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SAN DIEGO – It wasn’t the first or the last practice of this offseason.

The Chargers didn’t wear full pads and didn’t keep score.

But as the initial two-a-day of training camp and the first full-roster practice since June, Friday’s session prompted smiles, loud dialogue and even a few cheers from the group of pre-selected season ticket holders in attendance.

Antonio Gates, Darren Sproles and Malcom Floyd were among the players that took the field in jerseys and helmets. Head Coach Norv Turner watched a group of men in white and blue jerseys stretch hamstrings, twist torsos and grab toes to prepare for the first drills and took stock of his roster.

“I look at the 11-game winning streak we had (last season) and most of those guys practiced today,” Turner said. “The thing that continues to jump out at me is the continuity we have. We have a group of guys that have been together for a long time. We’ve added a lot of young guys that have spent a lot of time getting up to speed. The foundation has been laid.”

Two days after San Diego signed Gates to a new contract that will keep him with the team through 2015, the tight end caught passes from Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers, then listened as No. 17 shared his excitement.

“It feels like we’re further along than normal, but I guess that’s (how you feel) every year,” Rivers said. “You do feel more and more crisp, more and more in sync every year. You expect that and it’s part of that ultimate push to get to the top.

“I am looking forward to seeing our personality and who we are going to become over the next month. Each year is new and you find out who will step into (leadership) roles.”

Turner said the first part of this week helped set the tempo for camp and he is now ready to prepare his players to defend their four consecutive AFC West titles.

“This group has handled change, distraction and adversity as well as any group I’ve been around,” Turner said. “There’s a bunch of guys that are going to get an opportunity to play and I think the guys lined up next to them have confidence in them.”

GREEN LIGHT: Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding’s injured groin sustained during practice at the Pro Bowl in January required more than three months of “pretty intense” rehab.

But the man who placed better than 91 percent of his field goals through the uprights last season swatted footballs off a tee Friday with his right foot with textbook form and is fully recovered.

“I feel great,” Kaeding said. “I’ve been kicking the last month or two and it feels fine and rested and ready to take on the season.”

RIVERS CONFIDENT: Brandyn Dombrowski took reps at left tackle with the first offense Friday. Tra Thomas, a 13-year veteran, participated in one of his first practices as a Charger.

Philip Rivers is confident in all of the players that could hold the position during the season.

“Whoever it is that lines up right there, I’ve got full confidence in, and I won’t play one bit different,” Rivers said.

BOLTS: Mike Scifres uncorked several punts that traveled more than 50 yards, closing a special teams period with 61 and 66-yard boots … Mike Tolbert was targeted often on running and passing plays during team periods … Eric Weddle cradled an interception with both hands, protecting the ball by pitching forward into the grass. He leaped to his feet and sprinted for the right sideline … Weddle made his second interception of the day in the afternoon and nearly had a third, but Antoine Cason swatted the ball to the ground first … Tight end Randy McMichael picked up a blitzer with a block that allowed Billy Volek time to find Jeremy Williams down the left hash … Cason blanketed Malcom Floyd down the left sideline during a limited-contact drill, but the tall receiver made a high catch … Antonio Gates and McMichael each racked up catches during the evening practice.