Chargers 2009 Training Camp Pictures

BOLTHYPE has taken over 800 photographs during San Diego Chargers 2009 Training Camps. You'll find some great pictures of your favorite players here:


08/20/2009


08/01/2009


07/27/2009

Chargers 2009 Fan Fest Impressions - Part 2

In part two of our San Diego Chargers Fan Fest notes, let's look at how the offense and special teams looked.


QUARTERBACKS START HOT, THEN COOL DOWN

This could be a sign of an aggressive and much improved defensive unit, but the Quarterback play was a bit shaky today. They were constantly under pressure, being flushed out of the pocket or otherwise hurried into making questionable throws. Both Philip Rivers and Billy Volek were targets of multiple interceptions, but they also had a number of stellar touchdown passes. It was an up and down day for the QBs.

RECEIVERS UNIT LOOKING DEADLY

Malcom Floyd made a ridiculous catch in the corner of the endzone, falling backwards but staying in boards. He's a redzone monster and offers a huge target for Rivers to toss the ball up to. He's playing on a one year deal if I remember correctly, so it'll be interesting to see how he performs this season.

Vincent Jackson continued to impress me. I watched him closely as I feel this year will be a pivotal one for him. Jackson is on the verge of being recognized league-wide as one of the elite young receivers in the NFL. In practice, he would nonchalantly snatch the ball out of the air with one hand. During team drills, he used his body to compete in traffic. And he displayed his deep speed with 50+ yard catch over the shoulder for a touchdown. With so many talented receivers in the AFC, it'll be hard for Jackson to earn the votes for a Pro Bowl, but I think he could have that type of a year.

Legedu Naanee is continuing to develop into a nice player, and is showing some improved speed. When he came in as a rookie, he was carrying some extra weight, but he's really trimmed down and looks fast.

Kassim Osgood used his strong hands to hang on to a nice catch that Cletis Gordon try to strip from him. Osgood practices hard and caught everything thrown to him.

Antonio Gates, bigger and thicker this year, moves around with uncanny smoothness. Rivers threw an absolute rocket at him in the endzone which bounced off of Gates' mitts with a loud "Pop!" but was secured for the score.

RUNNING GAME FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS

The Chargers have typically been able to run to the left side with good results over the past few years, but this year they are hoping to have an equal amount of success running to the right. Kynan Forney, who didn't practice as he spent time with his wife and newborn baby, will provide a strong, physical presence as Mike Goff's replacement at right guard. Forney, along with a continually improving Jeromy Clary, hope to dictate the line of scrimmage much in the same way Marcus McNeill and Kris Dielman have over the years.

Dielman, in fact, was used often on pulls to the right side, paving the way for Ladainian Tomlinson to break for big runs. The Chargers used this play on a couple of occasions, and each time it was a success. It'll be interesting to see them use this play in games, as this is exactly the type of ace-up-their-sleeve play that the Chargers coaching staff could use with great results.

Tomlinson looked fast, had all of his explosive moves, and caught the ball well. I couldn't help but think to myself that LT looks as dangerous as ever once he gets into the open field.

Speaking of dangerous players, Darren Sproles will continue to be a spark plug player who is capable of making the big play. He didn't have much success running up the middle, but that's not the type of player he is anyways.

Jacob Hester is noticeably thicker and more stout. He gets to his block quickly. I think he's a smart player who will show some real improvement as a fullback this year. I wonder, however, if he has a mean streak? I don't see him being the intimidator that Lorenzo Neal was. I think Hester's game will be more chess-like, rather than pure smash-mouth.

Lineman Scott Mruczkowski is transitioning to his new role as the backup center, and he is making sure that his presence is felt on the football field. He was active all day long, twice getting in the face of a defender; Mruczkowski and Kevin Ellison were mixing it up a little bit, and he also jawed at Brandon Siler after an accidentally rough tackle the linebacker made on Darren Sproles. I like the attitude, it's good to know the offensive linemen are such a passionate bunch.

PROLIFIC SPECIAL TEAMS

Charlie Martin, Darren Sproles, and Antonio Cromartie all took returns to the house. Part of that is obviously due to the fact that contact is intentionally limited. But could another part be that the special teams are still adjusting to the new wedge rule?

Nate Kaeding was drilling 50+ yard field goals, and in fact I don't believe he missed a single attempt all practice long. Talk about being Mr. Automatic.

Chargers 2009 Fan Fest Impressions - Part 1

Over 19,000 fans came out to Qualcomm Stadium to watch the Chargers take the field Saturday, making it the biggest turnout ever for a Chargers practice. The fans showed tremendous support, and the players graciously signed as many autographs as they could before taking the field. Once on the field, the real show started; whether it was Vincent Jackson catching a beautifully thrown 50 yard touchdown pass from Philip Rivers, or Shawne Merriman blowing up his blocker and causing havoc in the backfield, there were enough big plays on all sides of the ball to keep the crowd entertained. While Fan fest is in many ways an exhibition put on for the Chargers faithful, there were some intriguing items of note in the players' performances. In part one of our Fan Fest notes, we'll focus on the defense:


OPPORTUNISTIC SECONDARY

With Eric Weddle out of practice nursing a bad headache, a hole opened up at free safety where a number of guys rotated in. Undrafted rookie free agent CJ Spillman got lots of reps at free safety, a position he played extremely well at Marshall University. In fact, it was a bit surprising to see he go undrafted. Spillman has legitimate sleeper potential - he could develop into a nice player.

Speaking of developing players, Paul Oliver had a great practice, coming down with two interceptions. He jumped a Vincent Jackson route in the endzone and made a play reminiscent of his game against Denver last season. Paul Oliver is an interesting guy; he was a supplemental draft pick of the Chargers in 2007 as a cornerback coming out of Georgia. He left school early and is still young, but he is making the transition to safety for the Chargers and has had to learn a lot about the position. He's a great natural athlete with good bulk. The Chargers are still trying to figure out how best to use him, as he is versatile and has natural playmaking ability. I asked Coach Turner about Paul Oliver's role on the team and coach explained "Paul Oliver is doing a nice job. He's working at free safety. We're getting our guys ready to play four preseason games and then we'll evaluate them."

Cletis Gordon had a fantastic day, picking off both Volek and Rivers. He's got great length and tremendous speed. He's a threat to score when he gets the ball in his hands.

Antoine Cason also came down with an interception and impressed the crowd with his return for a touchdown. "Antoine is a good player. It's his second year, and I expect him to make a big jump from year one to year two," said Coach Turner. Cason will continue his role as the third cornerback, and provides excellent insurance behind Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer.

Rookie Kevin Ellison is a tough, physical player. He and center Scott Mruczkowski got into each other's faces after a play. The coaching staff likes to move Ellison around the field; he plays close to the line, he'll slide inside,and he'll drop back into coverage. He's not the fastest guy on the team, but he has excellent football knowledge and knows where to be to make the play. I don't imagine he'll earn a starting job right away, but he'll likely be the Chargers' starting Strong Safety in 2010.

ACTIVE FRONT SEVEN

The Chargers front seven stayed after it all practice long. Vaughn Martin was getting excellent penetration from the right defensive end spot. He's battling Jacques Cesaire for playing time. Martin hustles to the ball and does an excellent job pursuing the play, even if it's going away from him. The weight he lost is paying dividends as he's moving around with better quickness and has been able to increase his stamina. Martin's got excellent power and his technique is improving each day. He plays a little high at times, but he'll learn how to play with better leverage by watching Jamal Williams. Already, Martin has displayed some great hands, including a powerful slap move.

Ex-Chicago Bear Ian Scott did a good job of getting his paws up and batting down a Billy Volek pass. He's an incredibly large man, who'll best fit as a rotational guy. He's a load, but he gets tired if on the field for too long.

As a whole, the linebackers made a ton of plays. Whether it was Shawne Merriman repeatedly getting into the backfield, or Kevin Burnett moving around comfortably in coverage, this year's group of linebackers should be a greatly improved unit from a year ago. Merriman was moving around great, and was obviously holding himself back. He popped Jacob Hester on one play, but it would have been a much bigger collision if Merriman was going more than only about 60%.

Entering his second year now, Eric Bakhtiari has been a nice surprise thus far. Bakhtiari is a good pass rusher with a frame that could support more bulk. He's probably a year away, as he's a little light for the position, but he'll open eyes with his burst and length.

Brandon Siler plays with intensity, and is a dominant run stuffer. He fills the hole and is eager to meet the ball carrier. Siler's a little stiff in the hips, but he's best when he keeps the play in front of him anyways. I think he continues to play a pivotal role on special teams and in goal line situations. There was a funny moment at practice where he was chasing after Darren Sproles near the sidelines. Siler got a hand on Sproles and pushed him out of bounds, directly into Chargers General Manager AJ Smith!

Stephen Cooper has a tapped up left ankle, but it doesn't appear serious.

Larry English was not practicing, as he nurses a tight hamstring.

Part two of these Fan Fest notes will be published tomorrow, so come back and read about the Offense and Special Teams!

Chargers Fan Fest 2009 Pictures

Chargers Fan Fest 2009 Pictures

Chargers Training Camp Visits The Q

For those of us who are unable to sneak into training camp practices at Chargers Park (Rob...lucky!) the San Diego Chargers held their first public practice of the summer. While I could bore you with a minute-by-minute account of the night's showcase, including every stretch and step in warm-ups and every punt by a bored Mike Scifres, I'll simply add a few of my own observations.

LaDainian Tomlinson

I know, it's training camp, and the players aren't really trying to hit anyone, but LT ran like the MVP version of LT, circa 2006. He went from zero-to-sprint in the blink of an eye, he hit the hole in a burst, and he made quick adjustments when the hole wasn't there. His reps were very encouraging.

Shawne Merriman

Always in position to make a play, quick off the line...I'm so happy that he is not just back but is now healthier than ever. He might literally send Jamarcus Russell into an early retirement after the season's first game.


Jacob Hester

Looks good, definitely bigger, and looked like he can carry the load as the starting FB. He did not look good in passing drills, so let's hope he gets that problem rectified in a hurry.

Larry English

As was expected, Larry English worked on the sidelines as the team continues to play it safe with his strained hamstring. I really wanted to see this guy in action but you can't blame the team for being cautious early in camp.

QB-to-WR Connection

Maybe it was due to the different practice environment, maybe it was because of the crowd, but the quarterbacks and wide receivers never seemed to connect during passing drills. And it wasn't because of the stellar coverage by the DB's, although they were covering like small gloves on Gary "Big Hands" Johnson. No, Rivers and Volek just seemed to be off the mark with anything deep.

Chargers Fans

Yeah, San Diego is known for being laid back and low key, but there was a big buzz in the air at the Q. You can tell the fans are expecting a huge season from the team, and are hungry for anything related to the Chargers. I wouldn't call the practice "exciting" but hanging out with thousands of Chargers fans to support our team was definitely a cool experience.

I can't wait to see the team playing against guys in a different uniform. The first exhibition game is just 9-days away...Go Bolts!

PICTURES

Chargers fan @MzLaniSD sent in some great shots of Chargers practice at the Q!

Do you have thoughts on practice or pictures to share? Drop in a comment and let us know!

Chargers 2009 Training Camp Impressions - Part 2

Rob Zepeda of BOLTHYPE.com was on-hand at the San Diego Chargers Training Camp today. With hundreds of photos from practice along with camp impressions, we hope you'll continue to visit BOLTHYPE.com throughout the year for more San Diego Chargers analysis, opinion, and interviews.

Click on to read his report from today's practice!


Vincent Jackson Continues To Get Better

The player I was most impressed with at today's practice was, by far, Vincent Jackson. Already possessing tremendous physical tools, Jackson has clearly continued to grow as a professional wide receiver. Jackson displayed some incredible one-handed catches today, to which my reaction was simply "wow!" Vincent Jackson and Philip Rivers have excellent on-field chemistry, and it would be a shame to break that up by not extending Jackson's contract. Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson could be one of the game's great QB-WR duos. They'll combine for lots of big plays down the field this year.

Kynan Forney Penciled In As The Starter?

When camp opened first to the rookies, the young players enjoyed plenty of attention and certainly did their part to impress their coaches. But as the veterans join the team, evaluations undergo a new perspective. Take, for example, the battle at right guard between the rookie Louis Vasquez and the veteran Kynan Forney. There has been plenty of talk this offseason that the competition at right guard will be fierce, and indeed it appears be just that. Vasquez will certainly have his shot at earning a starting job, but there are no guarantees he'll be a starter this year. As far as Head Coach Norv Turner is concerned, the position is filled at the moment. Forney is a very capable player who has years of NFL experience and is already acclimated to what the Chargers' offense entails. Louis Vasquez is a nice young player who appears to have tremendous upside, but there is no pressure for him to assume the starting role Week 1. The Chargers will be just as happy to start their season with a veteran group of lineman who know the offense inside and out. "We have our group of starters.," says Head Coach Norv Turner. "We also have some guys who can compete and play at this level. But there's a lot of things that go in to [evaluating offensive linemen]. Athletic ability. Toughness. Physical toughness. Mental toughness. The ability to assimilate information. We've got a lot going on out there."

Chargers Still Practicing In 'Shells'

The Chargers are still practicing in 'shells' which are essentially the thin padding they wear under their real pads. Coach Turner slowly works his guys into full gear, and thinks it's an essential process so as to avoid injuries. "It's always great when you get into pads. That first day gets exciting. I like to take a little bit off of it by waiting a while before getting into pads."

Defensive Backs Shut Down The Field

As a whole, the secondary looked confidant and played with a swagger, breaking up passes and generally making the quarterbacks' lives difficult. Interceptions, however didn't come so easily. Paul Oliver made a nice play on the ball, but when he failed to come up with the interception, Cromartie ordered "P.O." to do a set of push-ups. Interestingly enough, of all the defensive backs who made plays on the ball, only Quentin Jammer came away with an actual interception. Jammer had long been known to be a stellar cover corner who simply lacked good ball skills. Each offseason, Jammer spends time on improving his hands - will this finally be the year he puts it all together and earns his long-overdue trip to the Pro Bowl?

Larry English Not On The Field For Morning Practice

Larry English did not practice with the team during this morning's session, as he had not officially signed his contract. English was in the building, however, going over documents and getting his physical out of the way. He should be cleared to practice with the team in the afternoon's session.

Chargers 2009 Training Camp Impressions

The San Diego Chargers kicked off the start of training camp today with the rookies reporting as they get the opportunity for a head start on the veterans, who come in this weekend. As only the first day of camp, and without the traditional crows of fans, Monday's practice had a subdued and deliberate feel to it. There wasn't a whole lot going on today without the veterans on hand, but nevertheless, I came away with a few observations I'd like to share with you.


ALSO SEE: Chargers 2009 Training Camp Pictures

Gartrell Johnson Impresses



Gartrell Johnson is a guy who continues to impress me each and every time I watch him practice. He's not hard to miss out there; dreadlocks burst out of his helmet and whip around as he runs. He is thickly built with a strong lower half, displays excellent vision, and is very explosive in his cuts. Johnson practices hard and is quietly becoming a coach favorite. As I asked Coach Turner about his impressions of Johnson, coach's eyes light up, "I'm excited about Johnson. He's got some good instincts, that's why we drafted him. Now we haven't been in pads yet...no one's tried to tackle him yet and he hasn't tried to avoid a tackle yet. We have a lot of evaluating to do with all our players." With only two running backs reporting to camp today, Gartrell Johnson got lots of work; "They can't wear me out," he insisted.

The preseason is going to be Johnson's opportunity to shine; with Ladainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles ahead of him on the depth chart, there simply wont be a lot of extra carries for Johnson in the regular season. Of course, if Johnson continues to impress he'll have a shot at stealing some carries here and there. Johnson brings some unique talents to the table, and could be a nice change of pace for Ladainain Tomlinson to lean on. Johnson welcomes contact and prides himself in his ability to be difficult to tackle. "That's kind of what I'm known for," he tells me.

It's still early on, and the pad's have yet to start popping, but Gartrell Johnson could become the next Michael Turner. I think Johnson is flying a bit under the radar right now, but I can't wait for you guys to see him in action.

Kory Sperry Displays Excellent Ball Skills



Tight End Kory Sperry made a few excellent catches today. As a former basketball player, Sperry has shades of Antonio Gates in him. Sperry plucks the ball out of the air and using his body to shield defenders. He extends for his catches and has soft hands. Sperry could become a nice player for the Bolts.

Vaughn Martin Ridiculously Athletic

Vaughn Martin showed off his natural athleticism today, using explosive movements at the snap and move much faster than most guys his size. Martin is a load, but light on his feet. I've compared him to a mix between Luis Castillo and Igor Olshansky in the past, and I think that's a pretty accurate assessment. Martin's has a nice rip move that he's been working on, it is shows. He was lined up at right defensive end most of the time, and on a couple of looks was lined up at what seemed like a wide 5 technique on the back side. On these plays, Vaughn really had to hustle in pursuit as the ball was being run to the opposite side.

Martin still has a lot of learning to do, both technique-wise as well as in the playbook. That will all come with coaching. What can't be coached, however, is the man's pure athleticism. Martin's another guy to watch once the pads come on.

Kevin Ellison Still Unsigned

It's disappointing to hear that Kevin Ellison is still unsigned. He wasn't at practice today and his continued absence will only slow his progress. It's hard enough for a college player to make the leap to the pros, but safeties have so much to learn that missing valuable practices like today's is not good. Head Coach Turner wasn't too pleased that Ellison missed the start of camp, and warned that Ellison isn't guaranteed to make the final roster simply because he was drafted. "I'm disappointed that Kevin's not here," Coach Turner said. "He's a sixth round pick. I just hope it doesn't keep him from making the football team. Every day he's not here, it's going to hurt him. It's a big deal for a young player to miss, especially for a young guy who's fighting to make a very good roster. It's real big."

Philip Rivers Looks Excellent

Although rookies are the focus at the start of training camp, Philip Rivers and the other QBs were in camp throwing and working with the young guys. Rivers looks fantastic; probably the best shape I've ever seen him in. For all the talk that Rivers isn't a very mobile QB, he actually throws on the run quite well. I'd like to see more of that going forward. He practiced today without his knee braces, but he says he'll wear them during the season.

Shawne Merriman's Presence Felt At Start Of '09 Training Camp

Shawne Merriman, with a brace on his knee and a blue mohawk on his head, was the star of practice today. As the team kicked off the start of their 2009 training camp, only the rookies were required to report today. Merriman, too eager to get back on the field, was out practicing with his young teammates as one of only a handfull of veterans participating. "I don't think there's anyone more ready than me right now to play football again" he says.

If Merriman was showing trepidation towards his knee today, it certainly didn't show. He was moving laterally, running and jumping, showing burst and explosion. The coaching staff monitored Merriman's workload, but he looks to be cleared to participate fully. "They gave me a helmet and a jersey, that's all the clearance I need."

The team practiced sans pads today, so Merriman's prowess couldn't be fully displayed. Itching for contact, Merriman had to resort to "banging my head on the goalpost" since he wasn't allowed to actually hit anyone. Asked if he'd play in the preseason, Merriman said "I better get one play. I better get one play. I'll be furious if I don't get one play. I might not make it but I just want to hit someone and then go to the sidelines. If I get that, I'm happy. I expect to play a little bit. Hopefully I'll be allowed to get on the field."

The fans are anxious to see Lights Out play football again, and it's easy to overlook the work Shawne Merriman was put in in order to get his knee back to full strength. We sometimes take for granted that guys will come back the next season and be at 100%. It's important to acknowledge the work these guys do simply to prepare their bodies for an NFL season. Merriman described his rehab process as "ridiculous", spending 4 hours a day, 5 days a week working on recovering his knee; "The hours I put into my body over the last seven to eight months...ridiculous. Ridiculous. That's all you can really say."

Like a caged animal, Merriman is itching and scratching to be unleashed. At times he seems angry, not at anyone in particular, just angry at the situation. He doesn't want to talk about contracts. He doesn't want to hear people doubting him or his abilities. He hates feeling helpless when his teammates are struggling to get off the field on third downs. He knows he could have made a difference last season, and it's almost like he's preparing himself to make up for the time the missed. Merriman has high expectations for himself and his team; he is focused on the task at hand and he's playing with a chip on his shoulder. It'll be fun to watch Merriman try to retake the NFL by storm.

Reminder: BOLTHYPE To Provide Training Camp Updates Tomorrow !

Heads up guys: drop in tomorrow for updates from Chargers Park as BOLTHYPE heads to Training Camp to provide coverage of your 2009 rookie class. I'll have tons of photos, some interviews, and lots of impressions on the players.

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Chargers Mini Camp 2009

The San Diego Chargers held their annual mini camp this weekend, and BoltHype was on-site taking notes, making observations, conducting interviews, and snapping pictures. Throughout the offseason, we'll do our best to bring you coverage of the Chargers mini camp and training camp sessions. Hit the jump to read more:


Mini camp in pictures:


Some quick notes on mini camp:

Gartrell Johnson

It's early (and everyone looks good in shorts) but Gartrell Johnson could be the real deal. Shows a good burst, is a downhill runner, runs a bit high but can lower the shoulder and will punish the defender. He had a couple of excellent runs that he turned into big gains out here on the practice field by using that acceleration of his. Watching the East-West shrine game, Johnson really stood out as kind of a poor man's Steven Jackson. If I recall correctly, Gartrell played fullback in college before making the transition to tailback. He's carried those fullback instincts with him and incorporated it into his game.

The coaching staff were quick to both get after Gartrell when he made a mistake, as well as praising him when he did the right thing. To me, that showed that the coaches are trying to get him ready to contribute early on. If he takes to coaching, don't be surprised to see #33 making a roster spot and getting carries in games.

Ron Rivera's defense

There is a distinct difference between the Ted Cottrell defense and the Ron Rivera defense. One thing that really jumps out to me about Rivera's approach is that he will blitz the DBs and he'll do it often. Last year we saw a bit of it in the second half of the season, but this year I fully expect to see at least a couple of corner/safety blitzes per game.

Getting pressure on the QB seems to be the point of emphasis on defense, and seeing Larry English with his hand in the dirt on one side, with Philips on the other, brings happy thoughts to my head. Third down is going to be totally different this year compared to last.

Vaugh Martin is one of the most well-spoken and kick-back guys you'll meet, but when he's playing football he's trying to blow up the man in front of him. The defensive line as a whole were playing with alot of energy, twice putting an offensive lineman on his butt. Martin is getting by with raw talent right now but I chatted with him for a bit and he's excited about how much coaching he's getting right now. A guy with his physical tools who is as bright and coachable as he is....the sky's the limit. Think Igor Olshansky except way more athletic and versatile.

I think its safe to say that Burnett is going to start Week 1 inside opposite Coop. Burnett, Merriman, and English...talk about upgrading your linebacker group. Here's some new toys Coach Rivera...go play!

Opportunistic Secondary

Cromartie and Hart both had nice interceptions, with Weddle almost getting one himself. Having familiarity with the system and gaining more and more experience playing in the NFL, our young secondary is starting to mature and thats pretty exciting. Not only were they making athletic plays, but they were being in the right place at the right time. I think the young guys like Cason, Cromartie, and Weddle can only get better with time and I expect big things from those three this year. Jammer has the LCB position locked down, Cromartie looks comfortable on the right side, and Cason is a nickel corner who is probably good enough to be a #1 on a lot of teams in the NFL. The way I see it, I can't imagine Cason being moved inside to safety.

Ellison might not have great timed speed, but he is certainly fast enough to match up with tight ends. He has good bulk but he can move. I don't think he's going to be much more than a good special teams player at this point, but down the road he could eventually start opposite Eric Weddle . That's probably 1 or 2 seasons away though. Not a knock on Ellison by any means, but there is so much learning that goes in to that position...he has some catching up to do before he'll be ready.

Rehab

Jamal Williams, Antonio Gates, Marcus McNeill, and Shawne Merriman were all working out on the side doing plyometrics. By all accounts they are progressing nicely.