Tag: Chargers coach

EDGE Joey Bosa comments on the state of the Chargers

Joey Bosa knows that there is a problem.

The Chargers shouldn’t be sitting with one of the worst records in the NFL right now, but they do.

Despite the most recent 45-0 blowout loss to the Patriots, Los Angeles has way too much talent that has practically been put to waste.

Among the talented players whose individual success, unfortunately, hasn’t been enough to contribute to wins is edge defender Joey Bosa. Bosa commented on the current state of the team Monday.

“It’s pretty obvious there’s some problems,” Bosa said. “I’m going to show up and I’m going to play hard. I don’t know if everybody else is. This last game is definitely going to affect some guys.”

The problem that Bosa is most likely referring to is the coaching woes that have been ongoing all season, which have led to the majority of their losses being by a touchdown or less.

The chances of coach Anthony Lynn being back after this season are slim. While the front office won’t fire him at the moment because they love his leadership skills, it’d be a huge shock if they didn’t identify him as the “problem.”

With four games left of the season and even though Los Angeles is mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, Bosa is still going to make the most of each snap.

Chargers GM Tom Telesco’s seat could be hot

While Anthony Lynn is the one on the hot seat, Tom Telesco should shoulder some of the blame.

All eyes are on head coach Anthony Lynn, who’s job with the Chargers is on the line.

But general manager Tom Telesco is worth being brought up in discussion as a member of the organization who could be unemployed after the season.

Since being hired back in 2013, Telesco went on to hire Mike McCoy, which was short lived after going 9-23. Fast forward to now, Lynn, his second hire, is 29-32 and is likely going to be on his way out after this season.

It’s unlikely that a general manager is allowed to pick a third head coach after the first two proved themselves as incapable to produce a winning track record.

Telesco has only been to the playoffs twice in his eight-year tenure.

Telesco is coveted for landing players like wide receiver Keenan Allen, defensive end Joey Bosa, safety Derwin James and most recently quarterback Justin Herbert in the draft. But he has failed to bring in reliable depth players and it shows.

Offensively, he’s failed to put together a competent offensive line. Instead of getting top talent early on, he’s banked on mid to late rounders in hopes of them developing. That hasn’t paid off, especially when you have your quarterback running for his life all game.

Defensively, Telesco has prioritized that side of the ball, both in free agency and the draft. But the impact that the majority of those players have made has been minimal, as seen when they’re called upon when injuries have occurred.

That all ties into special teams. It’s been practice squad players that have been tasked with attempting to get the job done. The result? Ranked last in the NFL. It also doesn’t help when safety Adrian Phillips and fullback Derek Watt, two key special teamers from previous seasons, were let go of.

Don’t get me wrong, Telesco has brought in a lot of talent at various positions. But when the team has suffered back-to-back underwhelming seasons, you have to turn your attention to the man in charge of the football operations department, not solely the coaching.

When the 2020 season ends, it might not just be Lynn out of a job. Telesco might be shown the door, too.

It’s time for Chargers to show Anthony Lynn the door

Anthony Lynn is holding the Chargers back from reaching to their full potential.

Just weeks ago, I asked if the time has come for the Chargers to fire coach Anthony Lynn. The answer has officially been set in stone.

Lynn has been on the hot seat for the past couple of seasons, with it only getting hotter this year. However, Los Angeles’ loss to the Bills exemplified why it’s now time to show him the door.

Lynn was unable to execute during a few key situations, which cost them the game. The most head-scratching one came in the final seconds of the game when quarterback Justin Herbert completed a beautiful hail mary pass to wide receiver Tyron Johnson to get the ball to Buffalo’s one-yard line.

With 24 seconds left, they called a inside run play with running back Austin Ekeler. It failed and the team elected for a quick pass to wide receiver Mike Williams that also failed. After that, they ran a quarterback scramble play, only to have his offensive linemen dropping back in pass protection where Herbert was demolished.

They ended up failing to score and wasted an opportunity to extend the game, even if it ultimately wasn’t going to be enough to come back on top. That wasn’t the only time Lynn’s decision-making cost them against the Bills.

Just before halftime, down 11 points, Lynn decided to call a timeout with 21 seconds left with the Chargers facing a 4th-and-2 at Buffalo’s 48. The team had already wasted more than 1:30 off the clock, so why call the timeout? To get the offense in position to go for it? No, it was only to punt the ball.

But wait, there’s more.

Los Angeles was at the Bills’ 8-yard-line, facing fourth down with less than 11 minutes to go in the game when Lynn ran onto the field to argue the spot of the ball. The field goal unit wasn’t able to get in place on time to kick it so he had to use a timeout.

Since 2017, Lynn is 29-29 with one playoff appearance. The icing on the cake is that he’s 3-16 in one-score games over the last two years and he has blown four double-digit leads this season, which is a result of his poor clock management, in-game adjustments and play calling.

Lynn is well coveted as a person and for his leadership skills. However, he’s holding back a team that has a talented roster with his questionable decision-making, especially in critical situations. The future is bright for the Chargers, but it won’t be if Lynn is the head coach moving forward.

When the time comes, there will be plenty of coaches and coordinators that will be intrigued by the vacancy.

Chargers’ Anthony Lynn reveals he had the coronavirus

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn is fine and well now.

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn revealed on Tuesday’s season debut of Hard Knocks: Los Angeles that he contracted the coronavirus.

During a Zoom meeting with the team’s players, Lynn took questions in regards to COVID-19 safety protocols before saying, “I can’t promise you that you aren’t going to get infected…I got infected.”

A few player’s reactions were shown, most notably the wide-eyed defensive end Joey Bosa.

During a conversation with a Chargers staff member shown on “Hard Knocks,” Lynn said his symptoms included body aches and a cough.

“If I hadn’t been watching that golf event and saw that golfer complain about back aches and soreness, I never would have gotten tested and probably gotten people infected,” Lynn said.

Lynn, who is now the third reported coach to have the coronavirus, is now back to his normal self. “I’m good,” Lynn said. “I didn’t tell nobody…I feel like I’m back.”

Lynn is scheduled to speak to the media on Friday.