Everything going right for Los Angeles Chargers after first week

Following just one week of training camp, the Los Angeles Chargers’ stock is skyrocketing. Just how good of a week did they have?

Sure, it’s only a few days of positive results for the Los Angeles Chargers. No real games have been played, and only a few plays with pads run so far. But boy do the Bolts look better. Every move seems to be working, and every player is developing. Here’s what’s been going the past week:

1. Mike Williams looks the part

It’s only been one week of training camp, but everything is going the Chargers’ way.

Mike Williams (sometimes for legitimate reasons) was or is labeled as a first-round bust. In his rookie year, he dropped many easy catches and was injured for a greater part of the year.

With the rise of other receivers on the roster adjoined with the ascending play of fellow selections within the same draft, Williams was largely forgotten. It’s time to put 2017 behind us. He has.

During the team’s Blue-White scrimmage, the former No. 7 overall selection caught two touchdowns, first with the second-team and then with Philip Rivers throwing the ball. It featured one of his most dominant college traits: the ability to use his body control to score touchdowns.

Catching one from Geno Smith built his confidence, but running with the first team and scoring on Casey Hayward is enough to get every fan excited. And for what it’s worth, he’s taken multiple hard shots from defenders across last week and still held onto the ball. Toughness, combined with some boosted confidence, makes for a scary pair of traits that could see Williams to red zone dominance.

2. Kyzir White and Jatavis Brown playing well

Jatavis Brown once single-handedly beat the Denver Broncos, and it looks like following a rough 2017 campaign he’s ready to become that play-making machine once more:

I love watching him play, and he looked great during the live scrimmage. Athleticism or NFL ability was never a question for him, but struggling to learn the defensive schemes implemented by Gus Bradley forced him into a small role.

If he’s finally figured it out and carries some momentum from the preseason into Week 1, then he’s the best linebacker on the team. How has he undergone such a drastic change, though, in such a short time? It’s simple: the Chargers gave him no choice but to be excellent.

Kyzir White was brought in this past draft to play multiple positions, one of them being the role played by Brown. Not only has he played well thus far, but he absolutely looks the part; his size is hard to ignore on the practice field.

White’s dominance may positively correlate with Brown’s improvement, and the Chargers are all the better for it. Both should complement each other very well on the defense and could fill a void if Denzel Perryman (inevitably?) goes down with an injury.

3. Derwin James is back on the field and playing everywhere

The last Chargers’ first-round selection to practice on the first day of training camp was Melvin Gordon. Since then, whether due to injury or contract issues, every round one pick has missed time. Derwin James was no exception (injury), but is back on the field and looking as-advertised.

One of the most defining characteristics of James’ arsenal of traits is his football intelligence. Because he understands the game so well, missing time was not as inhibiting as it would have been for a wide receiver who needs to develop a rapport with the quarterback.

When James hit the field for the first time, he was constantly shifting positions and demonstrating to fans just how versatile he could be. It’s imperative that coaches put their players in the best position to succeed; the fact that James can play four of them is outstanding.

4. Chargers appealing to a wider audience

If this doesn’t inflate your footballs, go see a doctor.

It’s no secret the number of Chargers fans took a nose-dive following their move to Los Angeles, and it showed in the stands. Alienating your core franchise fans and moving to a city that wants nothing to do with you was, and still is, a poor decision; creating a documentary series in the same vein of ones on local television that followed the Los Angeles Lakers is a great one.

In fact, it’s a genius one. Fans should be excited for this one, and if the Chargers are the team they’re supposed to be in 2018 then it could be some entertaining television. I know I’ll be watching.