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Jim Harbaugh gets up-close look at Chargers’ O-line vs. D-line battles

July 30, 2024

EL SEGUNDO — Jim Harbaugh played quarterback at the University of Michigan and then with the Chicago Bears, the Indianapolis Colts, the Baltimore Ravens and the Chargers during a stellar 14-year career in the NFL. So, maybe it wasn’t all that strange to see him assuming the position for a drill Monday.

Actually, given what we’ve seen from him since training camp began last week and, in fact, during spring practices, perhaps it was to be expected. After all, he has joined his players in the weight room and participated in other drills over the days, weeks and months since he was hired last winter.

This time, Harbaugh took snaps from center Bradley Bozeman with the offensive lineman engaging in one-on-one battles with the defensive linemen during the Chargers’ first day in pads. Harbaugh didn’t get hit once. So, did the offensive linemen win the competition against the defensive linemen?

Harbaugh couldn’t say definitely without reviewing the video.

Rookie right tackle Joe Alt was matched against veteran edge rusher Joey Bosa in one of the more intriguing battles. Harbaugh cautioned Bosa for getting a little too aggressive with Alt with a bull-rush on their first matchup. Left tackle Rashawn Slater was paired with edge rusher Khalil Mack in another key battle.

It was the most physical period in camp to date.

“It was really good,” Harbaugh said of the competition. “Somebody asked me who won. We’re going to have to go to the tape to figure that one out. It was a good give and take. Both sides. Just kind of what you want to see. You don’t want to see the offense dominate the defense at this stage, for sure. You could have the defense dominate the offense in these early stages of camp. That would be OK.”

Asked for his impressions of Alt, the fifth pick in the draft in April, Harbaugh said, “Acquitted himself well.” Harbaugh later said Bosa was guilty of a “tempo violation,” going a little too aggressively in a bull-rush attempt against Alt. Harbaugh reminded Bosa to throttle back a little bit.

After only five days of training camp, it would appear that Alt has won the starter’s job at right tackle, supplanting Trey Pipkins III. In fact, the entire offensive line appears set with Pipkins shifting to right guard, Bozeman at center, Slater at left tackle and Zion Johnson at left guard.

“Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve been fortunate to have really good players on the offensive line,” Harbaugh said. “It goes to show you there are no good coaches without good players, and that goes for the team overall. Really been blessed to have good offensive linemen. That is a group that has to play five players as one.”

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Bozeman signed with the Chargers as a free agent after spending two seasons with the Carolina Panthers and four with the Ravens. His job isn’t an easy one, having been given the role as protector of standout quarterback Justin Herbert and assisting in the Chargers’ attempts to bolster their ground game.

“Justin has been playing at a super-high level,” Bozeman said. “You have to go in and earn those kinds of guys’ respect. I’ve got to come in here and earn my respect and show what I can do. It’s all great in shorts and shirt, but when you put on the pads, that’s when you start to figure out who guys are.”

Herbert spent two-plus seasons working with Corey Linsley before Linsley suffered a heart ailment that forced him to retire. Herbert and Linsley developed a relationship that enabled both to excel at their positions, with Herbert throwing for a Chargers record 5,014 yards in the 2021 season.

Herbert and Bozeman are still developing their connection.

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“He’s telling me more than I’m telling him, but there’s a big line of communication there,” Bozeman said. “We’re sitting there making sure we’re all on the same page. When I have a recommendation I’ll throw it out there, but he’s running the show. Our relationship is really good. It’ll continue to grow as we work together.”

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Safety Alohi Gilman was absent from practice, and he had a good reason.

“The team got bigger and stronger,” Harbaugh bellowed when asked about Gilman’s absence. “Alohi and his wife had a baby (girl). The measurables are good. Close to nine pounds. Got some length. Twenty-one inches. Haven’t got the wingspan yet. Hopefully, we’ll get that (later) today.”

Orange County Register

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Jim Harbaugh gets up-close look at Chargers’ O-line vs. D-line battles

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