Training Camp Recap: July 31

The players allowed to participate are getting into a bit of a groove. It’ll be a few days before fatigue starts to set in, so it made for a crisp practice today that Head Coach Norv Turner praised more than usual.

Safety C.J. Wallace made the first interception of training camp in a 7-on-7 drill, and rookie linebacker Jonas Mouton was involved in several solid collisions near the line of scrimmage.

DT Antonio Garay, one of the bodies keying a physical line of scrimmage, gets his helmet adjusted.

DE Vaughn Martin, eyeing the sled, has benefitted early from a large number of young offensive linemen and defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, which calls for more stunts.

QB Philip Rivers, the catalyst for organized workouts this summer, is one of the veterans that's able to practice this week because he's under contract through 2015.

DE Luis Castillo (No. 93) and ILB Jonas Mouton (out of the frame) stop FB Frank Summers' head of steam.

DB Steve Gregory acknowledges a fan that calls his name in between a drill.

Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher

How to Bolt Up

The theme for the 2011 San Diego Chargers’ season is “Bolt Up!”

Designed to involve fans in the joys and struggles of this NFL season and invite everyone to participate in supporting the Chargers, “Bolt Up!” is a chance to show your Chargers pride in creative ways.

Here are a few different ways you can “Bolt Up!”

Show us how you’ve decided to “Bolt Up!” by sending photos to christopher.smith@chargers.nfl.com or share them on the Chargers’ Facebook page (www.facebook.com/chargers).

Training Camp Recap: July 30

Fans and pads aside, Saturday’s practice provided the coaching staff the best opportunity yet to evaluate a roster of young players in live drills that best simulate football.

The hitting started early, with rookie CB Marcus Gilchrist laying into practice squad holdover WR Bryan Walters.

DT Antonio Garay slipped into the backfield and tossed RB Ryan Mathews.

K Nate Kaeding drilled a 51-yard field goal into goal posts much narrower than regulation.

OLB Shaun Phillips works a 1-on-1 pass rushing drill against rookie OT Steve Schilling.

ILB Takeo Spikes, OLB Travis LaBoy, FS Eric Weddle and SS Bob Sanders watch practice together after signing contracts Friday.

WR Cameron Kenney tries to prevent a gunner from getting downfield during a special teams drill.

Head Coach Norv Turner, foreground, grins as he talks with defensive coordinator Greg Manusky. QB Scott Tolzien leads the huddle in the background.

A group of fans waits to get inside the gate at Chargers Park. Fans started to line up three hours before practice.

Morning: Walk-Through

It’s clear Head Coach Norv Turner’s main focus this week is incorporating the rookies and young players. They take the majority of the reps and receive the majority of the verbal feedback.

Granted, the Chargers have a large group of veterans that can’t practice before Aug. 4. The team in Chargers workout clothes on the sidelines is pretty formidable: Vincent Jackson, Mike Tolbert, Jeromey Clary, Antonio Gates (eligible but being held out as a safety measure), Eric Weddle, Bob Sanders, Takeo Spikes and Antwan Barnes, to name a few.

Undrafted rookies are in the most difficult position, though draft picks don’t have it easy either. Though the Chargesr are allowed just one full-pads or shells practice per day, the walk-through sessions are crucial for younger players as they attempt to absorb the information and play without thinking.

QB Philip Rivers gets set for a walk-through snap as OT Nick Richmond, serving as a pass rusher on the play, offers a menacing glare.

CB Antoine Cason offers a smile as he competes against WR Seyi Ajirotutu despite the dialed-down speed of practice.

WR Vincent Jackson, center, makes himself useful by holding the first-down marker. Jackson and the other signed free agents can't practice until Aug. 4 but are attending meetings and watching from the sideline.

TE Randy McMichael, left, and RB Mike Tolbert enjoy returning to Chargers Park after signing contracts Friday.

Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher

Training Camp Recap: July 29

The Chargers held a special teams walk-through in the morning, then returned for a two-hour practice Friday evening.

Much of the attention centered on players who weren’t on the field, however, as San Diego signed 14 veteran free agents. Those players found themselves on the sideline toward the end of practice and will only be able to watch until Aug. 4, but the media had a buffet at the podium.

ILB Takeo Spikes called watching practice on the sideline more agonizing than being involved in a jarring collision.

WR Vincent Jackson made it clear there's no animosity between him and the Chargers, signing his franchise offer at 3:01 p.m. and calling the meeting with Dean Spanos and A.J. Smith "like a family reunion."

SS Bob Sanders harped on the importance of building chemistry with the rest of the secondary before the season and says he enjoyed his first rehab-free offseason in four years.

TE Dennis Morris participates in a blocking drill at the beginning of practice. Morris, Kory Sperry and college free agent Brad Taylor likely will vie for the third tight end roster spot behind Antonio Gates and Randy McMichael.

Training Camp Recap: July 28

A linebacker bounds over a pad during individual drills.

Tolzien scans the line of scrimmage pre-snap.

Antoine Cason and Patrick Crayton shared punt return duties.

Cason measures a Mike Scifres punt.

Ryan Mathews flashed quickness off the edge, running toward the left sideline several times.

The Chargers held a walk-through Thursday morning on the pristine practice fields at Chargers Park. Cameras line the sidewalk at Chargers Park, getting their first footage of 2011.

A myriad of new player numbers took some getting used to, and the roster will have to be torn up daily because of the constant change expected to continue through this week.

But David Binn and Antonio Gates returned to the field, No. 17 got under center and played some catch, and defensive coordinator Greg Maunsky and special teams coach Rich Bisaccia got their first chance to work with the players.

Bisaccia, center, and Binn, left, have more than three decades of combined experience playing and coaching in the NFL.

Several draft picks got their first taste of the NFL as well, including Marcus Gilchrist, Jonas Mouton, Jordan Todman, Steve Schilling and Andrew Gachkar.

Guys signed to futures contracts weeks after the season also practiced, with blocking tight end Dennis Morris and bruising fullback Frank Summers commanding attention with their big bodies. Kicker Ricky Schmitt and defensive end Carl Ihenacho also practiced.

Among the college free agents signed, Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien got some reps under center.

Bisaccia and Manusky’s energy, along with the dozens of rookies, first and second year players, added enthusiasm to an inherently exciting first day.

Bisaccia speaks with kicker Nate Kaeding, who cranked out some pushups during the morning walk-through.

Bisaccia introduces his demanding, personable style to special teams roster candidates.

FB Frank Summers, at 5-foot-10, 255 pounds, cuts an imposing figure.

Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher

This Day in Chargers History: July 28

July 28, 2004 – The Chargers donate $408,555 to San Diego’s police and fire rescue departments. The money provided gear for the fire-rescue department to fight wildfires and upgraded equipment for an emergency police command center.

This Day in Chargers History: July 27

July 27, 2004 – Ed White, a Pro Bowl guard and team captain during his seven seasons in San Diego, and Don Macek, a rock-solid anchor for the Chargers’ offensive line for 14 seasons, are selected as the 32nd and 33rd members of the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame.

This Day in Chargers History: July 26

July 26, 2005 – The Chargers open training camp at the team’s year-round training facility, Chargers Park, for the first time in franchise history.

This Day in Chargers History: July 22

July 22, 2008 – Defensive end Luis Castillo inks a new seven-year deal, keeping him in San Diego through 2014.

This Day in Chargers History: July 15

July 15, 2008 – The Chargers announce defensive end Fred Dean will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. Dean played seven seasons for San Diego and five for San Francisco. He recorded 35.0 sacks in his final three full seasons with the Chargers, making the Pro Bowl in two. Dean, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2008, became the 12th Don Coryell-coached player enshrined in the Chargers Hall of Fame.