Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn discusses evaluating his roster and coaching staff after a disappointing 5-11 season.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 We have to be better.
00:02 I'm talking about as coaches, putting them in better positions and
00:04 figuring out a way to win close football games.
00:06 >> What do you think the reason was for the loss?
00:10 >> Well, it boils down to execution.
00:12 And like I said, and putting players in the right position and
00:15 making adjustments.
00:16 >> You said the process started last night.
00:19 What did you do to get that process going?
00:22 >> Just reflecting, looking back on the season, an after action report.
00:27 Things we did well, things we didn't do so well, things we need to do better.
00:31 It's just, you gotta go through personnel.
00:33 You gotta go through coaching staff and we're just looking at everything right now.
00:38 >> Why did you feel compelled to start that process?
00:41 >> Because I can't rest until I start that process.
00:44 There's no vacation for me.
00:46 I can't go to a golf course right now, go lay on the beach and
00:49 relax without solving this problem.
00:52 So that's just the way I relax.
00:56 >> Do you plan on making any changes to your coaching staff?
00:58 >> Well, I mean, 5-11, I mean, everything's on the table.
01:01 So I'm looking at everything, starting with myself.
01:04 >> You already made one coaching change earlier this year,
01:09 when you bumped up Shane to the UFC.
01:12 Is there a chance you're gonna stick with that structure, or
01:14 might you hire someone else or promote someone else into the quarterback?
01:18 >> I'm just still looking at different combinations and things that I wanna do.
01:22 I thought Shane did a good job under the circumstances.
01:25 I've been in his shoes before.
01:26 It's hard to take over a team in the middle of a season.
01:29 You just assume that it's his offense, but it's not his offense.
01:34 It's not his terminology.
01:35 I thought he did a good job with what he had.
01:38 So we improved in a lot of different categories under him.
01:41 So I am pleased with Shane.
01:43 >> Is there a scenario where he would remain both offense coordinator and
01:47 quarterback coach?
01:47 >> I doubt that.
01:48 >> Have you talked with Phillip at all in terms of having an exit interview and
01:54 what was that conversation like if you have talked?
01:56 >> Well, I mean, my exit interviews and
01:58 conversation with players, obviously, that's personal.
02:01 But like I said, I just left those guys.
02:04 Some of those guys are gonna come up after this press conference, but
02:07 I will get a chance to speak with everyone.
02:08 >> Do you have to kind of wait on Phil's decision to know what to do with the rest
02:13 of the team and contract and stuff like that?
02:14 >> Do I have to do what?
02:16 >> Do you have to kind of wait on Phil to make a choice to come back or not?
02:19 And then after that, you can kind of figure out-
02:20 >> No, I don't have to wait on anything.
02:22 No, not at all.
02:25 >> If you had your way in a perfect world with Phillip Rivers,
02:27 would you be starting for him back next year?
02:30 >> Well, I mean, who wouldn't want a guy with those intangibles, that production?
02:35 I mean, sure, but I've got a lot of guys to look at, not just Phil.
02:40 And like I say, it's early right now in that process.
02:43 But I mean, I love what he represents and what he stands for.
02:48 >> Do you feel like this franchise does a little bit of a crossroads considering
02:53 how many years Phil has been in the league and
02:55 that this could be a deep quarterback class and coming off this season like he did?
03:00 >> I'm not sure how deep this quarterback class is because
03:03 coaches hadn't focused on the draft yet.
03:05 So as we get going in our scouting reports and looking at college kids,
03:09 we'll figure out how deep this draft is.
03:11 But there is no bearing on our decision making right now.
03:15 >> Given the significance of that position, is that,
03:17 is Phil's future something you'd like to get resolved fairly quickly or
03:22 in that sort of way before?
03:25 >> You know, everything is timing.
03:27 I mean, I'm sure it's gonna happen sooner than later.
03:31 But right now, I mean, there's no rush.
03:33 >> You got, there's a lot of moving pieces, obviously.
03:37 But what is something that you wanna address like immediately, right away?
03:40 >> Moving forward, looking at the next season?
03:43 We're looking at ourselves right now, our coaching staff, and
03:46 what we're doing on both sides of the ball and special teams.
03:49 And about putting our players in different positions,
03:53 learning how to win close games.
03:54 I mean, it's not like we've forgotten, we won a lot of close games last year.
03:57 But we gotta look at and examine why we didn't get that done this year.
04:01 But so that's where my primary focus is right now.
04:04 I'm not trying to make any emotional decisions right now.
04:07 I wanna just evaluate what we've done and just take a good look at this,
04:11 and along with my coaches, and then make the right decisions.
04:14 >> And so you look at internally, what internally about you,
04:17 what would you personally like to improve on for this season?
04:19 >> Well, I mean, I wanna figure that out, I mean, cuz we're always growing.
04:22 We're always evolving.
04:23 You never know how until you go through some of these tough years and
04:28 reflect on this season.
04:29 I'll have a better idea probably in a month or so.
04:32 >> And since you've been here,
04:34 you've always been about running the ball and running it consistently?
04:36 >> I have.
04:37 I thought I've always been about winning.
04:40 I don't care if you gotta throw it to win or run it to win, I just wanna win.
04:44 But I do know that when you're balanced, you have a better chance of winning.
04:48 >> Yeah, with that, would you let Tom and
04:53 John know that you do want Melvin Gordon back next season
04:57 to keep that stable run game with him in Austin?
05:00 >> Yeah, I love Melvin Gordon.
05:01 I mean, he's fun to be around.
05:03 He's a hard worker, high character young man.
05:06 I mean, who wouldn't want Melvin Gordon on their team?
05:08 But like I said, we have a lot of free agents to look at right now.
05:11 >> How do you think he dealt with the situation, the hold up and everything?
05:14 How do you think he- >> I think Melvin would tell you it
05:17 affected his play early.
05:19 We knew he would be a little rusty early, but we had to get him ready.
05:22 So unfortunately, it was getting him ready in games.
05:26 But if he had to do it all over again, I don't know if he'd do the same thing or
05:31 not, I don't know.
05:31 But he would tell you he started slow because of that.
05:34 >> As a coach, how frustrating is that because you have no control over it?
05:39 >> No. >> It's a business thing, so, but
05:41 it does affect what happens on the field.
05:43 Is there anything that you would have done differently to try to resolve it?
05:49 >> Not really, I mean, it's just part of the business.
05:52 Guys hold that every year.
05:53 And you just have to figure out ways to deal with it.
05:56 >> And then you have one year left in your contract.
05:58 Are you hopeful to get an extension this offseason?
06:02 >> I'm still on the contract last time I checked, so
06:04 I'm not even worried about that.
06:05 I mean, that never, that contract will take care of itself
06:10 once we get this thing turned around.
06:11 >> So coach, you have one year on your contract in 2020.
06:14 Will that be okay with you?
06:16 >> I would be, as long as I'm on the contract, I'm fine.
06:19 And signing an extension, that goes both ways.
06:22 Whether an organization offer you one or whether the coach turn one down.
06:26 But trust me, I have no problem betting on myself.
06:29 >> This is your first time here as a head coach the last three years.
06:33 How have you kind of learned and grown, you feel like, in the last three years?
06:38 >> I love analytics.
06:42 I'm probably too analytical.
06:44 My golf swing is too mechanical.
06:46 But just using my instincts on when to do things in games, managing games.
06:53 There's a lot to go into that.
06:55 And I know sometimes when you're at home and you're watching it, and you think this
06:59 and that, but there's a whole lot on that sideline that's happening that goes into
07:02 those thoughts.
07:03 And I just think that anytime I can help put my team in a position to do better and
07:07 win, then I think that's a good thing.
07:10 So I think I've gotten better in some of those situations.
07:12 >> You obviously believe strongly in limiting turnovers on your
07:15 abilities as a coach.
07:16 >> Yeah.
07:17 >> You guys were, if not last in the league, in turnover differential among
07:21 the line.
07:22 How do you fix that?
07:23 How do you fix the turn, winning the turnover?
07:25 >> I mean, that can be fixed through play calling.
07:27 That can be fixed through just personnel.
07:33 So I mean, there's ways to deal with that.
07:36 You can emphasize it all you want, but at the end of the day, coaches don't play.
07:39 So you can change the personnel.
07:42 You can change play calling to prevent some of those.
07:46 I mean, there's things that we can do to fix it, but that's still an emphasis.
07:50 And it's a huge emphasis.
07:51 We gotta take the ball away as well.
07:53 We didn't take the ball well enough this year, and we turned it over way too much.
07:57 That's uncharacteristic of this football team since I've been here.
08:00 I don't expect to see that again.
08:01 >> Do you feel like overall, philosophically, it's easier to control
08:05 turning the ball over offensively versus forcing turnovers on defense?
08:08 Like isn't first forcing turnovers on defense more of a blocking situation?
08:12 >> No, I don't think that's luck, that's skill.
08:14 I mean, we train to take the ball away.
08:16 There's plenty of opportunities throughout a game for
08:18 a defense to take the ball away from the offense.
08:20 So I don't think it's an advantage either way.
08:24 >> And you mentioned personnel, that's sort of a general term.
08:26 When you look at fixing the turnover problem,
08:28 what personnel specifically are you looking at?
08:30 Is it the offensive line getting better protection to the quarterback?
08:32 >> It could be the offensive line, better protection.
08:34 It could be running backs carrying the ball.
08:36 It better be quarterbacks taking care of the ball.
08:38 It could be wide receivers not falling down.
08:41 I mean, it could be a lot of things.
08:42 >> How do you generate more takeaways?
08:46 How much of it's schemes?
08:48 >> Getting people to the ball.
08:49 Just getting people to the ball, playing fast, physical.
08:51 And yes, you can affect the quarterback more.
08:54 Yes, you can.
08:55 >> Another area you guys struggled in was third down defense,
08:58 finished 29th in the league.
09:00 That's something you were pretty good at last year and progressed this year.
09:04 What did you identify as the main cause of the struggles on third down?
09:08 >> We didn't affect the quarterback enough, in my opinion.
09:12 So we gotta do a better job of that.
09:14 But, and there's certain things we can do personnel wise to play title coverage.
09:19 So.
09:20 >> You had some pretty talented pass rushers.
09:22 Why do you feel like you weren't able to affect the quarterback?
09:24 >> A lot of people know we have talented pass rushers.
09:26 And so we get a lot of max protection and the ball comes out quick.
09:29 >> What can you do to combat that if you get max protection against
09:34 with the two edge guys that you have, how do you combat that?
09:38 >> If the quarterback's gonna have that kind of time to throw,
09:41 then someone's gonna get open eventually.
09:43 So, I mean, you can scheme things to break down people protections,
09:46 to bring one more than they can block.
09:49 Deception, you can do a lot of things like that, but.
09:52 >> Do you feel like you guys need to blitz more then?
09:54 >> You know, that's some of the things that we're gonna visit and talk about.
09:57 >> How much did not having Derwin, the first 11, 12 games,
10:01 in fact, get into the quarterback?
10:03 >> I think he's a team leader.
10:04 I think he's one of the best strong safeties in the game.
10:06 Not having him on the field definitely doesn't help you.
10:10 We missed him, but we had guys that were more than capable of getting the job done.
10:14 >> What kind of jump do you wanna see from Derwin from this year to next year?
10:19 I know he didn't play a full season.
10:20 But he was able to kind of get his feet wet those last five games.
10:23 What do you hope to see from him next year?
10:25 >> I just wanna see him stay healthy next year.
10:27 That's why, if he can get any better than what he,
10:31 I know he can get better than what he is, but he's pretty dang good right now.
10:35 I mean, he plays fast.
10:37 He hadn't played in 12 weeks, he comes back,
10:39 he's communicating more than anybody on the field.
10:41 He's an intelligent football player.
10:43 I just love everything about the young man, and we missed him.
10:47 >> He's a guy that plays with a lot of energy.
10:48 Do you wanna see him take more of a leadership role in that defense,
10:52 if his play warrants it?
10:53 >> I think you would have seen him take more of a leadership role if he was
10:56 healthy.
10:57 You saw it in training camp, you saw it coming.
11:00 So yeah, we did miss that.
11:02 >> And then on offense, how tough was it not having Russell and
11:05 Mike Pounce for most of the year?
11:08 >> Well, Russell and Mike, I mean,
11:10 those are two of the better players at their position in the league.
11:13 So yeah, we love to have those guys, but I thought Q went in and did a good job.
11:18 And I thought Trent and Trey, they both did a decent job off the left tackle side.
11:26 We try to give them some help at times, but they're young.
11:28 Those young men have to go through some growing pains, and
11:31 they showed up at times.
11:32 >> You're obviously not gonna make excuses, but
11:34 you, as Bill just mentioned, you had a lot of injuries this year.
11:37 Some of your best players.
11:39 >> No.
11:40 >> When you're analyzing what went wrong this year,
11:42 do you look at the injuries as a factor?
11:44 Maybe does that affect how you look at your coaching staff and your team overall?
11:47 >> I think, yeah, you can look at that, at the injuries as a factor and all that.
11:51 But like I said, there's always a way to win a football game.
11:54 And it's my job to figure out a way to get that done, regardless who's on the field.
11:59 >> The two guys that got hurt yesterday didn't finish, Sam and Desmond.
12:04 Do you have any idea the severity of those?
12:07 >> No, Desmond was walking around in the building, so he's gonna be fine.
12:11 His ankles, his high ankle sprained.
12:13 And same with Sam, Sam will be fine.
12:16 >> And then Mike Pouncey told us that he's gonna see a doctor next week.
12:21 He hopes to continue playing.
12:22 If he can come back, what would that mean?
12:25 And how much of a boost would it be to have him?
12:28 >> That'd be great.
12:28 I mean, cuz Pouncey's one of the captains on this football team.
12:31 He's a leader.
12:32 He's a heck of a center.
12:33 I mean, that would be a nice boost.
12:35 >> How do you feel like Desmond played this season?
12:38 >> To be honest, he probably leveled off a little bit this year.
12:42 For whatever reason, Des could be better.
12:45 But he's a playmaker on our team.
12:48 He's made plenty of plays, rather than special teams or in the nickel.
12:54 We like him, but we all can be better.
12:57 >> What do you feel like the issue was?
12:59 Cuz he's obviously a very talented player.
13:01 >> Those are some of the things that we're looking at now, to be honest with you.
13:06 >> How satisfying was it to see Mike Williams and
13:08 Austin make the jumps that they did this year?
13:10 >> It was very satisfying because that's what we brought those guys here for,
13:15 especially Mike, being seventh overall.
13:17 I think he's gotten better every single year.
13:19 And the most impressive thing about Mike was he had a sore knee for
13:22 the most of the season, and he played through it.
13:25 And so that showed some toughness there.
13:28 And that was impressive.
13:31 But Austin, he's just so inspiring to be a rookie tryout,
13:36 to make this football team, and to do the things that he's doing.
13:39 He's a great example for everybody in that locker room.
13:42 >> And what words of wisdom did you have for Nasir Hadli as he approaches
13:47 the offseason based on what happened as a rookie?
13:51 >> He got down a little bit.
13:52 I don't believe he's ever been hurt before.
13:55 And sometimes kids don't know how to handle that.
13:58 And so you just have to keep encouraging him and just let him know that he's not
14:02 letting the team down by not being there.
14:04 He's gotta get himself right, get healthy, and we know he can make plays.
14:07 >> All right, let's go.
14:10 >> Okay. >> Thanks, coach.
14:11 >> Thanks, coach.
14:11 [BLANK_AUDIO]
14:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]
14:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]