1 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: Everybody. Chris Harry with you on Chargers Weekly. We took 2 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 1: this show on the road this week to Mobile, Alabama 3 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: for the Senior Bowl, a special occasion, so we'll have 4 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: more than just one podcast this week. But we'll kick 5 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: things off with general manager Tom Tolesco as he and 6 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: his staff get to work during a busy week in Mobile. 7 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: All Right, the general manager of the LA Chargers, Tom Tolesco, 8 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: joins me on Chargers Weekly here at the Senior Bowl, 9 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: and Tom, I have to ask you, how many of 10 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: these have you been to? Over twenty over twenty nineteen 11 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: ninety five was my first one, So do the math 12 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: from there. Wow, how much has it changed over the years. 13 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: A lot of this, A lot of people here, more 14 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: people than ever used to be between media and agents, 15 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 1: and you know, it's almost almost got a coaching convention 16 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: at this point. It is. Yeah, a lot of college 17 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: coaches will come down and talk with NFL people. Unfortunately, 18 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: a lot of coaches out of work will come down, um, 19 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: you know, looking to network a little bit. But now 20 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: the game has gotten bigger and bigger. Phil Savage has 21 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: done a great job with this game has gotten better 22 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: every year. It's a great job with the rostery puts together, 23 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 1: setting everything up here in Mobile and uh, now this 24 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 1: is a special place. We love coming back here. I mean, 25 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: like I said, over twenty years, I come in to 26 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: watch football Mobile. We have a lot of the same 27 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: restaurants we go to when we come back here, and 28 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: it's they treat us really well here. I want to 29 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: take fans inside your schedule right now. It's it's obviously 30 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: a lot different than it was last year when you 31 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 1: talk about relocation and getting a new head coach. What's 32 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: the biggest difference from last January to this January time? 33 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: That's the thing. Yeah, more time in the month of January. 34 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: Last year at this time obviously with the head coach 35 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: search that was going on, hiring Anthony and then putting 36 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: a staff together that took a lot of hours. And 37 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: then the relocation obviously took a lot of time and effort. Two. 38 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: So this month of January it's been great for us. 39 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: It's for us self scouting ourselves, sure, and not only 40 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: the team, but just everything that touches football operations. We 41 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: got a lot of that done in January, which is 42 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 1: which has been great, and that's how you're developing it 43 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 1: better over the offseason, So we spent a lot of 44 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 1: January doing that, and then February a lot of planning 45 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: as far as what we'll do in free agency. We 46 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: start our draft meetings in February, so that's that's a big, 47 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: big month for us as far as evaluating college prospects 48 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: UFAs for free agency, and then move forward into March. Yeah, 49 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 1: and you look at this year's Senior Bowl from last year. 50 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: All you gotta do is look at the roster, right, 51 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: Dan Feeney, Forrest Lamp, Desmond King, Raycheon Jenkas. They were 52 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: all here last year, and I think it shows how 53 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: much stock the Chargers put into a week like this. 54 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: Well we put it well two day one, we put 55 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: a lot of stock into it. Obviously, Number two, when 56 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 1: we draft players don't necessarily even know at the time 57 00:02:57,840 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: if they were at the Senior Bowls, not like we 58 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: try it. We're not like we pinpoint what he was 59 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: a Senior Bowl, make sure we take him. But no, 60 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: this is a great This is really our last chance 61 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: to see players in a football setting with the helmet 62 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: and shoulder pads actually playing football, And this is really 63 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:15,119 Speaker 1: the tail end of our scouting of players football wise. 64 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: And then but it's the beginning of getting to scout 65 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: the players of know them as people as far. This 66 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: is really a first chance here to talk to them 67 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: for an extended amount of time. We'll get a chance 68 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: to talk to them again at the Combine, talk to 69 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: them again at their pro days in the springtime. So 70 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,519 Speaker 1: but this is the big difference between this and the 71 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: combine is the fact that they're really playing football and 72 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: that's the best way to evaluate them. And they're going 73 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: against other NFL, other NFL prospects. We know in a 74 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: one on one between a corner and receiver, they're both 75 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: going to be NFL players, maybe some draft to the 76 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: higher or maybe some draft to lower, maybe some undrafted, 77 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: but they're gonna play in the leagues at some point. 78 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: So we know they're really good matchups, good competition. They're 79 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: getting NFL coaching for the week, so it's a great 80 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: opportunity for us. It kind of simulates a game week, 81 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: right because like you said, you have the Broncos in 82 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: the Texas are coaching each respective team. Yeah, three practices 83 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: during the week. I'm sure you have a walk through. 84 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: It's almost kind of simulates a game week. It is. 85 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: They come into Monday and install a game plan water 86 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: down obviously for an All Star game, but they install 87 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: a game plan, so the players have to try and 88 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 1: figure that out, work through it, get on the practice 89 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: field and not a practice field that they're they're competing 90 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 1: and showing what they can do as a player, but 91 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: they're also have to learn the offense or a defense 92 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: are going to run on Saturday. So like going on, 93 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: there is a lot going on, and that's part of 94 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: our evaluation processes how they process all that information. And 95 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: it goes beyond the field too. I mean, you guys 96 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: are able to meet with these players off the field, 97 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 1: and when you talk about it, it's in the name 98 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: Senior Bowl. These are seniors. These guys have played for 99 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: four years, are private leaders on their team. What are 100 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: you digging into in a week like this that may 101 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: be different from the combine knowing that these are guys 102 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: that have a lot of experience with their respective programs. Well, 103 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: the big thing off the field here is this is 104 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 1: our first time we can actually talk to the players 105 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: for an extent amount of time. Sure, so we get 106 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: about four hours each night where our scouts will will 107 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:03,359 Speaker 1: interview basically every player here and get a feel for 108 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 1: them as people, which is part of the process. They're 109 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: more than just football players, so we have to try 110 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: and figure them out what makes them tick, what their 111 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: makeups like, what their intangibles are like. And we can 112 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 1: get that done here. We can do it again at 113 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: the combine as well. We like the setting a little 114 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: bit here better. You know, the Combine is a little hectic, 115 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: and combine is uh. You know, you basically get fifteen 116 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 1: minutes and a horn blows and a players walking on 117 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: your room speed dating. It is speed dating. So here 118 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 1: it's a little easier to get that work done. We 119 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: can talk to players after practice on the field, but 120 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 1: this is this is a big part of the process, 121 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:37,799 Speaker 1: you know, determining whether or not a player is worth drafting. 122 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: It's easy to do in the probably the first couple 123 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: of rounds. These later rounds, you guys have had a 124 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: ton of success getting underrafter free agent. We talk about 125 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: Trevor Williams fifteen starts this year, of Darius Philon sixth round, 126 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 1: or playing meaningful snaps Austin Eckler, these diamonds in the 127 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: rough that may not be at the Senior Bowl. What's 128 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: your process for evaluating these late round gyms because it's 129 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: harder to see what a guy can do in those 130 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: later rounds, and you guys have been able to knock 131 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: it out of the park with a lot of these guys, 132 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 1: Our scouts do a really really good job of you know, 133 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: the draft is more than just a first and second round. 134 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,799 Speaker 1: I mean we have to find players in every round. 135 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: Teams with really strong rosters, find core players in a third, fourth, 136 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 1: and fifth round, and then find some players lat and 137 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 1: rounds and can come in and play a role in 138 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 1: college for regents as well. And we put as much 139 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: work into the guys that we draft in six and 140 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 1: seventh round and college for regions as far as the 141 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 1: amount of time and effort and resources that we do 142 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: in the first and second round. And we put a 143 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: lot of effort into that because we have to hit 144 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:38,040 Speaker 1: on those. You just can't rely on your first and 145 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: second rounders. It's in exact science. You're not gonna hit 146 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 1: on every draft pick. We try to, We want to, 147 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: but we know it's not going to work like that. 148 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: But our scouts do a really great job of trying 149 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:50,919 Speaker 1: to find some players that have you know, one or 150 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: two traits that we think can make the football team. 151 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: They're not going to have all of them, because if 152 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: they did, they'd be a first second round draft pick. 153 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: But to find some players that fit what we do, 154 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 1: fit our scheme, fit our intangibles and make up and 155 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 1: have one or two traits that really stand out that 156 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: haities are NFL quality traits. Yeah, there maybe a couple 157 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: other things that are a little bit below the line, 158 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: but these one or two things can compensate for that 159 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: and give him a chance to make our football team 160 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: and help us win. And uh, you know, you try 161 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: it and try and try to find those players. Sometimes 162 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: it works out, sometimes it doesn't. But a player like 163 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: Austin Ekeler this year past year to come in and 164 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: play for us meaningful snaps and as a rookie and 165 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: really makes an impact place for us. It's great to see. 166 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: And it's a testament to you guys, because again Forrest 167 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: Lamp unfortunate injury and training camp wasn't able to contribute 168 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: this year. Mike Williams injury and mini camp wasn't able 169 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: to contribute as much as he will probably contribute year two. 170 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: And you found guys that you know, in week one 171 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: you're probably not envisioning them having a meaningful role, and 172 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: sure enough they show up this this rookie class. Obviously 173 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: not for us. We didn't get anything out of this 174 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: year with the injury, but they all contributed, including Mike 175 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: even though Mike Camp you know, had the injury that 176 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 1: really set him back. But everyone contributed, including some college freegions, 177 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: which is big for your rookie year. You can come 178 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: in and contribute to winning the first year, that's the 179 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: great first step. Then get in the off season program 180 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: and you're you know, quote unquote sophomore year. Get a 181 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: full off season program and come in next year, maybe 182 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: try and you have a bigger role on the football team. 183 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: But the fact that guys like Ray Shawn Jenkins came 184 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 1: in and really contributed. Isaac Rochelle had a really nice 185 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: last couple of games for US, and he was on 186 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: our practice squad most of the year and really loved 187 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: what he did. He had the Senior Bowl last year. 188 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: He was at the Senior Bowl, so and absolutely Desmond 189 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: King was at the Senior Bowl last year, came in, 190 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: played a ton of snaps for US as a nickel 191 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: corner and was really productive for it. So those guys 192 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: came in, you know, earned some roles early, and the 193 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: next year we'll see how far they can take it. 194 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: One of the things that I talked to you about 195 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: in training camp. We were talking about Hunter Henry in 196 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: his lead from year one to year two, and you 197 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 1: were talking about how the game just slows down for 198 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: some of these guys. I had a chance to catch 199 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,559 Speaker 1: you with Dabo Sweeney yesterday and we talked about Mike 200 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 1: Williams and he said, listen, it's just a matter of 201 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: him having a full off season. And I think Philip 202 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 1: echoed that and that at your end of season press conference, 203 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: what are you expecting from Mike in year two, knowing 204 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: that he's going to have a full off season to 205 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: kind of get in the rhythm with Philip, and also 206 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:11,959 Speaker 1: you have great experience in that wide receiver's room that 207 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: I'm sure he can kind of take with him into 208 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: the off season. Yes, this will be a big year 209 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: from Mike because all the time he'll get you know 210 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: with our offense that he just missed last year, and 211 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: as a receiver, it's a difficult position to come in 212 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 1: early in play as a young player, and when you 213 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: miss as much time as he did, it really makes 214 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: it difficult, but you know he'll get as far as 215 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:34,320 Speaker 1: and like I said the year, I've said this before, 216 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: the lease of the Worries is the actual playbook, but 217 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,199 Speaker 1: it is taking that time to the field. So when 218 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: you leave the huddle. You know, when Philip makes a 219 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 1: call in the huddle and you're going to line a scrimmage, 220 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: you're looking at the coverage and then Philip may make 221 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: a check and then after the staff the ball that 222 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: covers may change. You have to make an adjustment. It's 223 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 1: a lot of real time adjustments you have to make. 224 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: It takes time to do that, and it takes a 225 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: lot of reps to do that. And that's not even 226 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: including just a timing with the quarterbacks and getting for 227 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 1: that and then getting feel for him. So this will 228 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 1: be a big time for him this offseason. We've got 229 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: a lot of work or get a lot of balls. Yeah, 230 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:08,599 Speaker 1: but we've got a really good receiver group, really do. 231 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 1: They all have a little bit different style of play 232 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 1: and that's the way we kind of want to, you know, 233 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,559 Speaker 1: build it that way. Getting back to this draft process, 234 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people will identify the Senior 235 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: Bowl and some of these All Star games is the 236 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: beginning of the draft process. But we know that's not 237 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 1: the case. You guys have been doing your work all 238 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: through this past season. You have tape, the tape, you 239 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: start with that. What piece of the pie? Would you 240 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: attribute weeks like this in the combine to the overall 241 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: evaluation because we know it starts with what you guys 242 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: see on film. Yeah, I mean, really, like I said before, 243 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: as a as a football player evaluation, this is the 244 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,839 Speaker 1: end of the of the evaluation process. But the Senior 245 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: Bowl will not take precedent over you know, three years 246 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: of college football or four years of college football. This 247 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: is a piece of the puzzle, part of the pie, 248 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 1: certainly not the biggest part, and then the Combine will 249 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: be probably even a little smaller than that since there's 250 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: really there's no football being played at the combine. That's 251 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 1: really you know, the biggest thing at the combine is 252 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: is the medical evaluations, which which is a big piece 253 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: of the pie. But as far as football wise, you know, 254 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: this is the end of the process and it's one 255 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: of the last chance to see these players play against 256 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 1: really good competition with a little bit different scheme on 257 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: offense and defense. But if a player comes here and 258 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 1: has it has, you know, really struggles and a Senior Bowl. 259 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean we take three and four years of 260 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:24,679 Speaker 1: maybe really solid play and throw it out the window. 261 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 1: This means we have a little bit more work to do. 262 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: But this is uh. These All Star games, this game, 263 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: the East West Game, the NFLPA game, which is which 264 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: is in Los Angeles. All Star games are great, great 265 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: places for us to go watch football players and evaluate 266 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 1: them against other really good players. Tom looking back to 267 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: this past season, Coach Lynn, he's bully a culture here 268 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles. After that owen four start, you win 269 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: nine of your last twelve, a lot of momentum going 270 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 1: into twenty eighteen. How would you assess the job that 271 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: he did with this team in twenty seventeen. Well, we 272 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:55,599 Speaker 1: couldn't have gotten We couldn't have won nine out of 273 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 1: our last twelve without him and the way he handled 274 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 1: the beginning of the season. I think I said at 275 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: the end of the year, we came a long way 276 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,679 Speaker 1: in the last twelve months as a football team and 277 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: as an organization, and without Anthony's leadership it would have 278 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 1: been hard. I mean that the first four games, when 279 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 1: you lose start owing four and you're in a new market, 280 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: new city, new stadium. It could have gone one or 281 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: two ways. City, it could have gone one or two ways, 282 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: and coach never flinched. The players saw that they kept 283 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,079 Speaker 1: working at it um. I thought everybody handled everything really 284 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 1: well and that started to show. We got some results 285 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,960 Speaker 1: at the end of the season. But we're starting to 286 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: see that culture build, not only on the field but 287 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: inside the building. And uh, you know, it's exciting time, 288 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: it really is. And the hard part now is, you know, 289 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: we say we want to build on last year, which 290 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 1: we will, but there's really no momentum or carry over 291 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: from last year to next year. You really have to 292 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: start over. Everybody. Now, once the Super Bowl happens next week, 293 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,839 Speaker 1: we all start over. We all start from scratch. You know. 294 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 1: It can't say, hey, look we played really well at 295 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: the end of the year last year, We'll just you know, 296 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: just take that move it over. And it doesn't work 297 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: like that. So we got to start over. And a 298 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: great thing about Anthony is that will be his mindset. 299 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: You know that that's not hard for him to try 300 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: and get into that attitude. So it's gonna be a 301 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: long off season for us. Is to keep working to 302 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:12,199 Speaker 1: get back, you know, to where we want to be, 303 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: which is in the playoffs and win a championship. And 304 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: I think the positives that you can carry over though, 305 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: Tom is just the continuity. You know, Gus Bradley's coming back, 306 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: Ken wizon Hunt's coming back, and you didn't have that 307 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 1: last year. And you look at the rest of the division. 308 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,199 Speaker 1: You know, there's a lot of new coaches in Denver. There, 309 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: there's gonna be a new offensive coordinator in Kansas City. 310 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,959 Speaker 1: There's a rebranding in Oakland right now. Meanwhile, you guys 311 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: are staying the course with the same coordinators and a 312 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: lot of the same players coming back. That has to 313 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 1: be a positive, even though momentum doesn't carry over from 314 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 1: seventeen eighteen. Yeah, So all those deposits we made last 315 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: year as far as learning the defensive scheme, certainly with 316 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: Gus with a new coordinator, that took time, and we 317 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 1: knew that would take some time through the course of 318 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: this season. And even offensively, even though Ken wizen Hunt 319 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: did come back to us from this past year, you know, 320 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: when Anthony came into he's an offensive head coach and 321 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 1: offensive background. So there are some things we made, some 322 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: changes on offense, and we saw that took some time 323 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: through the course of the season. It's hard when you 324 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: change coaches and change some philosophies for things just to 325 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: click right away, so it took some time. We got 326 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 1: there by the end of the year. But now with 327 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: a full off season. The big thing with players is 328 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 1: to get him to play fast and play confident. And 329 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: you don't play fast and confident unless you know what 330 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: you're doing. And the more you do, the more repetitions, 331 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: the more you know what what's going on, you'll play fast. 332 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: And especially on defense, which we saw this year. You know, 333 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: a lot of new terminology, some new run fits and 334 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: new coverages, but it slowly, slowly came along and defense 335 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 1: played really well. We'll see more of that next year. 336 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: Speaking of that defense, you got a lot of Pro 337 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: bowlers in Orlando this weekend on offense and defense. But 338 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: Joey boson Melvin Ingram specifically, I think fans will look 339 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 1: at the twenty three combined sacks, but these guys played 340 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: eight hundred and fifty plus snaps each this year, and 341 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: it goes well beyond just those twenty three sacks. What 342 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: did you see this year from those guys that made 343 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: them so successful in twenty eighteen, going beyond just getting 344 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: you to the quarterback, because I think there was a 345 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: lot of things, you know, whether it stopping the run, 346 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 1: double teams, there's a lot of things that those guys do. 347 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: They don't show up on the stat sheet. Yeah, they're 348 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: they're they're two you know, complete football players and there 349 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 1: and they're selfless too. So a lot of times, UM 350 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: players that are UM rushing the passer. It's a very 351 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: selfish position to as many sacks as you can, and 352 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: that's not how you win football games. So, um, those 353 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: two guys have shown that that you have to play 354 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: the run as well as the pass. And uh, I 355 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: know there was a point late in the year where 356 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 1: there's a couple of games where Joey Mabeland had one 357 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: sack and over a couple of games and a couple 358 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: of people wondered, you know, you know, you know, where's 359 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: the production where's this? I'm like, have you watched him 360 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 1: in the run game? First of all? Yeah, I mean 361 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: I thought you did a heck of a job in 362 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: the run game. If you run away from him, he 363 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: can chase it down. He run at him, he can 364 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 1: he can shut blocks. Melbourne did very well playing the run. Um, 365 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: you gotta be able to do both in this league. 366 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: And like I said, both guys are selfless players. Um, 367 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: but I'm third down when we need the past rush 368 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: and we had the coverage behind him that to marry 369 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: that up was helped, really helped as well. Um. But 370 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: those guys, they played hard. They're great teammates. I think 371 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: they're there are other teammates reality around them. Um. I'm 372 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 1: not a I'm not a huge fan of the new 373 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: celebration rules. It seems a little loose to me. Yeah, yeah, 374 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: but I love the fact that they all celebrate together. Yeah, 375 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: and that that that's the best part of that. When 376 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: a guy makes a play, he doesn't step away individually 377 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: and point to himself. They all get together. They all 378 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: celebrate together, even guys running off the sideline, which is 379 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: can't you totally can't even do that. But everybody want 380 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 1: to be a part of it. Um, everybody's celebrated and 381 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 1: and and everybody else's success. So um, that's that's about 382 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: building a team right there. Yeah, when you like each other, right, yes, Yeah, 383 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 1: it's so important. Philip, he had one of his best 384 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: seasons thirty six years old. Really no signs of slowing down. 385 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: But you talked about it at the end of end 386 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: of the season. At some point you want to get 387 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 1: a young arm in there. What's your process and timetable 388 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 1: for that. I imagine when you have a board, you 389 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: have the player come to you. What's that process like 390 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: for you over this offseason. It's really no change for 391 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: us in the process. And when I say we don't 392 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 1: have a timetable, that basically it doesn't mean that we're 393 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: not thinking about it. We're always thinking about it. It's 394 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 1: just a matter of having the right player line up 395 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: to us at the right time. But it's something we've 396 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 1: been looking at for a number of years. And whenever 397 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: we do take take a quarterback, if he has to 398 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:26,639 Speaker 1: sit for a number of years behind Philip, then he sits. 399 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: But we do have to have somebody at some point. 400 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: We know Philip is not going to play forever. He's 401 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 1: doing a great job right now. We love always playing. 402 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: He's our a leader. He has a lot of good 403 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 1: football left. But we do have to continue looking for 404 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 1: the future. And that's uh and we've been doing that 405 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 1: for years here and at some point I'll line up 406 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 1: and we'll have somebody else in here, a younger arms 407 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: he'll hopefully learn from Philip and uh really hopefully to 408 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 1: sit and watch Philip play for a number of years more. 409 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: We'll get you out of here on this. There's different 410 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 1: avenues every offseason to improve the roster, your free agency, 411 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: the draft, the under at the free agents. A big 412 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:02,200 Speaker 1: core team is going to be back in twenty eighteen. 413 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: But is there a position group or position groups that 414 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 1: you want to add to this year, you know, in 415 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: terms of priorities and really just bolstering this team to 416 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 1: make it that much more dangerous in twenty eighteen. Yeah, 417 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 1: those are the talks that we have really this month 418 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:19,959 Speaker 1: in February, trying to plan forward. As far as how 419 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 1: we build a roster, we don't We'll have needs like 420 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: everybody else. We won't rank the kneeds of the number 421 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 1: one need through the tenth need. We just know if 422 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 1: you have a need, you have a need, you have 423 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: to get a fixed or get a filled somewhere. And 424 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,199 Speaker 1: it could be from anywhere, and it may not be 425 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: right away. It may not be the first day of 426 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: free agency. It could be late in free agency, it 427 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 1: could be in the draft, could be late in the draft. 428 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 1: It could be a trade, it could be when a 429 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:45,479 Speaker 1: player gets released over the summertime and you bring them in. 430 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: So but we do want to We're trying to keep 431 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 1: adding depth to this football team. I think we have 432 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: a we have a pretty good mix of some core 433 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 1: veterans but some young players behind them. I think the 434 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 1: roster is stronger now than it was a couple of 435 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 1: years ago, which is a good sign. Still not where 436 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 1: it needs to be yet, but you're just trying to 437 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: keep adding good players and trying not to reach for 438 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 1: certain positions where you pass over a good football player. 439 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 1: But those are the planning things we'll talk about this offseason. 440 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: We all have our thoughts for in season of what 441 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: we need, but for a lot of us, you got 442 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: to take a step back and take a step away 443 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:19,880 Speaker 1: and go back and look over the tape again, because 444 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: when you do it during the season, there's a lot 445 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: of emotions that go on and sometimes you need to 446 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: like a fresh look. Yeah, and that's what we're doing 447 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: it from exactly. I have to Yeah, Tom, I know 448 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: you got to get to practice. I can't thank you 449 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 1: for your time this week and mobile and look forward 450 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 1: to a great offseason, great anytime. Thanks for having all right, 451 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 1: Thanks Tom, and then I'll do it by Thanks to Tom, 452 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 1: to LESCo, and thanks to you all for listening. Be 453 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: sure to subscribe to Chargers Weekly on Apple Podcasts and 454 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:46,679 Speaker 1: leave a review to help spread the words so we 455 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,200 Speaker 1: can get this to as many Chargers fans as possible. 456 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 1: We're not done yet. Keep it locked the Chargers Weekly 457 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,640 Speaker 1: for instancing your Bowl reaction. A lot of great guests 458 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 1: lined up for you of the next couple of days, 459 00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: and until next time, I'm Chris Hayry.