COSTA MESA, Calif. — After his first minicamp underneath Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert stated that his new coach has already considerably modified the group and that it has been an “honor” to play for and share the quarterback room with him.
“He is carried out such an important job taking this group and getting them to the place he needs them to go,” Herbert stated. “He is gained wherever he is at. He is a man that everybody needs to comply with and play for.”
Harbaugh usually joins the gamers in post-practice lifts or particular drills. It has been a special expertise than Herbert has had with every other coach, nevertheless it’s one he has appreciated. Harbaugh, 60, has carried out pushups with linebacker Junior Colson, proven rookie quarterback Casey Bauman a correct dropback, and pulled a whole lot of kilos of weights.
And Herbert stated that Harbaugh does not playfully do these exercises; he is at all times attempting to win.
“It is a cool expertise to have the ability to share that along with your head coach,” Herbert stated. “Whether or not we’re pulling sleds, he expects to be the quickest or to drag the furthest, and once we’re carrying these med balls, he is eager to go the furthest, he needs to go the quickest.
“And to have a man like that set the stage, set the usual for these undrafted guys, for these rookies to see that, I feel they comply with in his footsteps.”
Herbert’s praises of Harbaugh have been a theme of the Chargers’ offseason, as Harbaugh seems to show round a group that was 5-12 final season and noticed the departures of a number of the franchise’s greatest gamers in receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and working again Austin Ekeler.
Harbaugh’s consideration to element and power has stood out to gamers probably the most. Whereas different camps are extra relaxed with gamers in baseball caps and free observe jerseys, the Chargers observe in recreation jerseys and helmets. It is a technique that the group’s greatest gamers have already purchased into, nevertheless it did not come with out some questioning.
“You hear complaints within the sense of ‘Why we obtained this on?'” exterior linebacker Khalil Mack stated. “However it was one thing I instructed [Morgan] Fox. The sport jerseys do really feel totally different than the observe jerseys. You are going to breathe in another way within the observe jersey, observe pants, or regardless of the case could also be.
“I really feel like he form of simply shifted the mindset by placing us in those self same conditions that we’ll be in video games,”
Mack stated that the group has purchased into Harbaugh’s atypical strategy to coaching camp and believes that specializing in the small print will help them end video games this season. The Chargers had seven one-score losses final season.
It is a comparable feeling for outdoor linebacker Joey Bosa, who stated that lacking particulars in your on a regular basis life can result in points on the sector. Bosa has appreciated the college-like environment Harbaugh has created, and in contrast it to his school coach, City Meyer from Ohio State.
“I feel it looks like Coach is main the group the best way it ought to be led,” Bosa stated. “… The message is shipped from the highest and it does not get blended up because it’s shifting down the ladder. It is growth, that is how we’re doing issues, and everyone’s following that, and I feel it is spectacular.”
Maybe the participant Harbaugh has talked about most is security Derwin James. Harbaugh instructed reporters Thursday that he tells gamers to comply with no matter Derwin is doing in the event that they hope to achieve success — from the garments they put on to the meals they eat.
James has reciprocated his love for Harbaugh, calling him probably the most “highly effective chief” he’d been round.
“When he walks within the room, he lights up the room,” James stated. “It does not matter what you are doing, what you have been via … he will get your consideration, and it means one thing to him.”
Like Herbert, James smiled most when he spoke about Harbaugh becoming a member of the group for power and conditioning reps on the finish of practices.
“It has been wonderful, particularly at his age, to have the ability to go on the market and pull three, 4 plates,” James stated whereas laughing. “I imply, it’s stunning at that age, actually, nevertheless it’s been enjoyable undoubtedly to see the work. He made a remark the opposite week, like, ‘It is form of getting simpler.'”
