Current:Home > StocksJim Harbaugh goes through first offseason program as head coach of Los Angeles Chargers-LoTradeCoin
Jim Harbaugh goes through first offseason program as head coach of Los Angeles Chargers
View Date:2024-12-23 16:13:05
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh talked at the NFL scouting combine about how excited he was for April 2. On Tuesday, the date finally arrived.
The Chargers, Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons were the first teams to kick off phrase one of their offseason programs on Tuesday.
Harbaugh likened the occasion to the first day of school.
“It’s a great day. It’s a great day for football, for meetings and training for a lot of baseline training,” Harbaugh said. “It feels like there’s a new lift and energy in the building... It was a good first day.”
USA TODAY Sports was in attendance for the first day of the Chargers’ voluntary offseason program under Harbaugh. Here are the biggest takeaways:
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
'Lively' opening day
Phase one of NFL offseason workouts consists of meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation. Harbaugh didn't specify if the Chargers had full attendance on Tuesday, but franchise pillars such as quarterback Justin Herbert and safety Derwin James were in the building, per the team’s social media page.
“We got right into football, putting the schemes in offensively and defensively, and baseline training,” (Chargers executive director of player performance) Ben Herbert is huge in this phase,” Harbaugh said. “Just finding out where everybody is. Where is their baseline and where do they need improvement on.”
The offense and defense conducted separate meetings.
“It was lively. We’re teaching different schemes,” Harbaugh said of the two meetings. “It was good. I thought our coaches did a great job in the offensive meetings and the same with the defensive meetings. We’ll have special teams meetings starting (Wednesday).”
'Best damn job'
Harbaugh’s a seasoned head coach with head coaching jobs at San Diego (2004–2006), Stanford (2007–2010), San Francisco 49ers (2011–2014) and Michigan (2015–2023) before being hired by the Chargers in January. He’s had success at every stop along the way including a Super Bowl 47 appearance with the 49ers and a 2023 NCAA national title at Michigan. But Harbaugh professed the Chargers have left the best initial impression.
“This has been the best damn job I’ve ever had to start off with,” Harbaugh said. “I hope it ends that way, but it’s been a tremendous start. I’m excited about the coaching staff and the amount of work that’s been produced over the last month and a half.”
Positions of need?
Cornerback Kristian Fulton, linebacker Denzel Perryman, defensive lineman Poona Ford, center Bradley Bozeman and running back Gus Edwards are five of the biggest free agent additions by the Chargers.
The five players figure to have an impact on a Chargers squad that finished 5-12 last year. When Harbaugh was asked if the Chargers have any positions of need, the coach said he’s still in the process of making that assessment.
“Just finding that out,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a great opportunity to find that out.”
Wide receiver is a spot the Chargers are thin at after the team lost their top two pass catchers this offseason when Keenan Allen was traded to the Chicago Bears and Mike Williams was released and subsequently signed with the New York Jets.
Los Angeles owns the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 draft and could target a wideout. LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers is taking a top 30 visit with the Chargers on Wednesday, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they aren’t authorized to discuss the matter.
MOCK DRAFT: Four QBs go in top four picks thanks to projected trade
Play with physicality
Chargers tight end Hayden Hurst, who played for Harbaugh’s older brother John in Baltimore, said his initial takeaway from the offseason program is the Chargers are going to play a physical brand of football.
“From what I’m understanding in the first round of the meetings, that’s the mantra of this place. We’re gonna be physical (and) we’re gonna come at you,” Hurst said. “When you see us pop up on the schedule, it’s gonna be a long Sunday.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
veryGood! (64)
Related
- Shocked South Carolina woman walks into bathroom only to find python behind toilet
- Philadelphia Phillies clinch NL East title. Set sights on No. 1 seed in playoffs
- Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill joins fight for police reform after his detainment
- Kentucky’s Supreme Court will soon have a woman at its helm for the first time
- The ancient practice of tai chi is more popular than ever. Why?
- Man pleads guilty to Michigan killing that stoked anti-immigrant campaign rhetoric
- Where Bravo's Craig Conover and Kyle Cooke Stand Today After Seltzer Feud
- Donne Kelce Says Bonding With Taylor Swift Is Still New for Her
- Amazon Best Books of 2024 revealed: Top 10 span genres but all 'make you feel deeply'
- The Daily Money: Holiday shoppers are starting early
Ranking
- Francesca Farago Details Health Complications That Led to Emergency C-Section of Twins
- Sean Diddy Combs Predicts His Arrest in Haunting Interview From 1999
- Police: Father arrested in shooting at Kansas elementary school after child drop off
- Harris is more popular than Trump among AAPI voters, a new APIA Vote/AAPI Data survey finds
- Sister Wives' Janelle Brown Details to Meri Why She Can't Trust Ex Kody and His Sole Wife Robyn
- Sur La Table’s Anniversary Sale -- Up to 50% off on Staub & Le Creuset, Plus an Exclusive $19.72 Section
- California bans all plastic shopping bags at store checkouts: When will it go into effect?
- Connie Chung on the ups and downs of trailblazing career in new memoir | The Excerpt
Recommendation
-
Smithfield agrees to pay $2 million to resolve child labor allegations at Minnesota meat plant
-
How to Watch the 2024 People's Choice Country Awards and Live From E!
-
Analysis: Verstappen shows his petty side when FIA foolishly punishes him for cursing
-
As he welcomes Gotham FC, Biden says “a woman can do anything a man can do,” including be president
-
Trump announces Tom Homan, former director of immigration enforcement, will serve as ‘border czar’
-
In a battle for survival, coral reefs get a second chance outside the ocean
-
The boyfriend of a Navajo woman is set to be sentenced in her killing
-
Search resumes for 2 swimmers who went missing off the coast of Virginia Beach