https://theathletic.com/4737290/2023/07/31/chargers-training-camp-deane-leonard/

Chargers training camp: Deane Leonard, young DBs shine in first padded
practice

By Daniel Popper
July 31, 2023

COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers held their fourth practice
of training camp Monday at Jack R. Hammett Sports Complex. It was their
first padded practice of camp so far.

Here are my notes, observations and takeaways:

Young DBs shine in team drills

With pads on for the first time in camp, the Chargers featured the run
game heavily in Monday’s practice. Of the 35 repetitions of 11-on-11
work, 17 of them were run plays. As coach Brandon Staley said after
practice, “That was by design. We want to see these guys fit their pads
and be able to feel what you need to in order to be good in the run game.”

Even with the relatively limited passing action, though, the takeaway
from the day was how the Chargers’ young defensive backs performed in
coverage. In particular, second-year cornerback Deane Leonard had five
pass breakups on seven targets.

Leonard, a seventh-round pick in 2022, got off to a slow start in the
red zone seven-on-seven period, giving up back-to-back touchdowns to
John Hightower while working against Justin Herbert. But he responded
later in the period against third-string quarterback Max Duggan. On a
third-and-goal, Duggan tried to hit rookie receiver Terrell Bynum at the
front corner of the end zone. Leonard made a great break on the route
and hit Bynum as he tried to make the catch. Then Leonard ripped the
ball free for his first pass breakup of practice.

On the next play, Duggan tested Leonard for a second time, floating a
fade ball to rookie Pokey Wilson. Wilson jumped and came down with the
initial catch, but Leonard once again showed tremendous second effort,
contesting the catch as the two came to the ground. Leonard forced the
ball out for his second consecutive pass breakup.

Leonard maintained this level through the 11-on-11 periods. The first of
those periods was a run period, which featured rushing plays and play
action from the offense. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore called a
shot play on backup quarterback Easton Stick’s first rep, attempting to
hit rookie Quentin Johnston on a go route off play action. Leonard was
not fooled by the fake handoff. He stuck Johnston’s route. Stick’s pass
was under-thrown. Johnston adjusted and got to the ball first. But
Leonard was in good position and knocked the ball free as Johnston tried
to control the catch.

The two most impressive plays of Leonard’s practice came in the final
two 11-on-11 periods.

On the first, a red zone rep from inside the 10, Herbert rolled out to
his right. Donald Parham Jr. was isolated to that side, and Parham tried
to use his big frame to box out Leonard in the end zone in a one-on-one
matchup. Leonard fought through all 6-foot-9 of Parham and forced his
way in front of the tight end, breaking up the pass.

On the second play, Stick attempted a fade ball to Parham, who was once
again one-on-one with Leonard. Despite giving up seven inches to Parham,
Leonard displayed promising physicality as Parham leaped for the pass.
He then knocked it away for his fifth pass breakup of the day.

“That’s an area that we’ve really focused on,” Staley said of Leonard’s
ball production in Monday’s practice. “He has really good speed, and
he’s got good size. But I think playing with his back to the ball and
identifying his press fundamentals (are what we’ve worked on), because
he has a lot of good traits to work with.”

Ja’Sir Taylor came to the Chargers’ in the same draft class as Leonard.
Taylor was a sixth-round pick in 2022. He also made three plays on three
consecutive reps in an 11-on-11 red zone period.

Herbert challenged Taylor on all three of his reps of the period. The
first was a fade to Johnston. Taylor won this battle and forced the
incompletion. On the second rep, Khalil Mack got home for a sack. The
Chargers do not whistle sacks dead, though, so the play went on. Herbert
tried to hit Mike Williams on the right edge of his end zone. Taylor was
in good coverage, limiting Williams’ space near the sideline. The pass
went off Williams’ hands, as he ran out of room. On the next play,
Herbert tried a fade ball to Williams with Taylor in coverage. Williams
had no field space to make a play on the ball, and Herbert’s pass sailed
out of the bounds.

Asante Samuel Jr. also picked off Duggan in seven-on-seven.

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