In his second season as San Francisco’s coach, Jim Harbaugh obtained the 49ers to the Tremendous Bowl. Whereas that’s a giant ask of the Chargers, particularly for a membership that hasn’t received a postseason recreation since 2018, it’s cheap to foretell his group will do as effectively or higher than final 12 months’s 11-6 end.
An enormous query: Is Justin Herbert an elite quarterback? His coach actually thinks so. “I woke up the other day and said, ‘Gotta get Justin Herbert to the Hall of Fame. … That would mean winning a couple Super Bowls,’” Harbaugh stated on “The Rich Eisen Show” this offseason. “A lot of people would benefit from that. That’s a worthy goal.”
It’s a lofty ambition, particularly contemplating Herbert has but to win a playoff recreation. The 6-foot-6 passer, getting into his sixth NFL season, has one other likelihood to translate his expertise into postseason outcomes. He threw solely three interceptions through the common season, however tossed 4 within the playoff loss to Houston, together with his first pick-six in 46 video games.
The problem simply obtained harder. Ten days after signing left deal with Rashawn Slater to a historic deal for offensive linemen, the Chargers misplaced him for the season to a knee damage. That leaves Herbert’s blind facet within the arms of rookie Joe Alt.
It’s a crowded AFC quarterback area with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. The query is whether or not Herbert can lastly be part of that high tier.
Shedding Slater is a devastating blow, however the timing allowed the Chargers to reshuffle. Alt, a standout left deal with at Notre Dame, shifted over from the suitable facet.
“He’s one of our top guys, elite player on the team,” Harbaugh stated. “Great player. He’s been ascending as much as anybody on the team. People ask me, ‘Who’s the most improved guy?’ It could be Joe Alt, and he was really good last year.”
Chargers offensive deal with Joe Alt will begin at left guard following Rashawn Slater’s season-ending knee damage in coaching camp.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
The unique imaginative and prescient was Slater at left deal with and Alt at proper, a pair of brick-wall bookends, for years to return. Now, with Alt sliding left, Trey Pipkins strikes into his extra pure spot at proper deal with. The group is as ready because it may very well be, however as Harbaugh admitted, dropping Slater was a “gut punch.”
The larger challenge final season, significantly evident within the playoff loss at Houston, was vulnerability inside. To deal with that, the group added proper guard Mekhi Becton and can keep on with Bradley Bozeman at middle and Zion Johnson at left guard.
For the primary time since 2015, the Chargers used a first-round decide on a working again, deciding on North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton. Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman plan to lean closely on a bodily floor recreation.
“He’s the total package,” Roman stated at camp. “His vision, I’m really pleased with what I’m seeing right now. You don’t see a lot of guys find the hole like he’s doing right now, which is exciting.”
Roman envisions bringing Hampton alongside a lot the way in which he did J.Ok. Dobbins in Baltimore, when the rookie averaged 5.8 yards per carry and scored 10 touchdowns in 2020.
Chargers rookie working again Omarion Hampton might spearhead the group’s working recreation this season.
(Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Occasions)
The Chargers received’t depend on Hampton alone. Veteran Najee Harris missed all of coaching camp with an eye fixed damage suffered in a July 4 fireworks accident, however returned to follow final week. Fullback/defensive lineman Scott Matlock, listed at 296 kilos, provides distinctive versatility as a backfield blocker or further lineman in jumbo units.
Based on the “Chargers Weekly Podcast,” the group ran 143 performs final season with not less than seven gamers weighing 285 kilos or extra. That led the league by a mile; Baltimore ranked second with simply 28.
With the quarterback of Herbert’s caliber, the Chargers wish to open the passing lanes.
There’s loads of buzz round rookie wideouts Tre’ Harris (second spherical) and KeAndre Lambert-Smith (fifth spherical), although historical past exhibits first-year receivers not often make an instantaneous splash. Then once more, it wasn’t way back that Ladd McConkey broke that mould.
A 2024 second-round pick of Georgia, McConkey delivered an incredible rookie marketing campaign, setting franchise marks with 82 receptions and 1,149 yards. He’s now entrenched as WR1.
“We were able to do things with Ladd in Year 1 that you generally don’t do with a guy until Year 3 or 4,” Roman stated on the “Chargers Weekly Podcast.”
Chargers extensive receiver Ladd McConkey is poised to see loads of targets after an exceptional rookie marketing campaign.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
“His football IQ, a lot of different things that give him options to get open … graduate-level stuff, as I like to call it.”
Who emerges as his sidekick stays to be seen, Quentin Johnston, Harris, or Lambert-Smith. Then there’s Keenan Allen, who returns after a season in Chicago. Now 33, Allen nonetheless thrives within the slot, the place McConkey additionally operates. He could have misplaced a step, however his recreation was by no means constructed on pace. Simply two years in the past, he posted 1,243 yards, the second-best season of his profession.
The AFC West boasts star tight ends in Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Brock Bowers (Raiders) and Evan Engram (Broncos). The Chargers take a committee strategy, including veteran Tyler Conklin, a dependable pass-catcher with the Jets and Vikings, and drafting Oronde Gadsden II, the best tight finish in Syracuse historical past.
Will Dissly, who arrived final season after six years in Seattle, is anticipated to return to his extra pure blocking position after being pressed into receiving obligation.
