The LA Chargers wrapped up their offseason program with the final day of minicamp in Costa Mesa on Thursday. This was an eventful week for the team as they returned to its former home city San Diego for an event at Camp Pendleton and signed first-round pick Joe Alt to his rookie contract on Monday.
Thursday’s practice not only wraps up the offseason program but it also is expected to wrap up the team’s era in Costa Mesa. Later this summer, the Chargers will move to their brand-new headquarters and practice facilities in El Segundo.
Following the completion of Thursday’s final practices, head coach Jim Harbaugh addressed the media in what is expected to be the last press conference ahead of training camp.
The presser went as most Harbaugh pressers and interviews have gone since he returned to the team as their new head coach in January. This coach is if nothing else, relentlessly positive about his team.
Safety Derwin James impressed Harbaugh enough that he said, "Do whatever Derwin James is doing. However he approaches the training environment, the way he approaches the meetings, the way he approaches the practices, what he wears, what he does, what he says.... everything he does. That's how simple this is. Just look at number three and do everything that he is doing."
Continuing his love affair this week with quarterback Justin Herbert, Harbaugh said of his QB, "another tone setter, incredible in every way. He is not complacent. Every minute, every hour, every day, he is completely engaged, tremendous tone and example setter for the entire team. "
Jim Harbaugh also provided importa
Harbaugh provided a positive update for Gus Edwards and detailed his "incremental gains" in his recovery. When asked if Edwards will return for training camp, Harbaugh said “That's likely; that's the likely high probability".
When asked about the health of tight end Will Dissly, who is expected to be a key pass and run blocker for the team in this new offense, Harbaugh said that Dissly is “progressing good; I think he's gonna be on track and in a good place as well."
In a particularly interesting portion of Harbaugh’s press conference, the coach was asked about how his coaching style focuses on strict attention to detail. In his response, Harbaugh drilled down on his family, self, football philosophy:
“All we ask of anybody is to put their family first, put themselves second and then get the team in there at third; if they have attention to detail and discipline and taking care of their priorities, taking care of their families the way that they should; taking care of their health and their bodies...if they do all of the things that they should, then they are taking care of the team.” Harbaugh further elaborated, saying, “look at the guy that is really doing it right and then emulate them, watch them, copy them and then see if you can go and make them proud”.
Following a strong offseason, the opportunity is there for the 2024 Chargers to not only make their coach proud but also to give hope to a fanbase that has been a laughingstock in the NFL for the past decade. By all measures, this has been a rebranding for a team that was known inside the league to often “charger it,” aka finding inventive ways to screw up.
Ahead of its training camp, this team has clearly bought into the leadership and vision of their coach. And the term “charger it” could very soon simply mean winning championships.