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Originally posted by wu-dai clan
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I'm pulling for Salyer...if Pip really does beat him out, fine, then we're deep at OT...we already know what we've got in Norton...a backup... -
Yep...with Herbie's gun of an arm, imagine Carter with a shifty cut to the corner of the EZ for beaucoup TD's...me likey...Originally posted by Bolts&noles View PostComment
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He did? Huh - well then, i stand corrected. Thank you.Originally posted by equivocation View Post“Less is more? NO NO NO - MORE is MORE!”Comment
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Dontrelle Inman was No. 2 or No. 3 on the depth chart usually during his time with the Chargers. In 2016, after KA went down it was Benjamin and Inman at the top of the depth chart, until Tyrell Williams emerged as the No. 1 guy. Inman was still the No. 2 guy. One season it was he and Malcom Floyd at the top of the depth chart, without KA. Inman was one of those WRs who Philip Rivers made look better than he actually was. Rivers was good at that. He made Ajirotutu look good. If you go back and look at the WRs on the roster in those seasons, before MW was drafted, and compare the talent at WR this team is now, it's quite a contrast. Rivers never had the WR talent that Herbert has now, and, except for his first few years as a starter, Phil's O lines were garbage compared to what Herb has now. It makes you realize how the Chargers wasted Phil's career, and how under-appreciated he was for all the offense he generated with subpar O lines and wide receivers.Originally posted by Topcat View PostComment
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COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Chargers held their 11th practice of training camp Tuesday morning at Jack R. Hammett Sports Complex.
Here are my observations, notes and takeaways.
Ja’Sir Taylor’s highlight play
Cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor, whom the Chargers drafted in the sixth round in April, has been making a fierce push for a spot on the 53-man roster. And he took another step toward that goal Tuesday with one of the best defensive plays of camp so far.
As usual, the Chargers finished off practice with a two-minute drill. Justin Herbert and the first-team offense started the drive from their 29-yard line with 1:03 remaining on the clock. Kemon Hall was playing in the slot for the first two plays of the drive, with Michael Davis and J.C. Jackson on the outside at corner. Herbert threw incomplete on the first two plays — a deep shot to Joshua Palmer and a flat route to Austin Ekeler.
On third down, the defense made a late substitution. Taylor came on to replace Hall in the slot, and he was matched up one-on-one with Keenan Allen.
Herbert took the snap, and Allen ran an out-breaker toward the right sideline from the slot. Herbert turned his way and fired to his favorite third-down target. But Taylor read the route and throw. He jumped in front of Allen and picked off the pass, returning it for a touchdown.
Taylor has looked very comfortable in the slot so far, and he has been particularly adept at covering out routes from that position. He had back-to-to-back third-down pass breakups earlier in camp on similar routes.
“He’s a savvy guy,” defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill said of Taylor. “He’s one of those guys, if he made one mistake that day, he won’t make the same mistake. You see a lot of growth in him, just sitting right next to Bryce Callahanand just picking his brain every day in meetings. His growth potential is really high right now, and we expect some good things about him. Once those lights come on, we really want to see him perform at a high level, because he has the mental and the physical to get it done. I’m happy with how he’s been performing.”
Defensive back is one of the most competitive position groups on the roster. Tevaughn Campbell, Hall, Taylor and rookie Deane Leonard are competing for one or maybe two spots at corner, depending on how many safeties the Chargers decide to keep. Taylor is making a strong case, though Hall and Campbell are more experienced on special teams. That will be a part of the calculation come cutdown day. Taylor has been working in at gunner with the punt team.
Palmer modeling game after Allen
Allen missed the Chargers’ Week 15 win over the Giants last year while on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Palmer filled Allen’s role in the offense for that game, and he had his best performance of his rookie season, catching five passes on seven targets for 66 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown catch looked like a mirror image of Allen. Palmer set up the defensive back with a stutter at the top of his route before breaking to the sideline. Herbert hit him in stride, and Palmer surged upfield and into the end zone.
Ever since the Chargers drafted Palmer in the third round last year, they have felt like the Tennessee product has the skill set — size, route-running ability and strong hands, particularly in traffic and contested-catch situations — to operate effectively in the slot. And that Giants game was evidence that Palmer is a good fit for the slot-heavy Allen role in Joe Lombardi’s offense.
Interestingly, Palmer sees that resemblance, too. So much so that he says he has been watching Allen’s tape “almost every day” this offseason, including during training camp.
Sometimes, Palmer will see something from Allen’s tape and bring a clip on his phone to show Allen at the facility. He will ask questions about releases, movements at the top of routes and other receiver technique specifics.
“I showed him his own film this morning,” Palmer said Tuesday.
Palmer added jokingly: “He’s probably tired of me by now.”
Palmer said he has gone back as far as Allen’s rookie year in 2013 to find tape to watch. Allen is widely regarded as one of the best route runners in football.
“It’s pretty much unmatchable,” Palmer said of Allen’s route-running prowess. “So if I can get as close as possible, then I’ll be good, just add it to my game and what I have.”
There is an added layer of intrigue here. The Chargers can save almost $15 million in cap space if they move on from Allen after this season, according to OverTheCap. We are getting a little ahead of ourselves here, but the Chargers do have what could be a younger, cheaper replacement on the roster in Palmer, who should get most of the third-receiver snaps this season.
News and notes
• Head coach Brandon Staley was not at Tuesday’s practice. His youngest son, Grant, had surgery Tuesday morning to treat a fracture and possible infection in his toe. Staley was with his wife, Amy, at the surgery.
• Renaldo Hill called all the defensive plays during team drills in Staley’s absence. When asked how it went, Hill mentioned that he actually calls the defensive plays for most of the two-minute-drill periods during training camp and sometimes takes on the play calling for a second period, depending on the day. “It felt like a norm,” Hill said.
• Derwin James Jr. missed his 11th consecutive practice as his contract hold-in continues. He was catching balls from the Jugs machine before practice.
• Other Chargers who did not practice: WR Mike Williams, edge rusher Khalil Mack, TE Gerald Everett, LB Drue Tranquill, TE Tre’ McKitty, TE Donald Parham Jr., LB Nick Niemann, S Mark Webb Jr., LB Amen Ogbongbemiga, Campbell and WR Jason Moore Jr. LB Kyle Van Noy worked during individual drills but did not participate in team drills.
• The defense got off to a slow start during seven-on-seven drills. Herbert, Chase Danieland Easton Stick combined to complete 12 of 14 passes in the period. But the unit responded in 11-on-11. Jackson jumped an Allen route over the middle on the third play of 11-on-11 and nearly picked off a Herbert pass after play action. Safety Alohi Gilman, playing with the second team, had a tackle for loss on a screen pass to Sage Surratt from Stick. Defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko had a tackle for loss on a running play in the same series. In the next period of 11-on-11, linebacker Cole Christiansen had a pass breakup on a check-down attempt from Herbert to running back Larry Rountree III. Linebacker Troy Reederhad a run stuff on a Joshua Kelley handoff. And the defense combined to bat two passes down at the line of scrimmage — one against Herbert and one against Stick. Herbert’s two-minute drill ended on the Taylor interception, and Stick turned the ball over on downs in his drive.
• A few changes to the first-team defense in Tuesday’s practice: Michael Davis worked in with the first team at outside corner. Asante Samuel Jr. worked primarily with the second team. Cole Christiansen was at linebacker, with Tranquill, Van Noy, Niemann and Obgongbemiga all out. (Kenneth Murray Jr. is also still on the physically unable to perform list.) And rookie JT Woods replaced Gilman at safety.
• Woods has responded well after a down practice Saturday. He is playing faster and is in position more frequently. He had tight coverage on Allen on a third-down pass to the flat in 11-on-11 Tuesday. The Chargers are happy with how Woods is improving as a run defender. “The biggest thing, you play (against) that spread (offense) in the Big 12, the run game is there but they’re not asking him to stick their face in it,” Hill said. “We’re asking him to read keys and see his key and be able to react, and he’s coming along. These last couple days he’s really progressed. He’s ran some with the 1s. And we’re just mixing him in there. We’re trying to see if we can speed up that development. … We know it’s going to be steps. He’s working with (assistant DBs coach) Tommy Donatell on just fitting up blocks, using his length. All those things matter just to help him speed this process along.”
• It looks as though Palmer is going to get a lion’s share of the WR3 snaps this season. But Jalen Guyton is still having a great camp. He beat Jackson on a crossing route in the third period of 11-on-11, and the Chargers are going to need his speed in certain packages and on certain play calls.
• With the Chargers’ top three tight ends all missing practice, fullback Gabe Nabers was working with the tight ends during individual drills and lined up there during team drills. He converted a third-and-long on a crossing route with the third team. Daniel found him near the left sideline.
• Rookie fullback Zander Horvath got some reps as the lone tailback in 11-on-11.
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Did you say "depth charts ?"
:que:
It's early but the first one is up, amigos.We do not play modern football.Comment
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Stick ahead of Herbert on depth chart
qb controversy!!
G-Ro knows.Comment
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The Hunt signing makes sense if they’re looking at Salyer for RT.Comment
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Did you know D. Carter has 13 fumbles since 2018 ?
Is it possible to start two rookies in the right side of the OL ?Comment
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Two very important questions.Originally posted by Maniaque 6 View Post
Carter: looking at the bright side of things.
OL: if Salyer and Johnson are the best we got, then they’re the best we got. Johnson is already light years better then Scho, Salyer only has to be better than, well, Norton and Pipkins. Not Mount Olympus.Comment
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If all three can emerge in some way I wouldn't be surprised.Originally posted by dmac_bolt View Post
Keep MW and KA fresh.
There definitely all deferrent with there styles.
I think it's more up to Lombardi to Utilize there strengths, be creative. Definitely need improvement from him.
Sideline to sideline passing is ok some of the time.
Utilize the players vertically more.
Definitely added speed at WR and TE.
Hopefully a Better 2nd RB.
Oline is well improved.
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The only one that really caught my eye was Covington still being listed above Fehoko. Haven’t heard anything out of Covington all camp but Fehoko is making plays every day per Popper’s reports. Like you said still early, but I’m not going to be happy if Covington makes it over Fehoko.Originally posted by wu-dai clan View PostComment
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