Chargers Roll In the Rookies

The San Diego Chargers kicked off their rookie mini camp on Friday, beginning in earnest what figures to be a defining season in franchise history. Not only are the Chargers entering the critical third season of the Tom Telesco/Mike McCoy regime, but they are preparing for what may very well be their final season in San Diego.

Here are a few takeaways from San Diego’s rookie camp:

–Melvin Gordon signed his contract just in time. The No. 15 overall pick inked his rookie deal shortly before the first practice began, making him the last of San Diego’s five draft picks to agree to terms. This is one of the most beautiful aspects of the new CBA, which set a firm rookie wage scale that leaves little room for negotiating.

Before the new CBA was agreed upon in July 2011, the Chargers were routinely among the last franchises in the league to get their first-round picks signed.

“I’m still just trying to learn everything: the calls, the protections, stuff like that,” Gordon said. “I’m just trying to play as fast as I can while also knowing what I need to do.”

–While it’s nice to have your first-round pick on the field, this camp meant more to the players who are still fighting for contracts. San Diego invited 15 non-contract players to compete in this weekend’s camp, giving them a chance to extend their football careers.

Perhaps the most intriguing of the non-contract prospects is Forrestal Hickman, an offensive tackle from Missouri S&T.

Football Insiders draft analyst Bo Marchionte said this about Hickman prior to the draft: “For starters, he is 6-foot-6 and 322 pounds and possesses above average athletic ability for a guy his size. He established himself as a force on the Miners’ offensive line and did not disappoint at the College Gridiron Showcase. … With some good coaching [he] can develop into a guy who earns a second contract after his rookie deal expires.”

Other non-contract rookies to watch include FB Chad Young, the mandatory local kid from nearby San Diego State, and safety Christian Dudzik. Not only does Dudzik play a position the Chargers failed to address in the draft, but he comes from the same program (North Dakota State) as fifth-round pick Kyle Emanuel. That familiarity should help both players, but especially Emanuel, who will be expected to play immediately on defense and special teams.

Emanuel is making the switch from college defensive end to outside linebacker. Coaching him through that change is Mike Nolan, the former Falcons head coach who joined the Chargers as a linebackers coach earlier this offseason.

“Coach [Nolan] is a great teacher,” Emanuel said. “He explains it well and he doesn’t assume we know everything. As a guy who played defensive end in college, that really helps me. He’s patient with us and he helps us learn. I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Titans Kick Off Rookie Camp, Too

The team the Chargers shared the rumor mills with for the last two months, the Titans, also began their rookie mini camp over the weekend. The big story there is Marcus Mariota taking the field for the first time with his new team, joined by a slew of rookie skill players that includes Dorial Green-Beckham (second round), David Cobb (fifth round) and Tre McBride (seventh round).

While all the new faces brought a new energy to the Titans, it was an old face who took the opportunity to stir the pot.

Incumbent QB Zach Mettenberger said the following in a text message to ESPN’s Adam Caplan: “I don’t [know] what the mind-set is, but at the end of the day I can just control what I do and I’m extremely confident in myself, almost to a fault. But people who know me know I’m not going down without a fight to the death.”

It may not be a fight to the death as much as euthanasia, as head coach Ken Whisenhunt has made it clear there will be no quarterback competition: Mariota will be the man under center in Tampa Bay in Week 1.

But whether it is Mariota or Mettenberger slinging the ball, one thing is already clear: the Titans have a steal on their hands in Green-Beckham. It is an opinion shared not only by Titans coaches and draft analysts, but by Bob Stoops, who coached Green-Beckham last season at Oklahoma.

“A lot of times, through different circumstances, young people learn from mistakes, and I felt like he did,” Stoops said. “There’s a maturing process young people go through, and I believe Dorial has grown. Dorial has so much going for him. I think he is going to have a super career in the NFL. I hope it works out that way, and I believe it will. I really do.”

Moss Wants Another Shot

Santana Moss, who averaged two catches per game over the final five games last season in Washington, is not ready to walk away from the game. He knows a new deal is not imminent, as NFL teams are using this time of year to evaluate young (i.e. cheap) talent, but the 15-year veteran is confident he will have a new contract in place before training camps open in August.

“I’m a free agent right now, you know how they do us old guys,” said Moss, according to 247sports.com. “I’m going on my 15th year. Right now my agent is talking with some teams to see what’s going to be my best scenario. Right now I’m just chilling, just enjoying life, and enjoying this off time.”

The former Redskins and Jets standout has more than 700 career receptions and over 10,000 receiving yards. Although his game-breaking speed has diminished, he is still a precise route runner who can find soft spots in the defense and make plays in space.

As for which teams might be interested? Keep an eye on the Falcons, where Moss could reunite with former Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. The Chiefs are also a possibility, as Kansas City continues to explore any and all avenues for upgrading its receiving corps. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is certainly familiar with Moss from their time together in the NFC East.

Or maybe Moss will got to New England and serve as a veteran security blanket for Jimmy Garoppolo.

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