Observations, questions as Chargers go forward -- Ann By Kevin Acee The Chargers three-day minicamp concluded on Thursday, effectively ending the first offseason program under new head coach Mike McCoy. Veterans are free. Rookies will get schooled through next Thursday. After that, coaches will get their only month of the year off. With the offseason work all but done, let’s go over a few observations from minicamp and some things to ponder in the 5½ weeks before training camp begins July 25. The Chargers three-day minicamp concluded on Thursday, effectively ending the first offseason program under new head coach Mike McCoy. Veterans are free. Rookies will get schooled through next Thursday. After that, coaches will get their only month of the year off. With the offseason work all but done, let’s go over a few observations from minicamp and some things to ponder in the 5½ weeks before training camp begins July 25. QUICKER, SHORTER, SIMPLER … BETTER? Perhaps the most noticeable thing amongst all the newness is the new offense. “You haven’t seen the airmails as much?” Philip Rivers asked with a smile. Norv Turner’s calculus-level vertical offense produced records and points for an extended stretch. Its results were ruinous in recent years as injuries and defections drained the offensive talent. McCoy and new coordinator Ken Whisenhunt have simplified the playbook and reined in the downfield attack. That should help everyone from the linemen and running backs in pass protection to the receivers fighting for receptions to the guy making the throws. “It has been smoother than I anticipated,” Rivers said of the implementation. “…I had myself mentally ready to struggle a little bit. I don’t know if I can say we’ve struggled.” McCoy on Thursday guaranteed Rivers would have a “great” season. BROWN IN Vincent Brown is just plain spectacular. Yes, that’s right. Not flashy, just awesome. He’s not quite 6-foot, not quite 200 pounds, not a guy who’d win a foot race against almost any cornerback. But he plays tall, plays big, plays fast. Brown seemingly picking up where he left off last preseason before breaking his ankle is great news. Rivers still retains great rapport with Floyd and seemed to develop something with Danario Alexander last year. Rookie Keenan Allen flashed over the past two days. And, of course, there is Antonio Gates. The future Hall of Famer will turn 33 next week. Yet he is moving as unfettered as he has since shortly after turning 30, which is the same as saying shortly before his feet practically fell off. Might we be asking at some point the same kinds of questions we used to about there being one ball and so many guys to get it to? IN A RUSH? Either Dwight Freeney is feeling all of his 33 years, or he’s a master of energy conservation. Let’s give the guy with 107½ career sacks the benefit of the doubt for now. The Chargers seem to have Freeney exclusively playing with his hand on the ground and going forward. And while he seemed slow off the line (in shorts, in June) there were times he showed he clearly knows how to get around blockers. It’s not a news flash to say the Chargers need him to be a semblance of the guy who has averaged almost 10 sacks and more than 30 quarterback knockdowns and hurries over the past 11 seasons. Larry English says he’s feeling as good as ever, and he looks it. But we’ve heard and seen that before this time of year. He brings 8.5 career sacks into this season. It will be interesting over the course of camp to see the rotation between Freeney, English and run-stopper Jarret Johnson. BEST FIVE Officially, we don’t know which two players will man the left side of the offensive line. But we do. While the new Chargers staff certainly shuffles guys in and out, it appears Max Starks will be the starter at left tackle and Chad Rinehart will be next to him at guard. Mark down Nick Hardwick for his 10th season at center, Jeromey Clary moving from right tackle to right guard and first-round draft pick D.J. Fluker at right tackle. YOUNG SECONDARY Eric Weddle has started next to eight different strong safeties in five seasons, and it could be a ninth in 2013 if Brandon Taylor’s ACL is not sufficiently healed (it appears he will be ready). There will definitely be two new starting cornerbacks. Shareece Wright is starting opposite Derek Cox, and Johnny Patrick appears to be the No.1 nickel. But what happens with Marcus Gilchrist if Turner comes back to win the strong safety spot? THIN D LINE Especially with the outside linebacker corps being as thin as it’s been since the Chargers went to a 3-4 defense in 2004, the defensive line will need to continue its progress. Expect that ends Corey Liuget and Kendall Reyes will do so, and perhaps Cam Thomas as well. But then what? It sure appeared undrafted rookie nose tackle Kwame Geathers is getting a long look. He even made a difference at times this week. But that doesn’t mean the Chargers won’t go looking for another player, such as versatile Justin Bannan.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:07:50 +0000
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