2022 Training Camp Thread

[Topcat]

Spiller turns 22 tomorrow. If he is half as good as Foster was in his prime, it will make this offense virtually unstoppable.

If either Rountree or Kelley emerges into a decent 3rd man on the RB committee, THAT will also help...

[powderblueboy]

jamie hoyle and garrett sisti are saying that deandre carter is receiver #4.

hoyle says he's the most "explosive" charger receiver: "maybe does not have as fast a 40 time as as guyton, but twitchier, more explosive; there is an extra gear there, a level of shiftiness the other wide receivers don't have."

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

jamie hoyle and garrett sisti are saying that deandre carter is receiver #4.

hoyle says he's the most "explosive" charger receiver: "maybe does not have as fast a 40 time as as guyton, but twitchier, more explosive; there is an extra gear there, a level of shiftiness the other wide receivers don't have."

That's what a return man brings to being a wideout that tends to distinguish him from his peers. The same thing applies with Darren Sproles: He brought return man skills to a different position, and it set him apart from most of his RB peers.

[blueman]

Carter. Good thing.

[Xenos]

Feels like the dog days of summer and training camp.

[sonorajim]

Feels like the dog days of summer and training camp.

Yeah. Better now than later.

[Velo]

Carter: “they don’t see him improving” - are you referring to the Commander’s staff? I’m intrigued as i expected next to nothing when they signed him and yet every single day of camp he is standing out according to the minimal reporting we’re getting. I mean every single day for the last like maybe 8 days. I think if nothing else he may convince Staley that he doesn’t need a 6th WR on the 53 - but who knows - it depends on how that 6th WR can play STs vs other bottom-roster guys that would play STs. Lets face it - the #6 WR is a ST player or more likely inactive every Sunday.

From what I remember when the Chargers signed him, the Commanders wanted to keep Carter but the when the Chargers came wooing he chose the Chargers. Not hard to understand why.

[Velo]

My take on DeAndre Carter is that he is an Ekeler like dude, an undersized UDFA who's had to work harder to carve out a niche for himself. Unlike Ekeler, he's bounced around since entering the league in 2018, and it's taken awhile for him to develop his skills and be given a chance at WR. His prowess as a returner has kept him in the league, but last season, due to circumstances, he got to showcase his receiving abilities. I've been impressed with him ever since I saw his 2021 highlight vid. His athleticism is impressive. I think he was second to Terry McLaurin for TD receptions last season in Washington. I know Rivera wanted to keep him, but when you are offered the opportunity to sign with a SB contender and catch passes from Justin Herbert, who are you going to choose?

His primary role will be as a returner. But, as I've stated before, Staley/Lombardi want to carry just 5 WR, and they don't want to devote a roster spot to a guy who only return kicks. That's why they were aggressive in pursuing Carter, because in addition to being one of the better returners in the league, the dude is a bonafide WR who will contribute in the passing game.

Whether he supplants Guyton on the depth chart remains to be seen. His catch rate last season from Taylor Heinicke was only 54.5%, while Heinicke completed 65% of his passes. Guyton had a 64.6% catch rate last season from Herbert, who completed 65.9% of his passes. A big deal is being made of him getting more first team reps than Guyton. But that could be because they want to get a look at him, and build some familiarity with the first team offense.

Wherever Carter/Guyton end up on the depth chart, these two guys provide outstanding WR depth. At the top of the WR depth chart is Keenan, Mike W. & and Josh P. Going on the assumption that Palmer is going to emerge this season, I don't think there is a better trio of WRs in the NFL. There might be a few WR trios that are equal, but I don't think there is one you could say is better. And, again, I make the assumption that Palmer is going to break out this season.

But what sets the Chargers apart is the depth at WR. I say that Carter/Guyton are the best 4/5 WRs of any unit in the league. In most cases when you get down toward the bottom of a WR depth chart, you have developmental guys or guys who are way past their primes. A lot of these guys are really just practice squad talent, that has certainly been true of the depth on the Chargers' WRs in the past. But with Carter/Guyton, you have two guys who are proven legit NFL WRs. There are no developmental guys on the Chargers' WR depth chart, and that is why I say the Chargers have the deepest WR corps in the league. And I don't recall having this much WR talent on the Chargers' roster in the past.

In 2021, the Chargers started the season with KA, MW, JP, JG and KJ Hill. Andre Roberts replaced Hill midway through the season. But neither Hill nor Roberts were legit WRs. And JG and JP were developing players.

In 2020 the Chargers only had two legit WRs on the depth chart - KA and MW. Guyton and T Billy were PS players who'd never caught an NFL pass. And there was Hill, Joe Reed and Jason Moore rounding out the bottom.

In 2022, this depth chart has a 2nd year WR in Palmer who is ready to break out; Guyton entering his prime after a thousand receiving yards and 6 TDs over the past two seasons, and Carter.

This is why I am really high on this current WR corps. If anything, there is too much talent, given all the other receiving talent at RB and TE on the roster, and it will be underutilized, if everyone stays healthy. But it's a good problem to have, especially for a team that has SB aspirations.

[powderblueboy]

From what I remember when the Chargers signed him, the Commanders wanted to keep Carter but the when the Chargers came wooing he chose the Chargers. Not hard to understand why.

he was a low level signing: the Blueskins didn't have that much interest.

[Velo]

he was a low level signing: the Blueskins didn't have that much interest.

That is not what I remember reading. I remember reading that Ron Rivera wanted to keep him. He was a terrific returner for WFT, returning one for a TD. In addition to being second on the team in receiving TDs.

https://commanderswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/08/former-washington-commanders-wide-receiver-deandre-carter-signs-with-los-angeles-chargers-nfl-free-agency/

The Washington Commanders lost a free agent they preferred to keep when wide receiver/kick returner DeAndre Carter agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, per Ben Standig of The Athletic.

[Lone Bolt]

That is not what I remember reading. I remember reading that Ron Rivera wanted to keep him. He was a terrific returner for WFT, returning one for a TD. In addition to being second on the team in receiving TDs.

https://commanderswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/08/former-washington-commanders-wide-receiver-deandre-carter-signs-with-los-angeles-chargers-nfl-free-agency/

Right on...I thought we already hashed this out...a little more money(if that...) and a chance to be a WR catching balls from Herbert....

Yes people, its for real...free agents WANT to come here...he CHOSE us, over his old team...and I think another team as well. (Colts maybe...?)

[Velo]

Right on...I thought we already hashed this out...a little more money(if that...) and a chance to be a WR catching balls from Herbert....

Yes people, its for real...free agents WANT to come here...he CHOSE us, over his old team...and I think another team as well. (Colts maybe...?)

Catching passes from Herbert. Playing for a team that has a good chance of getting you a ring. Where would you sign?