2014 Training Camp Observations Thread

[Panama]

Sometimes guys coming off of surgeries get cut.

That usually happens during the surgery.

[Beerman]

• Rookie Chris Watt, who never played center in his 50-game Notre Dame career, snapped to Brad Sorensen during 11-on-11 drills. Watt has worked at both right guard and center in practices. He has improved his shotgun snaps over the last two weeks, learning from line coach Joe D'Alessandris.

At center, where Nick Hardwick and backup Rich Ohrnberger are in their contract years, the Chargers may want to see if there’s a long-term candidate on the roster. The day he drafted Watt in the third round, Tom Telesco said the 6-foot-2 1/2, 311-pounder had the potential to become a center.

• With Richard Marshall not practicing, Steve Williams broke up passes meant for Malcom Floyd and Keenan Allen. Allen, a former Cal teammate, confirmed that Williams outjumped him to deflect a long pass. Though Williams measured 5-foot-9 at the NFL Scouting Combine, going against receivers who are 6-foot-2 or taller is nothing new. He was an outside corner at Cal. Williams tore a chest muscle last August in the second preseason game, ending his rookie season.

• Floyd had another busy practice. The day’s first pass went to him, and he attracted two defenders on some deeper routes. When two defensive backs closed on him, Floyd caught the ball and held it through the encounter.

• Willie Smith looked fitter than last year. The right tackle stayed in front of Kendall Reyes.

• Jahleel Addae was fast to the ball, despite added upper-body bulk. One year after playing at 194 pounds, the safety plans to play at 201.

• Undrafted rookie Brandon Oliver, a 5-8, 208-pounder from Buffalo, used quick lateral moves to elude Addae and others in the backfield.

• Manti Te'o, recovering from foot surgery, worked on a side field, but his offseason work in the weight room caught Eric Weddle's eye. "He's a monster; look at how big he is now," Weddle said.

The added muscle for Te'o is encouraging. He looked small last year and played like it.

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

I hope its all natural...

[thelightningwill]

I hope its all natural...

Is it ever?

[Mister Hoarse]

I hope its all natural...

As real as his GF

[bonehead]

I hope its all natural...

Who cares....as long as he can beat the pee test

[Mister Hoarse]

Who cares....as long as he can beat the pee test

You gotta be smarter than the pee.

[Millionaire Wussy]

Cant be concerned with who isnt practicing right now. TC dont start til next month and i dont really care about OTAs or minicamps. All i care about is anybody getting hurt DURING these practices. The more vets held out the better if you ask me.

Could not agree more. Put all the vets that we know are making the team in the sandbox with Ryan Mathews.

[richpjr]

From ESPN:

OL Jeromey Clary has shoulder, hip surgery
June, 2, 2014
By Eric D. Williams | ESPN.com

SAN DIEGO -- The biggest news from Monday's organized team activities for the San Diego Chargers was a player not in attendance -- offensive guard Jeromey Clary.

First reported by Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego, I can confirm that Clary had offseason surgery to repair shoulder and hip issues that he dealt with last year.


Clary
No timetable was given on how long the injury will keep him out, so Clary's availability for the start of training camp at the end of July remains a question mark.

Clary, 30, did not play against Denver in the AFC divisional round due to a painful shoulder issue that he played through for most of 2013 season.

Clary had a clavicle injury that forced him to miss a game against Dallas on Sept. 29. Clary started 15 regular-season games for the Chargers, including three games at right tackle, and is part of an offensive line that returns all five starters from one of the top offenses in football last season.

The Kansas State product is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $4.55 million in total compensation for the upcoming season. Johnnie Troutman has been working at right guard with the first unit in OTA practices for the Chargers. Third-round selection Chris Watt has been working at right guard with the second unit.


Freeney
Freeney's back: Not in attendance during San Diego's first OTA last week, veteran edge rusher Dwight Freeney was back on the field, although the Syracuse product was limited to working with the trainers on a side field.

Freeney still is recovering from surgery to repair a torn quad last October.

Joining Freeney as limited participants on Monday were tight end John Phillips (knee), offensive lineman Michael Harris (ankle) and middle linebacker Manti Te'o (foot).

Reggie Walker, Kavell Conner and Andrew Gachkar all saw time with the starters with Te'o out.

Along with Freeney, running back Ryan Mathews was in attendance on Monday. Clary, tight end Antonio Gates and middle linebacker Jonas Mouton were not at practice.

Williams gets a look: With Richard Marshall (undisclosed) and Jason Verrett (shoulder) not practicing, last year's fifth-round selection Steve Williams got some reps with the first-unit defense at cornerback, and looked like he belonged.

Williams made a nice deflection on a deep ball intended for Keenan Allen. The Cal product spent the entire 2013 season on the injured reserve after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in a preseason game against Chicago.

"He's healthy," safety Eric Weddle said. "He's always been an eye-opener for his speed and quickness. Mentally, he's got to stay with it and be totally confident in everything -- his checks, calls and technique. But he can play, and we're excited to have him back."

Davis making his mark: Undrafted rookie free agent cornerback Chris Davis continues to make plays when he's on the field. The Auburn product has been working at cornerback and nickel defender.

"Any time he's been in there with the 3s he's made plays," Weddle said. "He's batted balls down. He's explosive. So you like what you see from that point. But it's give and take. You don't want to put too much into it. You don't want to hype a kid up too much."

Weddle was asked if he knew Davis was the player who returned a missed field goal back 109 yards for the winning score in the Iron Bowl against Alabama.

"He's never said anything about it, so that's good," Weddle said. "If he came out and said something about it, then he'd probably drop lower on my totem pole. That's college. This is a much higher level than college football."

Rookies playing catch up: San Diego coach Mike McCoy once again reiterated it's up to the rookies to catch up with the veterans as far as learning the playbook and their assignments.

Those first-year players will have until the beginning of training camp to get acclimated, and then things really will start to speed up.

"We have a number of installations left in the next couple of weeks while were here," McCoy said. "We only have so many days out here, so we're throwing as much at them as we can. They're young players. They are going to make mistakes. The most important thing is they learn from it, and don't make the same mistake twice."

McCoy also said his team focused on the red zone on Monday, an area of the field his team struggled on offensively last season.

I REALLY like Eric Williams coverage of our team.

[Beerman]

Yea Williams has the best coverage. Not even close.

[Mister Hoarse]

From ESPN:



I REALLY like Eric Williams coverage of our team.

He's like the Anti-Acee

[thelightningwill]

He's like the Anti-Acee

Wow. Journalists don't get bigger praise than that.