SAN DIEGO -- In need of a jump-start after just nine wins in two seasons, the Chargers believe Anthony Lynn can breathe some fresh air into this franchise in a new city.
Lynn could be viewed as curious choice as Chargers head coach. His imminent hire certainly will not be looked at as a big splash for a market such as Los Angeles.
However, perhaps Lynn offers the type of interpersonal skills Chargers general manager Tom Telesco identified as important for in a new coach: someone who can relate to and motivate players and have a better understanding of each player’s individual needs.
That’s something ex-Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan said is a plus for Lynn, who coached with Ryan from the time he took over as New York Jets head coach in 2009 until he was fired by the Bills last month.
“He gives you a player perspective,” Ryan told ESPN NFL Nation Bills reporter Mike Rodak. “He’s been around this league a long time. He’s got two [Super Bowl] rings as a player [for Denver].
“He can relate to the players. He does a great job, he knows the game. He does a good job motivating. I think he’s a team-builder. So I think there’s a lot of things to like about Anthony Lynn.”
The Chargers lost six games in 2016 in which they led in the fourth quarter. They limped through an injury-plagued season in which they dealt with a league-high 21 players on injured reserve.
Special-teams blunders were also costly in 2016. Lynn will be tasked with addressing those issues along with putting together a staff with an emphasis on continuity moving forward.
It appears offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt will be retained, meaning veteran quarterback Philip Rivers will not have to learn a new offense.
And with the possibility of Lynn hiring former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator, incumbent John Pagano might be on the way out and the Chargers could be moving to a 4-3 defense.
Pagano deserves credit for improving the Chargers’ run defense and creating more turnovers in 2016. But Bradley would add energy, toughness and enthusiasm. The former defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks also is good at identifying diamonds in the rough later in the draft who fit specific roles in his scheme.