EL SEGUNDO — The dog days are nearing an end at the Chargers’ training camp.
In time, the evaluations will come to an end and there will be a transition to a results-oriented mindset. The switch will be more painful for some players than others as rosters are trimmed to 53 by the NFL’s Aug. 27 deadline. Every snap, every drill, every practice, every exhibition becomes increasingly important.
“As we’re building toward the season, we’re going to get into a really results-oriented mindset,” Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Tuesday. “Right now, we’re into a process-oriented mindset. Here’s why this play doesn’t work. Here’s what needs to happen. This needs to happen. We need to use this technique. This quarterback read at the catch point. Ball security. All the millions of things these guys work at. So, that’s really the process right now.”
So, perhaps that’s why there was no overreaction in the Chargers’ camp after their 16-3 exhibition loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. Roman wasn’t pleased by the offense’s inability to move the ball, with quarterback Easton Stick generating only three first downs and three points in the first half.
“Obviously, the results were underwhelming,” Roman said. “A lot of things to work on. We had great meetings this week to kind of clean up some things. So, it’s a great opportunity to get better, and that’s what training camp is all about. I’d say we have a lot of work to do in certain areas.”
Roman declined to get into specifics or to offer evaluations of Stick or anyone else on the offensive side of the ball. Stick completed only 5 of 13 passes for 31 yards with one interception and a passer rating of 14.6. He was sacked twice and seemed to be under constant pressure from the opening series.
The Chargers failed to get a first down until their seventh possession, which led to Cameron Dicker’s 58-yard field goal with 3:26 remaining in the first half. Max Duggan replaced Stick to start the second half. Luis Perez, who had two practices after he was signed last week, played part of the fourth quarter.
“I think you’re concerned every day,” Roman said. “Practice. Meetings. As a coach, you’re pushing the envelope. You’re chasing it. It’s another opportunity, really, to evaluate, learn and kind of recalibrate some things and move forward. As far as concerned, I think there’s a high sense of urgency every day.”
Asked what his expectations were going into Saturday’s game against the Seahawks, he said, “I thought we had some really good practices leading up to that game, some of our best practices. But, yeah, you don’t really look at these games as, ‘Here’s what I expect, here’s what I don’t expect.’
“We’re going out and running a basic game plan. We’re going to see who can execute, and when that doesn’t happen, you make those corrections and you move forward.”
Asked about his comfort level with Stick filling in for an injured Justin Herbert, and with Duggan and Perez backing up, Roman said, “Are there plays we’d like to have back? You better believe it. Not just the quarterback, but receiver, tight end, O-line, running back. That’s pretty consistent in the first preseason game across the board. The bottom line is that’s not the kind of football we want to put out there.”
EXTRA POINTS
The Chargers signed linebackers Savion Jackson and Shaq Quarterman and waived tight end/fullback Ben Mason and cornerback Chris Wilcox. Jackson, an undrafted rookie from North Carolina State, spent the offseason with the Chargers. Quarterman spent the past four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. …
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Edge rushers Joey Bosa and Chris Rumph II were absent from practice as were tight end Hayden Hurst and center Bradley Bozeman. Linebacker Junior Colson participated in a limited number of team drills for the first time since undergoing an appendectomy in the offseason. …
Linebacker Nick Niemann left practice early, accompanied by an athletic trainer. Niemann was stellar in Saturday’s exhibition, leading the Chargers with 12 tackles, including one sack. Nine of his tackles were solo. He also was credited with two quarterback hits, tops among his teammates.