*.**+*NFLNews

Column: Jim Harbaugh might sound quirky, but Chargers get the message as opener approaches

The Chargers feel as if coach Jim Harbaugh is pointing them in the right direction. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Even after listening to Jim Harbaugh speak throughout the Chargers’ training camp, edge rusher Khalil Mack still can’t figure how his new coach’s brain is wired. Whenever Harbaugh is talking, Mack has no idea what he’s about to hear.

“Never know what he’s going to say when he’s in front of the whole group of people in the team room,” Mack said as he looked down to conceal his smile.

Rookie linebacker Junior Colson played under Harbaugh over the three previous years at the University of Michigan, and he can’t predict the metaphor that Harbaugh might use to convey a certain idea.

“He still catches you by surprise sometimes,” Colson said.

That’s also the case at news conferences, in which Harbaugh’s stream-of-consciousness soliloquies and unusual word choices often make reporters glance at one another with amusement.

Read more: Meet Sanjay Lal, Chargers receivers coach with hands on the key to an untested offense

Last week, Harbaugh was explaining the importance of practice squad players being ready to play in case they are suddenly elevated to the active roster.

“They gotta stay frosty,” he said, comparing players to beer mugs.

Later, when asked about his evolution as a coach, Harbaugh described himself as open to change and used a mall-entrance simile to make his point.

“In general, just the open door, that’s the one I seek,” he said. “It’d be like if you went to the mall and sometimes they have that bank of doors and several are shut but one’s open. I’m not trying the one that’s closed. I’m walking through that open door.”

It was quirky.

It was weird.

It was Harbaugh.

“Definitely don’t know what to expect,” Mack said.

Jim Harbaugh speak often brings a smile to Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack. (Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)

But Harbaugh’s unpredictability as a speaker is balanced by his consistency…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/column-jim-harbaugh-might-sound-101553035.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-09-04 10:15:53

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Check Also

NFL injury tracker Week 6: Malik Nabers ‘in same spot’ in concussion protocol, Anthony Richardson returns to practice

There’s a good chance that New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers misses a second …

..........................%%%...*...........................................$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$--------------------.....