LA Chargers fans are getting their first taste of the 2024 season in early June thanks to OTA practices. While it might not be full-fledged training camps, fans are still getting a good idea on how this team will operate under a new coaching staff led by Jim Harbaugh.
Fans are also getting an idea of which players might be due for a breakout, and which might not be able to escape past struggles. For example, sophomore wide receiver Quentin Johnston has already been spotted dropping passes during OTAs, which is not a good sign for 2024.
Not every player who has struggled in the past is struggling in OTAs, though. In fact, one player who many expected to be cut before the 2024 season is already making his mark with the new coaching staff. In a surprising twist, third-running back Isaiah Spiller is receiving rave reviews from his running backs coach Kiel McDonald.
Chargers RBs coach Kiel McDonald on Isaiah Spiller: "He's growing everyday. He has all the tools...He has great recognition in terms of blitz pickup."
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) June 4, 2024
"I think he's gonna continue to grow and be a great player."
Isaiah Spiller receives rave reviews from coaching staff during Chargers OTAs
After signing Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins while also drafting Kimani Vidal, many assumed that the Chargers would cut bait with Spiller before the 2024 season. Spiller is essentially the RB4 on the roster who has not proven much in his career who now has to earn the trust of a new coaching staff.
That is a massive uphill battle for any young player and it looks like Spiller is getting off to the right start. The fact that he is getting applauded in this way is great for his chances to make the roster but there is still a lot of work to be done.
Of course, McDonald was not going to go up to the podium and bash Spiller to the media. Coaches are always going to take positive spins with their players to the media as anything else would be disruptive to the locker room.
But this was more than just media lip service by McDonald. There seems to be real belief in Spiller and the kind of back he can be for the Chargers in 2024. And thus, everyone's 53-man roster projections for the Bolts now have to go out the window.
Ultimately, Spiller is probably going to have to prove it even more to get a spot on the 53-man roster. Training camp is going to be the most telling time of the year with Spiller's performance in preseason games potentially being the ultimate decider.
But as it stands right now, Spiller now seems to have a much higher chance of making the roster than it seemed after the 2024 NFL Draft.