How the Bolts Are Ramping Up Preparation During Week 0

Aug 28, 2024 at 04:40 PM

Omar Navarro

Jr. Writer

Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman and Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter took the podium at The Bolt.

Below are three takeaways from their media availability on Wednesday:

Week 0 prep

There's been a different feeling in the air this week in El Segundo.

"It's an exciting time of year," Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said.

The Bolts continued practice on Wednesday at The Bolt as they navigate through the week between the end of training camp and the beginning of the regular season.

Known as the "Week Zero" period, which has been in effect since the preseason moved to three games, this week has given teams extra time to really ramp up for Week 1.

It's something the Chargers have taken full advantage of so far as they begin the process of what's ahead.

"I think it's a very advantageous week for everybody," Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said Wednesday at the podium. "I think it's really well done, really well scheduled, really well thought out.

Roman later added: "Every year, every week really, it's a brand new start. We got a lot of work ahead of us and we're really excited about it."

That process began not too long ago, but now it's full steam ahead.

"I think we've been doing that a little bit towards the end of training camp, working on some of that stuff," Roman said. "But you really start to narrow down your focus for the Week 1 game this week.

"We've been doing some of the other stuff the last couple of weeks, but now it's time to dial in on the opener," Roman added.

Week Zero is not only for Week 1, however.

This extra time has its value for what it can provide the team past the first game of the season and into the first stretch of the year.

The NFL season moves fast, and this allows the Bolts to begin the preparation once it really gets rolling.

"It's a combination of obviously being really tight for our first game and the game plan, while also there's still a little bit of extra time," Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter said. "You might look ahead a little bit so those first two of three games don't sneak up on you.

"It's preparing for the first run of the season, Minter added. "We have a bye week after four weeks, so if you have a little bit of extra time then it's making sure we're getting ready for these four games. And then as the guys come back early next week, it's a one-track mind on the Raiders."

Next steps for Morris-Brash

A preseason standout returned to the practice field Wednesday in El Segundo.

Tre'Mon Morris-Brash was among the 15 players signed to the Bolts practice squad on Wednesday as the undrafted rookie out of Central Florida impressed in his first NFL camp.

The outside linebacker closed out his preseason in a big way, racking up three tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, two passes defensed and an interception return for a touchdown in the finale.

Minter said Wednesday that the next step for Morris-Brash on the practice squad will be continuing to improve and fine tune his game.

"It's everything. And it's getting better every single day," Minter said. "It's getting better as an edge setter, getting better against the run, getting better as a rusher than can finish, getting better to help on special teams."

While he might not be on the 53-man roster, the defensive coordinator made sure to let Morris-Brash and other members on the practice squad know to stay prepared for when the time comes.

"If you're here and on the practice squad, you're close to playing," Minter said. "If something happens, you want that guy to be the next person who's going to play."

Morris-Brash will now get a chance to grow on the practice squad — and it's hard to find a better room to learn from than what the Bolts have to offer in the outside linebacker group with Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Bud Dupree and Tuli Tuipulotu.

"Just continuing that improvement and learn from the guys in the room," Minter said. "And there's nobody who is in a better place than him that's on the practice squad in his position.

"Guys to learn from … a mix of young and older guys," Minter added. "A guy that had success as a rookie just last year [in Tuipulotu]. A Hall of Famer [in Mack]. Just continuing to learn from those guys and get better every single day."