Even starting their offseason program a couple of weeks later than usual, the Chargers are in some ways immeasurably further along at this point than they were in the first few months of the Norv Turner era.
“We're not ahead of where we were last year,” Turner said this week. “But psychologically I think we are because our guys know what we're doing. There's a comfort level.”
After pushing back the start of voluntary offseason coaching sessions because of the late end to their season, Chargers players convened en masse on Chargers Park this week.
Players work out four days a week in three groups, running and working on conditioning outside and doing weight work inside. First-and second-year players also spend an hour on the field with the coaching staff.
The coaches will accelerate the coaching and begin installing the game plan at the May 2-4 minicamp.
“We install a lot in minicamp,” Turner said. “We install more than most people.”
The team will work four more days after minicamp, then take a week off. Rookies can participate in offseason coaching sessions on May 16. The team will resume organized workouts, expanding on what it installed in minicamp, on May 19 and go into the first couple of weeks of June.
Rookies are to report to training camp July 20, with veterans in late that week.
As for the injured starters such as Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Nick Hardwick and Andrew Pinnock, their progress pleases Turner.
“I'd expect when we start camp those guys will be participating,” Turner said.
That doesn't mean they will all be ready. And some of those who are ready will be limited in how much they work.
At this point, it is guesswork how far along Hardwick's foot and Gates' big toe will be by August or even when the season starts in September.
“They're all supposed to be ready – unless there's a setback,” General Manager A.J. Smith said. “There is no question they're all going to be fine. It's the timetable.”
Kevin Acee: (619) 293-1857; kevin.acee@uniontrib.com
