1 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: Everybody. Chris Avery with you on a new episode of 2 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: Chargers Weekly. Coming Up, Chargers radio analyst Daniel Jeremiah joins 3 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: me from day two of Team Mini Camp. But first, 4 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: my conversation with general manager Tom to LESCo. Now, Tom's 5 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: gonna be taking fan questions, a wide variety of fan 6 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: questions on Thursday. Think of this conversation as a fifteen 7 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:41,319 Speaker 1: minute primer to that. Tom. I always appreciate the time. 8 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: How are you sorry? Doing great? Thanks? Mini camp? How 9 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: has it changed over the years for you? We got 10 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: NFL network out here, It seems like it's an appetizer 11 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:53,599 Speaker 1: for what's to come in late July. Yeah, I mean 12 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: there's a huge appetite for football even when you're in 13 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: the month of June. But it was, it was It 14 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: was funny today we had I don't know if it's 15 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: a coincidence or not, but we had the NFL network 16 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: here alive for like three hours and this was probably 17 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: our best practice maybe of OTAs. It was greatly day. Yeah, 18 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: it was great work both sides of the ball, offense 19 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 1: and defense, very competitive, great tempo, a lot of guys 20 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: making a lot of plays. It was a really really 21 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: good day. Is it because we had a little action 22 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: out here today. I'm not sure, maybe maybe because the 23 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: cameras are out, I don't know, but it was great, 24 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 1: Like we need practices like this today. This is how 25 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: to become a better football team. And we got better 26 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: today because it was just great work between both groups. 27 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: Phillips said, it's always good going against this defense. And 28 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,320 Speaker 1: you never wanted to be lopsided, right. You want to 29 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 1: offense and get some plays and the defense to get 30 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: some plays. So to have that type of energy to 31 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: see both sides of the football making plays has to 32 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: be a positive sign going into the summer break. Yeah, 33 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: And this is the time of year you can experiment 34 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: with a lot of different things offensively and defensively and 35 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: see what works. And this is the time to do 36 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 1: it before you put the pads on, before you're in 37 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: training camp, before you're getting into game planning. So this 38 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: offseason program you can use some players in different spots. 39 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: You can look at some different schemes offense and defense wise, 40 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: some different plays, some different coverages and see how they work. 41 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 1: And this is the time you can experiment with that stuff. 42 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: And during the off season program, then you got some 43 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: of these young guys the importance of again, the rookies, 44 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: A lot was thrown at those guys. You get drafted, 45 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:21,799 Speaker 1: you come to a new city, you're trying to learn 46 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: the playbook, and then you're trying to implement what you 47 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: learn all into the football field. Have you seen tangible 48 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: progress from some of these guys from the time they 49 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: walked into the building into the time they're about to leave. 50 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: It's slow progress this time of year. It just is, 51 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: and then it will pick up in training camp. But yes, 52 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:40,679 Speaker 1: a lot is thrown at them this time of the year, 53 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: and their heads are spinning. It's it's this, it's a 54 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: lot for them. You know, it's a new environment, new 55 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: coaching staff, new schemes, new language, new places live. I mean, 56 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 1: there's a lot of new things going on for the players. 57 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: So it takes for the young players, So it takes time. 58 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: And this is this is why you're trying not to 59 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: make evaluations of young players based off off season practices 60 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 1: or mini camps, because a lot of them are still 61 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: learning what to do. And you can't play fast and 62 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: play confident if you don't know what to do yet. 63 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: And a lot of them just don't. I mean, they're 64 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 1: studying they're working, but it takes time and takes repetition. 65 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: So once we get to training camp, that's when you 66 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: can start doing a little bit more evaluation. They've had 67 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: some time to learn it. Obviously they don't know what 68 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: it's well if they will next year at this time, 69 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 1: but that's when you can start seeing some guys if 70 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: they can cut it or not. But a lot of 71 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: this time of the year is learning and then training 72 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: camp it's about competition and you know the physicality of it. 73 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: But that said, if these guys do show some flashes, 74 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: you know, it's a nice time to do it, to 75 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: leave a favorable impression as you go into late July. 76 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: You know, maybe you make a play that they picked 77 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: up on something that they learned in the defensive room, 78 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: you know, just to have a little bit of momentum 79 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: going into the summer. Yeah, and they're the one player. 80 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: He's not a young player per se, but ray Sean 81 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: Jenkins seeing him play the free safety position this year 82 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: as opposed to last year has been a big difference, 83 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 1: and that's a lot of it is just from the 84 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: learning and the comfort factor of playing that position and 85 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: seeing more and he made some plays out here. It 86 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: made one yesterday, He's made a lot actually throughout as. 87 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: So yeah, you see the players flash here there, But 88 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: what will come with the learning is the consistency part 89 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: of it. You know, flashes are great, but we need 90 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:18,840 Speaker 1: more than flashes. We need a consistent player from from 91 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: everyone at every position. So um, but the flashes show 92 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: you that it's there. Now, just about trying to make 93 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,039 Speaker 1: the consistent part of it work. Can you explain for 94 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: the fans, Tom, just the difference between OTAs and how 95 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: it ramps up for Mini camp? Obviously everybody's here, he 96 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: got both Melvin's back in the mix, But how is 97 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: it different from the ten OTA practices versus you know, 98 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: these three days that we're in the middle of. Ah, 99 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: there is no difference, not at all, home none, now 100 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: it's none. It just that it changes the name from 101 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: mandatory mini camps Ota practice, same tempo practice, same setup 102 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 1: of practice. Yeah, there's not a whole lot different at all, 103 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 1: Just NFL networks. That's a terrible answer for you, High No, 104 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 1: it's yeah, But I think it's important because when when 105 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: you hear mid camp, you hear OTAs, you wonder, Okay, 106 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: what's the difference is this? Like, is this something where 107 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 1: it's a little bit more intensive. It's more just everybody's 108 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: here right, same same tempo and you know, same structure 109 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: of practice, and now there's really no difference to it 110 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 1: at all. When I talked, it's hard to believe Tom, 111 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: that we talked a couple of days after. Even Daniel 112 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: Jeremiah was like, he hadn't been here since the Patriots game. 113 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: It's just it's hard for me to believe that was 114 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: the last time you and I spoke in this office. 115 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: But you had an interesting parallel. I think it was 116 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: the two thousand and two Colts how they went into 117 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,279 Speaker 1: New York it got be pretty badly and kind of 118 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: used that to kind of galvanize themselves over the next 119 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: several years. You know, this team, a lot of guys return, 120 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: and a lot of them have a, you know, a 121 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: bitter taste in their mouth. Have you since the just 122 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,119 Speaker 1: building off of last year and maybe those two playoff games? 123 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: How that experience will help a majority of these guys 124 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: going into twenty nineteen. Yeah, I mean, I don't want 125 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: anybody here to forget that last game of the year. 126 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: I mean, yeah, you do want to flush last year 127 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: out and get on to next year. But you know, 128 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: I don't want to forget what happened at the end 129 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: of the year. And if if some people aren't here 130 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 1: forget about it, I'll believe me, I'll remind them because 131 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: that's how we have to get better. We have to 132 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 1: see what went wrong last year and we have to 133 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 1: fix it. And part of that, like you said, that loss, 134 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: I mean, that has to drive you for the next season. 135 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: The wins and losses, they don't carry over, but the 136 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: culture does. And like I said, you can really take 137 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: what happened in that game and drive and fuel you 138 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: for your next season. And that's what we have to do. 139 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: So you know, we can say, let's let's put last 140 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: year behind us with the twelve wins, and yes we do, 141 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 1: but we're not going to forget about how it ended either, 142 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: sou And that's what we have to get back to 143 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 1: it out we start the bomb of the mountain and 144 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: move our way back up again. It's again, it's just 145 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: one day at a time. You know, we can't play 146 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 1: the playoff game, replay the playoff game in September. We 147 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: have to make the playoffs first and neither win the 148 00:06:55,400 --> 00:07:00,120 Speaker 1: division number one. So but now you don't forget that, 149 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 1: and that has to be the backup our minds and 150 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: just push us through this offseason, push us through training 151 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: camp and on the week one. It's a lot of 152 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: level headedness year though, you know, Philip even talk even 153 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: the chemistry that doesn't carry over necessarily from January to 154 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: where we are now. A lot of the same guys, 155 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: but you still need to kind of recreate that chemistry, 156 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: recreate that measure. Every team's different, yeah, and you don't 157 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: have the exact same fifty three players in your locker 158 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: room this year as we had last year. So we 159 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: do have a core, and there still is a chemistry 160 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 1: amongst that core, and there's the culture that Anthony has 161 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: instilled here and that's here. But as far as the 162 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: whole player, all the players and the locker room, that 163 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: chemistry starts to build in OTAs. That's one of probably 164 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: one of the most important parts of OTAs is just 165 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: the guys being together, practicing together, being a locker room 166 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: and starting to starting to getting that camaraderie again. Because 167 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 1: every year is different. Everybody's a year older, we have 168 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 1: some new players, some players aren't here anymore. So you 169 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: do have to start from scratch. It's not hard to 170 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: see the theme of even this draft class, and going 171 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: back to last two here in Los Angeles, is the 172 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: character of these guys. Man. I mean to talk to 173 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: Drew Tranquil, who's twenty three years old, he's like he's 174 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: thirty three years old. I mean, it's it's it's unbelievable 175 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: to talk to him and know everything that he went 176 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 1: through the last month in terms of life changes. And 177 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: then you bring in a guy like Tyrod Taylor who's 178 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: been there, done that, a mature guy, a leader. Even 179 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: in that quarterbacks room behind Philip Thomas Davis. I mean, 180 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: people said this has been a seamless transition for Thomas, 181 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 1: like he's like he's been here for years. So to 182 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 1: add to the locker room with guys like that, it 183 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: just has to help kind of recreate that that chemistry 184 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: even quicker. Yeah, I mean, Anthony has our culture that 185 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: he has here, but we need the right players to 186 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 1: grow in that and those guys just mentioned they have that. 187 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 1: And that's is a big part of team building, is 188 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: the intangible part of it that you can't really put 189 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 1: a grade on it, but the character part is big, 190 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 1: and character could mean so many different things from how 191 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: you prepare to play, to your passion to play, to 192 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,439 Speaker 1: your work ethics. The termination dry. Yeah, the broad term 193 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: could mean a lot of different things, but usually know 194 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: when you see it, but it takes There's a lot 195 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: that goes into it. And that's part of being a 196 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: professional player, and it's part of the culture we want 197 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: here that you know, when the adversity hits, when it 198 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: gets real tough, we need guys to not go south 199 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: on us and the usually the high character guys can 200 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: hang in. You know, when you go on four to 201 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: start a season, be very easy for some guys just 202 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 1: to kind of give up the ship on you. And 203 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: we have a group here that two years ago didn't 204 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 1: do that. And you know, you can have all the 205 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: talent in the world, you gotta be able some we 206 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: have some character with it. So yeah, whether it's draft 207 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: free and see, whatever it is, you know, the character 208 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: part is just as important as the talent part. Now, 209 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: it doesn't mean you're gonna have fifty three guys that 210 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:55,439 Speaker 1: are all perfect. I mean, none of us are coaching 211 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 1: front office players. I mean everyone's gonna make mistakes from 212 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: time to time and learn from them. But as long 213 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 1: as they have their right makeup as far as how 214 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: they want to play this game, how they approached the game, 215 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 1: how they treat people on and off the field. That's 216 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 1: what we're looking for these veterans specifically. I just talked 217 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 1: to a young undrafted free agent out there today who 218 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: said that, you know, he's talked to his buddies around 219 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: the league and at other teams the Vets aren't helping 220 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: the way that the Vets are helping here and countless 221 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: stories of the last two months of the elder States 222 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: been on this team, or guys who have been here 223 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: even your two three years, helping the younger guys along. 224 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,319 Speaker 1: Because you look at the impact that the twenty eighteen 225 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: rookie class had during the season, especially late, whether it 226 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: was Detro's news from Justin Jackson, was Nuosu in a 227 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: Baltimore game, Darwin James, really all season long, Justin Jones, 228 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: Kaiser White starting the first three games. They're going to 229 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: be relied upon at some point in twenty nineteen, and 230 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: it's the Vets almost taken upon themselves to say, hey, 231 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: we got to get you ready for what's going to 232 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: be a season. We have high expectations. Yeah, one of 233 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 1: the most important things Anthony and talk about is being selfless. 234 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: And part of being selfless as a football player is 235 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: being a great teammate and helping out the young players. 236 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 1: So even though this is a competitive business, everybody that's 237 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: coming in is trying to come in to win a job. 238 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: But there's a team aspect to or two. And we 239 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 1: have a group of guys that do fall into that 240 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: that they're very, very selfless as far as helping out 241 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: the young guys and and and you know, you need 242 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: to hold everybody accountable on your football team, but you 243 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:26,680 Speaker 1: have to hold the veterans even a little bit more 244 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: accountable actually than the younger guys because you want the 245 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: younger guys to see the right way to do things standard, yep. 246 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 1: Set the standards at a high bar, and the rookies 247 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 1: will mimic what they see. So we want to make 248 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 1: sure our veterans are doing things the way they're supposed to. 249 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 1: And we have a group that does do that. And 250 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 1: it starts with head coach all the way down. But 251 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: you know, if you want to win and win big 252 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: and you want to go from good to great, you know, 253 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: one of those things you're gonna have to be as selfless. 254 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: You're gonna have to be a team player. It can't 255 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 1: all be about you can't be about your stats, your playtime. 256 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,319 Speaker 1: It's gonna be what's best for the team. And that's 257 00:11:57,360 --> 00:11:59,599 Speaker 1: the way we try and build it here. You know, 258 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: it's one of the underrated ingredients to a championship caliber 259 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: team is the coaching staff and the ability to retain 260 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: pretty much all the coaches, say for a few to 261 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: have Whiz and Gus and Coach Lynn and all these 262 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:20,439 Speaker 1: position coaches back, how much does the transition from twenty 263 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: eighteen to twenty nineteen, How much easier does it make 264 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: it to have a lot of the same faces in 265 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: the building. Players are familiar with them and not much 266 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: changes in that regard. Yeah, as long as they're the 267 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: right people, it's absolutely the right thing to do, and 268 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:34,319 Speaker 1: they've proven to be the right things and it's hard 269 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: to do this day and age. But you know, a 270 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,080 Speaker 1: lot of that is because of Dean Spanos, John Spanos. 271 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: They give us the resources they keep these guys here, 272 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: So that's a big, big part of it. I mean, 273 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: it's a competitive league. There's no salary cap on coaches, 274 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 1: so they put a heavy investment in the coaching staff 275 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: and we think it's important and we think we have 276 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: the right guys. And I love this group of coaches. 277 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:59,439 Speaker 1: They're they're great to work with. They're good talent evaluators, 278 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: but they're great teachers and communicators and they work with people. Well. Um, 279 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: we all have opinions in this business, and you're supposed 280 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: to and you're supposed to have really good convictions. But 281 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: you know, any any any uh discussions, even if you 282 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: want to call them arguments, they're always done the right way. 283 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: And uh, that's why I love this group of coaches. 284 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: They're competitive, but they but they treat each other very well, respectful. Um, 285 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 1: you can really teach, and that's what you have to have. 286 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:26,679 Speaker 1: You know, these players are coming in from college. It's 287 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: a pretty big jump for them, and it's a lot 288 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 1: of it's going to have to be teaching. And our coaches, coaches, 289 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: our teachers. I mean, they spend more of their day 290 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 1: downstairs in a meeting room with players lined up with 291 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 1: their notebooks and pens and um, you know, a screen, 292 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: and they're teaching like a teacher would in a school. Um, 293 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 1: it's only two hours on a practice field. The rest 294 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: of it's in classrooms. So we have a group of 295 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: coaches that work well together, respect each other, and and 296 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 1: teach their butts off with these guys. I almost swore, 297 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 1: but I didn't do it. I can. I can beleeve 298 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: it out here. Yeah, but it's a family past. And 299 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,319 Speaker 1: the head coach coach, which is the coaches too, Anthony 300 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 1: coach of the coaches did he tells him exactly what 301 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: he wants from each position, each position group. And we've 302 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 1: seen players here develop and uh, you know, for a 303 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: general manager, you can't ask for any more than that 304 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: because the players we bring in, that's just the first step. 305 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 1: The second step is we have to really develop them. 306 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: See what they do well, what they don't don't do well, 307 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: kind of Taylor, different things we do to them, but 308 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 1: then develop the weaknesses. And we've got a coaching staff 309 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 1: at all different positions that have developed a lot of players, 310 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: you know, that weren't first round draft picks, but developed 311 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: them into really good football players. Yeah, I mean you 312 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: got you have undrafted free agents in the secondary, from 313 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: Adrian Phillips to Mike Davis to Trevor Williams. And you know, 314 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: sometimes we look year to year free agency. You bring 315 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: in Thomas Davis to bring a Tyrod Taylor, but you 316 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: you forget that Hunter Henry's coming back. You know, Travis 317 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: Benjamin fully healthy, to have him in that wide receiving 318 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: corps Kaisier White, we forget the impact that he had 319 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: early on in the season. So it's not just the 320 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: guys that you bring in via free agency, it's the 321 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: guys who have been in a program that can make 322 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: that lead from year one to year two. Yeah, the 323 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: the U. If there is a positive with some players 324 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: being injured last year, there's other players had to step 325 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: up and play and get some time. So luckily we 326 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: didn't have our injuries weren't too bad last year, except 327 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: for the linebacker position. We got hit pretty hard. But yeah, 328 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 1: I mean part of this football team as you built 329 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: it for next year. Yeah, we added some draft picks, 330 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: we had some free agents, but yeah, we have a 331 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: group of players that didn't play a whole lot last year. 332 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 1: I mean really including Joey Bosa. Joe only got half 333 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: the season last year. So you got those guys all 334 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: back and healthy and ready to go, and you know 335 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: makes you a stronger football team. Tom on a pub 336 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: something that you're doing tomorrow you're gonna ask or you're 337 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: gonna answer some questions a special fan mailbag on Thursday. 338 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: So if you have a question for Tom, use the 339 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: hashtag ask Tom T on Twitter. You go to charge 340 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: dot com now, sobit your question. If you're listening to 341 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: this late, we're gonna have the chat on chargers dot com. 342 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: This is something you like to do with the fans. 343 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: You answer questions from a helmet. In February at the Combine, 344 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: you got some interesting questions. Actually it was funny because 345 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 1: I think, didn't you answer one from like Adam from 346 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: New York and Adam Schift you're walking by and that 347 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: that was pretty good right there. I mean, how about 348 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 1: that perfect timing? If digital media set that up like 349 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: that or not? No, I promise that was that was 350 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: just by having says that was hilarious. But now I 351 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: think it's it's it's great to be able to answer 352 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: questions directly from the fans with with no no middle 353 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: middle person. I mean, I know, I know Ricky Henny 354 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 1: has his mail back. Ricky does a great job with it, 355 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: but we're gonna cut the middle man out. Yeah, and 356 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: you know, I'm just gonna answer the questions straight to 357 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 1: the source. Yeah, straight, you know, straight straight from me, 358 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: and I'll get through as money as I can, and um, 359 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: you know, maybe we'll make it a regular feature or 360 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: get you know, get Anthony involved. I have Anthony do 361 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: some of those skills Tuesdays with Tom. I've already got 362 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: a name for it. I don't think Anthony E knows. 363 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 1: I justn't volunteered him for this, but uh, it's it's 364 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: it's hard, you know, I'm not. I guess I could 365 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: get on social media and try and answer questions directly 366 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: from fans, but that made it a little sticky sometimes. Yeah, Twitter, 367 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: Twitter is a different animal. Tom, I don't know. I 368 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 1: liked what you're doing here. We're gonna start with the 369 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:07,439 Speaker 1: mail bag this way and we'll go one step at 370 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: a time. Fair enough, it's gonna be great. I appreciate 371 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: you taking the time as always, always gracious with your 372 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:16,679 Speaker 1: time and fans, if you're listening to this tonight or 373 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,679 Speaker 1: Thursday morning, get your questions in. If you got to 374 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,880 Speaker 1: this late, you can see the wrap up of tom 375 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: answering questions on chargers dot com. Tom appreciate at the 376 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,640 Speaker 1: time anytime. Thanks for having me, all right, welcome back. 377 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: To Chargers weekly here at Chargers Mini Camp at Hoop 378 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: Performance Center with an old friend I haven't seen in 379 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,719 Speaker 1: a while, Daniel Jeremiah joins me, DJ. What's up, buddy. Oh, 380 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 1: it's good to see you, man. It's great to be 381 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 1: back here, not only to see friends and uh at 382 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:46,159 Speaker 1: my Chargers family. Yes, to get out here on a 383 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: beautiful day and watch this team get on the grass 384 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: be fun. But dude, you did a heck of a 385 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:51,679 Speaker 1: job with the draft. I know that was a grind. 386 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 1: What was that process like for you to finish up 387 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: Chargers football and go straight into it? Well, it was. 388 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: It was Look it's it's a lot of tape watching, 389 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 1: but there's nothing I enjoy more than that. So it 390 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 1: was fun to get a chance to dig in and 391 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: study those players. And uh really I thought it was 392 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 1: a Nashville had a great job, you know, putting on 393 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 1: the drake like looking forward to going back there with 394 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: the Chargers this year. So I found a couple of 395 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,439 Speaker 1: restaurants for us. I've scouted out twenty Yeah I think 396 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 1: it's mid October. Yeah, okay, so a beautiful time to 397 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 1: get out there. They did a wonderful job hosting it 398 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,120 Speaker 1: and Uh, that was a fun draft. So now it's 399 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 1: it's fun to come out here and see some of 400 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 1: these guys that we've talked about, see them get on 401 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: the field and see how they make that transition. You know, 402 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 1: it was cool as I I co hosted our draft 403 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 1: party with actually Brewer at the Santa Monica Pier watching. 404 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: Look really cool man, I tell you. It was thousands 405 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 1: of Chargers fans lined up around the Santa Monica Pier. 406 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:42,199 Speaker 1: It was an awesome site. We had a bunch of 407 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: players there and there was a lot of excitement around. 408 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:46,679 Speaker 1: You know what's cool about it is that the Chargers 409 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: had to pick at twenty eight, so everybody was there 410 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 1: engaged the entire time, and then they picked Jerry Tillery. Um, 411 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 1: let's just get into the rookies before we get into 412 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 1: the team overall. Would you think of the first round 413 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: picked Jerry, Well, look, you one of the toughest things 414 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 1: to find is into your pass rush, and this year, 415 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 1: because of the sheer depth at the position, I thought 416 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: that was good value where they're able to get him. Um. 417 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: I also think, look if if Hillary Shoulder is healthy 418 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: and he plays for the whole year and we see 419 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 1: you know, the guy that we saw in that Stanford 420 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 1: game throughout the season. As a healthy football player, he 421 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: wouldn't have been there when they picked, So I thought 422 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: they got a little bit of a value there, and 423 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:25,919 Speaker 1: somebody coming off of an injury should be full speed. 424 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 1: But again, when you can find somebody that can rush inside, 425 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: knowing what you have on campus already to rush outside, 426 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,400 Speaker 1: he's gonna be a beautiful compliment. Clark Lee, his defensive coordinator, said, 427 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: there's somebody said about playing through the pain because he 428 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:41,639 Speaker 1: was playing through that injury. I think he even played 429 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 1: against Clemson in that game when maybe came back to 430 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 1: come back into play. So to play through that, the 431 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 1: toughness you saw last year, and then even guys on campus, 432 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: like you said, Justin Jones making that lead from year 433 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,400 Speaker 1: one to year two, um and then having Boston Ingawall 434 00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: on the edge, I mean that speaks for itself. Yeah, 435 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 1: no question. And you've got Nuosu you can move around 436 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 1: to a lot of different things with him. It's gonna 437 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: be fun to watch what Gus Bradley does and how 438 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: he deploys these guys because you've got some versatile players 439 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: and really all those guys we've talked about can line 440 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 1: up at multiple positions, so you're gonna have some flexibility, 441 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 1: and also you're gonna have a little bit of roster 442 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 1: depth because you can absorb an injury because you've got 443 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: versatile players that can slide and move around. One of 444 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 1: the many lines that you had during the draft, one 445 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: of my favorites, because it pertained to the charges, was 446 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: if you were to go into a lab and find 447 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 1: the perfect compliment to Derwin James, you find it in 448 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: a zero adderlae to get him in the second round 449 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:39,159 Speaker 1: to solidify that secondary that already has a host of 450 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: Pro Bowlers and All pros. What do you think nas 451 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,119 Speaker 1: is going to bring to this team? Well, I really 452 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: do believe that he's just ideally suited to play next somebody. Look, 453 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:51,479 Speaker 1: everybody would love to play next to Derwin James. You're 454 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: talking about the best young safety in the NFL right now, 455 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 1: but having somebody that can play high and do it 456 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 1: successfully and have the range and the ball skills, the 457 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: awareness that he has, and also the ability to be 458 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:04,439 Speaker 1: able to get guys down in space and tackle some 459 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:06,400 Speaker 1: of the athletes you're going to see inside this division. 460 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: I think he's just a perfect mix there. And also 461 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:12,399 Speaker 1: you know, look if some reason you have an injury 462 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: at the corner position, if if Desmond had to bump out, 463 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: you could drop Nads down and he's covering the slot. 464 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: So he has that versatility again, I think that's kind 465 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:23,439 Speaker 1: of a theme for this defense. A lot of interchangeable parts, 466 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: and and you look at him as a player, and 467 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 1: then also what you hear about him character wise, intelligence wise, 468 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 1: I think he's gonna be a perfect fit with coach 469 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: Miles there in the back end. Yeah, he's an impressive 470 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:36,120 Speaker 1: kid and a lot of oppressive kids. We're actually joking. 471 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: It's like Notre Dame West here, South Bend in Southern Catoels. 472 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: So it needs a little help. The USC he's always 473 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: he might be all by himself. Yeah, he's he's gonna 474 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 1: get ganked up on his defense. But you bring it 475 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: a guy like Drew Tranquil and then even Meca egg 476 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: Ballet from from Houston linebacker obviously was decimated by injury. 477 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: You bring into young guys, you get Denzel peremanback, Gitcha 478 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 1: Tavis Brown back, and then also Thomas Davis comes to 479 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 1: the mix. So what was zer White? Kaisier White who 480 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 1: was a starter for the first three games of the year, 481 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 1: So what was a perceived weakness at the end of 482 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: the year becomes almost a strength in many ways. Yeah, 483 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 1: and I had a chance to talk with Tom to 484 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 1: let's go on on the Movie six podcast, and I 485 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: know which I highly recommend. I listened to it on 486 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:16,439 Speaker 1: the way in here. I knew you were coming in 487 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 1: and I hadn't had just listened to it was great. No, 488 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: he was great, and I thought he did a beautiful 489 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 1: job of explaining, you know, kind of the connection. If 490 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 1: you're looking for a theme or what the Chargers look 491 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: for to position, you can find the connection between college 492 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 1: safety's turned NFL linebackers. And you know, Drew Drew Twinkle 493 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 1: actually made that transition at Notre Dame, but began as 494 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 1: a safety, dropped down to a linebacker. Thomas Davis was 495 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: a college safety, moved to linebacker. Kaisier White college safety, 496 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,159 Speaker 1: moved to linebacker. So you've got to be able to 497 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:48,160 Speaker 1: run to play in this defense at that position. And 498 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 1: I think when you look at this group now they can. 499 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 1: You know, hopefully the injuries bugged and hit him like 500 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 1: it did last year, but now you've really built up 501 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:56,440 Speaker 1: some roster depth to the point where you wouldn't have 502 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 1: to enter a playoff game with all dbs and no 503 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: linebackers out there on the field. YEA, Gus did a 504 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: heck of a job that Baltimore game, but at some 505 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 1: point he was gonna catch up to you, right U. 506 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 1: Kaizier is just another example of guys that you know, 507 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:09,679 Speaker 1: we look at free agency and you can say, hey, 508 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 1: the Chargers weren't too active in free agency, bringing in 509 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 1: just Davis and Tyrod Taylor, which I think is a 510 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 1: is a great addition behind Philip, But you forget about 511 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: some of the guys who were still on this roster 512 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: who can make an impact. Kaiser White certainly one of them. 513 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 1: Hunter Henry another, you know, to get to have Hunter 514 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: come into the mix, a healthy Travis Benjamin kind of 515 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,640 Speaker 1: offsets the loss of Tyrol Williams. Tyrell was a well, 516 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: a great player, a deep threat, deserve the money he 517 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: got from from Oakland, but um to get hunterback adds 518 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: another dimension to the ol. Well, I'm gonna I'm gonna 519 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 1: flip it. I'm gonna ask you a question now, because 520 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:45,959 Speaker 1: you've been watching this team. I'm curious to see how 521 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,680 Speaker 1: our Tavis has looked because that's a name that people 522 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:51,640 Speaker 1: completely forgot about. Who is having a fantastic camp last year, 523 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:54,920 Speaker 1: Tavis Scott Clemson and then for him to get injured 524 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:56,399 Speaker 1: missed the season. Now it looks like he's back on 525 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: the field house. He look yeah, well we'll coach complimented 526 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: him during OTA's just to have him back, especially after 527 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 1: those three guys, right we talked about Mike Williams, talked 528 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:10,920 Speaker 1: about Keenan Allen obviously, Travis Benjamin, Jeremy Davis, Dylan Cantrell, 529 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:13,880 Speaker 1: m R. Tavis Scott is certainly in that mix, and 530 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,880 Speaker 1: I know he feels like he's back to what he 531 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:19,159 Speaker 1: was in training camp last year because I feel like 532 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:21,879 Speaker 1: it was almost every other day we talked he was 533 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:25,959 Speaker 1: he was making plays. So Artavis was proven at OTAs 534 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 1: and we'll see if he continues it here during Mini camp. 535 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:31,640 Speaker 1: But I think there's a lot of opportunities to be had. 536 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 1: You know, I throw Jeremy Davis into the mix too, 537 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:37,120 Speaker 1: because he said talk to him last week. He said 538 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:40,119 Speaker 1: with Tyrell gone like I was always ready, but now 539 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:43,639 Speaker 1: I know that the reality is there. There was an 540 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:45,880 Speaker 1: urgency and there are opportunities to be had, So even 541 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: when you lose some guys, Um, I think this wider 542 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:50,959 Speaker 1: resuming course still gonna be okay. Yeah, I agree with you. 543 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,680 Speaker 1: And I think also you look at the the ability 544 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:55,920 Speaker 1: for them to run out there with two tight ends, 545 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 1: there's gonna be something we're gonna see a lot of 546 00:24:57,800 --> 00:24:59,640 Speaker 1: because there's some good depth there and one hunter back 547 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: and and virtual Virtual has got some juice in the 548 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: red zone. Yeah, you know, and he's gonna he's got 549 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: he's reliable. If nothing else, he's very reliable, and you 550 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 1: get some physicality with him in the run games. So 551 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: they're gonna be able to go and do a lot 552 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:14,880 Speaker 1: of different things personnel grouping wise, to uh to find 553 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:17,880 Speaker 1: the advantage they need that particular week. You talked about 554 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 1: this with Tom DJ just there's a lot of starts 555 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:21,959 Speaker 1: on his team. There's no two ways around. You got 556 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: you got Gordon, you got fill Up, you got keenan Um. 557 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:28,240 Speaker 1: Even these guys who didn't make the Pro Bowl, there's 558 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: some guys that are on the precipice of becoming very 559 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:33,640 Speaker 1: good players early in their career. And I look at 560 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 1: Mike Williams, just looking at him yesterday. Man, he's a 561 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:38,680 Speaker 1: freak he freak, he's he's a big dude. Eleven total 562 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:42,200 Speaker 1: touchdowns last year. I really think that we talk about 563 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:44,360 Speaker 1: the lead from year one to year two, I think 564 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 1: from Mike the lead to year two to year three. 565 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: I mean, he could really solidify himself as an elite 566 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: wide receiver. Well, no doubt. And you look at you know, 567 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: the injury situation is first year, so last year really 568 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: more of a rookie season. It's like a Red Shart, 569 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,080 Speaker 1: no doubt. So I think you are going to see that. 570 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: Just from a comfort standpoint, getting on the same page. 571 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:05,320 Speaker 1: I let him and Philip really connected, you know, I'll 572 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:07,719 Speaker 1: be honestly, I'm anxious to see what Wiz does with 573 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:09,880 Speaker 1: him even carrying the ball a little bit. This year. 574 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,240 Speaker 1: We saw him sprinkles out and we see it. You 575 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: watched the Kansas City Chiefs play. You see that speed 576 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:17,199 Speaker 1: shovel with with Tyreek Hill, and we've seen it with 577 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:20,080 Speaker 1: Tavon Austin. You see it with Robert Woods. The Rams 578 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 1: do a bunch of that stuff. But normally we see 579 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:24,920 Speaker 1: the receivers carrying the ball. It's it's usually a smaller 580 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 1: receiver quicker um and just get the ball in their hands, 581 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,199 Speaker 1: make people miss. It's an interesting element when you do 582 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 1: that with a guy like Mike who's so big and 583 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:34,399 Speaker 1: strong and powerful, and if you can get him to 584 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:36,679 Speaker 1: the perimeter with the ball in his hands, that's a 585 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:38,520 Speaker 1: load to bring down. So I mean, there's a lot 586 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:40,359 Speaker 1: of different things they can explore with him with his 587 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:42,359 Speaker 1: skill set. It's gonna be fun to watch. He proved 588 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:44,640 Speaker 1: it last year. And you know, Coach Lynn in talking 589 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:47,119 Speaker 1: about Travis Benjman, he was hurt from a majority of 590 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: the year and Coach Lynn said, hey, we didn't really 591 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:51,920 Speaker 1: need him last year because of the depth. We had 592 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,240 Speaker 1: a whiter Cyrell could get vertical, so he was able 593 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:56,040 Speaker 1: to pick up some of that slot. That speed was 594 00:26:56,040 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 1: on display yesterday. I saw Travis Benjman just burning down 595 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:01,080 Speaker 1: the field. If you have him at a one hundred 596 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:03,480 Speaker 1: percent that just stretches the field. And he's the type 597 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: of player to DJ he's he's selfless. He's like, if 598 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:09,879 Speaker 1: i can get down the field and open up opportunities 599 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 1: for Hunter and Mike Williams and Keenan, then I'm doing 600 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 1: my job, no doubt. And you got to have somebody 601 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 1: to fill that role. If you find an offense that 602 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 1: doesn't have a field stretcher. I equate it to basically, 603 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 1: you're playing a half court basketball. You know, you want 604 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:24,719 Speaker 1: to be able to get some spacing and create some 605 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:27,479 Speaker 1: room and uh, and that's something that Travis has been 606 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 1: able to do whenever he's been healthy. He can definitely 607 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:31,119 Speaker 1: do that, and not just on vertical routes. You can 608 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,680 Speaker 1: get him on those deep over routes. Philip likes to 609 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,680 Speaker 1: throw that ball as well, So it puts a stress 610 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: in a strain on the defense. And also not only 611 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 1: an impact of tight ends and Keenan and Mike is 612 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:44,120 Speaker 1: gonna help your running game just be able to scare 613 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 1: a safety out of there. You have unique perspective with 614 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:50,640 Speaker 1: the AFC was especially coming off the draft and how 615 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 1: these teams improved. We know wins and losses don't carry 616 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 1: over twelve and before. It is not going to carry 617 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 1: over to twenty nineteen. If you of the Chargers, how 618 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:00,920 Speaker 1: would you assess what the Broncos, the Raiders, the Chiefs 619 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 1: did in the division, especially in the draft some of 620 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:06,200 Speaker 1: these some of these young guys. Yeah, it's gonna be 621 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:07,919 Speaker 1: interesting to see how this all shapes up. I mean, 622 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:09,919 Speaker 1: I think you can you know, just with the amount 623 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,360 Speaker 1: of draft capital they had, you could say Oakland made 624 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 1: the biggest move in the off season. Now they had 625 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 1: a long way to travel. Um. Not a good football 626 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:19,119 Speaker 1: team last year, but they've got more dynamic. Um, not 627 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 1: only in free agency and in the veteran um acquisition 628 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 1: mode when you get an Antonio Brown, but get a 629 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 1: Josh Jacobs there at running back. Um, they've done some 630 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 1: things kind of spice up that offense, get Derek car going, 631 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:32,960 Speaker 1: and then um, you look around the division Kansas City. 632 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:35,680 Speaker 1: You know, obviously they made the trade for Frank Clark. 633 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 1: I think it's an upgrade over dfour Dfourd's good player. 634 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 1: Frank Clark. Um. To me, he's one of the top 635 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: four or five guys in the league getting after the quarterback. 636 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 1: And he's still young. So I think that impact will 637 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: be felt. Um, and we'll see, you know, I thought 638 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 1: they were more of a veteran team. The sounds of 639 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 1: und natural, sounds like, actually, this may show well for 640 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 1: the button. I like that. I like that this podcast 641 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 1: brought to you by no. I I can't see the 642 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 1: name of the label um No. But and then you 643 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 1: look at at Denver again. I mean you can look 644 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: at what they did in the draft and getting a 645 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,720 Speaker 1: very athletic tight end at Iowa. No a fan, but 646 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 1: that team's gonna sink or swim based off of of 647 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: what happens with Joe Flacco. And I don't anticipate we'll 648 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 1: see Drew lock early in the season, but if things 649 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 1: don't go well, um, you know, we get to the 650 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: midpoint of the season, and that will determine They'll have 651 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:26,400 Speaker 1: to determine which way they're headed and whether or not 652 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 1: we're going to see the young quarterback DJ. This may 653 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 1: be our queue to maybe maybe should have done. What 654 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 1: was the last time you were here, though, I'm trying 655 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: to remember. Was it like February? Was it last time 656 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 1: I was here? Was the week of the Patriots game. Wow, 657 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 1: it's gonna be gonna be back. It does, it's and 658 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:43,239 Speaker 1: the field looks great. Everybody's smiling, unhappy, and and like 659 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,120 Speaker 1: we say around the league right now, everybodys undefeated. Everybody's undefeated. 660 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 1: I'm sure you miss throwing pillows on my my airplane seats. 661 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 1: That's coming, by the way, that's an annual leg that's 662 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 1: not a one time thing. Thanks buddy to see bun all. 663 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 1: That's gonna do it, but thanks to Daniel Jeremiah and 664 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 1: Tom to Let's Go for joining me, and of course 665 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: thanks you all for listening. If you like what you 666 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 1: hear this offseason, we'd love it if you left us 667 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:06,920 Speaker 1: a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Please help spread 668 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:09,640 Speaker 1: the word. Have a great weekend, and until next time, 669 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:10,840 Speaker 1: I'm Chris Harry