Take a look at all of the Chargers players that will be at training camp this year.
Chris McCain throws up a peace sign while leaving the facilities to head to New York to take on the Jets on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017.
Chris McCain throws up a peace sign while leaving the facilities to head to New York to take on the Jets on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017.
Tre Boston poses outside of the facilities before traveling to Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017.
Tre Boston poses outside of the facilities before traveling to Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017.
Austin Ekeler throws up the peace sign while boarding the plane to head to Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017.
Austin Ekeler throws up the peace sign while boarding the plane to head to Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017.
Adrian Phillips and Michael Ola play around at the facilities before heading to Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017.
Adrian Phillips and Michael Ola play around at the facilities before heading to Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017.
This is a 2016 photo of Rasheed Bailey of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL football team. This image reflects the Jacksonville Jaguars active roster as of Tuesday, June 14, 2016 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Tre Boston and Adrian Phillips pose for a photo on board a plane headed to Dallas on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017.
Tre Boston and Adrian Phillips pose for a photo on board a plane headed to Dallas on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017.
Melvin Gordon throws up the horns at the facilities before traveling to Dallas on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017.
Melvin Gordon throws up the horns at the facilities before traveling to Dallas on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017.
Chris McCain throws up the
Chris McCain throws up the
Trevor Williams and Casey Hayward take a selfie before traveling to Dallas on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017.
Trevor Williams and Casey Hayward take a selfie before traveling to Dallas on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017.
Mike Williams poses with Geremy Davis and Tyrell Williams before taking off to Dallas on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017.
Mike Williams poses with Geremy Davis and Tyrell Williams before taking off to Dallas on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017.
Korey Toomer, Jatavis Brown and Denzel Perryman strike a pose at the facilities before taking off to Dallas on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017.
Korey Toomer, Jatavis Brown and Denzel Perryman strike a pose at the facilities before taking off to Dallas on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017.
Denzel Perryman smiles on the flight to Jacksonville on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017.
Denzel Perryman smiles on the flight to Jacksonville on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017.
Michael Davis and Joey Bosa pose for a photo before heading to Jacksonville on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017.
Michael Davis and Joey Bosa pose for a photo before heading to Jacksonville on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017.
Nick Dzubnar, Dan Feeney, Sean McGrath and Kenny Wiggins leave the practice facilities and head to Jacksonville on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017.
Nick Dzubnar, Dan Feeney, Sean McGrath and Kenny Wiggins leave the practice facilities and head to Jacksonville on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017.
Antonio Gates leaves the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Antonio Gates leaves the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Melvin Ingram leaves the team facilties for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Melvin Ingram leaves the team facilties for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Keenan Allen leaves the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Keenan Allen leaves the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Darius Philon leaves the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Darius Philon leaves the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Mike Williams smiles while leaving the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Rayshawn Jenkins, Trevor Williams and Jahleel Addae leave the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Rayshawn Jenkins, Trevor Williams and Jahleel Addae leave the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Jeremiah Attoachu leaves the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Jeremiah Attoachu leaves the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Hayes Pullard, Korey Toomer and Jatavis Brown leave the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Hayes Pullard, Korey Toomer and Jatavis Brown leave the team facilities for Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Sean Culkin and Hunter Henry throw up the deuces before heading to New York to take on the Giants on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017.
Sean Culkin and Hunter Henry throw up the deuces before heading to New York to take on the Giants on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017.
Kenny Wiggins waives and smiles before traveling to New York to take on the Giants on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017.
Kenny Wiggins waives and smiles before traveling to New York to take on the Giants on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017.
Jahleel Addae leaves the team facilities to head to Denver on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017.
Jahleel Addae leaves the team facilities to head to Denver on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017.
Derek Watt leaves the team facilities for Denver on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017.
Philip Rivers leaves the team facilities for Denver on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017.
Philip Rivers leaves the team facilities for Denver on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017.
This is a 2015 photo of Bruce Gaston of the Green Bay Packers NFL football team. This image reflects the Green Bay Packers active roster as of Monday, June 15, 2015 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
James Onwualu and Isaac Rochell smile on their way to Denver on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017.
James Onwualu and Isaac Rochell smile on their way to Denver on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017.
Harvard defensive end Zach Hodges talks with teammates during a NFL Pro Day in Cambridge, Mass., Tuesday, March 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Tre Boston crosses his arms on the plane traveling to Jacksonville on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017.
Tre Boston crosses his arms on the plane traveling to Jacksonville on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017.
Melvin Gordon and Casey Hayward pose for a picture on the tarmac before heading to Denver on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017.
Melvin Gordon and Casey Hayward pose for a picture on the tarmac before heading to Denver on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017.
This is a photo of James Jones of the Green Bay Packers NFL football team. This image reflects the Green Bay Packers active roster as of Friday, June 14, 2013. (AP Photo)
This is a 2014 photo of Marcel Jones of the New Orleans Saints NFL football team. This image reflects the New Orleans Saints active roster as of Tuesday, June 10, 2014 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
QB Philip Rivers | NC State | 2-Star (1999)
QB Philip Rivers | NC State | 2-Star (1999)
NT Brandon Mebane | California | 3-Star (2003)
NT Brandon Mebane | California | 3-Star (2003)
CB Casey Hayward | Vanderbilt | 3-Star (2008)
DT Corey Liuget | Illinois | 4-Star (2008)
DT Corey Liuget | Illinois | 4-Star (2008)
DE Melvin Ingram | South Carolina | 4-Star (2007)
S Jahleel Addae | Central Michigan | 3-Star (2008)
S Jahleel Addae | Central Michigan | 3-Star (2008)
T Joe Barksdale | LSU | 4-Star (2007)
T Joe Barksdale | LSU | 4-Star (2007)
WR Travis Benjamin | Miami | 4-Star (2008)
WR Travis Benjamin | Miami | 4-Star (2008)
DT Damion Square | Alabama | 3-Star (2008)
DT Damion Square | Alabama | 3-Star (2008)
LB Denzel Perryman | Miami | 3-Star (2011)
LB Denzel Perryman | Miami | 3-Star (2011)
T Sam Tevi | Utah | 3-Star (2013)
DT Tenny Palepoi | Utah | 3-Star (2012)
DT Tenny Palepoi | Utah | 3-Star (2012)
S Adrian Phillips | Texas | 4-Star (2010)
S Adrian Phillips | Texas | 4-Star (2010)
DE Chris McCain | California | 4-Star (2010)
DE Chris McCain | California | 4-Star (2010)
LB Hayes Pullard | USC | 4-Star (Class of 2010)
LB Hayes Pullard | USC | 4-Star (Class of 2010)
TE Hunter Henry | Arkansas | 4-Star (2013)
TE Hunter Henry | Arkansas | 4-Star (2013)
DE Isaac Rochell | Notre Dame | 4-Star (2013)
DE Isaac Rochell | Notre Dame | 4-Star (2013)
WR Mike Williams | Clemson | 4-Star (2013)
WR Mike Williams | Clemson | 4-Star (2013)
FB Derek Watt | Wisconsin | 3-Star (2011)
FB Derek Watt | Wisconsin | 3-Star (2011)
RB Melvin Gordon | Wisconsin | 4-Star (2011)
RB Melvin Gordon | Wisconsin | 4-Star (2011)
DE Joey Bosa | Ohio State | 4-Star (2013)
DE Joey Bosa | Ohio State | 4-Star (2013)
CB Trevor Williams | Penn State | 3-Star (2012)
CB Trevor Williams | Penn State | 3-Star (2012)
C Spencer Pulley | Vanderbilt | 3-Star (2011)
C Spencer Pulley | Vanderbilt | 3-Star (2011)
This is a 2015 photo of James Vaughters of the Green Bay Packers NFL football team. This image reflects the Green Bay Packers active roster as of Tuesday, June 16, 2015 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
This is a 2014 photo of Kamal Johnson of the Miami Dolphins NFL football team. This image reflects the Miami Dolphins active roster as of Monday, May 12, 2014 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Head Coach Mike McCoy sat in his office Tuesday morning, overlooking a silent, empty practice field.
Luckily, that's about to end.
In just a few short days, 90 players will battle it out in front of thousands of raucous fans for the right to be a San Diego Charger.
For months, fans have come up with their own mock 53-man roster. The head coach is no different. While the Chargers have until Sept. 2 to decide their final roster, McCoy already has endless scenarios running through his head.
"I constantly keep a 53," he said. "I always have it in the back of my head. I did it at the end of the OTAs, and the end of Mini Camp. It's also constantly evolving. Guys get hurt, and how the players perform change as well. There are so many scenarios, so it means nothing right now. It's only on paper and it's an outline. After the first preseason game I will outline something again. So I am constantly going through the what-ifs, and we have a long way to go. Things evolve and emerge. We may find over time a certain weakness to our team, so we have to find ways to explore options in other areas. It is constantly evolving."
Of the 90 players currently on the roster, at least 37 will see their dream of being a Charger come to an end before the Bolts kickoff against the Kansas City Chiefs. As a result, position battles provide inherent drama each season. Still, McCoy explains that the team doesn't have a set number in mind when it comes to how many players they will keep at a certain position as that too is a fluid process.
"In a perfect world, yes you have set numbers. But that is never the case. You have injuries that (factor in), and also success comes into play. There is a certain position that you think you were set in, but there is a young player and think he is that next guy, do you want to risk losing him? You wish you had the crystal ball to see who you may have to protect. Is there someone you can put on the practice squad that you can risk getting through waivers in order to keep someone who performed better? There are certain positions that may be less likely to be claimed there than other spots, and that's where I rely on (General Manager) Tom (Telesco) and his staff. All it takes is one team to like a player and he's gone, so there are so many things that go into deciding the roster. We want to keep the best players to help your team, and there are a number of variables that come into play. That's why I like to constantly keep working it out in my head."
Overall, this year's Chargers Camp will look awfully similar to previous years, but differ drastically in others. For instance, the structure of instillation periods and rotations for how players will be used remains the same. On the other hand, for the first time under McCoy, the Bolts will practice against another team when they host the Arizona Cardinals.
"I have a lot of respect for (Arizona Head Coach) Bruce Arians, (General Manager) Steve Keim and (President) Michael Bidwell," he said. "They are a great organization to go against. They have a very talented team, so it will be a great tool for us to use to get ready for the regular season. When we sat down and talked about what we wanted to do together, the format is going to be very similar to our regular practices. We talked about that at length. It is going to be a good test for us, and I think the players will like it because it can get old going against each other every day."
Finally, fans will have front row seats to all the action right from the get-go, and the head coach is hopeful for a high turnout at Chargers Park.
"Training camp gives our fans a unique opportunity to be up close and personal with the team. We are going to sign autographs every day after practice. You are a lot closer to the action at training camp than you can be at the stadium, so I want our fans to enjoy this opportunity. Soak it all in and get ready to support the team. It's going to be a great year."
