If the Chargers wouldn’t have defeated the Raiders on Thursday night, I believed that coach Anthony Lynn would’ve been out of a job the following day.
Like any other given game, Lynn made some head-scratching decisions, starting with the inability to unleash quarterback Justin Herbert. Despite the fact that he was lighting up a poor secondary all night, Herbert was held to one pass….in the entire fourth quarter.
The running game was nonexistent. However, Los Angeles still resorted it quite often while Herbert made the most with the majority of his passes. Why not continue to roll with what’s working?
The most notable was in the special teams department, by no surprise. When it seemed like Lynn, who took over the unit last weekend, was starting to turn things around, it backfired as kicker Michael Badgely missed tie-breaking tries from 47 and 51 yards, both in the fourth quarter.
Why settle for field goals in those situations when the special teams has been poor and Badgley has been under 50% on field goals of 45+ yards in his career? Go for it and trust Herbert to get the team in a better position.
L.A. ended up beating Las Vegas in overtime, but it was all because Herbert was too good, which was enough to mask the poor in-game decisions made by Lynn.
Nonetheless, the negatives outweigh the positives and 16 losses in 21 one-score games should speak for itself.
The Chargers have had a roster that’s been ready to contend for a deep run the past couple of seasons. But the coaching is what’s holding them back from reaching their true potential. If the organization decides to keep Lynn beyond this season, they’re making a big mistake.
If and when Los Angeles fires Lynn, the vacancy should attract a handful of coaches and coordinators.
Head coach Anthony Lynn has done nothing to elevate the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chargers season has been the same episode on a weekly basis.
Los Angeles has suffered multiple one-score defeats and while it’s easy to point to injuries to key players and in-game hiccups as the reasons for the ongoing woes, it has come down to the coaching.
Coach Anthony Lynn has been unable to get his team over the hump in close games. The Bolts are 3-15 in said games since the start of last season.
In each of their past four one-score losses, L.A. has given up 30 points or more. Meanwhile, the offense, led by rookie quarterback Justin Herbert has been doing everything he can to get them past their problems.
It’s been something new every week that has attributed to their close losses, but the in-game strategy in each of the three phases has been poor and it has been evident.
There was some hope following the Mike McCoy era when Lynn led the Chargers to a 12-4 record and a trip to the playoffs in 2018. But it’s been a downward spiral ever since then.
Last season, Los Angeles finished with a 5-11 record. This season, the team sits with a 2-6 record and they have not shown to overcome their ongoing issues of being able to close out games.
With Herbert being in his first season as a professional, this is the time to let go of someone for a coach that will only be able to continue to maximize his potential, as well as the team around him in order to have success when it comes down to situations like this that have been ongoing.
Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton have had a great amount of success with Herbert. Thus, showing that L.A. doesn’t need to wait until the end of the season to get rid of Lynn. Instead, they can pull the trigger now.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is getting hot.
Roll with what’s working.
Among the very few things that’s working for the Chargers up to this point is rookie quarterback Justin Herbert’s play.
However, Monday night’s loss to the Saints was one of the instances where Los Angeles swayed away from it, which ultimately had a factor in the outcome of the game.
Heading into the locker room, L.A. had a 10-point lead over New Orleans. Despite being under constant duress, Herbert was dealing, completing nine of his 13 passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns.
Upon returning to the field, the offensive coaching staff started to play like the Bolts had a lead much larger than they did by resorting to the running game on early downs, putting themselves in a handful of second & third-and-long situations.
The Chargers ran the ball on nine of their 14 first-down plays in the second half and overtime. The result? In the second half and overtime, they averaged 1.38 yards per carry.
“We tried to establish the running game to help him out,” coach Anthony Lynn said.
The decision to abandon the passing game was solely to keep Herbert clean because he was pressured 20 times on his 38 drop backs. But the conservative play-calling allowed the Saints to quickly get the ball back, where they eventually overcame a 17-point deficit.
The bottom line is that the coaching staff needs to take training wheels off of Herbert and let him loose. Sure, allowing him to throw often behind a below average offensive line is worrisome, but that’s when more efficient play-calling comes in to mask the deficiencies.
Utilize more quick and screen passes, run-pass options and play-action with moving pockets, and watch the young quarterback flourish. His confidence is oozing and fans are excited for what he will continue to deliver on the field. The only way to do that? Let Herbo cook.
A new era begins at the quarterback position for the Chargers.
The Chargers have a new identity at the quarterback position after the marriage between Philip Rivers and the franchise came to an end earlier this offseason.
Taking over the reins is Tyrod Taylor and rookie Justin Herbert. Included in the positional group is Easton Stick, who will serve as the No. 3 QB (barring any additions).
All signal-callers may not necessarily have the experience or be as talented of a passer as Rivers is, but they all bring a unique skillset which includes athleticism to put the team in position to win games.
In order to get familiar with what to expect this upcoming season from the position, offensive coordinator Shane Steichen recently broke down some game film from each quarterback.
At the moment, Taylor is slated to be the Week 1 starter. However, if things don’t go well at any point of the season, Herbert will likely take over.
The Los Angeles Chargers will have some new coaches in the 2020 regular season.
The Los Angeles Chargers made a handful of changes to the coaching staff on Tuesday.
After taking over as the offensive coordinator halfway through the 2019 regular season, Shane Steichen earned the right to be retained in the same role heading into the 2020 campaign.
Former offensive line coach Pat Meyer departed to Carolina to take the same position for the Panthers. Replacing him will be James Campen. Serving as the assistant offensive line coach will be David Diaz-Infante. Former assistant offensive line coach Mark Ridgley will coach the running backs.
Alfredo Roberts, who was the running backs coach last season, will now take over as the tight ends coach. Former tight ends coach Rip Scherer is now a senior assistant coach.
Former quality control coach Addison Lynch will now be the assistant defensive backs coach. Ryan, the son of defensive backs coach Ron Milus, takes over as the defensive quality control coach.
Aside from the Philip Rivers uncertainty, the Chargers look to keep continuity with promoting Shane Steichen.
(Jake Roth, USA TODAY Sports)
Oct. 30, 2019, the Los Angeles Chargers promoted Shane Steichen from quarterbacks coach to interim offensive coordinator after the firing of Ken Whisenhunt. Steichen was given the official title of OC just a few short months later.
The 2020 season will be his first full year with command of an NFL offense, and his tenure begins with the biggest question mark of all: What will the Chargers do at quarterback this offseason?
Personnel decisions
The 16-year veteran, 38-year-old Philip Rivers, incumbent is a free agent in March, and plenty of chatter suggests the Bolts will be moving on. Some reports point to the coaching staff’s affinity for veteran backup Tyrod Taylor as a stop-gap while grooming a rookie, and others float Tom Brady’s name about, although the door isn’t entirely closed on Rivers’ return.
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The second question of major importance: Will Melvin Gordon return as the primary running back? A follow-up has to be: Do the Chargers even want him back with the way Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson played in 2019?
Aside from quarterback and running back, the Chargers also face the potential loss of talented but oft-injured tight end Hunter Henry. Wide receiver Travis Benjamin is a free agent, too, but he’s far from being irreplaceable.
The system
Steichen, 34, cut his teeth in the NFL under Norv Turner in San Diego during the 2011 and ’12 seasons as a defensive assistant. He moved over to the offensive side of the ball in 2013 with Rob Chudzinski in Cleveland as a quality control coach before returning to the Chargers in 2014 under the Mike McCoy regime to hold the same title through the 2015 season. In ’16, he took on the role of quarterbacks coach until his aforementioned promotion to interim OC. Surviving multiple years and positions under two coaches speaks volumes to the respect inside the ranks for Steichen.
While we have a limited view into how he will call plays and their efficacy, some basic themes we should continue to see in 2020 include a commitment to running the ball, the use of play-action passing, an emphasis on downfield attempts, and an aggressive nature.
Over the final eight games, Steichen’s offense scored more points, managed more first downs, totaled more yards, and firmly established a ground attack significantly more dangerous than that of his predecessor. Gordon finally rounding into game form played a factor in the second-half success.
Week
Opp
Pts
1stD
TotYd
PassY
RushY
TO
1
Indianapolis Colts
30
25
435
310
125
2
2
Detroit Lions
10
21
424
287
137
2
3
Houston Texans
20
22
366
293
73
1
4
Miami Dolphins
30
24
390
311
79
0
5
Denver Broncos
13
19
246
211
35
3
6
Pittsburgh Steelers
17
23
348
316
32
3
7
Tennessee Titans
20
24
365
326
39
1
8
Chicago Bears
17
11
231
195
36
1
Whisenhunt averages
19.6
21.1
350.6
281.1
69.5
1.6
9
Green Bay Packers
26
24
442
283
159
0
10
Oakland Raiders
24
26
315
169
146
3
11
Kansas City Chiefs
17
23
438
345
93
4
12
Bye Week
13
Denver Broncos
20
17
359
244
115
2
14
Jacksonville Jaguars
45
27
525
330
195
0
15
Minnesota Vikings
10
17
345
283
62
7
16
Oakland Raiders
17
21
284
265
19
0
17
Kansas City Chiefs
21
25
366
258
108
2
Steichen averages
22.5
22.5
384.3
272.1
112.1
2.3
Differential
13%
7.4%
8.8%
-3.2%
38%
0.28
The passing yardage per game went down ever so slightly, and the turnovers went up — largely fueled by a total offensive implosion vs. the Vikings. The offense didn’t turn it over at all in three games under Steichen vs. once under Whis.
Rivers attempted more yards per pass, averaged nearly a yard per completion more, and slightly improved his completion-to-touchdown ratio during his eight games with Steichen. Unfortunately, those increases came at the detriment of throwing an interception at nearly twice the frequency and a smidge lower completion rate.
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Pushing the ball down the field tends to increase mistakes, and the Chargers played underwhelming football on the defensive side of the ball, which put Rivers in a hole more often.
One thing Steichen learned from Chudzinski was flexibility in catering the system to the personnel rather than trying to force players into a rigid design. We’ve seen Chud move from city to city to work wonders with varied types of passers. There’s obviously going to be a much different offensive approach if Taylor starts instead of Rivers, or if a rookie is the top quarterback. Experience handling this kind of flexibility can make a world of difference for fantasy purposes, even if it can make projections infinitely more troublesome.
Fantasy football takeaway
Soooo … there’s a ton of potential turnover of key members of personnel at crucial positions. Given all of the volatility, specifically at quarterback, it isn’t worthwhile to provide any kind of definitive fantasy takes.
Speaking in generalities is the best course of action at this time. The quarterback position will be asked to operate with less volume but more chances for dynamic plays. This kind of play tends to result in erratic fantasy results.
Running back will be the focal point for fantasy football purposes coming from this offense. It’s anyone’s guess as to which backs will be deployed, and there’s always an outside shot Ekeler and Gordon are gone. The former is a restricted free agent, so his options are limited, and the Chargers get first right to refusal. We can reasonably expect RB2 production out of the most prolific player from this backfield.
Wide receiver: Little should change in terms of the roles and values. Keenan Allen figures to remain the primary possession target, while Mike Williams’ downfield skills make him an inconsistent No. 3 fantasy option. Allen’s role may remain intact, but his fantasy returns are in question with a looming quarterback change. He and Rivers have been a consistently reliable tandem in fantasy, and any change on the quarterback end of such an equation makes for uncertainty. Talent alone, Allen is a strong WR2 or low-tier No. 1 in PPR.
Two of the top three tight ends are unrestricted free agents come March. There will be plenty of attention for Henry’s services on the open market, and reports suggest the Bolts could place the transition tag on him. This allows other teams to negotiate and gives LA the right to match any deal, but there isn’t compensation in return should he leave. It is also around $1.8 million cheaper than using the franchise tag.
Expected improvement on defense this season from the Chargers, and count on the offense being able to run the ball because of it. The passing game could be in flux if Rivers doesn’t return, and even if he does, we’re talking about an age-39 season after throwing 20 picks in 2019.
The 34-year old play-caller is expected to return for the 2020 season.
The Los Angeles Chargers are expected to bring back offensive coordinator Shane Steichen for the 2020 season, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
The #Chargers are expected to bring back Shane Steichen as their offensive coordinator, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. They need to work out his contract, which expires soon, but the plan is for Steichen — who took over after the firing of Ken Whisenhunt — to return.
Steichen was promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator when Ken Whisenhunt was relieved midway through the 2019 season.
With Steichen’s contract set to expire, a decision had to be made either way and it appears like they are confident in the 34-year old calling the plays when Los Angeles moves into their new stadium.
Despite finishing 5-11, Steichen slightly improved the Bolts’ offense from 350.63 yards per game under Whisenhunt to 384.25 yards per game under him.
Other notable improvements on the offensive side of the ball include the running game and red zone efficiency.
The Chargers averaged 3.48 yards per carry on 160 carries under Whisenhunt, while Steichen had the unit averaging 4.35 yards per carry on 206 carries.
The red zone touchdown percentage leaped from 48.1% under Whisenhunt to 57.7% under Steichen.
Steichen has been praised by both coach Anthony Lynn and general manager Tom Telesco. Considering he didn’t have a full slate to design his own playbook, Steichen will now be able to form his own offensive identity, with that possibly being revolved around the quarterback of the future.
