Chargers Training Camp: My Notes So Far
by John Gennaro on Aug 3, 2010 11:14 AM PDT
in San Diego Chargers Training Camp/Preseason
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PrintAt some point last week I set a goal for myself: to attend all 11 "open to the public" practice sessions that the Chargers will be putting on over the course of this week and next. Some of these I'll be attending as a fan, in the stands, and some will be as a bona-fide journalist on the sidelines with a digital recorder and everything.
After two practices in the stands, and more twittering than my thumbs can handle, I've got a few notes I'd like to share about what/who I like in camp so far and who I don't.
- Ryan Mathews seems to impress me every time he gets the ball. Is this because he's better and/or trying harder than an over-the-hill LaDainian Tomlinson? I have no idea, but the more you watch these practices the easier it becomes to spot the best player on each unit. As much as I love Darren Sproles as a change-of-pace RB and one of the league's best KR, Mathews has already shown himself to be leaps and bounds ahead of him and any other RB on the team (I haven't seen Tolbert at practice yet). We have ourselves a legitimate RB for the first time in a couple years, folks.
- I do a lot of watching of player groups when they're not running through drills or scrimmaging to gauge personalities. I feel like this gives me a fairly good idea of the atmosphere of the team. Last year's RB group seemed nervous to do or say anything, in fear that it would annoy LT. Last year's CB group seemingly wasn't able to do or say anything themselves because Antonio Cromartie was too busy showing off and making them watch (same thing on KRs and PRs). Last year's WR group seemed resigned to the fact that they weren't making the team. This year, just about every positional group seems focused, relaxed and eager to help each other gets better. It feels more like a team this year.
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People knew about Jackson
It was just a game of chicken where he was so raw that no one wanted to draft him too high, but they all also knew he wasn’t going to last too long either. A.J. won. A.J. likes to draft guys like that a little higher than other people expect them to go (Cromartie, Weddle, Sproles, Whitehurst, Stuckey, English, Vazquez, etc.). Naanee is more like one of his Dielman, Floyd, Cooper, Tolbert, Siler finds.
No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.
Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't
I thought he reminded me of Turner
in that he runs tall and is big. But youtube highlight videos don’t really do much in evaluations. I really want to see how he can grind out those 4-5 yard carries that move the chains. Few questions:
-Does Hardwick look bigger? He said he gained 25-30lbs but he always seems too skinny for a center.
-Anything on the safeties? Is Oliver going to start next to Weddle?
Good job John. Although you are the only guy I know that still believes in Buster Davis. They always have his jersey at Ross if you want one.
"A man has got to have a code." -Bunk, Season 1; Omar, Season 4.
Acee has said
That in drills Stuckey and Gregory are competing for the spot opposite Weddle.
No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.
Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't
Safeties are Weddle/Stuckey, and then Weddle/Gregory in nickel. That’s probably the way it will say. Oliver is Weddle’s backup.
Nick looks roughly the same size, but I’ve only seen him from far away (and I have a terrible memory). He’s actually average-size for a center (look it up), so the added weight would just be to keep him healthier.
Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.
by John Gennaro on Aug 3, 2010 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions
We are loud and proud!
That being those of us in the pro CBD Club! If only given the health of the Gods…
He’ll probably be the next entrant into the Yancey Thigpen Club: given up on by the Chargers; excel for another team.
by Andy (allfield) on Aug 4, 2010 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions
I assume Wes Welker is in that club as well.
No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.
Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't
Indeed
And it’s not just confined to WRs (although they may be the most glaring).
by Andy (allfield) on Aug 5, 2010 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions
it’s great and exciting to hear about the cohesiveness of this team compared to last year’s. but it makes me wonder: if the atmosphere of last year’s team was as bad as some have made it out to be, how did we win 11 games in a row?
Because an incohesive team is not necessarily a losing team
Especially when you have a top QB and a HOF TE.
No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.
Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't
I only speak of the cohesiveness during camp. Perhaps they came together later on.
It’s not that they hated each other though. It was more like there was one guy in each group who the other guys spent their time watching and worrying about. This year there’s none of that. The guys on top on working too hard to help out the guys on the bottom of the depth chart, and the guys on the bottom are appreciative. It’s not a huge shift, but you can tell by the fact that nobody seems to be the one grabbing attention each day. It’s just guys competing.
Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.
by John Gennaro on Aug 3, 2010 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions
I think they would still spend their time worry about what others thought
I get the impression that LT would internalize his thoughts and feelings but talk about things behind players’ backs to the coaches and media. I’m thinking that now the leaders of the team are guys that are more upfront and out in the open about things.
Or I’m just making all this up. I just think that if I’m a WR I still care what Rivers or Gates or Dielman thinks about what I’m doing, but there must be some difference between those guys and LT.
No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.
Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't
I can see it.
Mind you, I don’t know these people, but Dielman looks to me like the kind of guy who does his job, mostly does it well, takes pride in it, and nobody’s stupid enough to give him any crap he doesn’t clearly deserve. His role on the team is pretty much carved out unless/until he gets hurt. Rivers is the face of the franchise with the humongous contract. He has no turf to protect, or rather, everybody else will protect it for him. But Tomlinson earned his HOF status, then declined precipitously. He did have turf to protect, and while he had his records and reputation as a shield and fan-favorite status as a sword, that’s worth basically one season’s worth of leeway, and he knew it.
What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of the cheerleaders!
by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Aug 3, 2010 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I hinted at it last year
The thing that struck me about LT was that he didn’t seem to talk to anybody, wasn’t in the locker room after practice and generally kept to himself. After reading the book his mother wrote, this actually made a ton of sense. LT is not a very outgoing guy. He’s quiet, reserved and just a little suspicious about everyone and their intentions.
Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.
As much as I’m rooting for Buster Davis to be really good in the slot position, I don’t think he’s as good a receiver as Naanee and I’m not sure he ever will be.
Injuries notwithstanding, there is a reason why he’s ahead of Buster in the depth chart, right? ;)
I love my team of historically talented underachievers.
History and Size
Naanee doesn’t belong on the inside. Too big for it, even though he did a good job with it last season. CBD would probably be at the slot anyways, because of his smaller size and greater speed, but Naanee gets the nod because he has a better history of performance and health.
Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.
Thanks for the training camp posts and photos
wish I was there to see it, but glad I can at least get your feel for what is going on.
I may be one of the few but I am still holding out hope that something gets worked out with both MM and VJ.
Glad to here Clary is looking good, I actually feel real good about the O Line this year. I expect the right side of the line to improve and I would love to see a healthy Hardwick this season.
Good stuff John!
I’m going to the open practice at Qualcomm tomorrow night. Maybe I’ll put a little something together explaining some of my observations as well.
Please don't read my signature.
im jealous
im stuck here in a crappy little 3rd world AZ town with a 12 pg newspaper that only has 1 page devoted to sports…. even the Cardinals only get a paragraph or 2 in the offseason
"i'm not inclined to resign to maturity"...PSYCH theme
by $#%@ eli and his daddy on Aug 3, 2010 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions
I like
that Mathews seems to be able to get the edge, when was the last time LT got around the corner? Also he sees the hole and hits it fast. He seems to straight arm a lot in practice, it seemed to tick Weddle off the other day. I noticed Weddle gave him a little shot his next time through; the third time they both sorta backed off. It was funny. I was with Buck where I would have liked to have kept the second rounder, but Mathews looked great (apart from whole catching the ball thing).
I like Strickland and Stuckey too; Stuckey ran stride for stride with Floyd, and while Floyd came down with the ball, he was well covered. Strickland is much better than I hoped, I was really worried about all the turnover in the secondary; I feel better about it but I guess we will know more in the preseason. And the DLine just looks huge, young and aggressive. You see OG, Cam Thomas, T. Johnson, V. Martin and you’re thinking:
Those guys are huge!
"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman
by Brian (DaBolts) on Aug 3, 2010 1:03 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Iv always thought
Mathews reminds me from Deangelo Williams from the panthers. The size, speed and balance combos look the same. but i havent seen Ryan in person, what do you think?
Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving.-Einstein
Agreed, except
Mathews is a full 3 inches taller and probably more powerful.
Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.
Is Applewhite a lot bigger?
I didnt get to see camp last year, but I remember him being what I call STs size 240ish pounds during the games. Now he looks bigger than Tucker
IMO
Nice reporting as always John!
I am the guy that has posted regarding the "Doom-Sayers/ Chargers pall-bears in the past. I am glad to hear that Ryan Matthews is “What we thought he was.” I am not surprised about Malcolm Floyd. Buster well, if he can stay healthy we might be surprised but, not counting on it. Naanee is another story as, I hope he performs well. LT’s latest head-lines are not a surprise.
Bottom line is that we still have an excellent team and can go all of the way! I also feel that Marcus McNeil will be sighned soon but, as far as Merriman goes, “Who really cares?”
Keep us up-dated bro………………
Go Chargers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by iliketowinallthetime on Aug 4, 2010 1:35 AM PDT reply actions
john
as u get bigger remebar us littale peopie
okay i have cerebral palsy arthris and chronic fatigue as well i have a great life and loveing folks some days are better than other days i got a make-a-wish in 2001 and saw my favorite team the broncos it was the trip of a lifetime i wish everyone couild have gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that okay but i bleed organ and bule for my mnr fans but i bleed orange and blue denver will rise again resident broncos fan for every blog resident broncos for stampede bule thanks shvd98z24 real name jeremy woodard nettleton high class of 02 yes i am a raider
by j-man on Aug 4, 2010 1:50 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
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