Rookie Slater commands respect from edge rushers

COSTA MESA >> Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa couldn’t provide a detailed assessment of the team’s prized rookie left tackle, Rashawn Slater, because he had only one pass-rush attempt when he spoke to reporters two days into training camp last week.

Three practices later, the Pro Bowl defender and the first-round pick have had a handful of battles, but no collision was bigger than when they met Monday for 1-on-1 drills.

Bosa lined up on the right edge and charged at Slater, but Bosa didn’t get far. Slater used his quick feet to gain control after giving away a few feet of space to Bosa. Slater then finished the play with his upper body strength to control the star edge rusher.

Slater, the 13th overall draft pick, likely gained plenty of respect from the Chargers’ defensive line because he got the best of Bosa, Kyler Fackrell and Uchenna Nwosu twice during four 1-on-1 drills.

“Any time you can measure yourself against real NFL players, I think you get a much stronger sense of where you’re at,” Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said about Slater. “But the thing I love about Rashawn is he’s a competitor and he’s been very fun to coach that way.”

Slater was knocked by draft critics for his lack of size as an offensive tackle, and some thought he would do better as an offensive guard, but many raved about his polished skills. Those skills were on display versus Bosa, who had the size advantage. Slater’s tenacity as a technician helped him keep pace with one of the best edge rushers in the NFL.

“I think he can handle it mentally, the way we want to play,” Staley said. “I just think from a mental standpoint, this guy’s about as sharp as you could hope for on the offensive line. You know, kind of maturity beyond his years.

“I think physically, you see the movement, you see the strength. … Now what he’s got to do is he has to translate his game to blocking Joey Bosa and understanding there’s a big game within a game and blocking different players and understanding how to use your skill sets against somebody else and then how to work with your teammate.”

and Kessman to push Badgley, who struggled with field goals past 45 yards last season. Badgley also missed a handful of kicks with the game on the line.

Vizcaino went 3 of 3 on field-goal attempts and 2 of 2 on extra-point attempts last season with the 49ers. Kessman made 69 of 96 field-goal attempts in four seasons with the University of Pittsburgh. think he’s flashed that he belongs on the NFL field. I think just if you just look at him, he looks like he belongs on the NFL field. And then we’re trying to train him at three different positions. He’s handled it mentally. And we’re putting a lot on him because we expect a lot from him.” They (league representatives) were here and we just kind of took them off and they kind of finished the practice. So, our guys did good, did very good with this sudden change and we were able to finish practice well.”