Tag: Chargers Special Teams Coordinator

Chargers hire Ryan Ficken as special teams coordinator

The Chargers have a new special teams coordinator.

After allowing time for the dust of the 2021 season to settle, it became clear that the Chargers needed help in the special teams department. Fast.

Los Angeles announced Thursday that Ryan Ficken will join the staff as the team’s new special teams coordinator. The hiring was initially reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Ficken replaces Derius Swinton II after just a single season.

Ficken has spent the last eight years as an assistant special teams coach with the Minnesota Vikings. Ficken also served on the Vikings staff as wide receivers and running backs coach from 2007-12. He was a graduate assistant at UCLA before starting his career coaching professional football.

Pelissero also mentioned the Vikings originally blocked Ficken from interviewing, but persistence from the Chargers resulted in him being allowed to pursue the opportunity.

On the offensive side of the ball, things were sound. Kick returner Andre Roberts ranked first in the league with a 32.8-yard return average. Placekicker Dustin Hopkins made 18 of 20 field goals and 30 of 32 extra points after he was picked up by the team in Week 8. 

However, Los Angeles ranked last in net punting last season. Starter Ty Long averaged 36.8 yards per boot on 47 attempts, pinning just 11 inside the 20-yard line. 

Under Ficken’s oversight on the Vikings, kicker Greg Joseph led the NFC and ranked fifth in the league with 33 made field goals. Punter Jordan Berry finished the season 13th in net punt average. Minnesota churned out a second-place finish in kick return average and scored twice on kickoffs.

Based on how highly the Chargers viewed Ficken and their efforts to draw him away from the Vikings, expect him to stabilize a unit that was wildly inconsistent and turn it into an asset. 

Chargers interview Giants’ Anthony Blevins for special teams coordinator position

The Chargers are hard at work searching for their new special teams coordinator.

The Chargers are hard at work searching for their new special teams coordinator after parting ways with Derius Swinton II.

After interviewing Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey earlier this past week, they turned to his assistant, Anthony Blevins, to discuss the opening, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

Along with special teams, Blevins worked as New York’s assistant linebackers coach this past season. Before that, he spent the 2020 season as the assistant defensive backs coach.

Prior to joining the Giants, Blevins spent five years as a coaching assistant/special teams with the Cardinals.

Chargers interview Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey

The Chargers are in the process of filling the special teams coordinator vacancy.

After parting ways with Derius Swinton II, the Chargers are now in the process of filling the vacancy.

According to Orange County Register’s Gilbert Manzano, Los Angeles interviewed Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey for the same position.

Before joining New York in 2018, McGaughey had stints in the same role with the Jets (2014), 49ers (2015), and Panthers (2016-17).

Under McGaughey, the Giants ranked third in 2018, 17th in 2019, 12th in 2020, and 11th in 2021 in special teams DVOA.

Further, Carolina’s special teams ranked ninth in 2017.

3 candidates Chargers could consider to fill special teams coordinator vacancy

A look at some potential candidates, as the Chargers look to replace former special teams coordinator Derius Swinton II.

After just one season, the Chargers let go of special teams coordinator Derius Swinton II and assistant special teams coordinator Mayur Chaudhari.

Despite making strides during the season’s final stretch after the additions of returner Andre Roberts and kicker Dustin Hopkins, Los Angeles finished the season 28th in special teams EPA and DVOA.

Now, the search for their replacements begins. With that being said, here are four candidates that Brandon Staley could consider hiring.

Joe Judge

Before being relieved by the Giants as their head coach, Judge spent 2015-2019 with the Patriots as the special teams coordinator. Under Judge’s guidance, New England’s special teams ranked in the Top 10 in each of his five seasons as coordinator, according to Pro Football Focus. New England’s special teams was key in winning Super Bowl LIII, as the punt coverage team forced the Rams to start three of their drives inside their own 10-yard line. In 2019, the Patriots ranked first in average starting field position (32.7) and in opponent starting field position (25.1). They blocked two that were returned for touchdowns. New England never allowed a punt to be returned for 20+ yards.

Chris Tabor

Familiarity is a major factor when considering position vacancies, and Staley knows Tabor dating back to his time when he served as the Bears’ outside linebackers coach in 2018. Tabor is one of the more established special teams coordinators to the point where he’s being considered for a head coaching position (Panthers). But his resume speaks for itself, so it’s no surprise. The Bears ranked seventh in special teams EPA and DVOA. Chicago’s punt-return unit finished in the top 10 three of his four seasons with the team. Further, Chicago finished fourth in the NFL in punt-return average in 2021 (11.7 yards per return), 12th in kickoff-return average (23.1 yards) and they were one of just two teams with a punt return for a touchdown, with the other being the Rams.

Jeff Rodgers

Staley and Rodgers were a part of the Bears’ staff in 2017, the year the team tied for the most three special teams touchdowns (3). There are also some family ties as Jeff is the brother of Chargers defensive line coach, Jay Rodgers. Rodgers has 20 years of coaching experience under his belt, having spent time with the 49ers, Panthers, Broncos, Bears, and currently the Cardinals, as special teams coordinator and assistant head coach. After overtaking Arizona’s department in 2018, it ranked fifth after finishing 30th the year before. In 2019, kicker Zane Gonzalez ranked fourth in the NFL in both total points (127) and made fields (31) while punter Andy Lee ranked second in the NFL with a 47.8-yard punting average, according to the team’s website. The Cardinals ranked 12th in punt-return average (9.2) and 13th in kickoff-return defense (21.05) this season.