Chargers training camp: Justin Herbert, receivers finding timing in Mike McDaniel’s offense

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is finding his rhythm within coordinator Mike McDaniel’s new passing offense.

That much was clear during a three-play stretch Thursday as the Chargers held their second practice of training camp at The Bolt. All three throws came over the middle of the field.

The first-team offense was facing the second-team defense in 11-on-11. On first down, Herbert dropped back off play action and connected with receiver Quentin Johnston on an in-breaker. On second down, Herbert again faked a handoff and this time executed an abbreviated drop.

He turned quickly and fired a dart to receiver Tre’ Harris on a shallower in-breaker. On third down, Herbert dropped straight back with no play action. Herbert’s back foot hit. He hopped comfortably one time. Then he released the throw. Receiver Ladd McConkey had shaken cornerback Deane Leonard at the top of the route. Easy completion.

And, more importantly, three consecutive completions in perfect timing for Herbert and his receivers.

Timing is essential in McDaniel’s scheme. McDaniel wants Herbert to release the ball as quickly as possible. The primary objective is to give receivers room to create after the catch. The byproduct is limiting hits on Herbert, who was hit more than any quarterback in the NFL last season.

McDaniel asked Herbert to change his shotgun footwork during the offseason. Herbert now sets up with his left foot forward instead of his right. This puts Herbert in a throwing stance virtually as soon as he catches the snap from center Tyler Biadasz.

For the passing offense to click, Herbert had to master these footwork changes. At the same time, the receivers had to master landmarks on several routes to synchronize their breaks with Herbert’s drops.

Through the spring, the results were uneven. This was understandable given the various changes to variables within the passing game.

Now it feels as though these crucial timing components are as polished as they have been since McDaniel took over in January. McDaniel was not present for Thursday’s practice because he was attending a funeral. He was there for Wednesday’s opener, and he is expected back for Friday’s third practice of camp.

The Chargers broke for summer break June 18. Players were away from the team for a little over a month. During that stretch, Herbert said he put in additional work to hone his footwork and timing. While home in Oregon, Herbert threw to his younger brother, Patrick, who is a tight end in training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

That extra effort is paying off early in Chargers camp.

“You just get to the point where you’re not thinking about it,” Herbert said of the footwork changes. “You go out to practice, and you’re just throwing the ball. And now you can worry on (throwing) mechanics — ‘How am I throwing the ball? Where is it going? — routes and things like that. As opposed to months ago, it was making sure that your feet are lined up with the routes, timing. So there was a lot that went into it. But now it’s just playing football.”

In the next period of 11-on-11 on Thursday, Herbert completed another quick-game pass to McConkey on third down. McConkey had space off the line of scrimmage, and Herbert threw to him immediately for the conversion.

“You’re playing in timing,” Herbert said, “and they’re given the ball in an opportunity where they can turn upfield and they can make something happen.”

News and notes

• After sitting out Wednesday’s practice entirely, edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu had his helmet and jersey on while stretching with the team at the beginning of Thursday’s practice. He worked off to the side with a trainer for the opening period of practice, which was special teams. Then Tuipulotu participated in individual drills with the other edge rushers. When team drills began, Tuipulotu left the practice field and trained with executive director of player performance Ben Herbert in the weight room. Tuipulotu did not participate in the fourth-quarter-finishing drills at the end of practice. He remains in contract-extension negotiations with the Chargers.

• Running back Keaton Mitchell flashed Thursday in the passing and running games. On the opening play of seven-on-seven, Mitchell was aligned as a receiver and beat cornerback Eric Rogers on a go route down the left sideline. Herbert threw a perfect ball to Mitchell’s outside shoulder, and Mitchell made the catch in bounds with little room to operate. Later in practice, Mitchell showed off his speed as a runner, getting to the edge on an outside rush to the right.

• Through the first two practices of training camp, Tony Jefferson and R.J. Mickens have split reps as the third safety when Derwin James Jr. plays in the nickel. Rookie Genesis Smith has been working with the second team.

• At cornerback, a three-man battle is shaping up for two spots on the outside when James is at nickel. Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart have gotten looks as the outside corners in those packages. Still had an interception on a loose throw over the middle Wednesday. Hart had two pass breakups in Thursday’s practice, including a leaping deflection that prevented an explosive completion from backup quarterback Trey Lance to tight end Oronde Gadsden.

• In Wednesday’s opening practice, the Chargers stuck with the same rotation at left guard as they used during the spring. Kayode Awosika got the first two reps at left guard with the starters before rookie second-round pick Jake Slaughter rotated in. Thursday, that rotation changed. Awosika got the first two reps. Then Trevor Penning rotated in at left guard with the starters. Slaughter’s first reps Thursday came at center with Lance and the second-team offense. He then rotated in at left guard with the third-team offense and quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. The first padded practice is Aug. 4 in San Diego. That is when the real evaluation can begin along the offensive line.

• Rookie receiver Brenen Thompson had one explosive reception in each of the first two practices of camp. Thursday, he caught a deep over from Herbert off play action. Wednesday, he made a sliding catch near the sideline. Herbert and Thompson also almost connected on a go ball in seven-on-seven on Wednesday. Herbert’s throw was just out of reach.

“He’s going to be very good,” Herbert said of Thompson. “He’s going to make a lot of plays for us.”

Johnston and McConkey are the top two receivers on the depth chart. Thompson will be battling for snaps with Harris, who is also off to a great start. Harris caught four passes from Herbert on Thursday, including a 2-point conversion during a situational period at the end of practice.