Harbaugh’s first day of Chargers camp ‘like being born’

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Jim Harbaugh is different. He wears cleats and warms up with his players. There is no music during practice.

The new Chargers coach also said things that are out there.

"It's like New Year's Day," he said Wednesday. "It feels like being born. It feels like coming out of the womb. 

"You're in there. It's comfortable and safe, and now you're out. You're born. Lights are on, it's bright, chaos, people looking at you, people talking at you, and it just feels good to have it happen."

Just like that. What comes along with weird things like this is winning, so you have to take it all.

It seems like it is something that the players have grown accustomed to hearing, but they won't be trying to speak Harbaugh.

"I'll leave the analogies to him," quarterback Justin Herbert said. "He's done a great job at creating those, so I'll support whatever he says.

"We're just out there playing football, and my job is to throw the ball, so that's what I'm going to worry about."

Wednesday was the first day of training camp for the Chargers and it was the first time they had practiced at their new home in El Segundo, "The Bolt." They had a ribbon-cutting event before practice started with Owner Dean Spanos, family members, and others.

As far as football, Herbert had some nice passes, like one to Joshua Palmer that he got with cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. draped over him. He also threw a pass to receiver Quentin Johnston, who was the talk of camp.

Johnston made some remarkable catches and even received praise from his  coach after practice.

"At that speed, the agility, his ability to catch the ball, I mean I've seen him pluck it out of the air," Harbaugh said. "He's as good as anybody doing it. 

"But combining that speed and agility, getting that strength component to go along with it. He's gonna be a problem."

Making plays changes things, which brings in rookie cornerback Cam Hart. He was facing rookie receiver Jaylen Johnson when Easton Stick thought he had a chance, but he didn't. Hart came down with the 50-50 ball and turned some heads.

How couldn't he?

Hart stands at an elite 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds and is physically imposing. He got stamped with a "steal of the draft" label by many draft experts. Harbaugh compared his size and quickness to safety Derwin James.

"I love Cam Hart. I'm a big Cam Hart fan," James said. "He's a big, confident guy. He looks like a basketball player out there he's so long. 

"But he's learning every day, is coachable every day. The sky is the limit for him."

Recently added, after minicamp, safety Tony Jefferson came away with an interception during 7-on-7's. The defense had themselves a day.

Harbaugh said rookie linebacker Junior Colson had his appendix removed recently, and there is no timeline for him to return.

"I don't have my medical degree, so we'll have to wait and see," Harbaugh said.

Harbaugh is a guy who walks to the beat of his own drum and says what is on his mind. He has brought his winning ways to Los Angeles and is trying to mold this team.

If Wednesday truly marked the birth of the new Chargers at their new facility, then great things could be on the way for a team that has failed in many ways to win a Lombardi Trophy.

The players have bought into it all because they have seen the results.

"He's his own guy," James said. "We love him."