COSTA MESA, Calif. — After his first minicamp beneath Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert mentioned that his new coach has already considerably modified the workforce and that it has been an “honor” to play for and share the quarterback room with him.
“He is executed such a terrific job taking this workforce and getting them to the place he desires them to go,” Herbert mentioned. “He is gained wherever he is at. He is a man that everybody desires to comply with and play for.”
Harbaugh typically joins the gamers in post-practice lifts or particular drills. It has been a special expertise than Herbert has had with another coach, nevertheless it’s one he has appreciated. Harbaugh, 60, has executed pushups with linebacker Junior Colson, proven rookie quarterback Casey Bauman a correct dropback, and pulled a whole lot of kilos of weights.
And Herbert mentioned that Harbaugh would 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 together with your head coach,” Herbert mentioned. “Whether or not we’re pulling sleds, he expects to be the quickest or to tug the furthest, and after we’re carrying these med balls, he is eager to go the furthest, he desires 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 appears to be like to show round a workforce that was 5-12 final season and noticed the departures of among the franchise’s finest gamers in receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and operating 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 unfastened follow jerseys, the Chargers follow in recreation jerseys and helmets. It is a technique that the workforce’s finest gamers have already purchased into, nevertheless it did not come with out some questioning.
“You hear complaints within the sense of ‘Why we received this on?'” outdoors linebacker Khalil Mack mentioned. “But it surely was one thing I instructed [Morgan] Fox. The sport jerseys do really feel completely different than the follow jerseys. You are going to breathe in a different way within the follow jersey, follow pants, or regardless of the case could also be.
“I really feel like he type of simply shifted the mindset by placing us in those self same conditions that we will be in video games,”
Mack mentioned that the workforce has purchased into Harbaugh’s atypical method to coaching camp and believes that specializing in the main points may also help them end video games this season. The Chargers had seven one-score losses final season.
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It is a related feeling for out of doors linebacker Joey Bosa, who mentioned that lacking particulars in your on a regular basis life can result in points on the sector. Bosa has appreciated the college-like ambiance Harbaugh has created, and in contrast it to his school coach, City Meyer from Ohio State.
“I feel it appears like Coach is main the workforce the best way it ought to be led,” Bosa mentioned. “… The message is distributed from the highest and it would not get blended up because it’s transferring down the ladder. It is increase, that is how we’re doing issues, and all people’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 mentioned. “It would not matter what you are doing, what you have been by … 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 workforce for energy and conditioning reps on the finish of practices.
“It has been superb, particularly at his age, to have the ability to go on the market and pull three, 4 plates,” James mentioned whereas laughing. “I imply, it’s surprising at that age, actually, nevertheless it’s been enjoyable positively to see the work. He made a remark the opposite week, like, ‘It is type of getting simpler.'”
