00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 All right, we're here in Costa Mesa, California.
00:07 My 12 training camp chargers camped the front end
00:09 of my second set of Saturday two-a-days.
00:11 I got five takeaways.
00:12 Takeaway number one, Justin Herbert entered camp
00:15 with a brand new five-year $262.5 million extension,
00:19 and he looks poised to earn every penny of it.
00:21 He's playing fast, he's playing loose,
00:22 he's playing aggressive, he's been accurate with the ball.
00:25 He's gotten more vocal as a leader,
00:26 something both his coaches and teammates have taken note of,
00:29 and he looks like a good fit for Kellyn Moore's new offense.
00:32 Moore's offense is predicated on making defenses
00:35 defend every blade of grass out there on the field,
00:38 and that, for obvious reasons,
00:39 could unlock another level of Herbert's game.
00:41 Takeaway number two, what's around Herbert
00:43 looks really good.
00:44 The line had a lot of health issues last year.
00:47 They look more complete now with everybody
00:48 back in the lineup for Sean Slater back at left tackle,
00:51 and Zion Johnson, their first-round pickup a year ago,
00:53 looks very comfortable moving over to left guard.
00:56 And then there's the receiver group.
00:57 The chargers believe that the best group
00:59 for receivers in all the NFL,
01:01 you know what Keenan Allen and Mike Williams can do.
01:03 Josh Palmer had a great three-year last year.
01:05 He's had another really great camp.
01:07 He looks like he's evolved as a route runner,
01:09 might be the best route runner on the team now.
01:11 And Quentin Johnston, their first-round pick,
01:14 has been very physically impressive out there.
01:16 Takeaway number three, there are a couple of positions
01:19 where things need to be worked out
01:20 over the next couple of weeks.
01:21 One is tight end, where Gerald Everett,
01:23 Donald Parham, and Stone Smart
01:25 are fighting for the starting spot.
01:27 All three of those guys have value in the passing game.
01:29 What they can do in the run game might determine that one.
01:32 And then there's the interior of the defensive line.
01:34 Getting Austin Johnson back off of PUP
01:36 is going to really help,
01:38 but the chargers are looking to build more depth there,
01:40 which should help them in the run defense.
01:42 Takeaway number four, Eric Kendricks came highly recommended
01:45 from a lot of friends of Brandon Staley,
01:47 guys like Jonathan Gannon, Ed Donatel, Kevin O'Connell,
01:51 and he's lived up to expectations.
01:52 He's been an absolute missile through two weeks camp,
01:55 and he's also been good
01:56 with his performer first round pick, Kenneth Murray.
01:58 Murray's going into his fourth year,
02:00 just had his fifth year option declined.
02:02 He actually has had a really nice summer.
02:05 Finally, takeaway number five,
02:06 if there's been like a little bit of a hidden star
02:08 here at camp, it might be Asante Samuel.
02:11 The slot corner is starting to look a lot like his dad
02:14 with the way he's getting his hands on the ball,
02:16 and could wind up being the beneficiary this year
02:19 of a rejuvenated pass rush,
02:20 so long as Joey Bosa and Cleo Mack can stay healthy.
02:24 That's it from the chargers.
02:25 Next up, we're going across Orange County
02:27 over to see the Rams.
02:29 [MUSIC]
