01-15-2020, 09:05 AM
Jerry Tillery is trying to make up for lost time in his first NFL training camp.The Los Angeles Chargers defensive end http://www.chiefslockerroom.com/authenti...man-jersey , who was the 28th overall selection in April's draft, didn't participate in offseason workouts due to shoulder surgery. He didn't play Thursday night preseason opener at Arizona but is likely to make his debut when the Chargers host New Orleans on Aug. 18.Tillery has started to see more snaps with the first team and is beginning to show why he was a first-round pick. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said Sunday's padded practice was the first time where he stood out in 11-on-11 drills."You're like, 'Oh, okay! We just saw a flash of Jerry Tillery.' I think he just needs the physical part of it now. You know, the lining up, the block-reaction and things like that," Bradley said.Tillery — a second-team AP All-America choice last season at Notre Dame — said the biggest hindrance hasn't been his conditioning. He suffered a torn labrum early last year but didn't opt for surgery until the end of the season."It's just the technique, fundamentals," he said. "What we work on every day is what the challenge is. I hadn't played in a game since (last December against) Clemson."Bradley said the coaching staff has been deliberate in bringing Tillery along Womens Harrison Butker Jersey , especially during team drills.While defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram will be counted on to provide the majority of the sacks for the Chargers this season, Tillery gives the defense an athletic pass rusher up the middle. He led Notre Dame in sacks (eight) and forced fumbles (eight) last season as the Fighting Irish made it to the College Football Playoffs semifinals.Justin Jones, a third-round pick last season, is listed ahead of Tillery on the depth chart while 13-year veteran Brandon Mebane is the projected starter at nose tackle.Jones saw limited snaps against Arizona but earned plaudits from Bradley for continuing his strong start to training camp.Bradley also said that Tillery has some versatility because of his length (6-foot-7) where he could line up at times as an edge rusher.Tillery will get plenty of snaps this week. The Chargers will have joint workouts with New Orleans Thursday and Friday before their game two days later."I'm feeling great and moving even better. I'm looking forward to these next practices," he said. Editor’s note: We welcome in contributor Jason B. Hirschhorn of Acme Packing Company — our sister site covering the Green Bay Packers — for Five Questions with the Enemy as we head into the Week 8 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Packers on Sunday Night Football.1) The Green Bay Packers are 6-1, their one loss coming to the Philadelphia Eagles back in Week 4. What did Philadelphia do that led to the loss?The Packers had trouble stopping the running attack of Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders in that game. The two combined for nearly 160 rushing yards and two touchdowns, something that no team had done to Green Bay up to that point. Combined with the Packers offense faltering the red zone on their final drive, it produced their first loss of the season.2) WR Davante Adams has been out since that loss, yet the Packers have won every game since. What has the offense to make up for all that Adams does?Though other players have raised their level of play in Davante Adams’ absence Daniel Sorensen Jersey , Jones has become the focal point of both the ground and passing attacks. Against the Cowboys, the Packers funneled much of their offense through Aaron Jones. Jones made headlines for the four touchdowns he scored on the ground, but he saw plenty of work as a receiver (both lined up wide and on routes out of the backfield). That trend continued into the following week when Jones became the first read on Green Bay’s first shot at a touchdown:Though Jones dropped that pass, the Packers dialed up a similar sail concept a week ago against the Raiders. Despite a more difficult ball, Jones managed to hold on for the game’s first score:With Adams at best a 50/50 proposition to play this weekend, expect the Packers to lean heavily on Jones again in Kansas City.3) Why have LBs Preston and Za’Darius Smith been so successful at getting to the quarterback this season?Both players had strong track records of generating pressure before arriving in Green Bay even if their sack totals didn’t always reflect it. Now, in a defense that allows them to work off one another, they have ample opportunity to do damage. In pass-rushing situations, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine will often move Za’Darius Smith inside and place Preston Smith to his side. This allows the Smiths to overload opposing offensive lines with stunts or just conventional rushes.4) When is the last time you’ve noticed Aaron Rodgers play as well as he did last game against the Raiders (429 yards http://www.chiefslockerroom.com/authenti...ith-jersey , 5 touchdowns)?Though Aaron Rodgers has occasionally played better than last Sunday’s six-touchdown performance, the game marked the first time he had produced at that level in new head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense. Before that development, Rodgers had produced only in spurts for roughly a year and a half. His last complete game (albeit not as overall dominant) probably happened before his collarbone injury. In Week 5 of the 2017 season, Rodgers put up 221 yards and three touchdowns against the Cowboys and delivered a game-winning back-shoulder throw to Adams in the game’s waning moments.5) Who is one offensive and one defensive under-the-radar player more people should be talking about? Why?On offense, rookie left guard Elgton Jenkins has played as well as any interior linemen in Green Bay. His power opens up holes in the run game and he has yet to allow a sack in five starts. Defensively, fellow rookie Darnell Savage has given the secondary a speedy, play-making threat that it hasn’t had since safety Nick Collins last played in 2011. He has missed the Packers’ last game, but it appears he will suit up this week in Kansas City.