Chargers Training Camp Notes (1 Viewer)

[tommyGunZ]

From today's San Diego Union Tribune:

Big, fast wide receiver has dazzling potential

By Kevin Acee

UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

August 2, 2006

Second-year pro Vincent Jackson hopes to emerge into a bigger role this season and exploit his size advantage over most opposing defensive backs.

They have all let the kid know to just keep putting in the work.

They know what they see in Vincent Jackson and what he might be on the verge of becoming.

The tools and the size and the speed, it is all so exciting to them. In the vanilla world from which Marty Schottenheimer's assessments come, this will have to suffice from the head coach: “He's a very gifted player.”

The quarterback, who has enough reliable targets already, looks downfield and sees something more.

“He's got the potential to be a top wide receiver in this league,” Philip Rivers said. “That potential is becoming reality.”

And the general manager, he sees something else, a finishing piece for that offensive puzzle, perhaps.

“He's a special player,” A.J. Smith said. “This might be a year, barring injury, that he can emerge. We need someone like him to come up and perform so we can move forward and be a championship team.”

Jackson has a vision, too. It is of the near future, where he leaps from his spot on the platform of potential.

“That's a good word and a bad word,” Jackson said, “That's an in-between word. I'm looking forward to showing it. You want to get over that 'Could-be.'

“I see limitless possibilities. I know I'm going to make plays this year. I'm a mismatch (for defensive backs). There are a lot of things I can do.”

Jackson is every bit of 6-feet-5 and 235 pounds, covers 40 yards in less than 4.5 seconds and is one underwhelming, injury-marred season into his NFL career.

So big and talented, even having done so little, Jackson is sometimes compared to Terrell Owens. Quiet, disarmingly humble, yet possessed with confidence, Jackson does not shy from the parallel. He believes he can be that kind of receiver, an uncommon combination of size and speed that makes him difficult to cover.

Jackson's self-assurance is not in the same stratosphere as Owens' self-promotion. But Jackson believes in what he can do and recalled this week his frustration over being little more than a blocking receiver last season.

“I'm just like, 'Give me a chance. Just put it in my area,' ” Jackson recalled. “I feel like I've got a pretty good range. I can go up. I can go down. I'm pretty agile. If you can get it in my general area, I'm going to try to make a play.”

He knows why it was that he made just three catches in 2005. Simply, he was not ready to be more a part of the offense.

First, an Achilles' tendon injury and then a calf kept him sidelined much of training camp and even into the season. When Jackson got healthy in October, it was too late for coaches to spend much time integrating a newcomer into the offense.

In the season's ninth game, he caught his first pass, a nice comebacker for an 18-yard gain against the Jets. His two other receptions – both Dec. 19 at Indianapolis, for 21 yards down to the 4-yard line and a 20-yarder in which he held on despite being blasted by the safety – were teases.

Over the offseason, Jackson further excited teammates and coaches and himself.

“I am so much better than at any time last year,” Jackson said. “My knowledge is totally different, even from the end of the season. This offseason has been the best experience. We started back up with workouts in March, and from there it's been nothing but positive. I've felt great. I've learned. The offense is almost like second nature for me now.”

Because that knowledge is beginning to come to fruition, Rivers eyes something else in his future downfield threat.

"I can see it developing,” Rivers said. “He's got that little swagger. It's starting to click in to where he's truly comfortable.”

There is another impression he has as well. “I think he's the kind of guy who likes to be the guy,” Rivers said. “That's what I sense. He has that kind of attitude. If he were to get going like his expectations are and ours, he can really be a factor.”

 

[dwashington]

notes from today's Charger practice from a Charger fan on another board:

Matt Wilhelm continued to impress. His pass defense skills feature a very smooth drop, as well as great range. They were doing a drill that had RBs running wheels and flats while a LB covered. Wilhelm tipped and almost picked a Rivers pass to LT. He also tipped a pass to Pinnock. While Wilhelm was doing the drill, not one pass was completed.Wilhelm is the future of this team, and it was readily apparent to all present today.Rivers and the line looked great today in the 11 on 11 two minute drill. The offense moved the ball all the way down the field, but were intercepted in the endzone on a pass to Jackson. Rivers underthrew the ball, and Gregory came in and picked it. However, had Rivers thrown the ball about 2 feet past where he was aiming, it would've been a great reception for 6. Earlier on the drive, Rivers threw the ball on a curl to VJ. Jammer went to tackle/swat the ball and Jackson just chucked him over his shoulder to the ground. It was sweet.Florence also had some good plays.In short, the LBs look great. Wilhelm should start over Edwards, Jackson is the No 1 receiver we've been missing, and Rivers looks great in the pocket.

What's the latest word on the left tackle position? Is Roman Oben going to come back?

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

What's the latest word on the left tackle position? Is Roman Oben going to come back?

Oben isn't ready to practice yet, but the team is hoping he'll be ready to play in the season opener. That may be a bit optimistic. We'll see.Jordan has been working with the first unit and McNeill with the second. I'd expect McNeill to move ahead of Jordan by the third preseason game.

 

[dwashington]

What's the latest word on the left tackle position? Is Roman Oben going to come back?

Oben isn't ready to practice yet, but the team is hoping he'll be ready to play in the season opener. That may be a bit optimistic. We'll see.Jordan has been working with the first unit and McNeill with the second. I'd expect McNeill to move ahead of Jordan by the third preseason game.

I haven't seen McNeil play yet, but as far as rookie left tackles go in the NFL, what's the standard 'ready' rate?The last rookie LT I can remember that came in and was successful right away were all 1st round picks (Ogden, Pace, Bob Whitfield).Is McNeil ready to handle NFL speed?

 

[T Man]

What's the latest word on the left tackle position? Is Roman Oben going to come back?

Oben isn't ready to practice yet, but the team is hoping he'll be ready to play in the season opener. That may be a bit optimistic. We'll see.Jordan has been working with the first unit and McNeill with the second. I'd expect McNeill to move ahead of Jordan by the third preseason game.

I haven't seen McNeil play yet, but as far as rookie left tackles go in the NFL, what's the standard 'ready' rate?The last rookie LT I can remember that came in and was successful right away were all 1st round picks (Ogden, Pace, Bob Whitfield).Is McNeil ready to handle NFL speed?

McNeil is a first round talent. He dropped due to questions regarding his spinal cord, I think. It has never caused him a problem. I am not an Auburn fan, but this guy was a good college LT. IMHO he can handle the speed.ETA: HE will make rookie mistakes though.

 

[dwashington]

McNeil is a first round talent. He dropped due to questions regarding his spinal cord, I think. It has never caused him a problem. I am not an Auburn fan, but this guy was a good college LT. IMHO he can handle the speed.

ETA: HE will make rookie mistakes though.

Thanks! I just found this article on him on the Chargers website. Looks like speed is not a problem with this guy!!http://www.chargers.com/news/headlines/new...;modulePageId=2

It took just one simple line in the thick Alabama accent of Chargers Assistant General Manager Buddy Nix to sum up Bolts second-round pick Marcus McNeill.

“He’s a big ole boy,” Nix said.

The Chargers added the 6-7 ½, 336 pound McNeill with the 50th selection in Saturday’s draft. While at Auburn, the Decatur, Georgia native started 40 games and produced a string of 43-consecutives contests without giving up a sack.

“He’s been an outstanding player in one of the better conferences in the country for four years,” Nix said. “We feel very fortunate that he was there for our second pick. He has 36-inch arms, so he should be able to keep them off our quarterback.”

That’s exactly what the Chargers hope he will do. Each of his 40 collegiate starts came on the left side where he protected the quarterback’s blind side. When asked which side he preferred to play in the NFL, McNeill responded, “Is the quarterback right handed? Well, there it is. I’m a left tackle.”

While some teams projected him as a right tackle, the Chargers agree that he will most likely be a better fit on the left side.

“My sense would be that we will probably have him at left tackle,” Schottenheimer said. “He brings size and pass protection skill. The SEC is a speed conference and he held his own against some talented pass rushers.”

In addition to his strength, athleticism and pedigree, the Chargers fell in love with McNeill’s character and pleasant personality.

“He’s a great, great kid,” Schottenheimer said. “I don’t know that we had anyone in here for visits that I enjoyed any more than him. He’s just a delightful young man to be around. He comes from a football background. His father was a coach. We were really impressed with this young man.”

His witty sense of humor was on display at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February. McNeill was asked if he preferred blocking for former Auburn running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams or Ronnie Brown.

“That’s like asking me if I’d rather eat a cheeseburger or the French fries,” McNeill said.

Despite recent concerns of a back problem that caused McNeill to fall out of the first round, the Chargers were pleased with the medical reports on their newest player.

“We are very conscious of a guy’s physical and medical reports on him,” Nix said. “Our doctors make the decisions. He was given a complete physical and MRI with our doctors twice.”

Nix said that McNeill’s work ethic has helped him stay in good physical shape.

“He’s a very conscientious kid about conditioning,” Nix said. “He does his sprints and conditioning workouts after practice with the linebackers. He doesn’t run with the linemen. The boy can run and he works hard at it.”

Said McNeill, “My back is fine. I plan on showing everybody that when I get into camp. I’ll be down there showing off my back.”

With Roman Oben recovering from a foot injury, McNeill will most likely take most of the reps at left tackle during the offseason programs. Regardless of whether he ends up as a starter, McNeill is excited about the opportunity to have a player like Oben to mentor him.

“Even if I don’t win a starting position, I’m going to be able to learn a lot of things from Roman,” McNeill said. “I’m coming in to compete for a starting job. I know Roman is a great left tackle. He’s going to compete just as well as I am. Hopefully that will make us both better. I’m ready to get out there and get going.”

 

[Chaos Commish]

What's the latest word on the left tackle position? Is Roman Oben going to come back?

Oben isn't ready to practice yet, but the team is hoping he'll be ready to play in the season opener. That may be a bit optimistic. We'll see.Jordan has been working with the first unit and McNeill with the second. I'd expect McNeill to move ahead of Jordan by the third preseason game.

I haven't seen McNeil play yet, but as far as rookie left tackles go in the NFL, what's the standard 'ready' rate?The last rookie LT I can remember that came in and was successful right away were all 1st round picks (Ogden, Pace, Bob Whitfield).Is McNeil ready to handle NFL speed?

McNeil is a first round talent. He dropped due to questions regarding his spinal cord, I think. It has never caused him a problem. I am not an Auburn fan, but this guy was a good college LT. IMHO he can handle the speed.ETA: HE will make rookie mistakes though.

2nd rounder Khalif Barnes step into the LT spot for Jax last year and turned out to be the best they had. He wasn't great, but he probably will be soon. Jammal Brown played RT in college and started at RT last year for the Saints. He's a stud. It was obvious he was LT material as a rookie and that's where he'll play this year. Brown played RT becuase McNeil played LT. McNeil is freakishly fast for a man his size. He has some technique issue, but if he's "just as good" as Brown, the Chargers have a franchise LT who will probably be okay/fine as a rookie.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I haven't seen McNeil play yet, but as far as rookie left tackles go in the NFL, what's the standard 'ready' rate?

It usually takes some time.

The last rookie LT I can remember that came in and was successful right away were all 1st round picks (Ogden, Pace, Bob Whitfield).

McNeill definitely carried a first-round grade based on his play. He paved the way for Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams, and didn't allow a sack in his last 43 games. The only reason he fell into the second round were due to medical concerns about his back. (He has a narrowing of the lower spine.) But his back doesn't appear to be a problem for him.

Is McNeil ready to handle NFL speed?

He apparently hasn't had a problem with speed so far. Here's a nice blurb from the local paper yesterday: "Much more exciting than the overhyped Oklahoma drill is when the offensive linemen go one-on-one with the defensive ends and outside linebackers. The Chargers ran that drill yesterday for the first time in camp. Best moment: Rookie left tackle Marcus McNeill stopping linebacker Steve Foley – on both turns, including when Foley tried spinning away. McNeill has repeatedly shown he is quick on his feet and knows how to use his very large body."On the other hand, I've heard that his weight room strength isn't great, so he could probably use a year or two in an NFL strength & conditioning program before he reaches his potential.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

McNeil is freakishly fast for a man his size.

Not that 40 times really matter for offensive tackles, but FWIW, I believe McNeill ran either the fastest or second-fastest time at the combine for OTs, even though he was also among the largest.

 

[littletank]

Is Sproles lining up at WR any in practice?

There was an article recently that I read that stated that the Chargers were going to try to get Sproles the ball more often this coming year with him possibly lining up at WR.

 

[Chaos Commish]

On the other hand, I've heard that his weight room strength isn't great, so he could probably use a year or two in an NFL strength & conditioning program before he reaches his potential.

I read somewhere the the back condition prohibited him from lifting weights. I'm pretty sure it was accurate. Winston, a couple other TE conversions, and Colledge, ran faster 40s, iirc. McNeill was right with them and outweighed them all by 25 pounds or so. Justice and D'Brick didn't run. McNeill outran many smaller men and nobody near his weight was close to his time.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Is Sproles lining up at WR any in practice?There was an article recently that I read that stated that the Chargers were going to try to get Sproles the ball more often this coming year with him possibly lining up at WR.

I have not seen or heard of him lining up wide in training camp so far. He did take some reps there in the June mini-camp. (LT has lined up wide in training camp, however, so it's in the playbook.)

 

[BoltBacker]

Is Sproles lining up at WR any in practice?There was an article recently that I read that stated that the Chargers were going to try to get Sproles the ball more often this coming year with him possibly lining up at WR.

I have not seen or heard of him lining up wide in training camp so far. He did take some reps there in the June mini-camp. (LT has lined up wide in training camp, however, so it's in the playbook.)

I thought there was talk of getting Sproles the ball "in space"(one of my least favorite summer coach-isms). How else do they plan to do it? All on passes out of the backfield? How has he been used in TC other than on special teams?