsthand. He went up against Staley’s defense in 2020 when the Packers faced the Rams in the playoffs. And now he is facing the scheme, including the disguises and multiple fronts, every day in practice.

“It’s a pain in the butt, man,” Linsley said. “His defense makes you think. … You have to be on your stuff.”


News and notes
• Last week, defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill specifically mentioned edge rusher Emeke Egbule as a player who has stood out in camp. A sixth-round pick in 2019, Egbule struggled to make an impact in his first two years in the league with Gus Bradley. But Egbule is starting to flash. He wrecked an entire red-zone series almost single-handedly with the second-team defense in Tuesday’s practice, going up against Chase Daniel and the second-team offense. Egbule won off the edge for a sack on first down, then batted down a third-down Daniel pass attempt at the line of scrimmage. Right now, Egbule and rookie Chris Rumph are battling for the fourth edge rusher spot on the depth chart.

• Second-round pick Asante Samuel got his first extended work with the starting defense, playing outside corner opposite Michael Daviswhen Harris moved into the slot. That had been Facyson’s position for the first five practices of training camp. Samuel had a pass breakup in seven-on-seven while in coverage on Palmer. He also had a sack in 11-on-11.

• The second-team offensive line had an outstanding day run blocking. It was Storm Norton at left tackle, Tyree St. Louis at left guard, Scott Quessenberry at center, Ryan Hunter at right guard and Trey Pipkins at right tackle. In the first period of 11-on-11s, Norton and St. Louis opened up a huge hole for Jackson on the left side, and Jackson surged past the defense untouched for a 20-yard gain. This was the Chargers’ best run of camp so far. Later, Darius Bradwell gained a first-down on a third-and-3 off a handoff running behind the same group. Offensive line depth is one of my areas of concern, so it’s a positive sign to see this group making strides as a running-blocking unit.

• Herbert and receiver Joe Reed were the last players on the field. Reed was running routes, and Herbert was throwing to him. Reed caught a touchdown from Daniel in seven-on-seven. The 2020 fifth-round pick is battling for a roster spot.

• Four tight ends have been working with the first-team offense, depending on the package and play: Jared Cook, Donald Parham, Tre’ McKitty and Stephen Anderson. Anderson has also been getting some reps as a fullback, lining up in the backfield.

• WR Jalen Guyton left practice after one-on-one drills and walked to the trainers’ tent. He did not return. After the two-minute drill period, trainers were treating RT Bryan Bulaga’s right hand. They applied a wrap to the hand for the final few minutes of practice. When he walked to the bus, Bulaga no longer had the wrap on his hand. WR Tyron Johnson(foot/ankle) and CB Ryan Smith (lower body) did not practice.

• The Chargers kicked field goals for the second straight day. Tristan Vizcaino went 4-for-5, hitting from 40 yards, 44 yards, 48 yards and 51 yards and missing from 33 yards, the distance of a PAT. Rookie undrafted free agent Alex Kessman went 4-for-5, as well, hitting from 33 yards, 40 yards, 48 yards and 51 yards. He had a bad miss on a 44-yarder. Incumbent Michael Badgley did not kick.

• Ryan Langan was the long snapper with the first-team punt unit.

[like54ninjas]

Sounds like the defense did better yesterday. Facyson got some love in Popper’s observations.

https://theathletic.com/2750294/2021/08/03/chargers-training-camp-report-day-6-justin-herbert-in-command-of-2-minute-offense/

Good info, Thanks for posting brother.