2024 Chargers Official News | Acquisitions | Transactions | Injuries

[powderblueboy]

Yeah, but if you keep playing those drops over and over again in your mind... 3 drops turns into 6 drops... then 9 drops... then... OMG! The sky is falling! Some are already convinced that he will never start... never be a "#1 WR"... as if that's what moves this particular offense...

Watch again Boltnut. He fails to procur every contested catch last season, which don't necessarily constitute drops. Many out right drops he gets bailed out with a flag.
He's never open deep, save one or two plays with Stick as qb.

Nice runs on screens and end a-rounds, but you want more from your X receiver than that, much more.
He either dramatically improves this season, or Rice will pass him on the depth chart.

[powderblueboy]

Yep...slackers beware...Here's just a snapshot of what Herbert does:

"At the center of Herbert's philosophy is a set of measurements he calls Key Performance Indicators, or KPIs for short, that are divided into four groups: frame analysis; flexibility and mobility; strength and power; agility and speed. The categories are further split into the exercises, lifts or movements most closely associated with each classification. Players record a value for all 48 KPIs in Herbert's collection, and the results are added to a formula that churns out an individual score for everyone on Michigan's roster. The final product is an unbiased assessment of athletic capability.

Incoming players snap shirtless "before" photos and record their baseline KPI values shortly after joining the program. Aside from notating a starting point, the initial data means little to Herbert given the variance in training regimens among high school athletes. He and his staff care less about the shape players are in when they arrive and focus more on how they attack the training in Ann Arbor. He points to former Michigan edge rusher Mike Morris, the 2022 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, as a prime example. When Morris first got to campus, his cumulative KPI score was lower than kicker Jake Moody's initial value the year prior.

"Everyone's potential is not the same," Herbert said. "But it's our job to mine it out, right?"

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/why-strength-coach-ben-herbert-is-michigan-footballs-ultimate-weapon

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https://thespun.com/big-ten/michigan...ns-ben-herbert

This guy, Ruiz, seems to be sucking in his belly in that 2nd photo. He's flexing his muscles and has ointment and lighting (LMAO) accentuate those muscles.

More to the point, making gains shaping an 18 year old kids body into an Adonis is a bit easier than a guy with years in the NFL.

[CanadianBoltFan]

QJ catch percentage: 56.7%
Palmer catch percentage: 67.3%

'Nuff said. Look, we all want QJ to succeed. But let's be honest, Palmer has never made the egregious drops while wide open that we witnessed QJ make last season.

Neither is drops the only issue. Beating press, getting yourself open so Hebert will throw to you and has confidence to do so. To be a factor you have to gain your QBs confidence. Much improvement also required on fighting for contested catches.

I havent give up on QJ at all, but 3 dropped passes was not the only thing that made him less effective than other rookie WRs last year.

[sonorajim]

This guy, Ruiz, seems to be sucking in his belly in that 2nd photo. He's flexing his muscles and has ointment and lighting (LMAO) accentuate those muscles.

More to the point, making gains shaping an 18 year old kids body into an Adonis is a bit easier than a guy with years in the NFL.

6-4, "334" (looked more like 360) 2023 UDFA DL Jerrod Clark is shooting for this year's posterboy. He was sloppy fat but good in college. He's in a lot of Herbert's workout pics.

[Boltjolt]

I agree with Matt Money Smith there may not be room for DD, Ladd can do kick off returns and punt returns and DD isn't better than our other receivers. We need more roster spot availability and I wish we could force a backup OL learn to long snap and free up that roster spot also same with FB, let Gus the Bus be the FB when needed to open up another spot. Trade DD for perhaps a 5th rounder?

I havent heard what he said but id agree. Davis offers little as a WR compared to these other guys that are way bigger and have speed. McConkey and Rice have returned kicks though he only returned 1 punt at Colorado.....which went for a 81 yard TD.

Ive no idea how it goes but they will keep the best group and id assume that will include Palmer. Again, he gets little respect in here as a reciever and im not sure why but we are going to pump up Corlelius? Puzzler!

[Fouts2herbert]

I havent heard what he said but id agree. Davis offers little as a WR compared to these other guys that are way bigger and have speed. McConkey and Rice have returned kicks though he only returned 1 punt at Colorado.....which went for a 81 yard TD.

Ive no idea how it goes but they will keep the best group and id assume that will include Palmer. Again, he gets little respect in here as a reciever and im not sure why but we are going to pump up Corlelius? Puzzler!

they cut DD he'll last micro seconds on the waiver wire...especially with the new kickoff rules...

[Velo]

Since we're on a WR discussion here, let's analyze the WR room as it currently exists.

Josh Palmer
Quentin Johnston
Ladd McConkey
DJ Chark
Derius Davis
Brenden Rice
Cornelius Johnson

Simi Fehoko
Jaelen Gill
Leon Johnson
Gaylen Johnson

First observation: Out of the 11, 4 are named Johnson or Johnstone.

Getting real: The only viable candidates are the top 7 guys.

The bottom 4, starting with Fehoko, are not viable candidates to be on the roster on opening day. Fehoko was a total failure last season. There was some hope last season when they signed him to the roster off the Steeler's PS after Mike Will's injury. But for whatever reason he never emerged. He had been drafted by Dallas when Kellen Moore was there. But before last season began the Cowboys let Fehoko walk, not even signing him to the PS, preferring to retain T-Billy on their PS instead. That should've been telling. It got to the point last season Moore wasn't even activating Fehoko for games, despite the depleted WR corps. The other three are UDFA signings. Maybe one of them stands out and makes it impossible to cut him after the preseason, but it's unlikely. One or two of them might make the PS. Leon Johnson III, out of Okie State, is 6-5, 210, 4.5, his measurables are intriguing. But let's assume none of these guys are roster worthy.

That leaves the top 7. Obviously they are not all going to make the roster. I looked at Greg Roman's in-season offensive rosters during the time he was OC of the Ravens. His WR corps varied wildly from 4 to 7 players throughout his four years in Balt. I could find no consistency or pattern. It would change wildly from month to month. But he most commonly carried 5 or 6 WRs.

It's safe to assume the opening day roster will have at least 5 but no more than 6 WRs. Let's assume McConkey makes the roster. McConkey returned punts at Georgia, but only in his first two seasons. He returned no punts last season and I doubt the Chargers want him returning puts. So let's assume they want to keep DD at least as a returner.

That leaves Chark, QJ, Rice and Cornelius battling for 2-3 roster spots. There are some who think their plan is to trade Palmer cuz he's in the final year of his rookie contract and they don't want to pay him. I don't know if that adds up though, he's not going to be that expensive and he's established a solid connection with Herbert. I believe he will be on the opening day roster, unless he is injured. Maybe they trade him before the deadline to a WR needy team. But I think it's just as likely they trade QJ mid-season, just to get him out of town. Regardless, I believe Palmer will be on the opening day roster.

That leaves QJ, Chark, Rice and Cornelius battling for 2-3 rosters spots. At this point it becomes difficult to predict what happens. Logic says QJ and Chark are the logical choices to take two roster spots, leaving Rice and Cornelius to battle for 1 spot, if that spot even exists. But I am not going to assume that. I would not rule out either of these two rookies out-battling QJ or maybe even Chark. Chark has an edge because he's 1. he's a veteran and 2. he's got sub 4.4 speed and they probably value both of those things. But I wouldn't be surprised if Rice especially performs so well in camp and in the preseason they can't cut him. It won't surprise me if Rice is a better player than QJ, even Cornelius.

In summation, I think McConkey, Palmer, DD and Chark will be on the opening day roster. DD will be listed as a WR, but in reality he is probably just a returner and won't be a regular part of the WR rotation. Beyond these four I can't make any predictions.

[Jack Burton]

they cut DD he'll last micro seconds on the waiver wire...especially with the new kickoff rules...

Yeah, we’ve been saying it since the build up to the draft. Palmer is good. He’s a really good #2.
But the build up drama of his off-season and this draft with all its WRs and how 2 WRs were let go made fans go insane with WR fever. We all couldn’t escape it.
With the addition of McConkey and now a vet like Chark, they are loaded at WR and I don’t even know if Chark is playing by mid season. To me he’s more a vet depth move than a starter.

[Boltnut]

Watch again Boltnut. He fails to procur every contested catch last season, which don't necessarily constitute drops. Many out right drops he gets bailed out with a flag.
He's never open deep, save one or two plays with Stick as qb.

Nice runs on screens and end a-rounds, but you want more from your X receiver than that, much more.
He either dramatically improves this season, or Rice will pass him on the depth chart.

"Every" and "never" are hyperbole. I saw several contested receptions.
You can say he "gets bailed out with a flag". Or you can recognize those particular plays as instances he beat his defender badly and the defender had to grab onto him to prevent a big play. The number of PI's he draws is actually pretty good... considering the number of targets. Those are big plays where he got "open deep" and defenders grabbed on. If Stick can hit him deep... so can Herbie (even more so).

The potential is there... you can see the YAC potential. Admittedly, he will have to be better against contested passes... there are 7 or 8 passes he most definitely should have made, but didn't. No doubt, there is room for improvement. But to only recognize the negative without recognizing the positive is a biased approach. His start/stop/explode abilities are evident. Those are traits that this regime looks for. You can see it in their draft picks. You can see it in their FA pickup of Chark. If the OC can't figure out how to get the ball into QJ's hands in space... that won't be QJ's fault.

QJ was drafted with traits in mind. He was raw. He was drafted with the future in mind. Now is the future. Unlike most here, I hold off on my judgement for September and October... not mid-May. I suspect many here already had their judgements in by May 2023.

IMO, Chark and QJ will be competing for that sudden stop/start, get deep role. Chark may have the advantage because of experience... but QJ will give him a run-for-his-money... and be continually improving and pushing for PT.

IMO, JP and McConkey will be competing for the other indise/outside position. I'll give JP the edge because of experience. Again McConkey will be continually improving and pushing for PT. Running 21-personnel will give the team much needed depth @WR. Hayden Hurst is the Forgotten Man... but will get fed. Everybody feeds. Competitors welcome!

[Lefty2SLO]

Yeah, we’ve been saying it since the build up to the draft. Palmer is good. He’s a really good #2.
But the build up drama of his off-season and this draft with all its WRs and how 2 WRs were let go made fans go insane with WR fever. We all couldn’t escape it.
With the addition of McConkey and now a vet like Chark, they are loaded at WR and I don’t even know if Chark is playing by mid season. To me he’s more a vet depth move than a starter.

McConkey will be our #1 by mid-season . . . . . . . . . . . QJ is a complete wildcard - HE could be the #1, or he could be a cut / trade candidate. Lots of factors in play . . . . . . .

[ChargersPowderBlue]

That should've been telling. It got to the point last season Moore wasn't even activating Fehoko for games, despite the depleted WR corps. The other three are UDFA signings. Maybe one of them stands out and makes it impossible to cut him after the preseason, but it's unlikely. One or two of them might make the PS. Leon Johnson III, out of Okie State, is 6-5, 210, 4.5, his measurables are intriguing. But let's assume none of these guys are roster worthy.

That leaves the top 7. Obviously they are not all going to make the roster. I looked at Greg Roman's in-season offensive rosters during the time he was OC of the Ravens. His WR corps varied wildly from 4 to 7 players throughout his four years in Balt. I could find no consistency or pattern. It would change wildly from month to month. But he most commonly carried 5 or 6 WRs.

It's safe to assume the opening day roster will have at least 5 but no more than 6 WRs. Let's assume McConkey makes the roster. McConkey returned punts at Georgia, but only in his first two seasons. He returned no punts last season and I doubt the Chargers want him returning puts. So let's assume they want to keep DD at least as a returner.

Staley was the one who activated Fehoko on the active gameday roster, or made him inactive. It wasn't Kellen Moore. The HC decides who will be active. Jim Harbaugh will decide how many WRs will dress up on the active 47-48. Not Greg Roman.

When Jim began as HC for the 49ers in 2011, he carried 4 WRs on the active roster in most games. Back then it was 46 players you could suit up. His last NFL game in 2014 against the Arizona Cardinals, he carried 6 WRs in the game.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Since we're on a WR discussion here, let's analyze the WR room as it currently exists.

Josh Palmer
Quentin Johnston
Ladd McConkey
DJ Chark
Derius Davis
Brenden Rice
Cornelius Johnson

Simi Fehoko
Jaelen Gill
Leon Johnson
Gaylen Johnson

First observation: Out of the 11, 4 are named Johnson or Johnstone.

Getting real: The only viable candidates are the top 7 guys.

The bottom 4, starting with Fehoko, are not viable candidates to be on the roster on opening day. Fehoko was a total failure last season. There was some hope last season when they signed him to the roster off the Steeler's PS after Mike Will's injury. But for whatever reason he never emerged. He had been drafted by Dallas when Kellen Moore was there. But before last season began the Cowboys let Fehoko walk, not even signing him to the PS, preferring to retain T-Billy on their PS instead. That should've been telling. It got to the point last season Moore wasn't even activating Fehoko for games, despite the depleted WR corps. The other three are UDFA signings. Maybe one of them stands out and makes it impossible to cut him after the preseason, but it's unlikely. One or two of them might make the PS. Leon Johnson III, out of Okie State, is 6-5, 210, 4.5, his measurables are intriguing. But let's assume none of these guys are roster worthy.

That leaves the top 7. Obviously they are not all going to make the roster. I looked at Greg Roman's in-season offensive rosters during the time he was OC of the Ravens. His WR corps varied wildly from 4 to 7 players throughout his four years in Balt. I could find no consistency or pattern. It would change wildly from month to month. But he most commonly carried 5 or 6 WRs.

It's safe to assume the opening day roster will have at least 5 but no more than 6 WRs. Let's assume McConkey makes the roster. McConkey returned punts at Georgia, but only in his first two seasons. He returned no punts last season and I doubt the Chargers want him returning puts. So let's assume they want to keep DD at least as a returner.

That leaves Chark, QJ, Rice and Cornelius battling for 2-3 roster spots. There are some who think their plan is to trade Palmer cuz he's in the final year of his rookie contract and they don't want to pay him. I don't know if that adds up though, he's not going to be that expensive and he's established a solid connection with Herbert. I believe he will be on the opening day roster, unless he is injured. Maybe they trade him before the deadline to a WR needy team. But I think it's just as likely they trade QJ mid-season, just to get him out of town. Regardless, I believe Palmer will be on the opening day roster.

That leaves QJ, Chark, Rice and Cornelius battling for 2-3 rosters spots. At this point it becomes difficult to predict what happens. Logic says QJ and Chark are the logical choices to take two roster spots, leaving Rice and Cornelius to battle for 1 spot, if that spot even exists. But I am not going to assume that. I would not rule out either of these two rookies out-battling QJ or maybe even Chark. Chark has an edge because he's 1. he's a veteran and 2. he's got sub 4.4 speed and they probably value both of those things. But I wouldn't be surprised if Rice especially performs so well in camp and in the preseason they can't cut him. It won't surprise me if Rice is a better player than QJ, even Cornelius.

In summation, I think McConkey, Palmer, DD and Chark will be on the opening day roster. DD will be listed as a WR, but in reality he is probably just a returner and won't be a regular part of the WR rotation. Beyond these four I can't make any predictions.

I think you have the top 4 seeded correctly for sure. I pencil in Chark as WR4 right now and even though Ladd is more than a slot WR I would put him there for now.

After that it is really hard to know until we see some practises and pre season.

I really like the Cornelius pick but he was 4 picks away from UDFA, and if this was most other NFL teams with deeper WR rooms and not Harbaugh drafting a Michigan guy, I think he is easily a roster bubble/practice squad guy. Blocking and special teams prowess might squeeze him on the roster. Lots of competition for the last spot or two.