Shawne Merriman Talks Chargers Jim Harbaugh, Team Identity & Justin Herbert | AFC WEST ON NOTICE?

In this episode, Jake and Dan are joined by Los Angeles Chargers legend and Lights Out Sports founder Shawne Merriman to discuss the new Chargers Era of football under Jim Harbaugh, similarities and differences between this team and the Marty Schottenheimer teams, Justin Herbert expectations, the new physical brand and its effectiveness, Chargers offseason moves, their new team identity, and the AFC WEST division officially being put on notice. Tune in!

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Chargers Unleashed Hosts: Jake Hefner (@JakeTHefner) and Dan Wolkenstein (@DanWSports)

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Chargers Unleashed Podcast, and Blueprints, are weekly Chargers podcasts, part of the LAFB Network, covering all things Los Angeles Chargers. Chargers Unleashed and Blueprints provide listeners with unique and refreshing perspectives on the latest in Chargers news and storylines, along with special guest appearances, player interviews, off-season discussions for NFL Draft, Free Agency, training camps, and weekly updates surrounding Los Angeles Chargers for fans around the globe. Tune in for Chargers interviews, Chargers news, and more!

Chargers players discussed include Justin Herbert, Derwin James, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Rashawn Slater, Josh Palmer, Asante Samuel Jr, Daiyan Henley, Quentin Johnston, Tuli Tuipulotu, and much more. We also discuss Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, OC Greg Roman, DC Jesse Minter and the rest of the Chargers coaching staff. The LA Chargers 2024 draft class: 1 OT Joe Alt 2 WR Ladd McConkey 3  LB Junior Colson 4  DL Justin Eboigbe 5  CB Tarheeb Still 5  CB Cam Hart 6  RB Kimani Vidal 7  WR Brenden Rice 7  WR Cornelius Johnson

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[Music] welcome to another edition of chargers Unleashed J Kepner and Dale wienstein here with you from the LA football network this is your first time tuning in show make sure to hit that like And subscribe button on YouTube you can also follow us on Facebook Twitter Instagram Spotify and apple podcast and if you are joining us from ESPN thank you so much for tuning in really appreciate you joining the show today because we have a very very special guest joining show today and like always I leave the honors of introductions to a one Dan walkenstein so without any further Ado Dan walkenstein the floor is yours who is joining Chargers unleash today oh man Chargers fans make sure you check your electricity have the generator ready the lights may come out they might come back on Mr lights out three-time allpro Edge linebacker Mr Shawn maryman Chargers Legend joins charges unleash to talk a ton about the Chargers what they did in the draft what his expectations are his new streaming service lights out TV so much of that and more on charges unleash Jake I’m pumped for this one Sean is such a great Ambassador for the team for the fans and his energy just oozes through the camera and through the mic uh but Jake before we get to that let’s pay the bills real quick let’s talk about our friends over at bet online just want to remind everybody that bet online is your number one source for all your summer Sports this season including MLB golf NBA and NHL Playoff stats all the latest stats news and scores available to follow on your favorite teams get the latest odds and lines including the latest team matchups player props and odds on just about every sport that is out there head on over to the website today that’s betonline.ag today or use your mobile device to get in on the action bet online where the game starts Chargers Legend founder of Lights Out Sports Sean marman joins us next on Chargers Unleashed well we are super excited today Chargers fans you are in for a wild one we have a former three-time NFL Pro Chargers Legend Mr lights out himself founder of Lights Out Sport and now lights out TV that is now streaming for free Sean marman joins Chargers and Leash Sean lights out thank you so much for coming on man we appreciate you thanks man I appreciate it as always man you guys you’re really cool man thank you of course of course lots to discuss today Sean you have uh experience and perspective that I think a lot of chargers fans would love to kind of tap into and so we’re going to do our best to do that we’re going to talk about your days in Marty Ball we’ll talk about your thoughts on this team Justin Herbert Jim Harbaugh like what this team needs to do but let’s kind of just kick this thing off from the overhaul that we’ve seen so far this season uh the coaching front office have gone through a massive overturn right you got Mike Williams Keenan Allen Austin Eckler’s not there you got 14 free agents signed along with the draft picks they made Joe hortiz Jim Harbaugh so many things have gone on but what do you make of that partnership and how they’ve navigated the offseason so far I I I think um look we don’t no one no that’s just a guarantee right we don’t bring in a new cach you guys we’re gonna go to the Super Bowl you’re gonna win 12 plus games no one knows but if you look at the offseason moves they’ve made right now they’re they’re making some identity moves right like this team has been lacking that for some time like who are they are they a physical team are they a speed team are they a finesse like we they have no identity and so if you look at Jim hog and the way they’re establishing what they’re trying to build now they’re sending a message to everybody in the AFC West right we’re gonna run the football we’re gonna protect Justin Herbert we’re gonna go out get two running backs and Gus and JK Dobbins um you know we’re GNA get everybody up to speed and check this I’m G tell you because I’m I’m a me I’m a natural meat head right I’m always be a lifelong me that’s why you’re here I mean come on now you know look when when is the last time you seen a strength of condition a coach in a press conference right we haven’t seen it and so I think for me personally the reason why Jim hobok had so much success early on is because he comes in and turn things around from the day he walks in right you haven’t seen superbow talk you haven’t seen playoff talk you haven’t seen Championship we haven’t seen that he’s talking about getting guys in the weight room today and competing today getting these offseason workouts and getting that’s how you change things right away because you’re going to weed out the guys don’t want to be there and and I and I do believe they’ve had some guys in that locker room you know starting with that 63 Point slacking that got put on them by the Raiders I mean they got some guys in there that’s that’s not that doesn’t want to be a part of the program so you’re gonna weat those guys out starting on the offseason so I think they made so many moves to send a message to the AFC West in general but also to the CER identity this is who we’re going to be guys we’re going to be a physical team we’re running the ball and then when we need to we’ll throw the ball down the field perfect transition to my next question for you Sean because you talk about that identity them trying to find it what type of team are they and again lots of additions made through not just free agency but the draft so focusing on this year’s draft specifically what are your thoughts and takeaways from the 2024 class and how do you see them impacting this team and more so the identity that Harbaugh and Company are looking to install I um I was shocked right with the with the fifth pick they took Joe all and I would tell you why not because Joe all is not a great player there was no talk other than the wide receiver talk to a couple days before the draft right you remember Malik neighbors taking his visit out to LA looking at hous this I mean he was you know the feel was okay Kenan Allen’s gone Mike Williams gone we’re gonna bring in a wide receiver because we knew uh Marvin Harrison Jr was gonna be gone the next guy in line was going to be Malik neighbors if you go back and look at the pick and look at what I just talked about about the identity them trying to establish who they are this is a Jim Harbaugh pick this was a he guys this is who we are now and I the reason why I love it is because they brought in all the missing pieces by trading up getting lad from from Georgia they rice from USC they’re bringing in guys that are Fighters that that want to SC you know scratch scrs and get those extra yards like Scrappy minded guys right we’re not talking about these big big blue chip wide receivers or anything we’re talking about guys that you’re going to come in and fight right that’s what the attitude they’re presenting so um I give him I give him an a man for the for the overall draft they they feel devoided that wide receiver position I think I think lad is going to come in and really turn some heads I think he has an opportunity to be a rook of the Year type of caliber guy if he goes out and performs like how we think he can um and also too man they they filled every they filled every piece to the puzzle that they were missing right it went from oh they got no wide receivers and now a lot and they they’ve quickly fixed that and so going into the season I’m hoping for a big season out of Quint Quinton Johnson um I think he’ll they’ll find a way to get him involved in the offense I think they’re going to do a lot of damage this year I see them winning 12 games now real quick uh you mentioned two players there Quinn Johnson and you mentioned the draft picks former Maryland player obviously tarhe still is that your favorite player if not who’s your favorite draft pick that they brought in and then I’ll get to Quinn Johnson in a second um lad man I I I mean only because I played against the West Walkers I played against the Edelman I played against you know those guys who really was a dagger right they were D they were such a key part of that Patriots dynasty when they were winning they they wasn’t you know they wasn’t the the big name guys they were the guys that was gonna get the ball F get SC scratch the scr to the first downs really make you pay when when it was on the line and that’s what kind of that’s what kind of guy they have in him so I think that he’s probably my favorite draft pick um I want to see how Joe Joe ‘s gonna look at that right tackle position I’m sure they’ve probably talked to him before and asked him was he open to moving over to that right tackle position as well as a p as a former pass rusher dude I don’t want to see ran Slater and Joe all I mean my God which what side do you go and you pick right like what poison do you want to today so I I love that draft pick as well now master of identity you you talk about Jim Harbo identity Shan marman identity light out I remember the light switch going on and off all throughout San Diego days and now you got the lights out TV you got so much going on here and we’re going to talk about that towards the end of the show I guess like the a question that I have kind of going back to it and you mentioned like the West Welker and the New England days back in the day and how a lot of chargers fans and we were a lot of times thinking it was going to be a Malik neighbors right but then you go back and Jake and I were just talking about this on a previous show you go back and look at some of those insane teams that you were on right you go back to the 14 and two team and you go back and look at the stats there wasn’t a thousand yard receiver Antonio Gates hit 924 as a tight end Eric Parker was your leading receiving yards with 659 and that team was a juggernaut and so yeah just because they don’t get the wide receiver one quote unquote doesn’t mean they’re not going to punch you in the face they they there’s ways of punch you in the face there’s little upcut there’s body shots there’s you know there’s ways to wear you down and and this since I’m in Combat Sports Arena now this is this is a body shot type of team this is not we’re going to throw some big Hy maker and try to knock you out down the field this is we’re going to run the ball and body and body what happens in with with a lot of Fighters you start going to the body enough later on in those rounds they got nothing left and that’s what’s happening Jim hbar you looking at his Michigan days what did they do they ran the hell out of the football most of their big plays 30 plus yards down the field was play action and let me tell you man there’s nothing more demoralizing than a team that’s running the football and got the ability to hit something big down the field because as a pass frust it just beats you up you’re playing on your heels you can’t pin your ears back and go and so if if they get effective in that running game which it looks like very well they will be with with Zion and R ran Slater and and now all they get affected in that running game Justin Herbert is going to have a field day throwing that ball down the field and and that’s what I see is GNA happen now I I think it’s it’s interesting we see the 14-2 team right a lot of chargers fans have talked about some of the similarities that they see between like Marty Ball with Marty Schottenheimer back in the day and then you know you were impressive with norf Turner as well which I think was kind of like that but the charers teams on their fifth head coach since Marty which is wild but that style of play with the great of yourself and LT and Gates and loow Neil you lived and breathed Marty Ball for two years on this team do you see the similarities of Marty Ball to what Jim harbot does like what are the similarities or differences between what he does and what you’ve done it is very similar and you know what’s funny I always try to stay away from the comparisons right because that was a different era um you know the rules are way different now certain things you can’t do anymore the style of play is become more of a offensive driven League or quarterback’s league but when you go back to and start reverting to playing a brand of football that people don’t want to play it’s physical they’re running the ball they’re stopping the Run they they’re hitting you in the mouth for four quarters man that is just GNA wear guys down and I’m telling you I we for example we used to play with Chiefs and they would you know have PRI Holmes back there then Larry Johnson end up coming in they were running a ball 30 35 Plus times a game and Powers eye near sets far I mean they would you would like man Brian Waters and Willie roof and you like man this is this is terrible I mean Tony Rich it was it was D you would leave that game in your shoulders when you wake up in the morning just from taking on blocks and fullback you’re like my God I can’t you know so you you establish a brand of football that you want to be known for around NFL when that film comes on and people see you for the first time they like man we don’t want to play those guys they they’re they are physical as hell they’re G to hit you in the mouth with four quarters and it’s not very often that the game is reverted back to that so I’m glad to see that that’s becoming of importance to them again you talked about obviously mentioned it there previously as far as the identity in general of getting more physical running the ball some of those free agent moves that they have done but what are your expect for Justin Herbert in this new offense under Harbaugh and Greg Roman because this has kind of been the the I guess what everybody has been trying to figure it out because he’s got such a great arm and great athletic ability as a quarterback very mobile and we’ve seen him perform so well under those circumstances but people are worried about that they’re going to just take that away and it’s going to be 30 handoffs a game and he’s not going to be able to do what he does Best But I don’t see that being the case if you’re running it that much and it’s going to open up so much for the defense so I’d really love to hear your perspective on that let me tell you somebody like Jim harbar who’s been gushing over Justin Herbert even when he was at Michigan if you think people think that he ain’t gonna throw the ball they he they are crazy I mean he he’s what he’s setting you up for is to establish an identity you know setting the tone right you have to do that because if you if you come out and your mindset is 70% passing your team is probably going to have an attitude of a 70% passing type of organization that’s what happens right when you come out and say we’re going to run the football and we’re going to stop the run we’re going to protect Justin Herbert now everything else opens up the pass and all that stuff will second and let me guys let me tell you I mean you seen Justin Herbert on the field this dude in person is a big dude he is a big p he’s a big quarterback and guess what he’s fast he’s mobile so you know him being able to getting shotgun getting some of those RPO actions and so he can hurt you just as much with his legs as well so he doesn’t have to be a Lamar Jackson he doesn’t have to be a one of these you know quarterbacks who are very skilled to running the football he just have to do enough to put a threat there he he has to do enough to put a threat there and nothing against Lamar Jackson but we as far as capabilities of throwing the football Justin Herbert has the has a higher ceiling and what he can do as far as throwing the ball and so when you when you look at it that way and teams running the ball and they establishing a run and now that those long crossover routes down the field those uh you know uh big play streaks down the field those things open right up because it lowers you to sleep you gotta you know those quarterbacks those safety got to start stepping up in the box next thing you know that somebody’s going right behind you and it it is a perfect setup man so I I’m excited because I think they bring a brand of football like again I hate the comparison I don’t want to compare but our when you played us back in those mid 2000 teams you didn’t want to play us you just didn’t because people going Jamal Williams Lorenzo n we are running the football we’re stopping the run and and they’re putting that mentality back into the guys and I think there’s no better way to do it I know you said there that you you didn’t want to necessarily compare because obviously it’s different brand of football than what it was when you played under Marty Schottenheimer in those days but what do you think it will take for the current roster and this front office to get them turning into that style of football do you think that they already have the pieces in place or do you still still think there’s some pieces that need to be filled in that regard have you seen Zion and and Ron later this this all season yes sir yes sir I’m still trying to figure out if that if they were photoshoop or not I’m still trying to figure out that I mean I’m yo I was looking at that I said man hold hold on on I don’t know which weight R program they’re on but that’s not the one we were using when I was there because those dudes I mean if if you’re looking at the the um just the stamp and and and what they’re trying to build they’re going to run the football guys that mentality is there and and it’s going to be established they W and the fun part about me about this is we’ve seen what Jim Hall bugs did in the past as far as turning programs organizations around he’s did it he’s did it with far less he’s done that with farl he didn’t do it with a Justin Herbert he didn’t have a ran slate like come on he didn’t have a Derwin James and C Mack and Joey Bosa you know so he’s walking in the door now with like pieces to a puzzle now he’s just putting it together and now establishing a mentality and I think that’s been missing there for a very long time in fact you know we I was texting Jim on hok the other day and we were just talking about that yeah I kind of just thanked him for for um bringing that identity back to the team and and and just getting the fan you know obviously you guys been around long enough that I’m really close to the fans so I care about you know them feeling confident going into the season I care about you know the Die Hard Ball club and those guys in the parking lot feeling good about the team and get re just restoring that confidence back in the fan base that we once had and you can feel it I mean it’s palpable the difference in this offseason compared to what we’ve had not just last year but arguably over the past decade and it’s palpable and that’s because of that identity and the confidence and the experience that Jim Harbaugh brings and you’re totally right and it’s fun to hear like oh Shawn marman is just texting Jim Harbaugh like that’s also just fun to hear that like the the Brotherhood and the family I mean look at the end of the day he was still a charger back in the day like this is his family too and so kind of restoring that I think is something that Chargers fans have all kind of been behind now a couple questions before I want to ask you about your lights out stuff because you have so much stuff going on you followed this team and were part of the team but you’ve followed team since you’ve played intimately fan favorite since you played how do you like define success for this team this year like what should Chargers use as the benchmark for what that means I think they have the roster I think they have the capabilities to win a division this year um I know everybody’s talking about Kansas City and the three Pat and everything else um did see them not make the playoff last year with this talented roster that they had was was embarrassing it just sucked Al like it like man how how how can you miss the playoffs in general with this why I was going to ask you so like you know not to take shots at the previous regime but like what happened in your opinion I think the leadership everything starts from the top everything and um to see the GM there he he um to see him doing a press conference and in uh the conversations they’re having it you can tell the the attitude starting from the top and I’m not taking a shot at Tom Tesco I think Tom Tesco’s biggest problem was he stood by Brandon sty probably when they should have got rid of him at the Jacksonville game the previous year um so I’m not taking a shot at him at all but you can tell the attitude is different walking around that there’s a there there’s a different level of pride in that building now when I talk to some of the people that that’s still in that building in the pr and Community they’re walking around there different this is a different team this is a different organization it’s different feeling that’s going around that building now and it all starts from the top now you’re defensive mind you mentioned it you Sean Phillips you guys were crazy back in the day you know what dominant Edge play looks like you got you had 39 and a half sacks in your first three years which is wild new defensive scheme Jesse Mentor leading the helm you got Joey Boza khil Mack tul Le in a second year like this group has a chance to be dominant from your perspective like how would you assess the line right now and like what it needs to actually be dominant like we saw back in the day with yourself and sha marman and crew yeah well you obviously got two outstanding outside linebackers and P stres right in Joy Bol and khil Mack what I would like to see and it was an unsung hero for us and Jamal Williams Jamal William doesn’t get talked about enough I mean I credit a lot of my I I credit a lot of my um my play and my sacks and my um accolades to Jamal Williams because he allowed he stuffed up that middle you would not running up that middle even on passing situations you cannot step up and um deliver a ball down the field because of Jamal Williams so the last piece that in my opinion that they need to get really get there is is a big defensive uh tackle somebody’s going to stop the run clog up that middle because they were pretty bad last year running the football and you can’t win when when team is running the ball down your throat it just can’t happen we’re talking to sha marman here on Chargers on Le for those who are joining us on ASN thanks so much for tuning in you can hit the link on YouTube find us on charers leash to get the full episode there Sean a couple more questions before we get you out of here obviously uh you had talked about just the mentality in terms of what you deem as a success you’ve been there with Marty Schottenheimer and seen the success out of that system as it stands with the pieces are right now we could be talking about front office coaching offense defensive side of the ball what do you feel are the three biggest determining factors in how this team is going to find success this season the the first thing you need to do is win those close games right like you know they they has I think it was Dallas they had a had a close game against and and some of the other game like those games within six points or seven points they lost last year you got to get those those are the ones you got to finish out um what I would like to see them do is start fast right because they they played a lot of catch up dur the second half but more importantly um you got to win a division you have to and I and I know they’re talking about Kansas City going to repeat and all this other stuff but I if I didn’t believe that they couldn’t win a Division I wouldn’t say it um I’m not trying to be that much of a home or that biased uh I I believe they have the the tools they’re right now to go out win a division and and then you can start talking playoffs and championships after that you got to be the best team of your division we all know about the lights out Network extreme Fighting then we get the big announcement earlier this week you’re launching a new Lights Out Sports television network and this is obviously for you been a long time coming give us some of the background on how everything came together and what people can expect from this new network yeah I just uh launched Lights Out Sports TV you guys can download it it’s free 100% free um you guys can download on your Roku we’re on Apple TV we’re on every major TV platform and also your Apple and Android so go ahead and give us a download give us a rating there um and everyone knows about my lights out extreme Fighting uh fights which we have a big one uh May May 18th in Long Beach California get your tickets at lightell except.com but this is the cool thing we’re g to be live exclusively on Lights Out Sports uh we got like a 19 fights a five hour show on the 18th so people can watch us you know for five hours if you choose to hopefully you will uh but more importantly we got World Poker Tour coming on there Glory Kickboxing uh swerve combat chess is on in Outdoor America your fishing hunting Motorsports speed vision will be up there next week your fishing your surfing your skateboarding I wanted to create something that was the closest thing to going to a locker room right with Just Sports I’m still a subscriber to these other streaming I still got mod you know mod the streaming services um but there was very few things out there that was um just sports right you want to go to it you don’t have to sip through 300 plus channels uh you can go there and get all your sports so by next not by next Friday or Saturday we should have about 10 10 or so channels up and running live as well and then uh the week after we should have another five or 10 but we we wanted to create by the way you can you can watch it all over the world that that was another thing for me you can we can download it on any one of these apps all over the world and uh also to make it free man I thought that was important for us to to be able to make that free so people can watch now I I got to say like it’s it’s awesome to see you know someone has talented you you know former All Pro now kind of turning things around and kind of becoming this entrepreneur and you’ve been one for a while now if you have not done so you can go follow Shawn marman you know where he is but lights out XF on X lights out TV all of that sea maran’s baby and it’s so fun to see all of this kind of come to fruition for you Sean you’re a man of the people Chargers fans are now like in euphoric moments euphoric times with Jim Harbaugh what’s your message to Chargers fans in this new era uh just just get ready get prepared man they’re going to come out firing this is a new this is a a new team this is a new attitude um the Chargers should be more excited about this team in this season coming up than they have in the last decade and they have more than enough reason to I think they got great leadership I think the mentality has changed and watch the new identity is going to change so uh can’t wait to see everybody when the season start up man but get ready this one this one’s goingon to be a big one Sean marman Joy charging Le Sean thank you so much for coming on this has been so much fun long overdue We Appreciate You fans love you go check out Sean’s new platform hit the download make sure you give him a rating subscribe follow him on X wherever you get them uh best of luck to you and all of your endeavors it’s so excited to see the glow up continue for you uh you’re friend of the show welcome anytime all right thanks fellas thanks for having me on I appreciate it [Music]