2021 Official Chargers Season Discusssion

[Topcat]

That speed is hard to replace, he may not get as much playing time this year but he'll be on the team. It's seldom anyone who makes 70-yard plays get cut.

But...if he has even one key drop that loses us a game...THAT could be enough to send him to PS...the stakes are higher this year, and the margin for error is now less...don't think Staley will be as "loyal" to error-prone players as Lynn was...

[Bolt Dude]

Interesting...maybe the terrible trio of Bankrupt Bags, Volatile Vizzie and Krummy Kessman ALL lose out and we hire someone else...

Maybe we can poach the loser between Ryan Succop and Jose Borregales, both on the Bucs. Succop went 28-31 last year, but Borregales, in my opinion, was the best kicker in college last year. Monster leg.

We’d be replacing a Hurricane with a Hurricane, so at least there’s some consistency.

[Xenos]

Popper’s observations on the dress rehearsal today for Fan Fest. Some love for MW.
https://theathletic.com/2759808/2021...ofi-scrimmage/

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Chargers held their 10th training camp practice Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium.

It was a game-day dress rehearsal. The players wore their game uniforms, with the offense and specialists in powder blue jerseys and sunshine gold pants and the defense in all white. Coaches donned their headsets and set up how they will on game days. Brandon Staley was on the field on the defensive sideline. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill were up in the coaches’ box.

Fans were in the stands for the Chargers’ Fan Fest. This was the first time fans were allowed in the stadium to watch football since SoFi opened last year. I estimate attendance at around 30,000 people, and the atmosphere, especially early on in the practice, was palpably energetic.

The practice itself more resembled a scrimmage, especially during the move-the-ball 11-on-11 periods. Each quarterback got a full series, with yardage gains, downs and distances being tracked like they would in a game. They stopped short of tackling, but there was certainly some physicality. Staley referred to it as a “thud” pace.

Here are my observations.


Recapping the action
Justin Herbert was in at quarterback for the first two series of practice. These offensive drives started from the minus-25-yard line — where they would start after a kickoff touchback in a game.

Herbert went to wide receiver Mike Williams on the opening play. Williams beat cornerback Michael Davis on a comeback route and made a strong catch for a seven-yard gain. Running back Austin Ekeler later earned a new set of downs with a decisive run on third-and-1.

Herbert connected with tight end Donald Parham off play action on the ensuing first down. Parham came open on a crossing route, and he made a quality catch on a throw that was slightly behind him. This drive stalled, though, when running back Justin Jackson was stuffed while attempting an outside run on third-and-1.

The first-team offense then reset from the 25. This was Herbert’s best drive of the day. Herbert found tight end Jared Cook off play action on first down near the sideline. On second down, wide receiver Jalen Guyton set up outside to the right and beat cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. on a double-move vertical route. Samuel fell over, and Guyton was wide open. Herbert hit him.

Safety Nasir Adderley did a fine job of preventing the touchdown, rotating over and making contact with to Guyton after a 40-yard gain. The cannons went off inside the stadium and a touchdown was announced over the intercom. But the drive actually continued from the plus-35-yard line.

Herbert went after Samuel again on the very next play, looking for Keenan Allen. Samuel responded well, though, forcing the incompletion.

“Asante had some good moments, and then he had some tough moments,” Staley said. “He got beat on that double cut outside, and that’s part of the playing in the NFL, is how you bounce back from that. Nas had a really good overlap, and I think it would have been a big hit on the sideline. But OK, when that happens to you, how do you respond? Because in the NFL, the good quarterbacks are going to come right back at you, and they’re going to keep testing you until you show up. So I think it would good for him to come back from that and keep playing,”

Herbert then went to Ekeler in the flat on second down, but Chris Harris Jr. was there to bottle up the running back. On third-and-7, Herbert went to his favorite money-down target: Keenan Allen. The Chargers picked up the first.

“He’s the best at what he does,” Herbert said of Allen. “He’s just able to win so many routes with his explosiveness, his IQ, his ability to defeat the leverage of the defenders.”

The Chargers offense then moved into the red zone when Herbert delivered a strike to Williams on an out route. The unit then moved inside the 10 on a completion to wide receiver Josh Palmer underneath off play action. Palmer continues to create regular separation with his route running. He caught four balls in 11-on-11.

Center Corey Linsley and Herbert fumbled an exchange on first-and-goal from 6. But the offense found the end zone on the next play off play action. The offensive line gave Herbert time to throw and Williams time to find space on a longer-developing crossing route. Williams hauled in the touchdown near the right sideline.

Williams is beginning to find his footing in this offense.

“Mike is one of those guys that just makes plays, and we need to get him the ball more,” Herbert said. “He’’s one of those guys that you just have to find out there. He’s going to get open. He’s just so physical and fast and strong that he’s going to win. Jump balls, deep balls, intermediate routes, and I think we need him more involved in the short game, the quick game, because he’s an incredible player.”

Backup quarterback Chase Daniel was in for the next series and drove the offense into field goal range before Michael Badgley drilled a 45-yarder. Josh Kelley had two catches. So did Jason Moore and Palmer. The drive stalled after two terrific defensive plays — a tackle-for-loss from linebacker Drue Tranquill on first down and a pass break-up from cornerback John Brannon on third down.

Herbert then led another touchdown drive, this time starting from the minus-40. Early on, Guyton made a juggling catch near the sideline on a third-and-2 on a low throw from Herbert. Later, Herbert picked up a big chunk on a pinpoint back shoulder throw to Williams. Davis was in coverage again, but the placement on the pass was too perfect. Rashawn Slater was able to hold off Joey Bosa in pass protection on this play.

Two plays later, Herbert converted a third-and-1 from inside the red zone when Cook beat Davis. Kelley nearly scored on the next play on a run up the middle, but he was ruled down at the 1-yard line. Herbert pushed them over the goal line with a quick slant to Allen.

Easton Stick followed and engineered a field goal drive. This was, in my opinion, his most impressive series of camp so far. He converted three third downs. First, he made a great read on third-and-2 by finding a wide-open Darius Bradwell in the flat. Later, on a third-and-7, Stick showed off his athleticism with a first-down scramble. On the next set of downs, the Chargers offense was behind the chains after a Chris Rumph sack. On third-and-13, Stick made a fantastic throw over the middle to wide receiver Austin Proehl, and Proehl displayed his sturdy hands. Stick faced another third down on the next set of downs. This time, he threw deep down the sideline, and defensive back KJ Sails committed a blatant hold/pass interference. The referee threw his flag. But the coaches wanted the kickers to get some work in live action. Tristan Vizcaino drilled his 39-yard field goal.

Linsley left practice with a foot injury after the Allen touchdown. More on this later. The pass protection struggled on the next first-team series as a result. Scott Quessenberry was in at center, and Storm Norton was in at right tackle, with the Chargers continuing to manage Bryan Bulaga’s reps.

Herbert was sacked on the first play of this series, and the offense went three-and-out. The Chargers reset, and Herbert got another series. On third-and-7, Herbert was under pressure and tried to hit Ekeler on a wheel route down the right sideline. Safety Derwin James was in tight coverage and came down with the interception. Herbert said after practice that he was ruled down on the play. Staley said he would have to watch the tape to see. Either way, the defense celebrated.

The defense won the next two series, as well, against Daniel. The offensive highlight of these two drives was a 12-yard scramble from the 34-year-old Daniel. Rumph had a key pressure on the first series, forcing an incompletion. And edge rusher Jessie Lemonier had a sack on the second series that derailed the drive.

Next came red-zone work from the 15-yard line. Linval Jospeh and Jerry Tillery created pressure on first down against Herbert, forcing a check down to Jackson. Then Samuel came up with another good rep in coverage on Allen. Herbert threw incomplete.

On third down, Herbert moved the chains with a fastball over the middle to Cook. James was in ideal position, but Herbert found an opening with his ball placement and velocity. Said James: “He put it in there. That was a good pass.”

The defense locked down after that conversion, though. Uchenna Nwosu blew up a running play with a tackle-for-loss on first down. Then Tillery had his first sack of camp on third down. Kyler Fackrell created pressure off the edge, and Tillery cleaned it up.

Stick went three-and-out on both of his red zone series. Defensive back Donte Vaughn was all over tight end Stephen Anderson on a third-down fade route on the first series, and linebacker Cole Christiansen batted down a pass at the line on third down on the second series.

Herbert’s final drive of the day came in the two-minute drill. The situation: 1:15 on the clock, down one point, one timeout, starting at their own 37. Herbert scrambled for a first down on the opening play. He threw incomplete on the next snap before connecting with Allen near the sideline on second down. Herbert overthrew Guyton on a deep shot on third down. Badgley drilled a 55-yarder to salvage the drive.

Time ran out on Daniel’s drive, though he did convert a fourth down to Moore on an in route. Vaughn picked off Stick on the final two-minute drive of the day.


News and notes
• As I mentioned, Linsley left practice after the first-team offense’s third possession because of a foot injury. He walked off with trainers and did not return to the field until practice was over. But he was out playing with his family after practice and did not have noticeable brace or wrap on his foot. Staley said Linsley likely would have kept playing if it was a real game. “Just making sure that we’re careful,” Staley said.

• LB Kenneth Murray injured his ankle on the first play of 11-on-11 and did not return. Like with Linsley, this does not sound serious. “Keeping him out, precautionary,” Staley said. “I think if it’s a real ball game, certainly that’s a much different story. But we’re just being careful with him.”

• CB Ryan Smith, WR Tyron Johnson, DL Christian Covington, S Mark Webb and CB Brandon Facyson did not practice. Facyson is dealing with a family matter.

• All three rostered kickers — Badgley, Vizcaino and rookie Alex Kessman — kicked field goals. Badgley went 3-for-6, making from 33, 38 and 45 yards and missing from 41, 49 and 51 yards. Vizcaino went 4-for-6, making from 33, 41, 45 and 51 yards and missing from 38 and 51 yards. Kessman went 2-for-6, making from 38 and 49 yards and missing from 33, 41, 45 and 51 yards. Badgley and Vizcaino both kicked in live action to cap off drives. Kessman did not. Badgley hit all four of his live kicks — one extra point, two from 45 yards and one from 55 yards. Vizcaino hit both of his live kicks — an extra point and a 39-yarder.

[Fleet]

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[equivocation]

Really sounds like the oline needs Linsley and Bulaga. Duh.

I noticed Fackrell pushing Slater back on a lot of the reps there's video of. He'd line up way wide in the 9 and run full speed into Slater. Wouldn't get but definitely got movement.

[Formula 21]

Greasy Gloves Guyton could be a surprise cut to the PS...the first few weeks, maybe they put him on the No-Poach PS list...

The longer the pass, the higher the drop rate. A 70 yarder is a back breaker. Guyton isn’t going anywhere. Chunk plays win games.

[Formula 21]

But...if he has even one key drop that loses us a game...THAT could be enough to send him to PS...the stakes are higher this year, and the margin for error is now less...don't think Staley will be as "loyal" to error-prone players as Lynn was...

How about that one key catch that wins us a game? He does catch 6 out of 7.

[Formula 21]

There’s that damn Rumph again. A sack and a pressure to destroy the offensive flow. What are they going to do with that guy?

[like54ninjas]

Greasy Gloves Guyton could be a surprise cut to the PS...the first few weeks, maybe they put him on the No-Poach PS list...

Jalen is making our team.

[like54ninjas]

There’s that damn Rumph again. A sack and a pressure to destroy the offensive flow. What are they going to do with that guy?

Find him more reps.

[like54ninjas]

[Heatmiser]

The longer the pass, the higher the drop rate. A 70 yarder is a back breaker. Guyton isn’t going anywhere. Chunk plays win games.

Spot on. I really don’t get the hate for Guyton. He came up big last year many times. And although he had a couple drops he also made some pretty tough catches, too, and bailed Herbert out. And you cannot teach or coach his size/speed measurables. Cutting him for dropping a pass in preseason would be a terrible mistake.

Anyone here old enough to remember Bobby Duckworth? Still can’t forget the game he broke wide open streaked to the end zone and held the ball up before he got there only to have it swatted away and recovered by the defense.

TG