Tag: Derrick Ansley

Khalil Mack on new Chargers DC Derrick Ansley: ‘He’s excited’

Khalil Mack noted Derrick Ansley’s excitement to take over as the team’s defensive coordinator.

The Chargers’ hopes for serious playoff contention in 2023 hinge on the play of their defense, which will be led by first-year coordinator Derrick Ansley next season.

Despite retaining nearly every key starter in the offseason, the team will face an uphill battle in the loaded AFC. Still, hopes are high that they can rise to the top at OTAs this week, and one veteran, in particular, seemed bullish on the new leadership that Los Angeles has in place.

Khalil Mack told reporters on Wednesday about his thoughts on the matter, giving Anlsey a ringing endorsement.

Ansley, Mack said, was quick to reach out to him after his promotion to defensive coordinator, formerly held by Renaldo Hill, and has carried an infectious enthusiasm with him to the Chargers’ offseason program.

“He pulled me in right away, we had a conversation,” Mack explained of Ansley’s transition to coordinator. “We chopped it up. You could tell that he’s excited to be in that position. He is going to make the most of it, as well, and try to get the best out of all of his guys on defense.”

Given the defensive star power that Los Angeles hosts, it wouldn’t be a stretch to project that they could be one of the best units in the league if players manage to stay healthy through the regular season and into the playoffs.

Ansley will need to do his best to manage workloads, adjust on the fly, and get creative to live up to Mack’s expectations and bring the Chargers to postseason glory in 2023.

Derrick Ansley expounds on the Chargers’ depth at safety

Derrick Ansley said that he is still bullish on the team’s depth in the positional room.

The Chargers addressed multiple positions this offseason, but safety remains a need. However, defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley said that he is still bullish on the team’s depth in the positional room.

In comments made during a press conference at the Chargers’ rookie minicamp, Ansley made his confidence in the unit clear.

[We have] good competition. We have competition at every spot in the secondary, especially safety. You have Derwin James [Jr.], who can play multiple spots. You have Alohi [Gilman] that has played a lot of ball around here. You have JT [Woods], we have a lot of expectations for him this year. It’s going to be a really competitive group. Mark Webb [Jr.] is in that mix, Michael Jacquet, Raheem Layne. That group is very competitive. A lot of different skillsets in that group, which is what you need at safety.

2022 third-round pick JT Woods was taken with the idea of playing him as the deep safety to allow Derwin James to move all over the field. But that never came to fruition as Woods struggled as a tackler in his limited defensive snaps and was a non-factor defensively.

The Chargers are hopeful that Woods’ play will improve and that he can become the starter. But he will have to beat out Alohi Gilman, who played well in 2022. Additionally, they liked what Raheem Layne brought as a rookie last season so he could be in the mix.

Ansley’s faith in the talent currently available to him is a good sign that the team is in a good position moving forward.

Chargers’ Derrick Ansley on J.C. Jackson’s recovery: ‘He’s been grinding’

Derrick Ansley said that J.C. Jackson has been “grinding” during his recovery process.

The Chargers will need to step up their game defensively in 2023 to avoid another disappointing playoff exit next season, and the return of J.C. Jackson from injury should help them to that end.

In his comments to the media after practice on Monday, defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley updated reporters on Jackson’s status and outlined his plan for the talented defensive back.

“He’s here every day. He’s been grinding for three, four months straight here, so it’s been good having him in the building and getting him around his teammates,” Ansley explained. “He’s been doing a phenomenal job with his rehab. He’s chomping at the bit. There’s really no timetable or timeline for his return, but he’s in here every day trying to get himself ready to go for the fall.

“With the combination, we’ll see how that all works out. We’re always trying to train defensive backs, not specialize guys or pigeon-hole them. We have four or five guys that are working at Star, four or five guys working at Money, which we value as starters. We’ll see how that combination works out as we get to camp.”

Whether Jackson will be able to step in and seamlessly gel with the Chargers’ secondary after missing so much time last season is unknown, but judging from Ansley’s comments it seems that he is on track to make a triumphant return ahead of the regular season.

Time will tell if his star will continue to rise after the devastating injury he sustained in 2022, but if it does, Los Angeles won’t need to fret about their group of highly-skilled cornerbacks when the 2023 campaign kicks off in September.

Report: Chargers hiring Will Harris as assistant secondary coach

Brandon Staley continues to add to his staff.

Brandon Staley continues to add to his staff.

Following the departure of Renaldo Hill, who left for a job with the Dolphins, and the promotion of defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley to defensive coordinator, the Chargers had an opening in the secondary. Tom Donatell was elevated to pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach around the same time as Ansley, but most teams employ both a pass game coordinator as well as a dedicated secondary coach.

As of Friday, the Chargers reportedly have found that secondary coach: Georgia Southern defensive coordinator Will Harris, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. Zenitz initially reported that Harris would be LA’s defensive backs coach before clarifying that he is expected to become the Chargers’ assistant secondary coach.

At Georgia Southern, Harris’ defense forced 15 red zone stops, second in the country. He also coached CB Derrick Canteen, who was projected to be a mid-round pick before transferring to Virginia Tech. Prior to coordinating the Eagles’ defense, Harris was the defensive backs coach at Washington, where he coached Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie, Bears CB Kyler Gordon, Titans CB Elijah Molden, Cardinals CB Byron Murphy Jr., Patriots CB Myles Bryant, and Rams S Taylor Rapp.

Harris has also coached NFL defensive backs Andre Chachere during his time at San Jose State, so his reputation as a developer of talent precedes him into the NFL. A safety under Pete Carroll at USC from 2005-09, Harris had 113 tackles and six interceptions in his career as a Trojan before going undrafted in 2010.

Chargers’ new DC Derrick Ansley on working with Brandon Staley: ‘He has a brilliant mind’

Derrick Ansley didn’t hold back his excitement when talking about working under Brandon Staley.

After his comments earlier this week, it is safe to say that the Chargers’ new defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley is excited about his new position.

Ansley was asked by a reporter earlier this week about what it will be like for him to collaborate with head coach Brandon Staley to scheme up the Chargers’ defense in 2023, and he responded with unbridled enthusiasm.

“It’s going to be awesome,” Ansley said. “Coach is a brilliant mind defensively. Hopefully I can add some ideas to him and we can put this thing together smoothly and keep it rolling.”

Questioned about the praise heaped on him by Derwin James after his promotion and his philosophy as a leader, Ansley made it clear that forging a strong connection with his players makes a world of difference.

“[In] relationships with the players, it’s about give and take, especially in NFL ball” He explained. “What do you guys like? What style, what technique do you like? And if I can see something that could maybe help them become better, then we introduce that to them. So I think it’s a lot of give and take. Listen to the players, coach them hard, accountability, make sure everybody is pulling the rope in the same direction.”

How Ansley’s defense might fare in 2023 is unknown, though the pieces seem to be in place for him to make something special happen. With veterans all over the field in his unit, Ansley will only need to harness the talent already on Los Angeles’ roster to put together a defense worthy of postseason competition.

Connect the dots: Chargers’ coaching staff links to 2023 NFL draft prospects

These Chargers coaches have directly coached or recruited at least one 2023 prospect.

As the NFL continues to hire assistant coaches from the college ranks, familiarity with prospects is at an all-time high.

Some coaches and front office members just have schools they like: general manager Tom Telesco favors Notre Dame, head coach Brandon Staley likes Georgia, etc.

But other members of the Chargers staff have experience with a number of prospects in this year’s class, and connections could drive a potential selection in April’s draft.

These Chargers coaches have directly coached or recruited at least one 2023 prospect.

Derrick Ansley on Tom Donatell’s promotion to key role on Chargers’ defense: ‘Tommy is sharp’

Derrick Ansley spoke highly of Tom Donatell, who filled the role of the Chargers’ new secondary coach.

The Chargers made significant changes to their coaching staff last week, naming former defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley as their new defensive coordinator among other moves.

In comments to the media after his promotion, Ansley made a point to indicate his faith in new secondary coach and pass game coordinator Tom Donatell, who will fill the void left by Ansley’s ascension to his new position.

“Well-deserved, well-deserved. Tommy is sharp,” Ansley said of his new secondary coach. “He’s a guy whose arrow is on the up rise. He’s very professional, very knowledgeable on the backend and the front.

This promotion was warranted. We all know what we have in him, the organization knows what they have in him. It’s awesome to see a guy work his way up through the organization and get an opportunity to be successful.”

Donatell had previously served as the Chargers’ assistant secondary coach, where he helped standout safety Derwin James and rising cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. rise to stardom in Los Angeles’ defense.

Time will tell how these coaches fit in Brandon Staley’s defensive coaching staff. But early indications are that both Ansley and Donatell will be chomping at the bit to help the Chargers find success in the playoffs next season by any means necessary.

Chargers officially name Derrick Ansley as defensive coordinator

The Los Angeles Chargers officially name Derrick Ansley as defensive coordinator.

The Chargers named Derrick Ansley the team’s next defensive coordinator on Monday.

Ansley fills the void after the departure of former defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill, who the Dolphins hired as their pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach.

Ansley spent the past two seasons as Los Angeles’ defensive backs coach. Before that, he spent two years (2019-20) as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at the University of Tennessee.

Ansley spent the 2018 season as the Raiders’ defensive backs coach. Before that, Ansley was the defensive backs coach at Alabama (2016–17), Kentucky (2013–15), and Tennessee (2012). In addition, he was a graduate assistant at Alabama in 2010 and 2011.

Additionally, they made these other coaching hires officials:

Linebackers coach: Jeff Howard

Pass game coordinator/Secondary coach: Tom Donatell

Defensive quality control coach: Robert Muschamp

Quarterbacks coach: Doug Nussmeier

Chargers interview two candidates for defensive coordinator job

The Chargers have a void to fill with their defensive coordinator position left by Renaldo Hill.

The Chargers have a void to fill with their defensive coordinator position left by Renaldo Hill, who joined the Dolphins to be their passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach.

On Wednesday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that Los Angeles interviewed Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington and the University of Houston defensive coordinator Doug Belk for the job.

Covington has been with New England since 2017 and has coached the team’s defensive line since 2020. He started as a coaching assistant for two seasons and coached the outside linebackers in 2019.

Belk has been with Houston since 2019. He entered the program as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. He was promoted to associate head coach in 2020 and became defensive coordinator in 2021. He’s previously worked for West Virginia, Alabama, and Valdosta State.

Initially, after it was announced that Hill was leaving for Miami, it was reported that the plan was for defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley to be promoted to the Chargers’ defensive coordinator. But it appears they are still doing their homework.

Chargers promoting former Vols’ assistant to defensive coordinator

The Chargers are promoting former Vols’ assistant to defensive coordinator.

The Los Angeles Chargers will promote Derrick Ansley to defensive coordinator.

Ansley served as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach from 2019-20 under head coach Jeremy Pruitt, He served Los Angeles’ defensive backs coach for the last two seasons.

Ansley replaces Rolando Hill, who left the Chargers to join Miami’s coaching staff.

Ansley also served as the Vols’ defensive backs coach in 2012 under head coach Derek Dooley and interim head coach Jim Chaney.

He previously served as defensive backs coach at Huntingdon College (2005-09), Kentucky (2013-15), Alabama (2016-17) and the Raiders (2018).

Ansley was a graduate assistant at Alabama from 2010-11.

He won two national championships as a member of Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama.

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