Training Camp Coverage

I visited Chargers Training Camp a couple of times this summer, and let me just say that that place is like a Charger-geek’s paradise.  You can watch the coaches getting on their guys in position drills.  You can hear Norv yelling at the offense for not hustling during 11-on-11 drills.  You can see Carlos Polk getting his fellow LB’s riled up.  And you can feel bad for the guys you’ve never heard of because you know they don’t have a chance to make this roster. 

You tend to see a lot of 2nd and 3rd stringers getting playing time at camp.  I saw a lot of Volek and Whitehurst, and a lot of Hester and Sproles.  Speaking of Sproles, that guy gets the biggest cheers from the fans every time he gets the ball.  It’s great watching him disappear behind a mountain of linemen and reappear on the other side of them, usually scooting down the sideline for a good gain.

As has been reported by a number of media outlets, Chargers Camp this year was most notable for the players not participating.  Yesterday was the last camp open to the public, and Merriman, Williams, McNeill, Dielman, Gates, Cromartie, and Castillo were all seen standing on the sidelines in shorts and T-shirts.  It makes you wonder how much time a player can miss in the preseason before it affects his play in the regular season.  For a few of these players, we’re probably going to find out.

Don’t forget, tomorrow we face the St Louis Rams in the Chargers 2nd exhibition game.  It will be interesting to watch rookie Chris Long line up against the Bolts offensive line.  It will also be interesting to not see RB Stephen Jackson anywhere in the vicinity- the dude is holding out!  Hey, I might holdout too if I had to run behind the Ram’s pathetic offensive line, but really Stephen, you’re killing me in fantasy football!  Can’t you help a brutha out here?