Latest news with #JustinHerbert
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Chargers rave about wideout McConkey, with Harbaugh saying he's 'uncoverable' 1 on 1
Wide receiver Ladd McConkey is making such an impression with the Los Angeles Chargers that coach Jim Harbaugh says he's uncoverable one on one, and linebacker Daiyan Henley is still arguing about a catch the second-year pro made in workouts a month ago. McConkey is coming off a sensational season in which he set team rookie records with 82 catches and 1,149 yards receiving while scoring seven touchdowns. Everyone is expecting more from McConkey – except for maybe Henley during their friendly practice rivalry – as he and quarterback Justin Herbert continue to develop the chemistry that has made them one of the NFL's top pass-and-catch duos. Harbaugh, who brought the Chargers to their former hometown for two days of training camp practices this week, said fellow receiver Quentin Johnston and Ladd are playing at an elite level. Then he added about McConkey: 'Ladd, he's even better than he was last year. It's not like hyperbole. It's not. He's uncoverable right now by one guy. That's awesome.' McConkey let out a little chuckle when asked about Harbaugh's comment. 'I don't know about that,' McConkey said Wednesday at the University of San Diego, where Harbaugh began his head coaching career in 2004. 'Obviously as receivers, like yeah, we're striving for that. But other guys, they're getting paid on the other side of the ball, too. You're going to win some and lose some. Hopefully I win more than I lose. It's obviously a great feeling knowing he has confidence in me,' said McConkey, a second-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2024. 'You go out there and make plays, he believes in me, go out and show him what I'm about.' After completing 332 of 504 passes for 3,870 yards and 23 touchdowns last year, Herbert has the most completions (1,945) and yards passing (21,093) by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Herbert said McConkey is the perfect combination of athleticism and intelligence. 'The way he understands the game of football and how he sees defenses, I think that's what makes him like that. He's just got a great understanding of how people are going to try to guard him and where the leverage is and just the way to break it. He's done such a great job with the quarterbacks just being friendly and always being in the right spot, so it's been huge to see.' Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said the Chargers are hoping for a long, long fruitful career for Ladd and his relationship with Herbert will be a big part of it. 'I think we're seeing that right now. It takes two to tango, and those guys getting more time on task together, more chemistry – Hey, if you see this, I want you to hook up here and I'll put it on your inside shoulder – those types of things, those next-level type things,' Roman said. The coordinator said there were a few times during the first four games last year where McConkey wasn't perfect at all. 'We had to correct some things, a couple plays in particular. He learned from it and it never happened again. He got that and he moved on, and he kept climbing the ladder, and you saw that chemistry grow.' McConkey said there's plenty to work on despite his success last year, including running better routes. 'When I go back and watch games, I want to just eat myself up over it because there are so many plays we left out there last year that we've been working on throughout this offseason,' he said. 'There's so much more to gain, and we're going to continue to try and build on that, and hopefully it takes off as the season goes.' During workouts last month at the team's base in El Segundo, McConkey did a quick curl route in the end zone. Herbert threw it low, and Henley, heading into his third year, went down with the receiver. Harbaugh signaled touchdown, but Henley still disputes that. Henley was asked about a sack during practice on Wednesday and immediately pivoted to last month's disputed pass play. 'I watched the playback. I hope you watched the playback. The ball hit the ground. OK, well, I've got the tape. You know how you guys are, offense, offense, offense.' Asked about the rivalry with Henley, McConkey said: 'He hasn't come over there for one-on-ones yet, so still waiting on that one. It's all fun and games. Obviously, Daiyan's a heck of a player, but if we line up one on one, I like my chances.' The Chargers played in San Diego for 56 seasons before moving to Los Angeles in 2017 after failing to secure a deal for a new stadium. They pay 1 a year to play at SoFi Stadium built by Rams owner Stan Kroenke. The Chargers were 11-6 last year before losing at Houston in the wild card round. Tickets for Tuesday's practice were distributed to active-duty military and veterans, and Wednesday's tickets went to season ticket holders. Neither day's crowds came close to filling 6,500-seat Torero Stadium.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Top 4 LA Chargers Training Camp Questions for 2025 NFL Season
What's up, Bolts fans? As the Los Angeles Chargers gear up for the 2025 NFL season, Jim Harbaugh enters Year 2 with high expectations after an 11-win playoff run in 2024. In this video, we break down the top four burning questions heading into training camp: How will the offensive line shake out at center and left guard with Bradley Bozeman and Zion Johnson competing? Who steps up as the No. 2 playmaker behind Ladd McConkey (who had 82 catches, 1,149 yards, and 7 TDs as a rookie)—Quentin Johnston or rookies like Trey Harris and Keandre Lambert-Smith? Can the edge rusher depth hold up after Joey Bosa's departure, with Khalil Mack leading Tuli Tuipulotu, Kyle Kinnard, and Bud Dupree? And will the elite defense (No. 1 in points allowed last year) rely on young talents like CBs Cam Hart and Tariq Still, LB Junior Colson, and DL Jamir Caldwell under DC Jesse Minter? From Justin Herbert's protection to defensive pressure in a tough division with Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix, and Geno Smith, we analyze what it means for the Chargers' Super Bowl aspirations.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Hulking 6ft 8in NFL star Joe Alt sets social media ablaze with performance in training camp
The Los Angeles Chargers drafted Joe Alt in 2024 to bolster their pass protection. Videos from training camp show that he might be the perfect person for that role. After a surprise 11-6 season that ended in a playoff appearance with first year coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers will have their expectations raised for 2025. Alt, the fifth-overall pick of the 2024 draft out of the University of Notre Dame, is expected to be a big part of that as the Chargers hope quarterback Justin Herbert will be well-protected. Even though he proved himself capable of that last year - even being named to the PFWA's All-Rookie Team - fans are still surprised by how well the 6-foot-8 offensive lineman can hold back pass rushers. Video captured by Fernando Ramirez of The Sporting Tribune showed Alt trying to hold back two dominant pass rushers: Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree. Alt was shown blocking both of them - showing his strength against two accomplished veterans. Chargers fans went wild over the video, with many of them singing the second-year's praises on social media. '2 good reps against really good vet competition. They'll need him,' said one user on X, formerly Twitter. Another said, 'demon bout be the best tackle in the league.' 'Guy is gonna make a lot of money for the next decade plus,' another user predicted. One comment said, 'Looks like Alt put on some more muscle this offseason.' 'Joe Alt is big as hell, gotdamn,' one football fan remarked. Another commented, 'Joe Alt is a future HOFer'. The Chargers begin their season traveling to South America for their first game of 2025. They'll take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil as a part of the league's international series.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Chargers back in San Diego for 2 days at school where Harbaugh landed 1st head coaching job
The Chargers returned to San Diego on Tuesday for the first time since they bolted for Los Angeles eight years ago, holding the first of two practices at the small college stadium where Jim Harbaugh began his head coaching career in the mid-2000s. Harbaugh ran the Chargers through their first padded practice of training camp at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego, a hilltop Jesuit school about five miles west of the site where they used to play. It was just the second time the Chargers have held a practice in San Diego County since 2017, when owner Dean Spanos moved them to Los Angeles after he was unable to get a stadium deal in San Diego. They held a walkthrough at Camp Pendleton in far northern San Diego County during minicamp in 2024. The Bolts haven't held a public event or practice here since their acrimonious split with the city they called home for 56 seasons. Tickets to Tuesday's practice were made available to active-duty military and veterans, and tickets to Wednesday's practice were available to season ticket holders. The 6,500-seat stadium appeared half full. A dozen or so fans watched from a public sidewalk overlooking the stadium. There were a lot of No. 10 Justin Herbert jerseys in the crowd and also some from the San Diego days, including Philip Rivers–who quarterbacked the Chargers in both cities–LaDainian Tomlinson, and Junior Seau. The Chargers were scheduled to hold a walkthrough on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Tuesday evening. While some San Diegans still follow the Chargers, many remain bitter or have moved on from the NFL. Harbaugh said the idea to practice in San Diego came from the organization. 'I heard the idea and said, 'Heck yeah, let's do it,' and a suggestion if I might, 'let's do it at USD.' This is about as good as it gets.' Harbaugh was asked if having practices here was the sign of the team extending an olive branch to San Diego, where he still owns a home. 'I don't know anything about that. I never once heard the olive branch analogy used,' he said. 'We love our fans. We love our LA fans, we love San Diego fans, Santa Barbara, Fresno. We just want to go to our fans wherever they might be. Stockton. I want to go to Stockton. Just all those that come to see us, we want to go to them whenever we can.' Harbaugh played for the Chargers in 1999 when he replaced injured quarterback Ryan Leaf and in 2000 when he started five games during a 1-15 season. He said he often visited USD for basketball and baseball games and befriended Monsignor Daniel Dillabough. 'One basketball game I asked him if we could go look at the football field,' Harbaugh said. 'I stood on the top of the hill and said, 'This is incredible. Someday when I get done playing I'm going to go into coaching and it would be incredible if this is where I coached.'' He was quarterbacks coach of the Oakland Raiders when the USD job opened in 2004. 'I saw they had an opening for head coach and called Monsignor Dillabough and said, 'Remember what I said about five years ago?' And he said, 'I was hoping you would call.'' He coached at USD for three seasons, going 29-6 overall. 'It was my first head coaching opportunity, and the thing I've asked Monsignor before, 'What did you see in me to make you think I'd be a good head football coach?' I'd still like to know.' He hasn't told me that. Harbaugh said he wanted to get the blessing of Al Davis, who asked, 'Why would you do that? I thought you wanted to be a pro coach.' I said, 'Mr. Davis, I really want to emulate your career. I know you started as a college coach and I want to take the same path.' And he said, 'Yeah, but that was USC, not USD.' That's a fond memory for me. Harbaugh went on to coach at Stanford, the San Francisco 49ers, and Michigan. He led the Wolverines to the national championship to cap the scandal-plagued 2023 season. He was hired by the Chargers and led them to an 11-6 record last season before they lost to Houston in the wild-card round. He said being back at USD was incredible. 'As the buses came through, the little hairs on my arm were standing up.' Harbaugh praised Rivers, who on Monday announced in a video that he was retiring as a Charger. The quarterback played 16 seasons for the Chargers and last played for Indianapolis in 2020. 'Nothing but the highest respect for Philip Rivers,' Harbaugh said. 'He was so good, and I just appreciate him in every way. The thing that always stands out to me is coaching against Philip when the 49ers played the Chargers, his enthusiasm for the game is right there with Derwin James. His ability to talk during the play–sometimes he was directing it at the players, one time he directed it over at me,' Harbaugh said. 'Really, I guess 'talk smack,' as the young people say, and to do it without swearing is just another level of eliteness. Tremendous competitor. Everyone in the organization has love and appreciation for Philip Rivers. We're excited he's going to retire as a Charger.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chargers back in San Diego for 2 days at school where Harbaugh landed 1st head coaching job
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Chargers returned to San Diego on Tuesday for the first time since they bolted for Los Angeles eight years ago, holding the first of two practices at the small college stadium where Jim Harbaugh began his head coaching career in the mid-2000s. Harbaugh ran the Chargers through their first padded practice of training camp at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego, a hilltop Jesuit school about five miles west of the site where they used to play. It was just the second time the Chargers have held a practice in San Diego County since 2017, when owner Dean Spanos moved them to Los Angeles after he was unable to get a stadium deal in San Diego. They held a walkthrough at Camp Pendleton in far northern San Diego County during minicamp in 2024. The Bolts haven't held a public event or practice here since their acrimonious split with the city they called home for 56 seasons. Tickets to Tuesday's practice were made available to active-duty military and veterans, and tickets to Wednesday's practice were available to season ticket holders. The 6,500-seat stadium appeared half full. A dozen or so fans watched from a public sidewalk overlooking the stadium. There were a lot of No. 10 Justin Herbert jerseys in the crowd, and also some from the San Diego days, including Philip Rivers — who quarterbacked the Chargers in both cities — LaDainian Tomlinson and Junior Seau. The Chargers were scheduled to hold a walkthrough on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Tuesday evening. While some San Diegans still follow the Chargers, many remain bitter or have moved on from the NFL. Harbaugh said the idea to practice in San Diego 'came from the organization. I heard the idea and said, 'Heck yeah, let's do it and a suggestion, if I might, let's do it at USD.' This is about as good as it gets.' Harbaugh was asked if having practices here was the sign of the team extending an olive branch to San Diego, where he still owns a home. 'I don't know anything about that. I never once heard the olive branch analogy used,' he said. "We love our fans. We love our LA fans, we love San Diego fans, Santa Barbara, Fresno. We just want to go to our fans, wherever they might be. Stockton. I want to go to Stockton. Just all those that come to see us, we want to go to them whenever we can.' Harbaugh played for the Chargers in 1999, when he replaced injured quarterback Ryan Leaf, and in 2000, when he started five games during a 1-15 season. He said he often visited USD for basketball and baseball games and befriended Monsignor Daniel Dillabough. 'One basketball game I asked him if we could go look at the football field,' Harbaugh said. 'I stood on the top of the hill and said, 'This is incredible. Someday, when I get done playing, I'm going to go into coaching, and it would be incredible if this is where I coached.'' He was quarterbacks coach of the Oakland Raiders when the USD job opened in 2004. 'I saw they had an opening for head coach and called Monsignor Dillabough and said, 'Remember what I said about five years ago?' And he said, 'I was hoping you would call.'' He coached at USD for three seasons, going 29-6 overall. 'It was my first head coaching opportunity, and the thing I've asked Monsignor before, 'What did you see in me to make you think I'd be a good head football coach?' I'd still like to know. He hasn't told me that.' Harbaugh said he wanted to get the blessing of Al Davis, who asked, ''Why would you do that? I thought you wanted to be a pro coach.' I said, 'Mr. Davis, I really want to emulate your career. I know you started as a college coach and I want to take the same path.' And he said, 'Yeah, but that was USC, not USD.' That's a fond memory for me.' Harbaugh went on to coach at Stanford, the San Francisco 49ers and Michigan. He led the Wolverines to the national championship to cap the scandal-plagued 2023 season. He was hired by the Chargers and led them to an 11-6 record last season before they lost to Houston in the wild-card round. He said being back at USD was 'incredible. As the buses came through, the little hairs on my arm were standing up.' Harbaugh praised Rivers, who on Monday announced in a video that he was retiring as a Charger. The quarterback played 16 seasons for the Chargers and last played for Indianapolis in 2020. 'Nothing but the highest respect for Philip Rivers,' Harbaugh said. 'He was so good and I just appreciate him in every way. The thing that always stands out to me is coaching against Philip, when the 49ers played the Chargers, his enthusiasm for the game is right there with Derwin James. 'His ability to talk, during the play, sometimes he was directing it at the players, one time he directed it over at me,' Harbaugh said. 'Really, I guess, talk smack, as the young people say, and to do it without swearing is just another level of eliteness. Tremendous competitor. Everyone in the organization has love and appreciation for Philip Rivers. We're excited he's going to retire as a Charger.' ___ AP NFL:
