How Jim Harbaugh Is Energizing Bolts | LA Chargers

How Jim Harbaugh Is Energizing Bolts | LA Chargers

T aane 1510 touchdown [Music] Chargers what’s up guys welcome into a brand new episode of chargers weekly as always joined by Matt money Smith a lot of content this week money this team has been going since Monday with promo day and Camp Pendleton on Tuesday and obviously mini camp coming to a close on Thursday so a lot to dive into but I I gosh I have to tell you I was down at Camp Pendleton it was pretty awesome it was really really special to see um all the heroes out there Coach Harbaugh changing the rules on the Fly everybody was in the stands and he said you know what if you want to come on down to the grass come on down you know just not the playing field but come on down and it was just like a it was like a concert like a MH pit everyone’s coming down and obviously everybody was respectful and it was cool to to allow uh everybody check out the walkth through and then the meet and greet and tell you what I don’t know if there’s another head coach in football that may be popular or more popular than the the players right I think it’s it’s Harbaugh and Herbert right and and and Jim was so gracious signed everything and uh they had to get security to get him out of there he wasn’t going to leave it was really cool yeah and I think the the thing with with Coach Harbaugh is just that there’s a there’s a genuiness to it it’s not and that’s one of the things that that I was talking to one of the you know the beat writers today and he was talking about how it’s like you know you ask him a question it just he never quite answers it it’s just it’s always kind of all over the place I said but that’s what’s so endearing about him is it’s it’s so authentic and it’s like him standing there talking to these people and looking at them and saying wait these are the these are our service men and women like what are we doing just get them down here man like why why is there this barrier between you and me and that’s just how he processes and how he thinks and and you know I don’t think it’s calculated I think there’s an innocence to it and it’s it is what makes he feels feels like your dad you know if you’re I’m certainly too old to say feels like my dad but I think that’s what it is is there’s like this very fatherly quality to him which is often the case in in football coaches especially when you talk to players but I I think the the the city and the the greater Southern California the Greater Los Angeles area and most of southern California charger fans for that matter are feeling pretty darn good that he’s their head coach and I think it’s those moments that you just described that that add to the 44 and whatever his record is 441 19-1 record that he’s got As a head coach but it’s just the person uh and the genuine and the quality person that he is he he talked about it really being kind of the SoCal chargers right there’s so many charger fans down in San Diego and it wasn’t just football fans on the base buddy these were DieHard charger fans I saw SE jerseys and you know obviously a lot of Herbert jerseys Harbaugh jerseys uh so to to have a guy who has played in the league played for the San Diego Chargers and know knows what the lightning bolt means to to people in all of Southern California it just felt like a really cool moment and almost something that that I hope we see year after year down to camp P yeah I hope so I mean look I I get that the the the M many of the San Diego fans don’t like me and that’s fine you know I’m the voice of the the Los Angeles Chargers and they have this you know romantic relationship with Josh because he was their play-by-play guy and I get that and that’s totally fine that that is not an issue for me at all because I understand that that anger and and frustration and and you used to you know have a team that that had your name in front of it instead of Los Angeles at the same time I feel is now I’m you know going into my seventh year I feel like or is it our eighth year it’s seven or year this is year eight this is year eight yes so going into my eth year seven years down now I have noticed that I am engaging more and more with people from San Diego through social media at the tailgate walking around the stadium there have been and I hope that’s the case you know I I’m not going to be foolish and say oh they’re all coming back I know some have have written them off but it it does feel like they’re starting to come back and is you know someone who travels a lot before I got the charger job calling games in different spots go to Green Bay Wisconsin and you know I know what that drive for Milwaukee is I know what the drive from Western Wisconsin like people drive a couple hours to get to these football stadiums that’s you know you go to the Chicago game and you’re going as far east as Michigan City Indiana as far North as gurnie I mean as far west as as the Iowa Illinois border I mean those people are driving two hours and I think there is something to what Coach Harbaugh was saying about doing his best to say hey I was a San Diego Charger I love Los you know and I’m a I’m an LA guy you know I’ve lived here for 32 years I love La I have and I love San Diego selfishly it’s a great City so I I’m hopeful that that they’ll continue especially if the winning comes and especially if Harbaugh as as special as we think he is I’m hopeful that they can somehow reconcile that relationship and come back it would be it would be great because having a football team that you feel passion for every Sunday is is a pretty special thing in the United States I tell you what man it made me feel good I talked to so many fans who say they they love charges weekly and and they’re asking about money where’s money I every time I go somewhere um maybe not every time but every once in a blue moon someone will point and say hey it’s bat money Smith and you know I just I hope I I hope I represent you well money when when it’s not Matt money Smith you know but but uh it was really neat to see how many people watch the podcast listen to the podcast and um it just it made you feel good because uh this team is is really coming together and the one observation I had from Camp Pendleton just like an overarching takeaway is I really do feel like Jim Harbaugh is is such a big star that he’s taking a lot of pressure off these players like he’s putting all pressure on his shoulder and and he loves it and and I think these guys are following him and and I think it will lead to them playing maybe a little bit more frer here in 2024 I hope so you know building on that and and what you were saying think about Derwin James and that the caliber of star that he is he’s one of the biggest players that that Oakley has signed to an endorsement deal he’s been one of the faces of the NFL when he was an all pro as rookie year and won a playoff game his rookie year and certainly injuries have derailed his stardom a little bit but he was asked today about Coach Harbaugh and the one thing that stood out was him saying when he walks in the room you feel it because when you when he walks in the room everybody knows he’s in the room everybody sits up and and I I don’t I should have the the actual transcript of it so I can get it right because if I he said he’s the greatest leader I’ve ever been around like yeah he did say that here it is when he walks in he lights he lights up the room everybody is full attention no matter what you’re doing or what you’ve been doing he gets your attention because it means something to him that’s different than a football player paying his respects to his new head coach he’s he’s a great leader we we love having him here it’s been great so far that’s different especially derwin’s not the most he’s not he’s he doesn’t really I don’t know he doesn’t really detail things a lot his his answers tend to be a little bit shorter he’s a little laconic with his answers but so they’re typically these two sentence answers but he that stood out to me was that that particular that particular statement he gets your attention it means something to him yeah we want to get into notbook so I could have my notes but I can’t find it because disaster I know I had I had the notebook out at at camp today now I’m looking for it and I’m all off schedule I’m sorry you you I know you emptied the notebook I I I heard the questions you gave some great questions to Justin and and Derwin and um he didn’t like me asking him if he’s going to be running the ball he was not into that like me I like yeah you I mean Greg Greg Roman coached Andrew Luck in college Colin Kaepernick Alex Smith Lamar Jack yeah I’m asking you you know are you going to running the ball he was like he’s a step ahead of you money he’s he’s he knows he’s going to run the ball he’s not going to tell you he’s not gonna tell anybody he you you had a great question to him too about the offense and just the illusion of the run with Greg Roman and I I do think that that’s something Greg Roman has not had a quarterback like Justin Herbert um at the pro level like you know kyin Kaepernick was a good quarterback but Justin’s arm the way he processes things the illusion of the Run having a quarterback like Justin man that could be special and and I believe him I I believe the answer that he gave and I don’t know if it was to that question or it might have been the one before but it was a ser and you can watch the videos on chargers.com they do a great job of getting those things up there right away so you can see I think it’s important to see their facial reactions the smiles at some of the questions and the emotion that that goes into what they’re saying is supposed to just reading the transcript or the clips on Twitter from the beat writers they’re posting those little quits but he said’ look I might throw it 50 times one game and 15 the next and I don’t care as long as we win and I believe he means that sincerely and I also believe that that could happen because I saw that happen you know I saw that with Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman at Stanford and we’ve seen it in San Francisco we haven’t seen it as much in Baltimore with John Harbaugh and Greg Roman and I think that’s part and partial because of the quarterback I I think Lamar’s legs are just so dangerous and he is so dynamic as a runner and he’s really a better running quarterback than he is a throwing quarterback so play to the strengths and and he’s good enough to make sure he doesn’t get hurt running the ball so why not lean on that but I I think that’s I will not be surprised one bit if that’s how this plays out is if there are games where Justin’s slinging it all over the yard and there are games when he was you know handing off a a whole lot and and that’s what it’s all about balance keeping the defense guessing not being able for them you know not allowing them to get comfortable and going out in winning games it was good to see Justin at the podium he he looked kind of re-energized and and happy to to be in this new era of Chargers football with with coach harball and they’ve been going for the last nine weeks he spoke for I have it here 26 minutes what was the what was the main takeaways from you that he spoke for 26 minutes it’s like I kept looking at my I kept looking at my left like are you gonna get him like you gonna all right he seems I guess he’s fine let’s keep going let’s keep rolling he seemed fine he was because he has not spoke to the to us all all pre you know all OTAs this was the only time and it was the very last day so there’s more to get to because there’s more that we’ve seen right we we’ve been able to take in a lot more we’ve heard from every coordinator position coach strength Coach Harbaugh a few times multiple players rookies like we the golf tournament where we got media availability like we’ve heard so much and we’ve seen so much that I you I tip my cap to him that that he was able to to give us that amount of time and give us very thoughtful elongated answers so my takeaways um gosh I I don’t even know where to start I think it’s just so much more com he looks so much more comfortable Chris yes yes he really does he normally in his previous media sessions he’s always been very polite and kind and and good with his answers but there’s this sense you get that he just wants to get out of there just like hey man I like playing football I want to play football I want to hang out with my guys the media part of this isn’t necessarily something I enjoy and it felt like he enjoyed it he enjoyed talking about his teammates he enjoyed talking about Shane day being back he enjoyed talking about the collaboration of the coaches and this collaborative effort in building this offense and he especially it appeared enjoyed talking a lot about Jim Harbaugh he he really enjoyed that yeah he uh he was talking about Zack Bryan concerts oh yeah we had to go all the way back to to Keenan and Mike because we have not heard from Justin uh since Keenan was traded and Mike uh was released so you know talked about you know two of the best to do it not with the team anymore but uh what I what I thought was was actually refreshing too was the fact that the wide receivers are new the tight ends are new and he would say normally you would think that this is a a big adjustment but you know when you have guys like Hayden Hurst and dley who I know you mentioned and um it sounds like makoni he’s got a long way to go to be Keenan Allen but he could fill kind of that Keenan Allen role Justin C him a four or five year vet um I I thought listen he he complimented all of his teammates but the fact that he said I want to try to get Quinton the ball as much as possible this year I thought that was something and and I think that their relationship has blossomed in in uh Quint SE year when the pads when the pads come on that’s all going to sort itself out y you know that that will all sort itself out and I do think the wide receiver we’ve talked about it repeatedly that that room is going to be an interesting one of how they decide it shakes out and because there is some depth there now and there are some decisions to be made there now Quinn’s not going anywhere Quinn’s going to be part of that room llad makon is obviously going to be part of that room Josh Palmer is obviously going to be part of that room and I think after that DJ ch’s GNA have to prove that that he’s going to stick around and you know the way the deal was structured I’d be very surprised if he didn’t I think he feels a need that they that they desperately you know he feels something that they desperately need a veteran that can play X and get up we’ve talked about it press the 4-3 speed all of that and and then I think after that you know we try to figure it out how is this thing going to get put together so makoni hearing the way Coach Harbaugh talked about him the way Greg Roman talked about him and then the fact that Justin described him as a four four or fiveyear vet in the way that he understands and how he’s already digested The Playbook and what he’s doing out there suggests there’s going to be you know what you have trust in fiveyear vets you don’t have trust in rookies you know you want them to prove M El if you’re if you view lad makoni as a 5-year vet then that means you trust him because that’s you TR that’s how long Justin’s been in the league so yeah that’s that’s what we’re talking about it’s also important because we’re in the the we’re in a bit of the Silly Season for the media with the NFL it’s it’s the most popular product in America so they’re always looking for angles and new topics and how can we stay relevant when we’re not going to have any games for another three months so there’s all these rankings that are coming out and drafts and what if we redrafted the 2020 draft and what if what let’s do our quarterback rankings and you know Chris Sims just did that and he always does a great job with with the rankings and and I think Justin has never made excuses but please do not and he doesn’t need any I’m not trying to Cape for him or or defend him but it was brought up today you’re talking about a guy came in with Shane Sten broke every rookie passing record guy’s gone the very next year person they replace him with could not have run a more different or had a different offensive philosophy Shane was bombs away run when you have a chance use your athletic Lombardi was get it out soon as you see that opening let’s go it was Drew Brees I mean he tried to make Justin Herbert Drew Brees for two years and and then after that you had Kore that just never had a chance it just never it never worked so when you’re going through your quarterbacks and you’re ranking them yeah Patrick Mahomes is incredible he is incredible he very well could end up being the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL he has been with arguably the greatest offensive play caller since Bill Walsh in the history of the league his entire career he sat for a year to learn the offense and he has now been in the offense for six years it’s it’s it’s completely it’s apples and oranges it just is that’s that’s the reality Joe burrow has been with Zack Taylor his entire career the same offense his entire career so it’s just something to keep in mind that that he’s been able to overcome all of this and still be you know statistically one of the five best quarterbacks in the league even with all of that with with all of that adversity and all of that change and all of the injuries to Mike Williams and Keenan Allen and losing Hunter Henry and having a new number one tight end we brought that up today every single year it’s I can’t who was who was after Hunter Henry the the long time say jar cook Jared Cook from Hunter Henry to Jared Cook to J to Donald Parham to Gerald ever like this guy has not had a chance to find that continuity and I’m hoping and he was asked that you know I I assume you’re hoping that this is the last one he’s like look it’d be nice it sure would be nice if Greg Roman was the last one for a while yeah Greg Roman when he was biked up Raven about Justin how quickly he’s picked things up and just the the photographic memory and you know the the I think the word of the offseason has been details but what’s been cool the last couple of days is just the coats of paint right the four coats of paint that have been put on the offense and installing it and getting more familiar with it each time there’s been an install and Justin Justin and I think coach Roman both said essentially like we feel really good about the offense where it’s at right now and the fact that they are doing football right now not all 32 camps are doing football right now money Kalo brought up uh the the Jersey thing yesterday which I thought was a really great point and something that that I think really can get fans thinking too like those jerseys feel different they’re they’re a little bit tighter like you got to Kat a lot tighter you know and the fact that he’s wear that you’re wearing him during OTAs in mini camp it’s it’s the littlest things Joey Bosa talked about the little thing about the locker cleaning out your locker how you do anything’s how you do everything uh so those are these little things you pick up throughout this off season again I think charger fans they don’t want to be fooled and and and be like okay you know what we we’ve seen this movie before but it’s just different it it it feels different with a guy like Jim Harbaugh and you could tell that he has a plan he has a plan for Justin Herbert um one of the things that that he talked about too was just like the leaders at the team it seems like he’s been just singling out for the most part Justin and Derwin and he’ll praise other guys but like ju follow Justin on offense everything Derwin does do that like he he’s kind of like kind of pairing down what this is all about like I’m the head coach this is the guy who wears the gold jersey the backup quarterbacks don’t wear the gold jersey it’s my and do everything dwin does and I think that’s pretty cool yeah you know that those guys they they show themselves through this process and he he got into that and it was funny he said you know I had a he said I had someone come up to me and say hey coach is all right if I wear a hooded sweatshirt under my jersey and I said does Darwin wear a hooded sweatshirt under his jersey said that was the end of that conversation but he made the point of this isn’t this is do as I do he said that’s how you find leaders it’s do as I do and I want you to do what Derwin does and I want you to do what Justin Herbert does and that’s that’s who you’re that’s who you’ll follow and then he went on to list you know how important all these he just can’t help himself he loves being around these guys he talkinging about Scott Matlock as a as a leader a second-year guy that could barely get into the rotation last year but talked about a moment on the field after it was wet and Matt lock was out there patting it dry because that’s he felt himself slip and he wanted to try to get it dry for the other guys to go through their drill and that’s the sign of a lead like things that he recognizes that he’ll pick up on that that’s he’s always watching he’s and he says he ends he mentioned that he ends practice early some days and he wants to watch okay practice has ended 10 minutes early what’s what’s everybody doing and sure enough they’re still doing drill and I saw it today today was what’s called an opportunity practice so ones don’t have to go it’s it’s the the back end of the roster are going through drill or going through the the seven on sevens and the 11 on 11s and that’s and so Justin was just kind of hanging out with the receivers and it was fun to watch him talk to them about their routes into sanj LA and kind of get through what he was what he was seeing and Shane day was there and it was fun to watch that communication that here’s your quarterback coach here’s your wide receiver coach here’s your quarterback all these receivers and they’re just kind of kind of doing a little bit of walkth through and then they’ll go full speed and then they’ll have more of a conversation and there’s this okay let’s let’s get everybody involved and let’s maximize it so even though none of them had to be out there coach gave them the option do you want to go in and lift lift what however you want to approach today is up to you it’s an opportunity practice and every last one of them took the opportunity and sure enough he blows it early and they’re out there for maybe 45 minutes something like that so he Blows the Whistle early him up Herbert delivers the address to the team the final one before they come back for training camp and as they’re walking off what am I watching I’m watching Zion it’s driving me crazy that I don’t have this darn book because I have where’s this notebook man I don’t know I got I should actually stand up and go find it here Phil for for 10 seconds Chris I think I know where it is go go go wait no buddy if you’re listening to me uh Jim Harbaugh when he said that he said okay if I in practice 30 minutes early I want to see what these guys do and they’re actually doing more than what I would have asked them to do they they’re doing more than what I I would have done during that 30 minute period is kind of what you were alluding to with with Coach Harbaugh that was just another nugget from him at today’s press room yeah and so here we go this is I’m glad that I uh was able to get this because I want to make sure I get the uh the name right so Willis Patrick so they’re done they blow it early and Zion is is you know working on his movements and on his technique and Willis Patrick number 66 comes over and Willis is a rookie out of TCU undrafted free agent out of TCU and he and Zion start talking and all these and they’ve got food trucks lined up they brought out all these food trucks it smells delicious I’m beyond jealous they’ve got like a s bowls and a taco truck and a Burger truck for all the players and I’m just like I want to pour my face into all of it and they’re starting to pile out some of the guys are going to get their lunch and Willis and Zion start having a conversation and next thing you know Zion is is working on his technique on will and he’s and it’s not just like yeah let me let me get a look yeah it’s no I mean it’s a five minute deal where he’s showing how he’s too far open and how a swipe is going to beat him and then he’s showing out where where his feet should be and this is going on for five minutes and I think that’s what coach Harbaugh’s talking about is these guys are in it for each other and they go above and beyond and then when you watch them come off and all of their helmets are perfectly placed where they’re supposed to be they’re taking off their practice jerseys folding them up and putting them into the the laundry basket and people may think that’s dumb and and that it’s the whole Tom Coughlin if you’re two minutes early you’re 5 minutes late kind of thing but guy won two Super Bowls you know the guy there’s there is something to I firmly believe it there is nothing that that I and I look you can call me a cranky old man that that yells at Clouds but there is nothing I dislike more than not picking up after yourself as a grown man the idea that you would just leave plates and cups and trash behind knowing that there’s 53 of you and four of the workers to pick up yeah 100% pick up after yourself have some respect have some self-respect and decency and I think that’s what Coach Harbaugh has explained is that and that was what Derwin got into that these little details and that that’s what Joey got into Yesterday where you may think it’s nothing but think it’s something and if picking up my socks and making sure my locker is set a certain way means I am not going to be one inch off sze and get a flag thrown and ruin a play then let’s go then so be it and let’s go and and I am a firm believer the old broken windows theory of of Time Square when Bratton was trying to clean up New York City I I do think there is something to that first of all Willis Patrick I mean Patrick Willis Willis Patrick Harbaugh I this guy’s got to make the team he’s got to make the practice squad at least right right exactly exactly it was it was a cool moment though Joey was like it was like standup comedy hour band uh yesterday it was hilarious somebody somebody asked him about Jesse Menor and he went on for like a few minutes about one of the defensive assist his D line coach he’s like oh and then he could he talks really fast and I you know I’m just like what what and then he’s like hold on I was describing somebody else just somebody else oh yeah he’s the best but you know that’s I I that was I thought a very telling moment and a special moment and it this that’s what football football is sacrifice football is unlike any other sport because there is a self-sacrifice aspect to it where you give of yourself to allow a teammate to succeed it’s an offensive lineman that allows the pocket to hold up for the quarterback and the wide receiver to connect on a touchdown pass and steal all your glory it’s it’s Joey Bosa getting double team so on the opposite side of him someone is manned up and can beat their man and get the sack is so to hear Joey and khil go back to back and talk about their communication with each other and and this goes back to something we talked about Chris with Keenan Allen and I and I said I make no bones about it make all the money you can take all the money you can can I am never going to fault you for that but when we talked about it we brought up you can’t have khil Mack coming off a 17 and a half sack season take a pay cut knowing that he is at the end of it and every cent might be his last scent that he makes and then tell Keenan yeah we’ll keep you around for 21 and a half you just can’t do it and Joey alluded to that when they said you know how did you come to the decision to take the pay cut he’s like khil took the pay cut he like that guy took the pay cut and I want to play with him again and I love playing with him so for me it was an easy he said it was an easy decision that it took it’s like the whole thing came together it was it was easy it’s like it was not a hard thing at all and and so that speaks to that room that that you have that Brotherhood that that sacrifice in that room these two guys want to see the other succeed more than themselves Joey’s been through a lot too money I mean the injuries he listed all the injuries that he’s had over the last couple of years and you know being able to he he he said I don’t want to leave this place and you know it it’s the wrong time to leave because you know things are on the up and up right with Coach Harbaugh and I I I I just I feel good for Joey and I hope he can stay healthy because uh if he’s healthy we saw him a couple of years ago um just how dominant he was and and he and khil have never been able to have a full season together and I know that that was one of the things Joey talks about last year was wanting to run it back with khil well this time they get to run it back together but there there’s also Peace of Mind in the room that you have a guy like Tuli in your twoo and Joey said I guess the ultimate compliment is I haven’t seen much change him in at all because he was so good his rookie year and to bring in a a grizzled vet like Bud dpri you know you have four guys in that room where they they can take that breath and not miss a beat later in the third or fourth quarter for a play because bud dupr is in the room or tuli’s in the room or Morgan fox is in the room so that’s definitely the strength of the defense and you know one of the other things that khil said that I thought was really funny was uh talking about Ben Herbert and you know how he thinks Ben is great he goes but like I’m not scared of you yeah it pretty good it was pretty funny was it Joey or khil that and it’s what we were all thinking and so khil talked about taking the pay cut and he mentioned that for those of you that didn’t see it you should it’s a it’s it’s a quick 20 minutes you’ll it it goes by so fast all of them are great this week they really are they’re really good pressers highly recommend going to chargers.com and listening to them but he said had the conversation with Coach Harbaugh and said I want to come I want to win that’s I’ll come back because I like these guys I think we can win I believe in this team I believe in this group and he talked about the conversation that they had I think it was khil who said it but the Bud Dupri signing we haven’t seen a signing like that Chris that’s that’s not the guy that gets signed in the second wave of free agency in the last six seven years so this is different and I think that was it sounded like that was an aha moment to both those guys they were like we sign BL depri yeah yeah I think it was Joey who said it because he played with Nick up and right or I can’t remember no he I think Joey did mention it though he mentioned something about Nick and then he mentioned bud perie so I think it was like that wait a minute Bud de we signed bud depri like that’s that’s sort of what khil was talking about when he mentioned coach said we have this this and this and I feel good about that but if we can get this this and this or if this player can make this jump and now we have this then yes I believe we can win and so it shows how honest Harbaugh is we’re not there yet but I believe in what we’re doing and the direction we’re going in and some things are going to have to work out and break the right way but I believe they can and if they do we got a good shot at it so the fact you got four guys and and you hopefully have an opportunity and Jesse Min mentioned that to rotate these guys and keep them fresh and that was you know another thing that we discussed it used to drive me bat crap crazy is in those games where they’re blowouts either way these guys are still out there and it’s like come on on man get them some rest get these guys some rest and work and I’ll tell you what Chris one of my takeaways as we’re sort of talking a lot about the presser because there’s not a whole lot going on the field there’s some and we’ll get into it I mean we can maybe even start getting into it here because the people can go listen to the pressers they can’t let me just quickly go through uh no I’m I’m get I’m all over the place um so now I can’t remember where I was the um on the field where was I talking khil KH bud depri and oh just watching Deon Henley out there it’s like team won five games how is this guy not playing the last six games of the Season how is he not how is it that Eric Kendricks who you know has no future on this team is why is and Kenneth Murray you didn’t pick up his fifth year option you know he has no future on this team that the riding is on the wall for both of these you’ve got a first year player that’s gotten zero reps and watching him on that practice field it’s like okay that’s what a linebacker looks like in 2024 that looks like someone 31 other teams in the league would love to get their Ms on right now the way he moves the way he tracks the way he tracks down he covers he fills gaps it’s and it’s just it’s frustrating to know that it was sitting right there and the guys in front of him were not playing did not play play well and that it could have been him and Drew tranquil last year playing linebacker that that that that’s what it should have been sorry buddy before before we transition back to the field because these I want to talk more about Henley and and everything that you saw on the field the last thing about khil pressor they asked him essentially like why would you come back why do you think this team’s close he won five games last year he’s like when you play the game it’s different you know how close we were like the the two minutes drills at the end of games the losses that that inexplicable losses frankly uh knowing that you have a franchise quarterback knowing that the coach has won at every level like he has confidence in the guys that are on the defense that he’s played with but he also realizes that like they really weren’t a five win team talent-wise uh especially the guys who have come back and then couple that with with who’s been added to this roster um and then finally a he revealed his his nickname smoke show uh because of because of the drills on uh on the field where he’s literally smoking everybody on the offense of line I thought that was cool yeah to me that look we saw it we said it all the time his team managed to to snatch defeat from the hands of Victory more than anybody else and so much of it was just dumb busted coverages and let downs and not recognizing hey Vic you you have eaten Vic fangio up this whole game you don’t think he going to be bringing a blitz not here at the end of this dult like you don’t think he’s going to sell out and run zero even though he never of course he is DJ said it before the first snap on first down in that Dolphins game there were just so many of those wait a minute you’re up four and you got jaw Taylor outside the numbers one-on-one with no safety help on Tyreek Hill that’s what we’re doing like there and I think that’s what khalil’s speaking to is there are so many this team gave up explosives which is exactly what the defense was supposed to prevent right it’s like hey the one thing we don’t do is give up explosives we’re going to put this umbrella and shell and you can’t get outside of it you’re gonna have to methodically work your way down the field which is exactly what it didn’t do and then you had Joey Echo that sentiment by saying because he was asked about what khil said about wanting to win and come back and feel like this team could do it he was asked that same question hey khil said this Joey what do you and Joe’s answer was yeah I agree 100% And I feel like coaching is that last piece that we now have and so it’s not a it’s not a direct shot and and you should never do that on the way out you know those guys are trying their trying their hardest they did their best just didn’t work and there were some frustrations involved but it’s clear they feel much different about this staff I’ll do this real quick Chris before just because of some of the things I want to make sure I share with the people in case they don’t want to go through the 20-minute pressers I I thought this was really cool and this is something you can apply to your life football coaches have a million of these but Harbaugh has more than most people he was asked about what guy should do on the six weeks off and he said three things family self team and it was a great illustration if you’re mad enough to take care of your family and then you’re responsible enough to take care of your body you’re going to take care of the team that that’s so if we can get you to know I want you to do this in your your lives away from the football field I know you’re going to be good and that goes back to the details thing right if I can get you on this path of everything you do in your life then I got no worries about how it’s going to work out on the football field because you’re you’re set you’re on the right you’re on the right path said it took him one and a half days to realize Derwin was Derwin like it he said I was a one one practice and one half of practice in to just say yes more please more of that that’s the guy that’s what we’re doing um he yeah that we already talked about the leadership and and then he singled out Matlock when he talked about leaders and he mentioned again his Ted there every day he said hey Matt lock is a their everyday guy he said that’s you want to know where Scott matlock’s gonna be exactly where you expect him because he’s there every day and so that’s because that’s another guy Scott Matlock was healthy all last year he you go back and watch Scott Matlock boisey tape that dude was a terror and you had attrition along the defensive line on the interior defens you cut Sebastian Joseph day and this guy can’t get out there for reps when you’re a five- win team so we just can’t get some game reps going it’s just so I’m excited that some of these players that we were excited about Chris watching them in preseason and watching them in training camp that they are getting opportunities and that this coaching staff is like hey man these are good players we’re excited about Scott Matlock we’re excited about Deion Henley like I I love I love hearing that yeah it just I think it just goes to show how how tough it was last year like the the wheels were off early and yeah it didn’t seem like guys were enjoying the journey last year and and I think it’s going to be different this year another name that was brought up multiple times by Coach Harbaugh and I think coach Roman too is Trey pipkins as a guard yeah and I’m excited to see what that looks like at the end of July I think that’s for me that’s a confidence thing and it’s a thank you thing why they keep bringing them up hey thanks you know thank you for for trying this we appreciate it you could be upset you play tackle your whole life now we’re trying to kick you inside the guard you could be un it’s a I think there’s one sacrif again sacrifice thank you for making it two we really do think you can do it three we need you to be able to do it we we need this to work you’re you’re the guy from what we’ve seen so far you’re the guy that we really need to to really get this thing rolling so let’s let’s give you all the confidence in the world that that you can make it work the the other guy that got mentioned and I saw it today CU he he had an a beautiful pass break up again today but yesterday was his day tar still put on a show yesterday intercepted Herbert once and should have had two damn near had two um and we talked about him when we said hey let’s go through some of the guys in the draft that that you’re excited about tare flashes man he flashes I am I am not going to be surprised when he’s this he’s the starting nickel I he just you can see it there’s you can see that he sees it the way he moves he knows where the guy’s going before the guy goes there he’s got this he’s got that innate sense and he got name checked by Derwin today he he got excited he’s like oh the young gu tarhe like he he got excited when he talked about tarib still that dude’s going to be a baller he’s gonna play that’s that’s and and that’s one of the bright spots of all the rookies you know because there’s no pads it’s hard to get a feel for alt outside of just how he looks standing there right lad makoni has been exceptional running routes Junior unfortunately has been banged up so has not been out there Abby has not really had an opportunity to to do a whole lot and he’s already been described as a project but of those two fifth rounders tarib still is really flashing really flashing and then in terms of those seventh round receivers that it’s going to be very hard for them it’s going to be very it’ll be very hard for them to to crack and and get into this thing and and look I think when you’re dra when when you’re drafted in the seventh round those guys can probably sneak through to the practice squad I I would I can’t imagine a team unless they really flash in training camp in the preseason then we do this every year for wide receivers right you got to put Michael Bandy on the roster he’s G to get swept up it’s a it’s a wide receiver league and think about how much that guy lit up the preseason no he’s going he’s going to make it through he’s got there’s a reason why Brennon rice was there in the seventh round and Cornelius Johnson was there in the seventh round and they’ll probably make it through to the practice squad so that’s that’s what I would would say is you know kind of how I I walk away from that the guy but the other thing I want to mention from Derwin that was was really interesting two things one popper brought up a great question about you know we heard last year this we’re going to use them move them all over the place and it became overwhelming and they did too much of it and and it took away from what derwin’s great at and and just was a a negative but yesterday Jesse min’s like he’s so good up high he’s so great coming off the edge he can play in the slot he’s a great B and it’s like oh no here we go again so it’s great to have him today clarify he said it’s he goes it’s different it’s like it’s he goes trust me it’s different he said and and what my inter pretation was and I even I I asked the followup to Popper’s question because I wanted to because it’s the way that I interpreted he said it I said is it more that you’re going to be moved around but not in the game it’s going to be specific to the opponent like depending on what the opponent is is how they’re going to use you that week and he said that’s exactly it so like I thought about week one Chris and I’m like week one Derwin you go welcome Brock Bowers to the leag go just go over there why don’t you welcome him to the league let let let him know what what the NFL he’s puffing his chest out about how the SEC is you know best college football league and you know feels like he’s got a lot of what the NFL could be based on playing in the SEC go ahead on over there and just Shadow him for a little while that’ be your week one assignment yeah go ahead and let him know what the NFL is and and I think that could have lasting effects right now you’ve planted the seeds of Doubt you’ve humiliated you know and do I think that’ll happen I don’t know Brock Bowers might eat him up he might be that guy he might be that good and and the best tight end Prospect we’ve seen in 10 years that could be the case I hope not but I’d like to see it you know that’s that’s kind of what so I was happy to hear that that’s sort of the way he described it to he’s like oh yeah that so it’s going to be individual week is is how so Shadow Kelce against the Chiefs we’re g to play up high against this team that likes to throw it deep and we want you as our last you know line of defense so that’s I think more encouraging about Derwin yeah well especially too with with the the interior of the defensive line you know we’ve seen Joey move around you know I remember a couple of years ago when when Derwin and khil were lined up on the same side week one against the Raiders at home right and that’s another way to deploy him is is as an edge rusher I know that that’s their strength in that room but I mean that’s another way where Derwin can shine and I I just like seeing Derwin I like see all these guys they’re happy like they are they are really really energized man and it’s it’s just a complete 180 from what we saw towards towards the middle of last year when everybody kind of knew what it was going to be you were out there today and you said you mentioned tar still um coach mentioned alohi too like alohi seems like the perfect guy for a coach hard ball system he he’s detail oriented he knows where he’s supposed to be at all times um but the guys like Christian folon and or Henley guys that who we may see this year on the field a little bit more what were your takeaways yeah just add one more thing of what Derwin said because you mentioned it right so Harbaugh Coach Harbaugh name check aloy and Derwin is I think they’re the best safety tanm in the league that’s that’s what I expected them but Derwin was asked about Tony Jefferson and you know coming from the Baltimore system and how he knows it and having him around and and he said something very insightful and I don’t think it was meant to be a dig but I think we’re all asking okay is AJ Finley or JT Woods going to raise their hand you got to have that third safety and Derwin said I actually wrote it down uh said I hope Tony Jefferson sticks around because that’s what’s going to free me up to move all over the place so that’s what’s important to remember for Derwin to be able to do all of what they want him to do they need to make sure they have a third safety they can play up high in a two high shell with in quarters with alohi in order for Derwin to be uh a linebacker to play at linebacker to play at Edge to play the slot to to be the nickel to to Shadow a tight end so that’s the one thing I would keep an eye on Chris over these six weeks is that safety Market because what Justin Simmons doing where’s Justin Simmons at this point may maybe he’s waiting for a number maybe he’s waiting for a team that wants to see whether or not they can find that safety raise its hand that believes they’re a Super Bowl contender then he can hold out for more money that’s possible that he just hasn’t had his number yet but there are a number of safeties that that are available and I do think there’s just hearing Derwin say that about Tony Jefferson who did not play football last year like that leads me to believe that that’s that’s the one position that this team’s going to attack in the next six weeks it go it goes back to your point about 20 minutes ago when we talked about Bud du PRI that didn’t happen a lot before and Bud being available a few weeks ago go you know who’s to say that another veteran maybe not necessarily Justin Simmons but possibly uh during training camp gets added to this roster and those are the types of pieces that weren’t necessarily there when these guys were deciding whether or not they’re going to be Chargers but um you know I’m going to best available uh I’m going to the safeties right now Chris so we still Justin oh yeah Eddie Jackson still out there um how old’s Eddie Jackson right now he how old is he he’s old yeah you I mean these are these guys are older you know Kean O’Neal is old Shan Gibson’s old our old friend Adrien Phillips uh Tracy Walker Jamal Adams box safety he’s still out there um so yeah there’s there’re there’s there’s enough players out there he’s only 30 Eddie Jackson he may be old for his safety but he is only 30 so you know maybe yeah there’s look I I do think one of those guys is going to I think they’re going to sign a safety and there still could be more guys that end up hitting the market and but I but I think they’re going to want to find one before training camp because they’re you’re going to want to have them know they need to get their nose in the Playbook between now and the start of training camp they they so that to me is something it’s not a post-training camp thing you’re that that this this defense is complicated and you’re going to want their nose in the Playbook between now and the start of training camp so they can do the best to master it and and then when training camp comes around hopefully they’re as up to speed as possible and they can maybe catch up after the first week so that would be the one thing just reading the tea leaves that I feel like they got to go out and uh and get I think we got everything on Justin uh what else did I have here coaching staff yeah he mentioned Mark trestman’s name twice who we’ve talked about how impressive we think he is and clearly he and Mark are hitting it off that’s not surprised they’re surprising they’re both super cerebral guys and Mark’s been you know an offensive innovator in this league in the CFL in college football and he’s former quarterback’s coach so those the fact that those two are gonna they’re going to hit it off and they’re G somebody asked if uh some a fan asked if we could get mark tresman on the podcast I’d love to get mark tresman on the podcast so yeah as long as coach is fine with it I I think he’s it’s a fun it’s a fun and S I don’t even know if it’s really fun he’s a very serious guy but a thoughtful guy and it’s just those football lifers that have those circuitous paths on their resumés are always fun to talk to Gus was a blast man talking to Gus Bradley when he was the DC there was there are just certain guys that tell great football stories and there’s none better than Gus I missed the heck out of him sitting in the meal room and just for hours listening to him tell stories and trestman’s not the same style of guy as Gus but he’s he’s got a million stories and he loves telling them and it’s gonna be a lot of fun so yeah we gota definitely got to do that but that’s one thing that Justin brought up was how impressive this coaching staff is he mentioned Sanjay L obviously Shane day Mark mentioned Mark tresman and and all these guys and what an incredible staff they put together we talked about we bar you I don’t think we talked about the tight end I think you scratched the surface on that but yeah well you asked about dley and uh and Hurst and I think Justin seems to be really locked in with those guys he also referenced pm and ston smart too the fact that those guys are back he’s familiar with them and it it kind of forms a new look tight ends room I was trying to pay wildly a compliment because of what and Coach Bishoff said that that you know there’s only three tight ends maybe three tight ends in the league that can block the sea Gap and will dley is one of them and he might be the best and and Herbert was very quick to point out and I I agree with him it’s like he’s not just a blocker WI will could catch the ball and and then he mentioned by the way Hayden can’t just catch the ball Hayden can block I do believe they have two full service tight ends and that that room may see the biggest jump of any room in on the team save linebacker because I believe in in the linebacker room and I believe that it was sorely lacking last year but that the tight end room’s going to make a big jump just Hayden Hurst put on a show in OTAs and in mini camp he he really flexed some muscle out there in showing yes don’t let’s not forget guys I I’ve got a 700 yard seven touchdown season on my resume and and I fully believe with Justin Herbert I can get right back to it money how much were we screaming about the tight end and not having a blocking tight end the last couple of years Trey mckitty was supposed to be that guy didn’t didn’t work out and you know if you don’t have the Personnel to run the football and have the appropriate tight ends to run the football you’re not going to be able to run the football and and right away getting dly and getting heurst that was like one of the first checkpoints on on the list is make sure that the tight end room has guys who can catch the ball but also can can block for a punishing running game yeah and credit to our friend Daniel poer I remember reading this column week in every every every column this team needs a blocking tight end this and it’s not sexy but sure enough it crushed them it absolutely crushed them last year they could not get anything going in the Run game because they did not have a tight end that could block and now you got one that can really block and I think you’re going to see some six offensive lineman sets and some six offensive lineman and two tight end sets you’re going to see a lot of physicality out there and JK was going through drills today that is oh that’s the we can’t all be you know we can’t fart rainbows and and gold dust all the time it does sound like Gus Edwards has has an injury that’s dogging him that’s a little more serious than than we had come to understand so Harbaugh got a little little tight when he was talking about it he was like yeah I think I think he’ll be ready by training camp so that’s that’s a bit of a concern that and that’s why you didn’t see him out there at OTAs I’m guessing because he’s dealing with something that they’re trying to figure out well let’s end on this because I I know the the Pod that you do with low Neal people are giving you grief about kamat Vidal’s name do we do what what is it it’s viel it’s viel it’s viel it is I’m confusing myself now because is I’ve heard it so many different ways so by you by just different people I will do you the favor because I I had look I mean this is my job I mean I’m the play-by-play guy so I have to do it but I did it to the point where I was like okay is this is is this someone who’s a big Troy Trojan fan and Ed he like I saw your promo with Ed Ed just won’t let it go with Ed so I tried to explain him I said listen this is what happens when you call a game you get handed Game notes and they phonetically tell you you somebody whose name you may not understand how you’re supposed to pronounce it so here we go I’m take the camera off here Chris real quick and I’m this is great oh it’s gonna be backwards though but no it’s good you’ll be a is it good see it right there all right come on all right Kimani viel kimman viel all right Ed Kimani V happy Ed right so there you go k I was like it’s right there it’s Kimani and I was saying C instead of key so I was glad I looked it up it’s Kimani viel so there we go we got that one moving forward Kimani viel and yes you did see a beer sitting on my desk I’m not going to try to hide it I’m waiting for this thing to end so I could pop it open it’s been a long day you should have popped it open at the 30 minute Mark dude yeah I probably could have probably could hey should have so what what you’re saying is you know if if Gus is not quite ready and JK maybe not quite ready kamat Videl get ready you know isah Spiller isson elijio doson is swole by the way he was putting on a show friend Ben from uh NFL the uh the great NFL photographer Ben lenberg was out there because they had a bunch of new lenses and they were using practice to work on these lenses they’re going to start using for games and Elijah was getting his Lee Haney on man his Flex wheeler and he was like all I thought he had gone inside to the locker room and got a bunch of baby oil he was all out there flexing for him and I was like dude Elijah do is freaking stacked so you know that could be in and I think that’s the other thing is like it’s so hard remember how good he looked Chris in the preseason last year and in training camp last year and this offensive line was just beat up it couldn’t run block so I don’t think we ever really got an honest assessment of what he might be able to do behind a solid offensive line CU that dude has some explosiveness to him too that’s going to be a fun competition that running back room as well God I can’t wait wait for Trad C we got six weeks we’ll find content I I know it’s going to get a little slow but uh we’ll find guests content or we’ll we’ll just do pods with with uh glasses of red and maybe a a beer or two no that’s exactly or a beer or three that’s what I like to say exactly know why limit yourself it’s late I’m at home it’s it’s a late night Thursday we should take calls we need to get we need to get Greg home Greg Greg exhausted he’s like come on guys let’s go can I get out of here Greg we’re sorry man sorry to do this to you but uh it was worth it we wanted to get all and it was your and it was Greg and Brian’s suggestion too get all the practices out of the way get all the presses out of the way which was a smart move so Greg go home money enjoy your beer I may do the same and uh we’ll be back next Thursday for Matt money Smith and Chris hay this has been Chargers week cheers [Music]

On the latest episode of Chargers Weekly, Chris Hayre and Matt “Money” Smith are breaking down all the latest news in the NFL and LA as the Bolts prepare for the 2024 season. The hosts analyze how Head Coach Jim Harbaugh is energizing the Chargers during OTAs and Minicamp, highlighting comments from quarterback Justin Herbert, safety Derwin James Jr., outside linebackers Khalil Mack & Joey Bosa, and more. They also discuss the team’s visit to Camp Pendleton, why Money is excited for linebacker Daiyan Henley’s future, and which rookies impressed most during Minicamp.

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