LOS ANGELES — In February, when Jim Harbaugh walked to the stage at SoFi Stadium’s YouTube Theater for his introductory information convention because the Los Angeles Chargers’ new head coach, the second was a celebration for the staff’s management. A corporation criticized for being low cost and preventing for relevance in a crowded LA sports activities market had gotten one of many greatest names in soccer to be their head coach.
And regardless of taking on a staff that was 5-12 final season, Harbaugh promised he would ship championships.
Within the months since that celebratory information convention, the Chargers have reshuffled their staff, shifting on from a few of the greatest gamers in staff historical past, as Harbaugh and normal supervisor Joe Hortiz navigated wage cap constraints to construct a roster that greatest match this model of the Chargers.
“Yearly you’re feeling like you are going to assault it, you’re feeling such as you’re the staff to beat, you’re feeling like you are going to win the Tremendous Bowl,” security Derwin James stated, “however this 12 months it simply feels proper.”
Listed below are three takeaways from the Chargers offseason:
The celebs are excited
Quarterback Justin Herbert has by no means been the form of participant to talk with the media for lengthy, prolonged durations. His press conferences typically vary from 5 to 10 minutes; he retains a lot of his solutions team-focused and brief. However in his first time speaking to the media for the reason that Chargers employed Harbaugh, Herbert was totally different.
He spoke for 26 minutes, making jokes about his need to throw the ball as many instances as potential and even his look at a Zach Bryan live performance, the place he sang on stage.
“No, there is not any nerves up there. You stand up there, and it is similar to taking part in a soccer sport. It simply occurs to be a live performance,” he stated with a smile.
faux zach bryan’s ‘revival’ is taking part in over this pic.twitter.com/niIb8aDr7J
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) June 3, 2024
Outdoors linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack additionally joined Herbert within the unusually lengthy and jolly information convention division for his or her first time talking for the reason that Harbaugh rent.
Mack revealed to reporters that his nickname is “Smokeshow” as a result of he “smokes” the youthful gamers in a linebacker drill. He joked with one reporter who requested if 2024 can be his remaining season and stated they wanted to “activate the movie” as a result of he was “rolling.”
As he walked off the rostrum, Mack admitted how totally different his press convention was from his typical interactions with the media, “Y’all bought lots out of me at present. I do not normally give y’all that a lot,” he stated with a smile.
Whereas Mack and Herbert have been energetic about their new head coach and lauded Harbaugh, Bosa was probably the most direct in his appreciation for the brand new regime. Most notably, Bosa stated he appreciated that beneath Harbaugh, the messaging from management is obvious and does not “get blended up because it’s shifting down the ladder,” which he is skilled in different conditions.
“I really feel like coach is main the staff the best way it needs to be led,” Bosa stated.
Herbert is getting snug with protruding
Quarterbacks usually put on a distinguishable coloration at practices so defenders know to avoid the staff’s most essential asset. Harbaugh applied a gold jersey for this objective, however just for Herbert. The opposite quarterbacks put on white like the remainder of the offense.
“Quarterback, we attempt to have a two yard halo round him,” Harbaugh stated. “The gold jersey is only a reminder: Two yards for all of the quarterbacks, however the man sporting the gold jersey, let’s make that two and a half or three.”
Hebert usually shies away from issues that draw consideration to himself, so the gold jersey was an unnatural match for him. He requested Harbaugh if the opposite quarterbacks might additionally put on gold, however Harbaugh declined.
“He stated it was his rule and so if it is his rule, I am following it,” Herbert stated. “It does not matter what coloration it’s, I am going to put on it.”
Rookies making an impression
The Chargers drafted 9 gamers in April’s NFL draft, and some of them have already begun to have an effect. Maybe the largest has been cornerback Tarheeb Nonetheless, drafted within the fifth spherical from the College of Maryland.
Nonetheless secured an interception towards the first-team offense and had a number of go deflections all through minicamp. Nonetheless’s play drew the eye of James, who instructed reporters he’d been impressed with Nonetheless, and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who stated he appreciated the leap Nonetheless has produced from the start of the offseason program to the tip of minicamp in June.
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Harbaugh named first-round rookie Joe Alt among the many 5 offensive linemen that separated themselves throughout camp, probably solidifying Alt because the staff’s beginning proper deal with. This announcement was extra a formality for Alt, who was virtually assured to be a starter, however having already been named a starter earlier than the staff was even in full pads signifies that Alt has made a constructive impression in his first weeks in LA.
“He is bought all the best stuff,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman stated. “He respects the veterans, guys which have performed it earlier than him; He is bought an incredible demeanor about him, nice work ethic, and he is the form of man you need within the foxhole with you.”
Second-round rookie receiver Ladd McConkey has been maybe the staff’s greatest route runner within the offseason program, his quickness and preciseness in routes is what made the Chargers commerce as much as get him within the second spherical. He impressed Herbert together with his maturity — and he bonded with Herbert off the sphere on the Zach Bryan live performance.
After an offensive overhaul that noticed the departures of a few of Herbert’s favourite receiving choices in working again Austin Ekeler, tight finish Gerald Everett, and receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, McConkey has a chance in 12 months one to have a big position within the Chargers passing offense.
“He is simply picked up the offense so simply. It is like he is been a four- or five-year vet,” Herbert stated. “He understands the sport.”