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Chargers guard Tyronne Green, the second of the team’s three fourth-round draft picks, had a good sense of humor Sunday when asked about his first NFL practice this weekend.
 
“My head was definitely spinning Friday,” Green said.  “By Saturday, you don’t have it figured out, but you get a little more comfortable.”  
 
That was exactly what Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner had hoped for this weekend, getting his veterans back in the swing of things while allowing the team’s youngsters an opportunity to learn what NFL football is all about.
 
As minicamp concluded Sunday, Turner called the team’s three-day minicamp “outstanding” and praised his rookies for their work.
 
“This is as good of a young group as I’ve been around,” Turner said.  “From the combination of our drafted players and then we were able to get some priority free agents.  I really feel good about the additions we made to our football team.” 
 
The weekend included five practices, meetings and film sessions for the players.  Players were asked to quickly digest chunks of the team’s playbook at a pace that, like the play on the field, is a little quicker than the tempo they were used to in college. 
 
“They hit us with a lot pretty fast,” guard Luis Vasquez said.  “We have to take it in and transfer it to the field really quick.  You’ve got to keep up with the fast pace.”
 
Some teams opt to hold rookie-only minicamps before bringing their entire squad together, but Turner likes having the veterans and rookies all on the field from the get go, and the young players appreciate that. 
 
“It was great to get out here with the whole team, seeing other guys and competing,” safety Kevin Ellison, the team’s sixth-round pick  said.  “You see how the tempo is and learn from those guys who have been there. You see how the installs go and the general schedule of how things run so we’ll be ready when we get to training camp.”
 
Chargers veterans will continue their offseason conditioning program this week, while rookies will return to their college campuses for the next couple weeks.  They’ll be back in San Diego for the team’s Offseason Coaching Sessions, which begin May 18. 
 
First impression
 
Linebacker Kevin Burnett, who signed with the Chargers as an unrestricted free agent in February, enjoyed his first weekend on the field with his teammates.
 
“I’ve spent the past couple of months getting to know these guys and spending time with them in the weight room, but it’s different when you get on the football field,” Burnett said.  “It was a good weekend.”
 
Burnett’s work impressed Turner.
 
“I think he’s really done well,” Turner said.  “He’s got the added benefit of having been in this system or a version of it.  It’s not a whole new system for it.  He’s an outstanding athlete.  He’s got great range and great coverage skills.  I think he brings another playmaker to our defense.”
 
Competition brewing
 
The number of quality players on the team’s roster provides the opportunity for some stiff battles during training camp, which excites Turner.  One spot that could be particularly interesting to watch is right guard.  Veteran Kynan Forney currently sits atop the depth chart at the position. 
 
“I see a very, very physical, athletic player (in Forney),” Turner said.  “He benefitted from being here last year and being in our lifting program, being in the meetings.  He’s had a really good offseason.”
 
Turner believes Vasquez has a bright future as well, and fifth-year pro Scott Mruczkowski is also in the mix at the position. 
 
“Vasquez was very impressive in this camp,” Turner said.  “He’s a big man that moves awfully well. Mruczkowski, although we worked him at center this camp is capable of playing guard.  We have some good options there.” 
 
Feeling good
 
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson is fully recovered from a groin injury that slowed him in the playoffs and was glad to be at full speed this weekend.
 
“It’s good to be back out here running around, healthy,” Tomlinson said.  “You really cherish it when you’re healthy, so I’m happy to be healthy again.” 
 
Throughout the weekend, Tomlinson showed the burst that has made him one of the game’s elite backs over the last decade, and even got a chance to throw the football a couple of times on halfback options.
 
“LT looks great,” Turner said.  “He’s been out here running for a month, so he didn’t show me anything different than what he’s been showing.  He looks like he has in the minicamps the last four or five years.” 
 
Welcome aboard
 
There were no Academy-Award winning actors on hand this weekend at minicamp, but you might have thought so if you’d heard the Chargers’ secondary.
 
“He looks just like Denzel,” one defensive back said of the team’s new secondary coach Steven Wilks. 
 
The laughs gave the defensive backs a chance to build some camaraderie with their new position coach, who is one of six new assistants on Turner’s staff.  Although the coaches have been working together for nearly three months, this weekend was the first time they’d been on the field with their players. 
 
“Our guys have worked awfully hard since we started with this group in early February when we put the entire group together,” Turner said.  “I’m impressed with the way they’ve worked in terms of getting ready and I think our guys are doing a great job coaching.”
 
Wilks as well as offensive line coach Mike Sullivan, defensive line coach Don Johnson and assistant linebackers coach Greg Williams all had their first on-field interaction with their players.  Tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski and assistant secondary coach Cris Dishman were reintroduced to their groups as both men previously held stints with the Chargers.
 
“Dish was definitely more vocal this weekend because last summer he was an intern, working with two other coaches,” safety Eric Weddle said.  “Both he and Coach Wilks are very knowledgeable and are going to help us be better football players.”