Chargers Coordinators Discuss Expectations And Priorities For LA

Martand Bhagavatula | Apr 16, 2024

Nov 6, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Derius Davis. / Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

A staple of the Los Angeles Chargers' inconsistency over the past couple of decades especially has been poor special teams play, headlined by signature plays like Nate Kaeding's missed field goals, as well as the BNolts' 2010 campaign, where they paced the league in both offense and defense but missed the postseason due to their league-worst special teams.

A corner has since been turned, as the acquisition of LA kicker Cameron Dicker, along with the arrival of special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken, has spearheaded a new era of Bolts football. Heading into a season with a predominantly new coaching staff, Ficken's been retained. His terrific turnaround hasn't gone unnoticed. Here's what he had to say about his special teams unit, per Omar Navarro of Chargers.com:

"They want to cover kicks as much as they can," Ficken said. "That's what I love about our guys, because they are competitors. They want, 'Hey, we don't want the touchbacks.' They understand the situations that in some situations you need to go ahead and kick touchbacks. They want to play and put their play out there as much as they can on tape."

Ficken's high praise of his group should inspire tons of confidence in Bolts fans everywhere, as their aggressiveness, competence, and drive to win has collectively created one of the league's better units.

With return man Derrius Davis, punter JK Stott, and kicker Cameron Dicker all amongst the league's best, the Bolts have one less issue to worry about as they swing for the fences this season.