Every NFL franchise walks into training camp with questions hovering above them. Yet, for the Los Angeles Chargers, they’ve found themselves with several that will need answering soon.
We’re diving into the five biggest ones before they head to their brand newest facility.
Unanswered Questions Ahead of Los Angeles Chargers Training Camp
Much like their new training facility in El Segundo, the Chargers have had to be built from the ground up following the Brandon Staley regime as they now enter the Jim Harbaugh era.
Harbaugh’s presence is bound to create new energy — both on the zany and hard-nosed side — at Charger practices.
While Staley is gone, so, too, is a notable prized veteran, which helps fuel these five major questions.
Who Becomes the New WR1 for Justin Herbert?
One valuable longtime presence is gone from the Chargers, as Allen is off to the Chicago Bears. Allen leaves the Bolts as the team’s second-leading receptions and yardage leader, right behind Chargers legendary tight end Antonio Gates.
Allen’s trade to the Windy City opens the door for a new leading wide receiver to emerge for Herbert, the Bolts’ franchise quarterback. Herbert, though, has one of the more questionable WR rooms across the league.
Outside of Allen, this WR unit disappointed greatly in 2023.
The Chargers’ 2023 first-round selection, Quentin Johnston, is already on the hot seat after a dismal rookie debut of 38 receptions, 431 yards, and two touchdowns. Perhaps Harbaugh will light a new fire under the 21st overall pick of last year’s class.
Josh Palmer is one veteran with extensive experience catching passes from Herbert, having played his last three years alongside him. However, Palmer settled for 38 receptions for 581 yards and scored just two touchdowns. He’ll need to step up significantly as one of the older wideouts in the room.
Harbaugh and Herbert may have no choice but to turn to second-rounder Ladd McConkey to ignite the air attack if those two wideouts struggle. McConkey, though, was labeled as a “quality WR2/3 with slot, boundary, and motion capabilities” by PFN’s Ian Cummings. McConkey may need to step up as WR1 if this unit struggles.
Even seventh-rounder Brenden Rice, the son of the legendary Hall-of-Famer Jerry Rice, may get asked to step up immediately for a questionable Chargers WR group.
Who Steps Into RB1 Role Post Austin Ekeler?
Wide receiver isn’t the only major question mark on the offensive side.
Harbaugh wants to roll with a ground-and-pound approach reminiscent of his 49ers and Wolverines days. Except he won’t have Austin Ekeler, who’s off to the Washington Commanders.
The Chargers do not have a running back on the roster who has surpassed 1,000 yards in the NFL. Harbaugh has to turn to veterans J.K. Dobbins or Gus Edwards to fire up his physical philosophy.
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Edwards looks like the best bet for RB1 duties. The 6’1″, 238-pounder put together career-highs of 198 carries, 810 rushing yards, and 13 touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023.
The 5’10”, 215-pound Dobbins, however, comes with a similar physical approach and was an 800-yard back with the Ravens in 2020.
Isaiah Spiller has been with the Chargers the longest as a fourth-round selection in 2022. The 6’1″, 215-pound Spiller, though, has yet to surpass 96 rushing yards in a single season.
Can Harbaugh Earn Immediate Success With Chargers?
Harbaugh isn’t just anticipated to provide quotable moments. The Chargers lured him back to the NFL with the hope that he can recreate his past immediate success.
Back in 2011, he took over a San Francisco 49ers franchise coming off a number of down years. Harbaugh immediately woke up a sleeping giant, producing a 13-3 campaign with a return to the NFC title game. The following year, he took the 49ers to the Super Bowl where they fell to his brother John and the Ravens.
His first Michigan team became an immediate winner, too, going 10-3 in 2015 after enduring a 5-7 mark the previous season. Even at Stanford, Harbaugh went from a 4-8 start in his debut to producing a bowl team in his third season. In 2010, the Cardinal won the 2010 Orange Bowl.
Many across the league will wonder if Harbaugh was away from the NFL for too long. But past history suggests he’s a turnaround machine wherever he’s coached.
Can Herbert Ascend Under Harbaugh?
Back to Herbert, he’ll soon collaborate on improving the Bolts with Harbaugh.
Could this mean a return to his previous Pro Bowl form? Or will Herbert witness a higher ascension?
Herbert is already relatable to his new head coach in this regard: He’s working with a past Chargers quarterback as Harbaugh played for the franchise from 1999 to 2000. Harbaugh is anticipated to become a coach Herbert can better relate with compared to Staley.
Back with the 49ers, Harbaugh elevated Alex Smith’s game in 2011 by getting him to deliver his best season in the Bay Area. Harbaugh then turned Colin Kaepernick into an NFC champion QB, including producing two conference title game appearances with him.
How Will the Defense Adjust to Jesse Minter?
Pivoting to the other side of the football, the Chargers are expected to scrap Staley’s exotic defense. His scheme never ranked past 20th against yards during his time with the Bolts.
What is Minter implementing as Harbaugh brings him over from Ann Arbor?
Minter plans to run a system featuring disguised coverage and post-snap rotations. The former is considered a carryover from Staley’s scheme, but Minter told The Athletic that his version will be less complicated.
But on the grand scale, Minter will create a system that mirrors what he saw from the Ravens during his time on their staff and also under former Baltimore D-coordinator Mike Macdonald.
That scheme eventually featured a versatile, hard-nosed safety in Kyle Hamilton while also producing a relentless pass rush featuring three defenders — Justin Madubuike, Jadeveon Clowney, and Kyle Van Noy — who each produced between nine and 13.5 sacks in 2023.
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While at Michigan, Minter fielded a top-10 unit that bottled offenses to average only 10.4 points per game and 247 yards per contest during the Wolverines’ national title run. Under Minter, the Wolverines also forced 27 turnovers.
The new defensive coordinator already has intriguing personnel to work with. Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack are Pro Bowlers. All-Pro safety Derwin James gets to be the Hamilton-type for Minter and is already lauded across the league for his versatility as a blitzer, coverage defender, and ball hawk.
Minter will have to improve a defense that fell to 28th in yards allowed in 2023.
