Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman and wide receiver DJ Chark took the podium at The Bolt on Day 12 of Chargers Training Camp.
Below are three takeaways from their media availability on Tuesday:
Roman on Bolts recent offensive play
The Chargers offensive coaching staff has put a lot on the unit's plate of late, even without Justin Herbert taking the snaps under center.
In five practices since No. 10 has been sidelined, the unit continues to work through the installation process and showed strides of improvement during Tuesday's padded practice.
Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said after practice that even with quarterback Easton Stick taking first-team reps, he feels the offense is where it needs to be.
"It doesn't really [change], other than Easton is the quarterback now," Roman said. "We might be doing some things in practice that might not suit what we'd do with Easton in a game. We have to install our offense. In that regard, I really don't factor that in. I evaluate it as it appears."
He later added: "This process right here, we're putting on the ankle weights a little bit. We're working hard, working hard on all the different concepts. It's not really result-oriented right now."
The offensive playcaller said the term 'ankle weights' refers more to what the focus of the offense is at this point of camp rather than results on the field.
Roman spoke in more detail about how the phrase translates on the practice field.
"We're not scheming anything," Roman said. "We're putting out install in and the defense is putting their install in. Sometimes we're running plays we'd never run against that defense in a game but they are great teaching opportunities.
"I'd never run some of the stuff we're doing in practice against our defense in a game. But guess what? We've got to practice it, learn it and here's why we like it versus this coverage and not this," Roman continued. "But if they spring this coverage on it, the ball has to go here."
"Run game, we're running runs against fronts I'd never run against," Roman added. "But we've got to learn the plays and experience getting blitzed and blown up in the backfield. Here's why we have to do this, this or this to prevent that. You have to go through that."
But when does it become result-oriented?
In just about over a month.
"September 8," Roman said.
The Bolts have moved ahead with Stick under center, even with the him and Herbert obviously not being the exact same type of quarterback.
The strides of improvement are evident to Roman each day.
"Obviously, his style is a lot different from Justin's so how he moves the team is going to be different," Roman said. "But we're not interested in that right now. We're just continuing to get better."
The Chargers added another quarterback to the mix on Tuesday afternoon with the signing of Luis Perez.
Perez recently played for Arlington Renegades of the United Football League during the spring, where he led the league in completions (225), passing yards (2,309) and passing touchdowns (18).
Roman mentioned he heard outside recommendations this summer about Perez, who will now will add to the competition in the room.
"Really good workout," Roman said. "With Justin out right now, another arm. All competitors are welcome. Got some good competition."
'High hopes' in Year 7 for Chark
DJ Chark has shown a lot of what he can bring to the Chargers so far in camp.
The veteran receiver has flashed in different areas, finding an early connection with his starting quarterback when Herbert was practicing earlier in training camp.
And he's continued to be a key figure in the new-look and young wide receiver group the Bolts boast.
Chark expressed his enthusiasm for the season ahead as he enters Year 7 with a steady mindset.
"I got really high hopes for myself," Chark said on Tuesday. "As far as just being able to be in situation where I can fully give it my all and just worry about ball. I feel like this is a great opportunity for me, to be here, to be with the guys I'm around.
"Playing with Justin, things like that is an amazing opportunity," Chark added. "I just really want to challenge myself to improve every day, embrace the challenges, embrace the setbacks."
He's also been taking on a somewhat different role than he might have been accustomed to in previous stops.
Chark has embraced being the veteran presence in the room since joining as the most experienced member.
And similar to his fellow receiver Joshua Palmer, Chark tries to lead by example in everything he does, as he believes the room continues to gel together.
"I try to come in and be myself," Chark said. "Be a good example whether that's film, making sure I'm getting the right splits, the right depth in routes or just being on time in meetings, being personable, being able to be the same person every day and give it my all. Just be thankful for this opportunity and share that with whoever is willing to hear me.
"It's been great, the receiver room has been great," Chark added. "We've grown a lot in the past few months and just trying to continue that because it's a long journey, it's a marathon. So, keep going and being the best that we can."
Heading into his first season in the powder blue, he's taking it all in stride and in the moment.
"Just being able to stay true to myself, stay true to the game and take everything one day at a time, one play at a time and see where it goes," Chark said. "A lot of times in my past, I got ahead of myself, wanted my season to look this way or that way and when it doesn't look that way, sometimes you can see it as a failure.
"I'm kind of at a point in my career that what will be, will be," Chark added. "I'm big in my spiritual life. However it goes, that's how it's supposed to go. And being able to embrace that and enjoy, I think I'll have a lot more fun."
Roman to call plays from booth
Roman said Tuesday that he is likely to call plays from the booth this season.
That process begins Saturday at SoFi Stadium in the preseason opener against the Rams.
Roman quipped that he likes to be in the booth to stay out of harm's way on the sideline before going into detail of why he likes the view from up top.
"I think I can see the run game way better and you can see the passing game a lot better," Roman said. "There's some advantage to being downstairs.
"But the great thing for me — our offensive staff, I have great confidence in these guys to communicate messages and whatnot down there," Roman added. "That's kind of what makes the decision for me."
And while Roman said some offensive coaches will obviously be on the sideline, things will be happening fast and furious in the booth.
"It's important upstairs to work incredibly efficient," Roman said. "Somebody up there is writing as fast as you can possibly write to chart everything."
As for the actual plays Roman will call, he said Tuesday that the Chargers will keep things pretty vanilla.
"It's a preseason game, so you're really calling plays to see how our guys do," Roman said. "Yeah, you might sprinkle in a call where it's like, 'OK, we have to beat this blitz.' But I don't know that we're going to unveil and roll out the stuff that's coming later.
"We're going to play basic football. Good, hard-nosed football," Roman added. "Get open, make good throws, catch the ball, block guys, run through arm tackles. That's what we look at in the preseason."
