LA Chargers: 3 things to watch for on first episode of Hard Knocks
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers’ Hard Knocks journey is almost upon us
The first episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks, which features the LA Chargers and LA Rams (the first time ever that two teams are the subject of one season) premiers on Tuesday, August 11. For many, this is the first sign that football is officially back.
We are not going to see everything that we want to see out of Hard Knocks in the first episode, especially since the Chargers have to share the episode. However, there are certain interesting dynamics to watch for in episode one that specifically pertains to the start of camp for the Chargers.
While anything can happen (and be sure to come to Bolt Beat for our reaction/insight), here are the three things that I would specifically be watching for in episode one.
1. How the LA Chargers handle COVID-19 protocol
This one is a bit of a drag as many people want to tune into Hard Knocks to escape the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this is a very important aspect of the team’s success in 2020. As many pundits have already claimed: whichever teams handle COVID the best is going to be the ones that succeed the most.
The Chargers were one of just three teams to not have a single player opt-out of the 2020 season, which perhaps shows the team’s commitment to not only following protocols but attacking them like they would an offensive gameplan.
While we have gotten details of what exactly teams are required to do, it will be interesting to get that initial peek behind the curtain to see just how safe these protocols really are. For those that are pessimistic that the season won’t happen, the sight of both teams following thorough, intense protocols is a welcome one.