The Chargers are hoping quarterback Justin Herbert and the rest of his teammates and make it to the playoffs this year. Their first preseason game is Saturday August 10, against the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium at 4:05 p.m.
As new Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh likes to say, "Who's got it better than us?" The answer of course is, "No one!" The 2024 Los Angeles Chargers look like a new team. From their new state-of-the art practice facility in El Segundo known as "The Bolt" to the new coaching staff and the many new faces on the team, it seems like a new beginning for the 2024 Chargers.
On Wednesday, July 24, Harbaugh was asked what the first day of training camp felt like. "It feels like being born. It feels like coming out of the womb, you know. It's like you're in there and it's comfortable, it's safe, and now 'poof,' you're born. The lights are on, It's bright. You got chaos, people looking at you, people talking at you. It just feels good to have it happen."
Quarterback Justin Herbert, a first-round draft pick of the Chargers in 2020 from the University of Oregon, was happy to be back on the field with his teammates. He was also impressed with the new training facility.
"I have been very fortunate to be a part of two of the best facilities in the nation, Oregon and here," Herbert said. "This is incredible. It's really awesome. They have done such a great job of putting this together. Us players are so fortunate to have a front office that cares about our facility."
This Chargers team is being built to run, with first-round draft pick, rookie Joe Alt starting at right tackle and last year's starting right tackle, Trey Pipkins, moving to right guard, along with the free agent acquisition of center Bradley Bozeman.
Alt is 6-foot-8, 322 pounds, Pipkins 6-foot-6, 306 pounds, and Bozeman is 6-foot-5, 325 pounds. Running back Gus Edwards will start in the backfield. He is 6-foot-1 and 238 pounds. The Chargers are looking at being a physical, downhill running team. The addition of free agent tight end Will Dissly from Seattle, who is considered one of the top run and pass blocking tight ends in the NFL, will certainly help the running attack.
The Chargers won't be the same team they were last season, especially with the loss of wide receiver Mike Williams to free agency and the trade of wide receiver Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears. The Chargers also lost starting tight end Gerald Everett in free agency to the Bears.
On offense, the Chargers ran the ball on 40.5% of their offensive plays last season. The Baltimore Ravens led the NFL in that category, running the ball on 52.3% of their offensive plays. The San Francisco 49ers were 3rd in this category with a run percentage of 50.4%. The Ravens had the best record in the AFC and the 49ers the best record in the NFC. Expect the Chargers to run the football about 50% of the time in regular season games in 2024.
In the first week of the practice, the young wide receiver group looked good. Rookie second-round wide receiver Ladd McConkey, the 34th pick overall, has looked like a veteran wide receiver and has connected well with Herbert. McConkey is a good route runner with quick feet and good acceleration. The 2023 first round pick, wide receiver Quentin Johnston, has looked good as well in the first week of training camp. He looks stronger and faster and more comfortable heading into his second season.
A better defensive team and a better running attack should help the Chargers grind out enough victories to have a shot at the playoffs. The Chargers were 0-7 in games decided by three points or less in 2023, which tied for the all-time worst record in NFL history with the 1994 Houston Oilers. It is not hard to imagine that a good running attack could help get the Chargers at least an additional four victories, assuming the defense improves as well.
The Chargers were ranked 30th in pass defensive yardage allowed per game in 2023 and 28th overall in defensive yardage allowed. That should get better if the Chargers can keep their best defensive players healthy, starting with edge rusher Joey Bosa. With Bosa, Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Bud Dupree coming off the edge, the Chargers should have one of the best pass rushing units if they can keep them healthy.
The defense has not shown much in the first week of unpadded practice, but as Mack said after Saturday's practice regarding the new defensive scheme, "It's definitely going to be different. I'm looking forward to it, can't speak too much. Don't want to give anything away, but it's going to be unique."
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