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Verona native DePalma works to make San Diego Chargers roster
Friday August 2, 2013, 3:19 PM
BY CHRIS LEYDEN
SPORTS EDITOR
Verona-Cedar Grove Times
Print | E-mail After spending the past two winters in the northeast with the New York Giants, Verona native Dan DePalma is hoping he weathers the coming cold months in the warm breeze of San Diego, as a member of the NFL's San Diego Chargers.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Dan DePalma sports his Chargers uniform at camp. "It's beautiful out here," DePalma said some 2,500 miles away from where he grew up. "The weather is always perfect."
Now DePalma is trying to catch on with the Chargers, who hired both a new coach and new general manager this offseason. The 24-year-old has impressed during mini-camp, even earning praise from the coaches on the Chargers website.
"I did what I had to do coming in. It's a new guy to a new system. You know you got to get on the coaches radar, hopefully in a good way. I think I did that," DePalma said.
New Head Coach Mike McCoy told the Chargers website that all of the receivers the team has brought in are in the best shape of their lives.
"He's done a nice job and he's made the most of his opportunities," McCoy said about DePalma.
The third year player has focused on learning the playbook, and thinks this may set him apart as everyone learns the new system. While DePalama is built like a typical slot receiver at 5 foot 11 inches and 192 pounds, he has focused on learning all the plays for two receiver sets as well.
"There is a lot of technique that you have to learn. A lot of film that you have to watch. The fact that everybody here was starting fresh with a new system really kind of helped me out, because the more you know, the more you can do, the more you will play," he said. "And I learned different positions, not just one receiver spot. So if you ever need somebody to go in I was able to just jump right into the role."
A graduate of West Chester University in Pennsylvania, DePalma spent the preseason of 2011 with the New York Jets before signing with the New York Giants in September 2011.
After winning the Super Bowl with the Giants in February of 2012, he stuck around with the team for parts of last season before signing with the Chargers in April.
Leading up to the Giants Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, DePalma was lauded for playing the role of the Patriots slot receiver Wes Welker in practice. The former Hillbilly hopes that his experience practicing and being around a Super Bowl winning team will be a selling point to the Chargers front office.
"I've been there, you know maybe I wasn't exactly on the field, but I did play a huge role on that Super Bowl winning team," DePalma said. "I'm not a rookie anymore. I know the ropes. I know what I need to do and what is expected of me. So I am going to take that, run with it, and hopefully take it to the next level."
The wide receiver also focused his efforts on special teams, where many fringe roster players in the NFL make a living. DePalma showed a knack for not only returning punts but also making tackles downfield during his time with the Jets in 2011.
"Special teams is a big part for a guy who would be a sixth or seventh receiver trying to make the team," DePalma said. "So I really got to step it up on special teams, know what I am doing, and hopefully make my way up the depth chart."
While DePalma says he has been watching tape of Welker and the Giants' Victor Cruz, both well known for their quickness, he also has spent some time with the Chargers working from the outside. DePalma noted that he is not only quick, but also has good downfield speed and can run past players.
He will have to be careful to not spread himself too thin though, something the receiver said is on his mind.
"There's a fine line," DePalma said. "You don't want to be an expert of all trades but a master of none."
The Chargers kick off their preseason schedule at home against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 8. There will be multiple rounds of cuts between then and the final cuts on Aug. 31.
"Hopefully I don't have to go through that process again," DePalma said.
Friday August 2, 2013, 3:19 PM
BY CHRIS LEYDEN
SPORTS EDITOR
Verona-Cedar Grove Times
Print | E-mail After spending the past two winters in the northeast with the New York Giants, Verona native Dan DePalma is hoping he weathers the coming cold months in the warm breeze of San Diego, as a member of the NFL's San Diego Chargers.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Dan DePalma sports his Chargers uniform at camp. "It's beautiful out here," DePalma said some 2,500 miles away from where he grew up. "The weather is always perfect."
Now DePalma is trying to catch on with the Chargers, who hired both a new coach and new general manager this offseason. The 24-year-old has impressed during mini-camp, even earning praise from the coaches on the Chargers website.
"I did what I had to do coming in. It's a new guy to a new system. You know you got to get on the coaches radar, hopefully in a good way. I think I did that," DePalma said.
New Head Coach Mike McCoy told the Chargers website that all of the receivers the team has brought in are in the best shape of their lives.
"He's done a nice job and he's made the most of his opportunities," McCoy said about DePalma.
The third year player has focused on learning the playbook, and thinks this may set him apart as everyone learns the new system. While DePalama is built like a typical slot receiver at 5 foot 11 inches and 192 pounds, he has focused on learning all the plays for two receiver sets as well.
"There is a lot of technique that you have to learn. A lot of film that you have to watch. The fact that everybody here was starting fresh with a new system really kind of helped me out, because the more you know, the more you can do, the more you will play," he said. "And I learned different positions, not just one receiver spot. So if you ever need somebody to go in I was able to just jump right into the role."
A graduate of West Chester University in Pennsylvania, DePalma spent the preseason of 2011 with the New York Jets before signing with the New York Giants in September 2011.
After winning the Super Bowl with the Giants in February of 2012, he stuck around with the team for parts of last season before signing with the Chargers in April.
Leading up to the Giants Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, DePalma was lauded for playing the role of the Patriots slot receiver Wes Welker in practice. The former Hillbilly hopes that his experience practicing and being around a Super Bowl winning team will be a selling point to the Chargers front office.
"I've been there, you know maybe I wasn't exactly on the field, but I did play a huge role on that Super Bowl winning team," DePalma said. "I'm not a rookie anymore. I know the ropes. I know what I need to do and what is expected of me. So I am going to take that, run with it, and hopefully take it to the next level."
The wide receiver also focused his efforts on special teams, where many fringe roster players in the NFL make a living. DePalma showed a knack for not only returning punts but also making tackles downfield during his time with the Jets in 2011.
"Special teams is a big part for a guy who would be a sixth or seventh receiver trying to make the team," DePalma said. "So I really got to step it up on special teams, know what I am doing, and hopefully make my way up the depth chart."
While DePalma says he has been watching tape of Welker and the Giants' Victor Cruz, both well known for their quickness, he also has spent some time with the Chargers working from the outside. DePalma noted that he is not only quick, but also has good downfield speed and can run past players.
He will have to be careful to not spread himself too thin though, something the receiver said is on his mind.
"There's a fine line," DePalma said. "You don't want to be an expert of all trades but a master of none."
The Chargers kick off their preseason schedule at home against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 8. There will be multiple rounds of cuts between then and the final cuts on Aug. 31.
"Hopefully I don't have to go through that process again," DePalma said.
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