Bradley Bozeman and Zion Johnson are on the middle of an offensive line experiment the Chargers are conducting in coaching camp.
The Chargers hope to seek out extra consistency from the inside of their offensive line after it struggled to guard quarterback Justin Herbert in 2024.
If profitable, Johnson might probably land a contract extension from the Chargers after the staff opted in opposition to choosing up his fifth-year choice.
For Jim Harbaugh, all opponents are welcome.
However alongside the inside of the Chargers’ offensive line — an Achilles’ heel amid final yr’s success, too typically leaving Justin Herbert operating for his life — the battle isn’t over who will begin, however the place.
Like final season, Zion Johnson and Bradley Bozeman are locked in as starters. What stays undecided is whether or not Johnson will line up at guard or middle, and vice versa for Bozeman, as the 2 proceed what Harbaugh known as “not really a competition, but a competition to get our best combination.”
In coaching camp, the 2 are rotating between spots every apply, persevering with a trial that started throughout organized staff actions.
For Johnson, the transfer goes past uncharted territory. He has by no means taken a aggressive snap at middle at any degree, apart from a handful of Senior Bowl reps in 2022.
Although the Chargers by no means talked about taking part in him at middle after they drafted him, Johnson says he all the time noticed it as an actual chance given his measurement and defensive consciousness. However the group didn’t severely discover the thought till the top of final season, after they began having him cross-train to see how he’d fare.
“It was pretty early in the offseason,” Johnson mentioned of the pitch. “I want to help the team in any way possible, whether that’s left guard and now having experience at center. … However they see fit, I’m willing to plug in.”
Saturday marked Johnson’s first full-padded apply at middle, the place he progressed in each cross and run safety but in addition struggled, lacking stunts and committing a false begin.
What the workers sees, Harbaugh says, is elite athleticism: fast first steps, a capability to climb to the second degree — traits that trace at an actual upside if Johnson can regulate.
Chargers offensive lineman Zion Johnson runs onto the sector earlier than a recreation in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders in September.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
For now, Johnson’s greatest hurdle is the shortage of constant reps. With out them, it’s exhausting to construct consolation with the nuances past blocking — from pre-snap reads and safety calls to, most essential, snapping.
“Not having played center before, every rep is valuable,” Johnson mentioned. “[I’m] trying to get the reps in and fit in where I can. … Getting snaps before practice, getting snaps after, getting snaps in my room.”
Johnson’s place change can also be an opportunity for him to show worthy of a long-term contract. The Chargers declined the previous first-round choose’s fifth-year choice, making this the ultimate yr of his rookie contract.
That call was certainly one of a number of the Chargers have made to spur enchancment on the offensive line. On Sunday, the Chargers signed two-time Professional Bowl left sort out Rashawn Slater to a four-year, $114-million extension. With Slater and proper sort out Joe Alt solidifying the sides, the road’s inside stays the first concern.
Mekhi Becton was the answer at proper guard. The addition of Andre James briefly appeared to sign a change at middle, however he hasn’t taken any first-team reps and was omitted by Harbaugh when discussing competitors, largely due to Bozeman’s two-year, $6.5-million contract with the staff.
Upon his return, the entrance workplace made it clear to Bozeman that he wouldn’t solely compete but in addition strive his hand at each positions.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, proper, acknowledges Bradley Bozeman throughout a recreation in opposition to the New England Patriots in December.
(Greg M. Cooper / Related Press)
“From the jump, that’s what we were going to be doing, we were going to be rotating and playing different positions,” Bozeman mentioned. “I knew I was competing to start. Always been a competitor, never backed down from a challenge.”
For Bozeman, the problem lies in re-acclimating to protect — a much less daunting activity for the soon-to-be 31-year-old, although he hasn’t performed guard in a recreation in practically 5 years.
“I’ve mixed in a little bit of guard through the last couple training camps,” Bozeman mentioned. “Went back and watched some old film, picked up some old tips for myself, so it’s like riding a bike.”
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman known as the experiment “way too early to tell how things will shake out,” however mentioned the transition has been “pretty seamless” up to now, with the rather more skilled Bozeman mentoring Johnson — regardless of the competitors.
However in simply over a month, the Chargers will face a call.
They will both proceed with the experiment after a full preseason of reps — that includes an growing older middle making his first regular-season begin at guard in years, and a guard making his first-ever regular-season begin at middle.
Or they may revert to final yr’s pairing, the place each began all 17 video games however struggled mightily, particularly in cross safety. Bozeman and Johnson every ranked close to the underside of the league in hits, sacks and pressures allowed, in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus.
Even so, the workers believes the cross-training will enhance the offensive line’s total versatility, no matter how the competitors performs out.
With the Corridor of Fame Recreation in opposition to the Lions in Canton, Ohio, days away, Harbaugh stays undecided on whether or not the beginning unit will play within the preseason opener — a call he mentioned will likely be made later this week.
If Johnson begins at middle, he’ll additionally proceed taking snaps at guard, and Bozeman will do the identical, with Harbaugh saying that’s “the best thing for our team and our offensive line. We’re going to continue to cultivate that.”
