The Chargers have earned a day off.

The Bolts are off Sunday but will return to work Monday with a fully-padded practice at 10 a.m. in El Segundo.

Until then, here are five takeaways from the first week of Chargers Training Camp:

1. A gliding start

The first week of training camp under Jim Harbaugh has centered around a familiar theme.

The Chargers Head Coach knows there are still six weeks to go until Week 1, so there's no need to go all out right now.

Instead, Harbaugh and his players and coaches have repeatedly mentioned The Glide Theory, which is akin to a plane taking off on a runway.

Entering Week 2 of camp, the Chargers are simply beginning to build up a little steam and Harbaugh is pleased with the vibe of the organization.

"I just love these guys. It's the players, it's the coaches, it's everybody in the organization," Harbaugh said. "I think you might say it's early to make that kind of statement. I've been thinking it for a while and finally put my finger on it.

"It's like everybody doing anything and everything they can to help our team win. It starts with the players, but it's to a man, it's every man," Harbaugh added. "It's been infectious throughout the coaching staff and the entire organization. Love these guys."

Khalil Mack has noticed the different tempo, saying Saturday night that his body feels fresh after the first week of camp.

The intensity will soon ramp up, however, as the pads come on Monday and the Bolts ratchet up the physicality.

But Harbaugh wants his team to protect itself, too, as this group needs to be healthy to get through a full camp and preseason play before September 8 rolls around.

"I think what we really got to convince our team is we just want to get better each day, better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than we were today," Harbaugh said. "When the pads come on, that's not some kind of magical thing that's going to determine Day 1 of the pads.

"I want our guys to continue to play the same tempo, same rules of engagement that we had so we could get better at football and we could keep this team healthy," Harbaugh continued. "I get excited about pads because it protects guys, it protects them better.

"I'm not looking for guys to have the pads on and now all of a sudden start using those as weapons against our own team, but we use those to protect ourselves," Harbaugh added.

2. Different flavors on offense

Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman had one of camp's best (and most insightful) lines on Thursday.

"When you come to practice every day, you're going to see us doing different things," Roman said. "We're going through our installation process for the last time, and every day is going to be a different emphasis.

"So, you might come out one day, we're throwing it all short. We're throwing it deep the next," Roman added.

Roman was spot on, as some days have been more focused on the run game while other days have seen Justin Herbert air it out.

That was the case Friday when he uncorked numerous explosive pass plays through the air, including a 35-yard score to DJ Chark.

As the pads come on next week, keep an eye on whether or not the Chargers keep this up.

Yes, Harbaugh and Roman want the offense to be a physical unit that wears its opponents down with a bruising run game. And we will get a better assessment of that phase once the pads come on.

But they also understand the arm talent Herbert possesses and don't want to waste that explosiveness either.

In a perfect world, the Bolts will be as balanced as possible offensively this season. That's exactly what we've see from them so far in camp.

3. The strength of the defense

We haven't been able to see the full extent of the outside linebacker room without pads on, but it's been hard to ignore the buzz that surrounds the room.

Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack lead perhaps one of the most experienced groups on the team in 2024 — but it's the depth added with veteran free agency addition Bud Dupree and Tuli Tuipulotu entering his sophomore season that is cause for excitement.

"I think we have a stacked room and we all complement each other well," Bosa said. "I think Bud is a very different rusher than I am, I'm a different rusher than Khalil is, so we can all pick each others brains and learn things from each other."

Bosa later added: "It's easier when you have a great staff around you, you have a lot of great guys and give you that extra motivation to just not only perform well for yourself but also not let the man beside you down and perform well for them."

Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter will have plenty to work with on the edge, with a lot of mixing and matching at his disposal with the big four.

And it all starts with Bosa and Mack, as Minter praised the duo of star pass rushers for their approach throughout the offseason, adding his excitement about how the room could shape the defense.

"I'm really, really happy with where they're at. I look forward to continuing to progress them," Minter said about Bosa and Mack. "I think the depth of that room will help both of those guys.

"Really happy to add Bud and also have a couple ascending young players like Tuli," Minter added. "I'm really, really excited about that room and in particular, those guys kind of leading from the front."

Mack didn't want to give away too much, but the veteran is excited for what the group could bring to the line.

In what capacity? That part remains something to be seen.

"It's definitely going to be different," Mack said. "I can't say too much, but it's definitely going to be different. Something I've never done before.

"I'm looking forward to it, can't speak too much, Mack added. "Don't want to give anything away, but it's going to be unique."

4. Johnston off to strong start

Quentin Johnston has gotten off to a fast start in El Segundo.

The second-year receiver has made a handful of nice plays during this first week of camp, highlighted by his sideline grab during Friday afternoon's practice.

It was one of the many connections he's had with Herbert during the first couple days as the two have showed their rapport on all over the field.

Johnston said Saturday he feels more comfortable heading into Year 2 and has taken time to learn from his rookie season.

"I would say significantly better just because I'm coming off a full offseason," Johnston said. "I'm coming off a season where I can just look back and kind of be like I got a feel of how so and so plays, how I should react in certain situations.

"Overall, just get a feel of playing NFL ball," Johnston added. "It feels a lot better going into the season."

Herbert himself also noted Johnston's progression throughout his first full NFL offseason.

"Q has done such a great job this year," Herbert said about Johnston. "He did a great job last year but it's tough being a rookie in this league but I thought he handled it really well.

"He's come back this year with a great effort, great attitude," Herbert added. "He's a great guy to be around, great locker room guy. We're expecting big things from him this year."

The wide out will have ample more opportunities as the intensity in camp picks up soon.

But he's continued to attack everything head-on ahead of his second NFL season.

"Whether it's the training environment, meeting environment, the field environment, attacking everything we put in front of him and attacking it with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind from what I've seen," Harbaugh said. "We're seeing the results on the field.

"I got good feelings how it's going to work out for Quentin on our team," Harbaugh added.

5. A focus on special teams

There was no shortage of special teams work during the first week of camp.

With Special Teams Coordinator Ryan Ficken back for a third season in the powder blue, it has been an emphasis each day of practice.

It started during Wednesday's session that feature punt coverage and return drills, seeing JK Scott boom punts from his own end zone.

The team then moved to the kickoff portion of special teams on Thursday, which is a bigger deal than recent years with the addition of the new of the new kickoff rule that will go into effect this season.

And after another day of punt emphasis Friday, the special teams week finished off with an impressive display by kicker Cameron Dicker.

Kicking for the first time this camp, Dicker was a perfect 11-for-11 in his attempts Saturday afternoon in a variety of situational drills for the kicking unit.

It's all in the details on special teams, and Ficken and the staff have attacked those from the jump.