Hall of Fame Chargers LaDainian Tomlinson, now a special assistant to club chairman Dean Spanos and NFL Network analyst, recalls the optimism surrounding a new start in a new city with a new head coach in the summertime.
“When I was talking to Anthony Lynn in training camp at the start of the season, he said to me, ‘I really think I got a really good football team. I think we’re gonna be able to compete for a playoff spot and possibly the division,’ ” Tomlinson told Serby Says.
Then the Chargers, somewhat disoriented by the move from San Diego to Los Angeles and snakebitten by bad fortune, started 0-4.
And Lynn said to Tomlinson: “We’re gonna be fine.”
And now? The Chargers are 6-6, tied with the Chiefs and Raiders, and appear to be the best bet to win the AFC West.
Beware the Chargers?
“Yes. Beware the Chargers,” Tomlinson said. “Absolutely. Without question.”
Only the Rams’ Sean McVay has had more success as a rookie head coach than Lynn. Here’s why the modern-day L.T. is impressed:
“His poise, his demeanor, his passion for the game and the players, his ability to communicate to the players. And also, because he played the game, to be able to say to the players, ‘Hey guys, that practice wasn’t good enough. We can’t practice like that and expect to win.’ And guys respect that. But I think that I saw even back when he was my running backs coach with the Jets, is Anthony Lynn was a leader. He wasn’t afraid to coach the superstar guys, rookies — he coached everybody.”
Chargers tight end Hunter Henry told Serby Says: “He cares about us as guys. He’s been where we’ve been and so he understands so he listens to us too. He’s awesome.”
Philip Rivers, at 35, still wears his emotions on his sleeve and looks nothing like Old Man Rivers.
“The game is never over with Philip,” Tomlinson said. “The ability to fight for 60 minutes, to be able to always lay it out there on the line, that’s what he means to the organization. And then, even more than that, just to be available, to be always in the starting lineup. That’s the biggest thing to me that you can give your organization.”
Henry: “He pushes you to be the best, but he’s also there to pick you up. He’s a great leader, and he’s clocking right now too on all cylinders, so it’s fun to watch.”
Comeback Player of the Year candidate Keenan Allen (77 receptions, 1,032 yards, five touchdowns following reconstructive knee surgery) has changed the complexion of the Chargers’ offense. Allen last week became the first player in NFL history with at least 10 catches, 100 receiving yards and one touchdown over three straight games. He reminds Tomlinson of Larry Fitzgerald.
“His work ethic is second to none,” Tomlinson said. “He has come back like he hasn’t messed a step, like he wasn’t hurt most of the year last year. But I think beyond that, for one, Keenan is a nice-sized receiver. This is no small guy. And then, precise route-running. He understands how to get open, and huge catch radius. He just doesn’t line up outside. He lines up in the slot sometimes, he motions over, creates mismatches. The guy’s an all-around wide receiver and truly I think he’s proven that he’s one of the best in the game right now.”
Henry: “He’s so quick and explosive in his route-running. He’s very smart too. And he has a mindset that no one can really stop him. He’s just a stud. It’s cool to watch.”
The game has slowed down for Henry (38 catches, 501 yards, three TDs), who has blossomed in his second season.
“Just trying to detail everything and watching a guy like [Antonio] Gates every single day and just trying to get better from it,” Henry said.
Running back Melvin Gordon (207 carries, 775 yards, five TDs rushing; 42 catches, 302 yards, four TDs receiving) has fought through foot, shoulder and knee issues.
“To me, him and Todd Gurley are similar, the way they play,” Tomlinson said. “Melvin has evolved into a really nice pass catcher out of the backfield. They’re quicker than people give them credit to be, because they look like they’re power guys. And Melvin, he’s a tough guy. He’s dealt with some injuries this year, he hasn’t been completely healthy the entire season, he’s battled through some stuff.”
Quarterbacks don’t relish playing defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s Batman and Robin pass rushers, Joey Bosa (11.5 sacks) and Melvin Ingram (8.5 sacks).
Tomlinson on Bosa’s long arms: “If he’s able to use those arms on a tackle, then it’s over. If he gets into you first, it’s over, he’s gonna get to the quarterback. And I think people get caught off guard a lot of times because he gets off the ball so fast and he gets into you so fast. He can spin back inside, he can rip inside, and also, his ability to play the run. I love the way he chases the ball all over the field. You’ll see him running from one side to the next to run the running back down.”
Henry: “I think the thing that sets him apart is just his relentlessness. He just continues to go and go and go and go and go and he does it in practice, he does it all the time.”
NFL talent evaluators were wary of Ingram’s short arms. But he recorded 10.5 sacks in 2015 and eight (with four forced fumbles) last season.
“He’s only 6-1, if that, but because of that, he can get up under those offensive tackles and really use his leverage to drive them back into the quarterback,” Tomlinson said, “or he’ll beat ’em around the end, or he’ll do a stunt and come up the middle, and he’s too strong for a center, he would knock them right back into the quarterback.”
Tomlinson prefers to look on the bright side of playing home games in the StubHub Center in Carson, home of soccer’s Galaxy and host Sunday to the Redskins.
“You’re trying to build a new fan base in the L.A. market. That the best thing to do is to play in a 30,000-seat arena like StubHub because it gives the fans an opportunity to see the game from a different experience,” he said. “There’s not a bad seat in the house, it’s a great atmosphere for a football game, and you can slowly build up your fan base before you get into a 60-, 70,000-seat arena. The stadium is full, and I would say it’s probably about 65-35 Charger fans to opponent fans.”
Hunter: “It’s like something you’ve never really experienced … but more Charger fans are starting to show up. We know that we’ve gotta win games to kinda earn our territory around here.”
Beware the Chargers.