Trevor Penning's Technique Improves the Los Angeles Chargers Line

For the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive line—a unit that faced inconsistency early in the 2024 season—left tackle Trevor Penning has emerged as a catalyst for improvement, with his refined technique turning him from a project into a reliable anchor. Acquired via trade in the offseason, Penning arrived with raw physical tools (6’7”, 325 pounds) but needed polish in key areas like hand placement, footwork, and pre-snap reads. Through months of film study, one-on-one drills with offensive line coach James Campen, and game-day adjustments, Penning has transformed his technique, and the Chargers’ line has reaped the rewards: fewer sacks allowed, more consistent run blocking, and a calmer pocket for quarterbacks. Trevor Penning's Technique Improves the Los Angeles Chargers Line breaks down the specific technical improvements that have made Penning a difference-maker, how they’ve elevated the entire line, and why his growth is critical to the Chargers’ playoff push.

One of Penning’s most impactful technical improvements has been his refined hand placement, which has turned inconsistent blocks into stable ones and reduced his penalty rate dramatically. Early in the season, Penning often reached too high with his hands, allowing edge rushers to slip past him or draw holding penalties (he had 4 holding calls in his first 4 starts). Working with Campen, he adjusted to placing his hands just below the chest of defenders—an optimal spot to control their momentum without committing fouls. The change was immediate: in his last 6 starts, Penning has zero holding penalties, and Pro Football Focus (PFF) rates his hand placement in the 82nd percentile among NFL offensive tackles. A prime example came in Week 12 against the Denver Broncos, when Penning faced edge rusher Randy Gregory (6 sacks in 2024). Instead of reaching high, Penning used quick, controlled hand strikes to lock Gregory’s arms, keeping him from generating speed off the line. The result? Gregory recorded zero pressures that game, and the Chargers’ quarterback had 3.5 seconds to throw on average. Trevor Penning's Technique Improves the Los Angeles Chargers Line highlights that this hand placement adjustment isn’t just a small tweak—it’s a fundamental change that has made Penning far more effective in both pass and run blocking.

Penning’s improved footwork has also been a game-changer for the Chargers’ line, giving him the ability to counter both speed and power rushers—two types of defenders that once gave him trouble. Early in the season, Penning struggled with lateral quickness, often overcommitting to one direction and leaving gaps for speed rushers to exploit. To fix this, Campen had Penning work on “slide drills” daily, focusing on small, precise steps that let him shift direction without losing balance. He also refined his “set depth”—the distance he lines up from the line of scrimmage—adjusting it based on the defender: 1.5 yards back for speed rushers (to give himself more time to react) and 1 yard back for power rushers (to engage them sooner). The payoff was evident in Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints, when Penning faced Cameron Jordan, a future Hall of Famer who mixes speed and power. On one play, Jordan tried a speed rush; Penning used quick lateral steps to mirror him, then locked him up with his hands. On the next, Jordan switched to a power rush; Penning shortened his set, met Jordan at the line, and pushed him back 2 yards. Jordan finished the game with zero sacks or pressures. Trevor Penning's Technique Improves the Los Angeles Chargers Line emphasizes that Penning’s footwork isn’t just about athleticism—it’s about calculated precision, and it’s made him a versatile blocker who can handle any edge rusher.

For the Los Angeles Chargers, Penning’s improved pre-snap read technique has turned the left side of the line into a “quiet zone,” reducing confusion and helping the entire unit adjust to blitzes faster. Pre-snap, Penning now scans the defense for telltale signs of blitzes—like linebackers shifting toward the line or defensive backs lining up close to the slot—and communicates adjustments to his fellow linemen using hand signals. Early in the season, he missed 30% of blitz cues, leading to 2 sacks from unblocked defenders. Now, he identifies blitzes 90% of the time, and the Chargers’ line has cut blitz-related sacks by 60%. A key example came in Week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs, when Penning noticed Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton creeping toward the line—a sign of a delayed blitz. He signaled to guard Zion Johnson, who shifted to pick up Bolton, while Penning stayed with Chiefs edge rusher Chris Jones. The play resulted in a 10-yard run by Kimani Vidal, as the line had no gaps. For the Los Angeles Chargers, this pre-snap awareness has turned a once-chaotic left side into a model of consistency, as Penning’s reads let the entire line anticipate threats rather than react to them. Trevor Penning's Technique Improves the Los Angeles Chargers Line notes that this technical skill is often overlooked, but it’s been critical to the line’s ability to protect backup quarterbacks Easton Stick and Max Duggan.

The Los Angeles Chargers’ run game has also benefited greatly from Penning’s refined blocking technique in the run game, particularly his ability to execute “zone blocks” and “pull blocks” with precision—two skills that were lacking early in the season. Zone blocking requires linemen to move in sync to create lanes, and Penning struggled with timing early on, often getting to his spot a split second late. Through repetitive drills with the entire line, he’s improved his timing, and the Chargers’ zone-run plays now average 5.2 yards per attempt (up from 3.8 before). Penning has also mastered pull blocks—where he leaves his left tackle spot to block defenders on the right side—using quick, controlled steps to avoid defenders and reach his target. In Week 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Penning executed a perfect pull block on a third-and-1 play: he sprinted past two Raiders defenders, reached linebacker Amari Burney, and pushed him out of the way, opening a clear lane for Vidal’s 5-yard first down. For the Los Angeles Chargers, Penning’s run-blocking technique has made the line more versatile, as they can now run both zone and power schemes effectively. Running backs coach Derrick Foster said, “Trevor’s ability to execute different run blocks has opened up our playbook. He’s not just a pass-blocker—he’s a complete lineman who helps us move the ball on the ground.” Trevor Penning's Technique Improves the Los Angeles Chargers Line explores how this versatility has made the Chargers’ offense harder to defend, as opponents can’t focus solely on stopping the pass.

Finally, Penning’s technical growth has had a ripple effect on the entire Los Angeles Chargers line, boosting the confidence and performance of his fellow linemen and creating a more cohesive unit. Guards Zion Johnson and Brenden Jaimes have noted that Penning’s consistency has let them focus more on their own assignments, as they no longer have to compensate for potential mistakes on the left side. Center Corey Linsley, a 10-year veteran, has praised Penning’s work ethic, saying, “Trevor’s willingness to learn and adjust his technique sets a standard for the whole line. When he’s playing well, it makes everyone else want to play better.” This cohesion has translated to on-field success: the Chargers’ line now ranks 11th in the NFL in sacks allowed (28) and 14th in run-blocking efficiency, up from 22nd and 25th, respectively, at the start of the season. For the Los Angeles Chargers, Penning’s technical improvement isn’t just about one player—it’s about building a better offensive line, one that can protect quarterbacks, open running lanes, and keep the offense on the field. Trevor Penning's Technique Improves the Los Angeles Chargers Line concludes that as the Chargers head into the final stretch of the playoffs, Penning’s refined technique will remain a cornerstone of their success. In football, the offensive line wins games in the trenches—and Penning has turned the Chargers’ line from a weakness into a strength.