Yahoo Sports Senior NFL Reporter Charles Robinson is out on the road covering training camps. Today’s stop: the Los Angeles Chargers.
Note: This camp visit occurred July 26.
About the QB
There’s still an evolution going on with Justin Herbert and his leadership style, but any consternation is overblown. Jim Harbaugh will be a huge help with that development.
Rookie to watch
I hate to go obvious, but second-round wideout Ladd McConkey was the first name presented when I asked which young guy from the draft had the staff most excited. The way he gets in and out of breaks is already high-level. I think they’ll line him up all over the place and he’ll eventually develop into a target monster.
Keeping my eye on
After a tough rookie season, wideout Quentin Johnston’s camp is looking encouraging. He made a superb sideline catch Friday and looks like he’s playing bigger, confident and not fighting the ball. Be patient with expectations, but the staff is excited about him.
Fantasy thought
I’d be cautious about Herbert’s volume this season. He’ll do great things with Harbaugh, but the Chargers’ commitment to the run is real. I also think it will take time to sort the WR group. Right now, I’m not even sure who the top target guy will be.
What I saw that was interesting
The sparsely populated metro train that regularly runs past the practice fields is amusing. When the Chargers were in San Diego, they practiced below a rocky bluff that generated conspiracies about opponents spying. The tin foil hat in me wants a Chargers staffer planted on that train. And no, the Harbaugh/Michigan irony is not lost on me.
Wild card
A lot is riding on defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who has the trust from Harbaugh to shape his scheme and personnel. His role-specific system has similarities to Brandon Staley’s in that there’s a lot going on with post-snap disguising. Minter will have to simplify roles but retain scheme complexity. He’s well regarded by the Baltimore Ravens staff, where he worked prior to Michigan. Time will tell if he can ascend as an NFL coordinator, too.
