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Kris Rhim
LOS ANGELES — This time final yr, there was palpable pleasure surrounding the Los Angeles Chargers. In a metropolis with stars like Shohei Ohtani and LeBron James, the Chargers appeared to have discovered theirs in hiring coach Jim Harbaugh.
Many gamers described the Harbaugh expertise of their information conferences and lauded the tradition he was cultivating. Harbaugh’s well-known face was plastered throughout L.A., and followers appeared to scream at practices for his autograph earlier than these of any participant.
A yr later, with the Chargers recent off a playoff look and an 11-win season, that bubbly pleasure of final yr has shifted.
It is not that Harbaugh’s aura has worn off, however the Chargers are conscious of the usual they set final yr and the painful method the yr ended — with a 32-12 playoff trouncing by the Houston Texans. The fascination and pleasure of their new coach has light — the tales of their finest moments with him are few and much between — but these Chargers appear extra decided.
“I really feel like final yr type of set the ground for this group,” mentioned security Derwin James Jr. “I really feel like final yr nobody anticipated us to go that far. … I really feel like we bought all the pieces we have to do what we have to do.”
Listed below are three takeaways from Jim Harbaugh’s second offseason with the Chargers:
Justin Herbert is worked up concerning the Chargers’ offense
Final season, the offense was the Chargers’ largest weak point for the primary time in Herbert’s profession. With a brand new coterie of unproven move catchers and an inconsistent offensive line, L.A.’s offense struggled all season. Via the primary 4 weeks, Herbert had the fewest passing yards (578), completions (59), and move makes an attempt (91) in any four-game span of his profession.
The lone shiny spot was the connection Herbert constructed with now second-year receiver Ladd McConkey, who broke Chargers rookie receiving (1,149) and receptions (82) information final yr. However the passing offense past McConkey was abysmal.
The Chargers invested closely into move catchers this offseason to mitigate their points, drafting large receivers Tre’ Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, and tight finish Oronde Gadsden II. Maybe essentially the most important addition was large receiver Mike Williams, who performed for the Chargers for seven seasons earlier than spending final yr with the Jets and Steelers. Williams is one in every of Herbert’s favourite targets.
“He is a type of guys that adjustments the best way he performs soccer when he is in your staff,” Herbert mentioned. “50-50 balls should not fairly 50-50, as we have seen with Mike. You want a play — a big-time play — he’ll go up and make it.”
With Greg Roman again for a second season, it will be simply the second time in Herbert’s profession that he has consecutively had the identical offensive coordinator. Whereas the offense was removed from good final season, Herbert feels that it will be a lot improved.
“I feel we have made nice strides this offseason,” Herbert mentioned. “… We’re far forward of the place we had been final yr.”
An enormous yr anticipated for linebacker Daiyan Henley
Henley, a third-round choose in 2023 who performed primarily on particular groups as a rookie, had a breakout season in 2024, the place he emerged as one of the vital gamers within the Chargers’ protection. Henley completed eighth within the NFL in complete tackles (147) whereas taking part in by a torn labrum he suffered in Week 4 in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
In 12 months 3, many gamers and coaches count on Henley to develop into one of many league’s finest linebackers.
“All-Professional,” James mentioned of his expectations of Henley this season. “I push him each day. I inform him, ‘If a decent finish catch the ball on you. It is not good.’ … I need him to do all the pieces as a result of I really feel like he has a ceiling the place he could be All-Professional, not simply Professional Bowl, however an All-Professional participant.”
Henley spent a lot of the Chargers’ offseason actions doing drills with James and out of doors linebacker Khalil Mack, engaged on move rush method and protection expertise.
“I feel the largest factor about expectations like that’s that they’ve to begin inside,” Henley mentioned. “It is not one thing that folks ought to bestow upon you. It’s a must to need that for your self to go get it. And that is at all times been my targets and aspirations is to be that kind of man.”
Everybody’s grateful Khalil Mack is again
Mack, 34, was an unrestricted free agent for the primary time in his profession final season and mulled retirement after the Chargers playoff loss. In March, Mack re-signed with the Chargers on a team-friendly one-year $18 million contract regardless of speaking with different groups.
Maybe nobody was happier about Mack’s return than defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
“It means all the pieces. Khalil is among the finest ever to do it, however actually simply the kind of particular person he’s, the kind of management that he brings,” Minter mentioned. “… I’ve nice appreciation for the way he operates. I take issues from him each day.”
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The second-happiest particular person within the constructing would possibly’ve been James, who started recruiting Mack for the 2025 season throughout his closing information convention in January.
“He means all the pieces,” James mentioned. ” I used to be begging and pleading to get him again. I truly hit him as much as get him again. I used to be simply so excited when he got here again. For him to return again like that, I knew he actually loves us, man, and he actually wished a shot at it once more.”
Mack mentioned he returned to the Chargers due to his lifelong dream of profitable a Tremendous Bowl. He has but to win a playoff sport in his profession, however he mentioned he believes he can win a Tremendous Bowl in L.A.
“Why not right here, man?” Mack mentioned.
