The Los Angeles Chargers didn’t waste any time in cleansing home following an embarrassing 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night time, firing head coach Brandon Staley and common supervisor Tom Telesco. Change has appeared inevitable for fairly some time with the Chargers, and Thursday’s sport was apparently sufficient too power possession to start out making it.
Regardless that Staley did a poor job in his three seasons, he is only a small symptom of the organization’s overall problems. All of it begins with possession, and all eyes are going to be on Dean Spanos to do one thing that hasn’t occurred with the Chargers in a long time — making the suitable choices within the hiring of a coach and common supervisor.
Crucial factor can be discovering a coach who can maximize the prime years of quarterback Justin Herbert. Let’s check out some potential choices and rank a number of the candidates that might be in line to take over.
1. Ben Johnson, OC, Detroit Lions. Johnson checks all the containers for a staff just like the Chargers. He’s younger, is an offensive coach and has spent the previous two years constructing a top-10 in offense in Detroit round Jared Goff. Think about what he might do with someone as proficient and gifted as Justin Herbert.
2. Brian Johnson, OC, Philadelphia Eagles. One other younger offensive-minded coach who ought to get critical curiosity. He has confronted some criticism for his play-calling in Philadelphia this season, however the Eagles offense stays the most effective within the NFL and he has performed an enormous position in growing Jalen Hurts in his roles as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.
3. Eric Bieniemy, OC, Washington Commanders. This can be one other head teaching cycle the place Bieniemy will little doubt be talked about as a head teaching candidate. He has helped Sam Howell turn into one of many passing yardage leaders within the NFL and has a powerful monitor file as an OC. However he retains getting handed over for jobs, and he additionally may be the in-house candidate to take over if the Commanders hearth Ron Rivera.
4. Jim Harbaugh, HC, Michigan Wolverines. NFL groups ought to usually be cautious of school coaches given how poorly so lots of them do, however Harbaugh has an NFL background and really took a staff (San Francisco) to the Tremendous Bowl. Michigan is making an attempt to increase his contract, which might throw a wrinkle into any potential plan.
5. Mike Tomlin, HC, Pittsburgh Steelers. Let’s get daring right here. This could require both the Steelers firing Tomlin (unlikely) or providing him up for a commerce (not going, however a minimum of doable). The Steelers and Tomlin may be at a degree the place they each want a change, and despite the fact that his background is on the defensive aspect of the ball he would instantly carry the Chargers one thing they’ve lacked for many years — credibility.
6. Lou Anarumo, DC, Cincinnati Bengals. Sure, the Chargers have to get probably the most out of Herbert. However additionally they have to do one thing a few protection that has been one of many worst within the NFL for years. Anarumo is a extremely revered defensive coordinator who might carry a contemporary strategy. The Bengals protection has disillusioned this season, however it’s coping with a younger secondary and numerous accidents.
7. Kellen Moore, OC, Los Angeles Chargers. Moore has been a rising star within the assistant teaching ranks for a few years and was alleged to make a giant distinction when he took over because the offensive coordinator for the Chargers this season. He’s nonetheless extremely considered, however being an in-house candidate and the dearth of progress the offense ought to most likely knock him down the candidate listing.
8. Lincoln Riley, HC, USC. Riley is a highly-thought-of offensive mastermind and play-caller within the school ranks, and NFL hypothesis has adopted him for just a few years. He can by no means be completely dismissed as an possibility. However school coaches are likely to fail spectacularly within the NFL and Riley has had some large points in school with teaching in large video games the place he doesn’t have a transparent expertise benefit on the sphere. All of these ought to be large crimson flags for an NFL staff contemplating him.
