(photo credit: Chargers)
Chargers embrace the change of Training Camp
by Nick Hamilton (@NickHamiltonLA)
The Los Angeles Chargers have made their official pilgrimage to friendly confines of Costa Mesa to a crowd of nearly 6,000 fans, eagerly anticipating seeing their favorite player come down the high-five line.
After Kobe Bryant came and spoke to the team on Saturday, the team was fired up and ready for day one of Training Camp.
“This is really better than I anticipated,” Philip Rivers said regarding the large turnout on Sunday. “Not that I didn’t have high hopes or excitement about the fan base that’s here, and really all over Southern California, (but) I didn’t anticipate this! My rookie year, granted we were coming off a bad season, but we were in Carson. I was only there for one day of camp, but literally I think there were 12 people there. I’m serious. Literally, you could count 12 bodies there. So I wasn’t sure, but there was a lot of excitement.”
Unsure of the turnout, the Bolts are in a new city, new stadium and surrounded by new faces, yet they have the task of not only winning on the football field but winning the fan base over in Los Angeles and Orange County this season. Winning does cure all, not only is this season’s team immensely talented, but the major factor they must all overcome is staying healthy. Running back Melvin Gordon who just three yards shy of a 1,000 yard season due to injury looks to bounce back in full motion. He looked well and seemed to have a renewed energy on the field in Day 1 of Training Camp. Keenan Allen who also returning from injury looked pretty swift on some routes, however the sophomore tight end Hunter Henry looked as though he didn’t miss a beat in the off-season. Henry ran some good routes however made one spectacular catch in the end zone that made of the fans and media onlooker in awe of his skills.
With the return of above guys mentioned, there was one offensive weapon that Rivers won’t have in camp is rookie WR Mike Williams who will not be available in Training Camp due to lower back injury. Williams continues to rehab his back according to doctor’s order, and the team is confident that he can avoid surgery.
“We have the talent,” Rivers said. “You don’t look around and go, ‘Gosh, we’re missing this. If we had one of that. We really need this. We’re almost there.’ I think you look at it, and that doesn’t mean I’m predicting us to win it all, but we have the talent. Now, it’s building the camaraderie, the toughness and the fight. All of those things, the togetherness and intangibles, and obviously you have to play well.”
The defense looked impactful and excited on Day 1 of Training Camp led by Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, yet were without Jason Verrett who is rehabbing a leg injury. However Verrett could return sometime next week, and this year will be huge for him as he looks to make a significant impact on defense this season for the Bolts. Jahleel Addae had many run stuffs, including one where he sliced left to stop the running back behind the line of scrimmage.
Newly signed back up quarterback Cardale Jones looked a bit rusty, but will improved as he continues to get accustomed to the new playbook by head coach Anthony Lynn, who has quite a bit of confidence in the young quarterback. Jones has a great football IQ and with time should retain a roster spot in on that quarterback depth chart.
Jones is adjust nicely not only to his new teammates but to Southern California, the weather and the fan base.