Veterans conclude OCS's

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Thursday, Jun 12, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

As the Chargers headed off the practice field following Thursday morning’s Offseason Coaching Session (OCS), the atmosphere almost resembled that of the last day of school. There was a sense of accomplishment and anticipation of rest and time off. There also was an acknowledgement of the opportunity that lies ahead in 2008.

“I’m looking forward to getting away a little bit, resting and spending time with my family,” safety Clinton Hart said. “Then in late July it will really be time to go to work. We know what we can accomplish.”

Rookies and several young veterans will have three more OCSs next week, but for most of the Chargers’ starters and more experienced players, Thursday meant the end of the on-field portion of their offseason program. Veterans will still spend some time in the Chargers Park weight room the next couple of weeks, but they left Thursday feeling good about their work over the last month and looking forward to turning things up a notch once training camp begins in late July.

“I think it was a good mix of being loose and having fun but making sure we got our work in,” offensive tackle Marcus McNeill said. “You use this time to get ready for training camp, to make sure your body is ready and you know what we’re doing as a team. I think we had a great couple of weeks.”

A year ago, players were still adjusting to a new coaching staff. Players have spoken throughout this offseason about how their comfort level with the coaching staff has made the spring and early summer more productive.

“Last year the word of the offseason was continuity,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “To a certain extent there was in the play-calling and the terminology, but we couldn’t kid ourselves – it was new. When you get a new coaching staff, there is a transition time. We all knew what to expect (this summer). It’s hard to measure that but I certainly think the comfort level is way beyond what it was last year and that’s helped us.”

All of the Chargers rookies will participate in next week’s OCSs, as will select veterans who want to get in some extra work before training camp.

“It’s mostly non-starters; some of those guys who are backup guys that need the reps,” Turner said. “A couple of the older guys want to come, want to get some reps.”

One of Turner’s keys to the offseason program is getting new players acquainted and veterans reacquainted with what the Chargers are trying to get done and he believes his team has been successful in that venture.

“I think the biggest thing that we’re trying to get done is get the new guys to understand what we’re about, how we practice, learn their assignments,” Turner said. “I think we’ve gotten that accomplished. We’ve got three days next week with the young guys where we can focus strictly on them.”

Canton bound

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wants the league’s young players to appreciate the history of the game, so this summer every NFL rookie will visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Chargers rookies will visit Canton, Ohio this weekend and will also visit Cleveland’s Jacobs Field to watch the Padres play the Indians. Chargers.com will have a recap of the trip next week.

Let’s go camping

While the next month is a time for vacations and spending time with the family, several Chargers will also carve out time to give back. Shaun Phillips is hosting a football camp this weekend, and Chris Chambers’ CATCH 84 (Children Achieving Through Community Help) Foundation will host a camp in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio next weekend. Several other players including Shawne Merriman, LaDainian Tomlinson and McNeill will host camps before they return for training camp.

Bolts add Brisbane

When the Chargers head to London in October to face the New Orleans Saints, they’ll have one player on their roster who will be able to show them around. London native Jason Brisbane will join the Bolts this spring as part of the NFL’s International Practice Squad Program.

The initiative, which enters its fifth year in 2008, will for the first time feature 16 players joining the practice squads of NFL teams to enhance the development of elite football talent from around the world. The expansion of the program was approved by NFL clubs at the league’s spring meeting in May.

The 16 players from seven different countries have earned positions on the practice squad rosters of teams in the AFC North, AFC West, NFC South and NFC West Divisions. More than 100 players competed at NFL International Player Development camps held in Europe and Asia in the past 12 months for the right to claim these coveted positions.

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