2015 TRAINING CAMP - OBSERVATIONS

[Formula 21]

Despite the fan love, Tyrell Williams is a long shot to make this team. He could be #8 in a 5-6 man position. And with the depth of inexperience at the bottom of the position, it looks to me like only 5 wrs will be kept. Austin Pettis is another guy who needs to step it up. He needs to be a lot better than any of the young guys to make the team imo. We're still in a younger and cheaper mode.

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

Don't forget about the practice squad...

[Formula 21]

Position Preview & Emoji Comparisons: Wideouts
Friday, July 17, 2015 4:07 PM PDT
By Ricky Henne

Managing Editor
Chargers.com

Position Preview: Wide Receivers

Ricky Henne and Jordan Beane break down the Chargers' wealth of receiving talent.

As we near the start of training camp on July 30, we’ll preview each position for the San Diego Chargers. We continue with a breakdown of the wide receivers. The Bolts currently have 11 on their roster: Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, Stevie Johnson, Jacoby Jones, Dontrelle Inman, Austin Pettis, Torrence Allen, Javontee Herndon, Titus Davis, Tyrell Williams and Demetrius Wilson.

K. Allen – The smooth route-runner returns for his third season with some unfinished business after missing the final two games of 2014 with a shoulder injury. Allen led the Bolts with 77 receptions for 783 yards and four scores in 14 games, one year after taking the league by storm with a 71 catch, 1,046-yard campaign with eight TDs. Still only 23-years old, the 6-2, 211-pound target figures to be a major part of the Bolts’ versatile aerial attack.

WR Coach Fred Graves on Allen: “It’s impressive. He’s a smart guy. He is one of those guys where you always have to give him something else because he picks things up so quickly. In a lot of years I’ve been coaching, he is (rare) in how he understands things. You can change things without frustrating him.”

Floyd – One of the most popular, hard-working Chargers of all-time, M-80 enters his 12th year fresh off a remarkable 2014 season. Returning from a scary neck injury in 2013 that nearly ended his career, Floyd started all 16 games for the first time since entering the NFL in 2004. He set personal highs with a team-leading 856 yards and six touchdowns, and caught the second most receptions (52) of his career. One of the best deep ball targets in the league, his 16.5 yards per catch also ranked second in the NFL among players to record at least 50 receptions. At 6-5, 225-pounds, look for Floyd to once again be a trusted target when Philip Rivers needs a clutch catch.

WR Coach Fred Graves on Floyd: “Everybody looks up to him. Everybody looks at him and says, well, he is in his mid-30s, but Malcom can still run. There are not many guys in this league who average 17 yards per catch, so he still has gas in the tank. He loves the game, and he was very successful coming off the injury last year. This year he wants to do the same.”

Johnson – The 6-2, 207-pound big-play receiver was a highly coveted free agent that the Bolts snagged as soon as he hit the open market. Johnson spent 2014 with the San Francisco 49ers, catching 35 passes for 435 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games. San Diego believes a change of scenery with Rivers under center will bring out the best in the eight-year veteran, who made a name for himself during his first six years in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills. For his career, Johnson has caught 336 passes for 4,267 yards with 31 touchdowns, and became the first player in Bills’ history to string together three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. His top year came in 2010 when he snared 82 passes for 1,073 yards and 10 scores. Watch for the Chargers to use him in a variety of ways, including outside and in the slot.

QB Philip Rivers on Johnson: “Stevie Johnson looks good. He really came in and committed himself to learning (the system). You can just tell when he got here (he thought) ‘I’ve got to dive in get this figured out because we play at a fast pace. We play a lot of no huddle.’ So I’ve got nothing but positives to say about him so far.”

Jones – An electric playmaker, Jones is a threat to go the distance every single time he touches the ball. Known also as one of the best returners in the game, the nine-year veteran is still one of the speediest deep threats. The 6-4, 215-pounder has caught 203 passes for 2,733 yards and 14 touchdowns in 119 games with the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens, and authored one of the best postseason performances of all time helping lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl XLVII victory. His “Mile-High Miracle” 70-yard TD in Denver in the Divisional Round saved his team’s season, and he then set an NFL record with 290 all-purpose yards with two touchdowns in the Super Bowl. He punctuated that performance with an acrobatic 56-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-10. Training camp and the preseason will provide an excellent glimpse into all the ways the Bolts plan to get the speedy Jones the football.

WR Coach Fred Graves on Jones: “He gives us another guy who can go deep. Last year we had Malcom Floyd, but now we have two guys like that. We can put them on either side, and he is another physical guy, but obviously his run after the catch ability is the big thing.”

Inman – Last year’s training camp and preseason darling had to wait until Week 16 to make his mark, but he did so in resounding fashion. Seeing the first real action of his career, Inman came through with seven catches for 79 yards all in the second half. That included a clutch 17-yard catch on 4th-and-10 with the Bolts’ season on the line. With a year of seasoning under his belt, the team has high hopes that number 15 can continue his upward trajectory.

WR Coach Fred Graves on Inman: “He continues to get better as a player. He understands how to be a professional. When you watch him out on the field after practice, he is probably the last guy out there. He is working on everything. So when at the end of the season you see what he did against San Francisco, those are all the things he’d been working on.”

Pettis – A former third-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2011, fans were excited when the Chargers inked the 6-3, 203-pound Southern California native in early January. Over four seasons, Pettis notched 107 catches for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns in 47 games with 11 starts. He impressed in the offseason program, with Floyd noting he catches everything in sight.

WR Coach Fred Graves on Pettis: “I think Austin is going to fit in well. He’ll have his role. It is early, but he is learning and is a quick learner. We’re trying to put him at two or three positions, and he’s got some quickness. He is another guy like Stevie where you may not think he is that physical, but he is a physical guy. It’s going to be interesting.”

T. Allen – A lightning quick deep threat out of West Texas A&M, Allen spent all of 2014 on the Chargers’ practice squad. He finished his collegiate career second in school history with 3,500 yards on 234 catches with 26 touchdowns.

Allen on his season on the practice squad: “It was a great experience to learn from the veterans. It let me learn my role. But not being out there in the games is (humbling) and makes you more eager to get out there. We are with them all year long but have to watch them on Sunday. And you see them making plays; it makes you want to do the same. So I’ve been working on my route technique and overall form so I can be out there.”

Herndon – Another wideout who spent all of 2014 on the practice squad, Herndon is a 6-0, 194-pounder who made an impression last preseason. The Arkansas product tied for second on the Bolts with five receptions for 59 yards in four exhibition games.

Herndon on his season on the practice squad: “It was very valuable for me to do that, and it made me better going against the ones every day. So getting to compete with them shows how fast the game is. So I feel like we are the same because if one player goes down, you can get that call that week. So you’ve got to be ready. You have to be in there focused just as much as the guy out there playing. So competing against the ones, and the more you get to go against them, the more you know you can play at this level.”

Davis – A touchdown machine out of Central Michigan, the Chargers signed the 6-1, 200-pounder immediately following the NFL Draft. Davis set the NCAA FBS record with eight or more receiving touchdowns in four seasons. He also set school marks with 3,700 career receiving yards and 37 career receiving touchdowns.

WR Coach Fred Graves on Davis: “Titus Davis out of Central Michigan is a kid we had in on a visit, and I thought he was going to get drafted. You know how the draft is, so I don’t know why he didn’t. He’s got good athletic skills. He can jump and go after the ball. He’s got good hands.”

Williams – Standing 6-4, 205-pounds, the Western Oregon star dominated the competition with 56 receptions for 950 yards and eight touchdowns in 2014. He finished as the school’s all-time leader with 165 catches for 2,792 yards and 21 scores.

WR Coach Fred Graves on Williams: “The young man out of Western Oregon, Tyrell Williams, is kind of a freak of nature. He has good height and his athleticism is unbelievable. He’s got natural football skills for a guy who hasn’t played a lot of football.”

Wilson – A 6-1, 185-pound former teammate of Herndon’s at Arkansas, Wilson caught 26 passes for 337 yards and a pair of touchdowns over two seasons while battling injuries.

WR Coach Fred Graves on Wilson: “Coming out of Arkansas from a school where they haven’t thrown it like they did before, he’ll make some plays. It will be interesting to see what he can do here, too.”

[Formula 21]

What a bonus this would be for Emanuel to turn out to be a player. And as noted in the story, it's long odds for a small football program guy to be a star.

[Formula 21]

2015 San Diego Chargers training camp preview
2h
Eric D. Williams, ESPN Staff Writer

The San Diego Chargers open training camp on July 30 at Chargers Park in San Diego. Here’s a closer look at the Chargers camp, which wraps up on Aug. 21.

Top storyline: All eyes will be on Melvin Gordon, San Diego’s first-round selection in this year’s draft. So far, the Wisconsin running back exceeded expectations during offseason work, quickly picking up the offense and showing a better-than-expected grasp of the passing game. Now, Gordon has to take the next step and prove he can handle the physical pounding of an NFL defense once exhibition play begins. The Chargers are not counting on Gordon to carry the offense, but just to do his part. Also, with Antonio Gates suspended for the first four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, the Chargers will have to find someone to replace that production. Tight end Ladarius Green, entering the final year of his rookie contract, will get the first bite at the apple to fill in for Gates.

Position battles to watch: With Marcus Gilchrist leaving the Chargers and joining the New York Jets in free agency, the strong safety position is up for grabs. Jimmy Wilson is the front-runner heading into training camp, but Jahleel Addae and Darrell Stuckey are also in the mix. Johnnie Troutman will have competition for the starting right guard job with free-agent signee Joe Barksdale and 2014 undrafted rookie free agent Jeremiah Sirles.
2015 TRAINING CAMP PREVIEW

Veterans to watch: Receiver Stevie Johnson feels like he did not get an opportunity to show what he could do in his one-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers. But he should get a chance to make plays as a replacement for Eddie Royal at slot receiver in San Diego’s offense. The 28-year-old California native looked comfortable with Philip Rivers during offseason work. And at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, Johnson is another big target with a similar skill set to third-year pro Keenan Allen.

Rookies to watch: Inside linebacker Denzel Perryman, a second-round selection in this year’s draft, has a chance to compete for time with the starters. Coaches like his ability to make plays and be a hammer in the run game. But the University of Miami product will have to show that he can play fast in defensive coordinator John Pagano’s 3-4 scheme. Fifth-round selection Kyle Emanuel also has a chance to earn playing time as a pass rusher on third down. He has transitioned nicely from his days playing defensive end at North Dakota State to a standup outside linebacker for the Chargers.

Bubble watch: Donald Brown underperformed during his first year with the Chargers last season, averaging 2.6 yards per carry. With Gordon, Woodhead and second-year pro Branden Oliver, the Chargers have good depth at running back. Brown is set to make $3 million in total compensation in 2015, and the Chargers could opt to go with more inexpensive depth at running back.

Los Angeles bound? The big-picture issue looming over this season is will it be the Chargers’ last in San Diego? While chairman Dean Spanos maintains the team’s top priority is staying in San Diego, the Chargers are putting all of their energy toward getting a deal done on a shared stadium with the Oakland Raiders in Carson, California. Players and coaches say the issue is not a distraction, and they are focused on doing their jobs. But it’s hard not to pay attention to the possibility of relocating your family. The potential relocation of the franchise to Carson remains an issue that players and coaches have to address for the duration of the 2015 season.

For daily updates at camp, check out the San Diego Chargers clubhouse page.

[Formula 21]

I have trouble with paying a 3rd string rb 3 million. Especially since he plays no better than a FA off the street. Brown is going to have to shine during TC.

[Lightningwill_420]

I have trouble with paying a 3rd string rb 3 million. Especially since he plays no better than a FA off the street. Brown is going to have to shine during TC.

If we're talking about Donald Brown, he's fourth string. He's definitely worse than Branden Oliver; I have a hard time believing he's better than Ronnie Brown.

[Maverick]

If we're talking about Donald Brown, he's fourth string. He's definitely worse than Branden Oliver; I have a hard time believing he's better than Ronnie Brown.

...or Buster Brown, for that matter.

[Lightningwill_420]

...or Buster Brown, for that matter.

Or Charlie Brown or my batch of brownies, but still slightly better than the entire section of Internet porn dedicated to the brown eye. So I think that makes Donald Brown 8th string.

[Faded blues]

Donald brown needs to be donkeyed punch out of town.

[blueman]

Wonder if they're talking him up so much to help him get on with another team when they cut him.

[bonehead]

Wonder if they're talking him up so much to help him get on with another team when they cut him.

That would explain the eye patch ......