1
00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,199
Speaker 1: Hey guys, Chris Harry with you on the Chargers Podcast network,

2
00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:05,920
Speaker 1: and this is the Backstage Chargers Podcast, presented by your

3
00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,760
Speaker 1: Southern California Toyota Dealers. As a new season kicks off Sunday,

4
00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,000
Speaker 1: it's only appropriate you hear from the head coach in

5
00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,120
Speaker 1: the franchise. Quarterback Anthony Lynn joins me a bit later,

6
00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,119
Speaker 1: but first I sat down with Philip Rivers ahead of

7
00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:32,840
Speaker 1: his sixteenth NFL season. All right, it's my great pleasure

8
00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:37,800
Speaker 1: to bring in Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. Philip entering year sixteen.

9
00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,640
Speaker 1: I feel like we're just here doing this a year ago.

10
00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:42,360
Speaker 1: It feels like a couple months ago. Yeah, it does.

11
00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:45,599
Speaker 1: We're sitting right back here. I know it's the kind

12
00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:47,720
Speaker 1: of the old cliche Tom flies, but it is. It

13
00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,040
Speaker 1: is flying. It seems like it's moving faster. Preseason. It

14
00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:53,199
Speaker 1: will this be the first preseason that you have not

15
00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:55,520
Speaker 1: taken a snap? It will be, Yeah, it will be,

16
00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:57,360
Speaker 1: But I feel good about it. I think it's also

17
00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:01,280
Speaker 1: the first preseason we've had, you know, uh, joint practices

18
00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,360
Speaker 1: against two teams, both both two days worth. So I

19
00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:06,440
Speaker 1: got a lot of snaps in those two days. And

20
00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,000
Speaker 1: you know, I just I feel I feel great about

21
00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,120
Speaker 1: what what I got done in those two days and

22
00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,679
Speaker 1: then just the whole training camp we had together. So um,

23
00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:17,560
Speaker 1: it is the first time we've done it, but yet

24
00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,959
Speaker 1: I feel very prepared. Explain the competitiveness in those joint

25
00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:24,679
Speaker 1: practices in the controlled environment to it. It's not like

26
00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,399
Speaker 1: these are two teams from the NFC Championship game last

27
00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:29,440
Speaker 1: year and you said the rams you had eighty reps

28
00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:31,920
Speaker 1: in eighty passes, right, you know, I think, uh, the

29
00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,080
Speaker 1: biggest things you know, in a preseason game, let's say

30
00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,800
Speaker 1: I've played played in the third one or second one. Uh,

31
00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,200
Speaker 1: you have twelve plays maybe let's say, so you some

32
00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:43,360
Speaker 1: things happen, you you feel that game. I think that's

33
00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,080
Speaker 1: more than anything, as you feel the game. But other

34
00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,760
Speaker 1: than that, I mean, going back to the joint practices.

35
00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,600
Speaker 1: I mean, you're you're talking, you know, eight plays of

36
00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,920
Speaker 1: team run. You're talking a blitz period. You're talking to

37
00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,160
Speaker 1: getting six third down snaps in a row, you get

38
00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,000
Speaker 1: to do a two minute drive. All those things you

39
00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,520
Speaker 1: don't you may not get and brief action in a

40
00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,840
Speaker 1: preseason game. Let's say you play in a preseason getting

41
00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:06,880
Speaker 1: you get maybe one two series one could be a

42
00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:08,600
Speaker 1: three and out, one could be six seven plays. You

43
00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,799
Speaker 1: don't know you're getting the work that you need come

44
00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,280
Speaker 1: week one, no question, any any out of Red Jersey

45
00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,320
Speaker 1: on because although those guys are up front to a

46
00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,920
Speaker 1: heck of a job protecting, it's uh, it's nice to

47
00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:22,920
Speaker 1: have a have a competitive practice and knowing you're not

48
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,559
Speaker 1: in get touched. Just to go back a couple of weeks,

49
00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:27,639
Speaker 1: just how cool is it for you? And I know

50
00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:29,400
Speaker 1: you don't take it for granted, but to have you

51
00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,919
Speaker 1: and Drew on the field at the same time doing

52
00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,760
Speaker 1: those quarterback competitions, it just it seems to bring out

53
00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:35,880
Speaker 1: just the joy and everybody. It was cool. Yeah, it

54
00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:38,600
Speaker 1: really was. I enjoy I obviously enjoy practicing as the

55
00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,400
Speaker 1: Saints for the for the reasons we'd said earlier. But

56
00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,120
Speaker 1: that's fun too. I mean, Drew and I still keep

57
00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,120
Speaker 1: in touch, and it really kind of it really puts

58
00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,639
Speaker 1: a beginning and all, you know now towards the end

59
00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,280
Speaker 1: on our careers. It's funny because of it really kind

60
00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,080
Speaker 1: of lets you really go back, Oh, yeah, you know

61
00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,239
Speaker 1: that it was sixteen years ago we were both on

62
00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,640
Speaker 1: the same team and now to be doing that and

63
00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,040
Speaker 1: having those competitions. Our guys enjoy it, you know we

64
00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:04,760
Speaker 1: I mean you looked at our if you look at

65
00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,320
Speaker 1: our white board the night before the next practice, we're

66
00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,240
Speaker 1: drawing up what the competition is gonna be, you know,

67
00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:12,600
Speaker 1: not drawing up The Saints defense says, hey, I'm gonna

68
00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,919
Speaker 1: We're gonna what competition are we doing? We gotta find

69
00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:16,400
Speaker 1: a way to win, you know. So it's funny how

70
00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:18,480
Speaker 1: competitive it gets. But how fun of this? So Phil,

71
00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,079
Speaker 1: year three here in LA and with coach Lynn, and

72
00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:22,919
Speaker 1: in each and every year you go nine to seven,

73
00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,120
Speaker 1: you're twelve and four, you're continuously building. What do you

74
00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,000
Speaker 1: like about this team enter in twenty nineteen. A lot

75
00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:30,840
Speaker 1: of the same guys back, Yeah, a lot of the

76
00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,399
Speaker 1: same guys back. You had a few pieces here and there,

77
00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:35,720
Speaker 1: as you do during the draft and in free agency

78
00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,960
Speaker 1: you lose a couple. I think that's every year. But

79
00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,720
Speaker 1: really a lot of the same core group back. Um,

80
00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,240
Speaker 1: I think I like the uh it's a it's a

81
00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,280
Speaker 1: unique dynamic to me of veteran players, young players. It's

82
00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,200
Speaker 1: kind of a nice mix, and it's and it's not

83
00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:52,360
Speaker 1: really heavy in one side of the ball as far

84
00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:56,280
Speaker 1: as you know, the the experience. It's really sprinkled throughout

85
00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,480
Speaker 1: the whole football team. And uh, and I think we

86
00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:01,880
Speaker 1: you have that, and then you just kind of have

87
00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:06,240
Speaker 1: a hungry, you know, determined group. You know, you know,

88
00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:07,880
Speaker 1: you're coming off a twelve and four where you think

89
00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:09,880
Speaker 1: maybe when we were relaxed a little bit and I hadn't.

90
00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:11,800
Speaker 1: I haven't felt that or seeing that at all. The

91
00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,160
Speaker 1: guys are I think, I think getting the taste of

92
00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,680
Speaker 1: a playoff game again and win, and then I think

93
00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,479
Speaker 1: really just super being disappointed by the way we played

94
00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:23,000
Speaker 1: in New England, and and uh, you know, also being

95
00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,799
Speaker 1: hungry to win the division again. It's been since shoot,

96
00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:27,640
Speaker 1: two thousand nine since we won the division, so there's

97
00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,520
Speaker 1: a lot of little things out there that I know,

98
00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,320
Speaker 1: we want, we want to get back in the in

99
00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,400
Speaker 1: the into that position we were in last year. So

100
00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,200
Speaker 1: it's it's been a good camp and looking forward to

101
00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,360
Speaker 1: kicking this thing off here soon. Don't you need that?

102
00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,200
Speaker 1: Sometimes they'll philip like, you never want to lose. You

103
00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:44,360
Speaker 1: want to strive to get to a super Bowl each

104
00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,080
Speaker 1: and every year, but sometimes you have to go through

105
00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:50,200
Speaker 1: those challenges in those you know, failures, if you will

106
00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,599
Speaker 1: to get to that ultimate prize. And I feel like

107
00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:55,680
Speaker 1: for last year, a lot of these guys, whether it

108
00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:58,200
Speaker 1: be the rookies who contributed or you know, second, third,

109
00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,479
Speaker 1: fourth year guys who had not experienced playoffs, they performed

110
00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:03,680
Speaker 1: well in Baltimore and they got a taste of what

111
00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:05,320
Speaker 1: it was like to go to New England and that

112
00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,480
Speaker 1: shit helped him this year. Yeah, no question. I think

113
00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,159
Speaker 1: we had tons of value experience last year. And you know,

114
00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,039
Speaker 1: we had a stretch there a few years ago where

115
00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,440
Speaker 1: we couldn't we didn't win the close games. Uh, and

116
00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:18,239
Speaker 1: we did that last year in Pittsburgh, in Kansas City,

117
00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,520
Speaker 1: a couple others. But it's so that was good for

118
00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,120
Speaker 1: us too. So there's no there's no question that, Uh,

119
00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,000
Speaker 1: those those experiences are are good for you. They're just

120
00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,240
Speaker 1: they're tough to swallow when when when it happens the

121
00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,760
Speaker 1: way it does. But uh, it's it's a team that's

122
00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:36,120
Speaker 1: fired up and uh as really as really speaking of

123
00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,920
Speaker 1: you know, our practice against the Saints and the Rams,

124
00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:42,640
Speaker 1: those are great. Our own practices are very competitive, you know.

125
00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:44,640
Speaker 1: So yeah, there's a lot of good verse good out there,

126
00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,080
Speaker 1: and so it's it's it you get a lot of

127
00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,560
Speaker 1: good work. I mean when our young tackles Sam and

128
00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,360
Speaker 1: and um, you know Trent have to block Melvin and

129
00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:54,800
Speaker 1: Joey all day long. You're talking about where else you're

130
00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,800
Speaker 1: gonna get that work every single day. So there's just

131
00:05:57,839 --> 00:05:59,640
Speaker 1: a lot of that. You know, a lot of that

132
00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,840
Speaker 1: in the receiver, you know, the secondary and everywhere, and

133
00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,600
Speaker 1: then that makes you you get better every day when

134
00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,239
Speaker 1: you practice against each other like that in the offense

135
00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,080
Speaker 1: for the most part, Um, it stays in tech and

136
00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,600
Speaker 1: you have a few changes here and there, Tyrrell's and Oakland.

137
00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,680
Speaker 1: Now Hunter comes back. Um, let's start with your weapons

138
00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:19,680
Speaker 1: on the outside. You know, Keenan has had an out

139
00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,760
Speaker 1: standing training camp, and um you got Travis healthy and

140
00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,359
Speaker 1: mike um Hunter coming back in his ability to block

141
00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,599
Speaker 1: and catch the football, your comfortability with those guys, it

142
00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:32,760
Speaker 1: seems like it's just it's night and day. Yeah, it's

143
00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,479
Speaker 1: a it's a couple of years ago, Yeah it is.

144
00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,119
Speaker 1: And you mentioned, uh, you mentioned Travis. Travis has probably

145
00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,680
Speaker 1: had to be one of his best camps. Uh since

146
00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,680
Speaker 1: he's been here, he's just been been steady, been healthy,

147
00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,240
Speaker 1: excuse me. And and Keenan, like you said, it had

148
00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,440
Speaker 1: a solid super camp. It's just it's crazy. We were

149
00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:54,440
Speaker 1: thinking of the day longest tenured Chargers after myself, Melvin Ingram,

150
00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,960
Speaker 1: Keenan Allen. Right, he's like, wait, wait a minute, these

151
00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,000
Speaker 1: are the guys. You know. It's just what the high

152
00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,080
Speaker 1: fast that happened. And I only bring that up just

153
00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,440
Speaker 1: to think he's just a veteran in that receiver room.

154
00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,400
Speaker 1: He's a veteran in the whole skill corps. Now he

155
00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,720
Speaker 1: is the kind of that veteran guy, you know. And uh,

156
00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,000
Speaker 1: but as far as being being with the Chargers old

157
00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,720
Speaker 1: the whole time, and he uh, the way he works,

158
00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,520
Speaker 1: way practices what he understands mentally the whole thing. So

159
00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:20,360
Speaker 1: we know that with Keenan. So it's great to have

160
00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,640
Speaker 1: him back and healthy. Might coming off a huge year,

161
00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,840
Speaker 1: uh you know last year and uh you know he say,

162
00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:28,600
Speaker 1: you see it every day he makes some kind of

163
00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,320
Speaker 1: big play or running down the field, and uh, he's

164
00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:33,920
Speaker 1: only going to continue to improve. Get dontrell him and

165
00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,600
Speaker 1: back you know a few days ago, which is we

166
00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,480
Speaker 1: remember him that the years he had fifteen to sixteen

167
00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:41,560
Speaker 1: really just how thank goodness he was here then. I

168
00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,120
Speaker 1: just remember thinking that the guys sixteen, thank goodness, he's here.

169
00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:48,200
Speaker 1: Um when Keating was down week one, Um, so it'd

170
00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,000
Speaker 1: be great to get him back. And then you mentioned hunters,

171
00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,320
Speaker 1: shoot hunters und hunters. Hunters gonna be big for us.

172
00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,960
Speaker 1: And sometimes during practice and during a long training camp,

173
00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,160
Speaker 1: the tight end can be you know, you see flashes,

174
00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,080
Speaker 1: but you're not sure. What I mean is it's not

175
00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:02,600
Speaker 1: like he's he can get a ton of ton of

176
00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,480
Speaker 1: ton of balls shut. So I'm excited to see kind

177
00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,520
Speaker 1: of how get once we get going there in the season.

178
00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,720
Speaker 1: And um, you know, uh, you know Virgil and Sean Culkin,

179
00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,080
Speaker 1: Sean Culkin that is, but has his best camp. He's

180
00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:15,360
Speaker 1: been He's been heard from multiple he's been doing a

181
00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,040
Speaker 1: little bit of everything. So uh, it's a it's a

182
00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:19,800
Speaker 1: good group. I left some other guys out that are

183
00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:21,920
Speaker 1: that are continuing to get better and improve, and uh

184
00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,280
Speaker 1: we'll see how all shakes out. But uh, it's a

185
00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,400
Speaker 1: good group. It's a fun group to be around. I said,

186
00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:28,400
Speaker 1: night and day. Because of you know, Mike Williams comes

187
00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,320
Speaker 1: in as a rookie, wasn't able to really contribute as

188
00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,440
Speaker 1: much as he wanted to just because he was injured.

189
00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,600
Speaker 1: Comes in last year eleven total touchdowns, and it just

190
00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:40,439
Speaker 1: seems like the chemistry that's slowly building to a point

191
00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,000
Speaker 1: where I mean this, this guy could make an even

192
00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:45,240
Speaker 1: bigger jump in year three, which is almost kind of

193
00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,800
Speaker 1: a year two for him. Yeah, no question, I thought

194
00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:49,240
Speaker 1: it was big for him. I don't know if you remember,

195
00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:50,640
Speaker 1: we were sitting here last year and we were talking

196
00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:54,080
Speaker 1: about how important it was that he just was healthy

197
00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,199
Speaker 1: and out there every day in training camp, every day

198
00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:58,160
Speaker 1: out there, just keep putting one at a time, you know,

199
00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,199
Speaker 1: and be out there. And he did that, and then

200
00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:01,760
Speaker 1: he went on to have that year he had, and

201
00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,280
Speaker 1: then now he's done that again. You know, the whole offseason,

202
00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,560
Speaker 1: the whole training camp, eighty one's been out there, and

203
00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:10,640
Speaker 1: the chemistry you've mentioned, I think to me, I call

204
00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,120
Speaker 1: trust building plays. You know, we had a bunch of

205
00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,240
Speaker 1: those trust building plays last year, whether it be a

206
00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:17,600
Speaker 1: third down conversion or an end route, whether it be

207
00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:20,120
Speaker 1: jumping up and you know, going over somebody and making

208
00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:22,560
Speaker 1: a touchdown catch. We had a bunch of those trust

209
00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,280
Speaker 1: building plays. And I think you can talk about them,

210
00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:27,600
Speaker 1: you can have you can have them in practice most certain,

211
00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:29,720
Speaker 1: definitely you can, and those help and then when you

212
00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,240
Speaker 1: have them on Sunday afternoons. Then it just takes it

213
00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:35,200
Speaker 1: just naturally takes it to another level. One. I am.

214
00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:37,880
Speaker 1: It's it's crazy to say it. Like you said, it's

215
00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,439
Speaker 1: really almost like year two and to think that he's

216
00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,000
Speaker 1: going to continue to get better what we expect and

217
00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,360
Speaker 1: that didn't always turn out in numbers, you know, in

218
00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:49,040
Speaker 1: the statistics, and maybe it will hopefully does. But just what,

219
00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,079
Speaker 1: he's definitely a better player today than he was when

220
00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:53,959
Speaker 1: we finished the season. And that's that's saying a lot.

221
00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,360
Speaker 1: I think about Thursday night in Kansas City. When you

222
00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,240
Speaker 1: have a game like that, you know, when Keenan goes

223
00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:00,400
Speaker 1: down and the way Travis played, I think there was

224
00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,319
Speaker 1: a play that was probably play of the game. It

225
00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,400
Speaker 1: was a fourth down you get it to Travis um

226
00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:07,880
Speaker 1: he was playing out a position and that so just

227
00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:11,120
Speaker 1: have my three total touchdowns, that two point conversion. Uh,

228
00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,679
Speaker 1: that builds confidence and obviously they know who's throwing them

229
00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:16,600
Speaker 1: the football, which gives them confidence. But to put to

230
00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:18,760
Speaker 1: put it on tape in a game like that, that's

231
00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,520
Speaker 1: a big deal. Yeah, it was awesome, And I think

232
00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:22,560
Speaker 1: what you realize with a lot of these guys and

233
00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,439
Speaker 1: we have a lot of guys like this. But with

234
00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,120
Speaker 1: Mike is he's used to be big games. He's been

235
00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,200
Speaker 1: at him, you know, he's been at him. But you

236
00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,920
Speaker 1: know in college and national championship games and those things.

237
00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:34,440
Speaker 1: So when you get in those that they're not any

238
00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:37,000
Speaker 1: different for them. And I think that shows that you

239
00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:38,960
Speaker 1: can see that when they get out there that is

240
00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,760
Speaker 1: not is not too much for him. Yea. And the

241
00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:44,040
Speaker 1: running game, whether it's Melvin, it's Austin, it's Justin, um,

242
00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:46,160
Speaker 1: guys who have done it. That's got to give you

243
00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:49,400
Speaker 1: that comfortability to know that you, guys, you have reliability

244
00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,320
Speaker 1: back there. No question. It's a really good group and

245
00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,200
Speaker 1: again hopefully we hopefully we see Melvine soon. But having

246
00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:57,720
Speaker 1: having Austin and Justin is great. Uh. They cost from

247
00:10:57,800 --> 00:10:59,839
Speaker 1: each other well too, all all of them do. And

248
00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,560
Speaker 1: then I think, really, you know, seeing seeing what Pope's

249
00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:06,480
Speaker 1: done this this uh camp is unbelievable. And uh, you

250
00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:08,800
Speaker 1: know he was this way all last year on the

251
00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:12,080
Speaker 1: look squad when he was here in practice there we

252
00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:14,160
Speaker 1: were like, god, lee this guy. And then you get

253
00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,559
Speaker 1: him to get him to offseason and training camp and

254
00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:18,000
Speaker 1: then you see him and he runs a pump back

255
00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,600
Speaker 1: and he's made a bunch of other good runs. So, uh,

256
00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,000
Speaker 1: it's uh, it is a good it is a good group.

257
00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:24,640
Speaker 1: It is a good group that call me another world.

258
00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,480
Speaker 1: They really enjoy They pull for one another, and it's

259
00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:30,839
Speaker 1: and it's unique in those positions receivers, running backs, Right,

260
00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:32,600
Speaker 1: we're in positions where you want to get the ball.

261
00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,080
Speaker 1: You know only one of only a couple of us

262
00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:37,800
Speaker 1: are gonna be out there, And but do you want

263
00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:39,439
Speaker 1: to pull for you know it's and it's so it's

264
00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,080
Speaker 1: a it's an unselfish group. It's a good group's competitive group,

265
00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,240
Speaker 1: but they pull for one another and and and try

266
00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,160
Speaker 1: to get the best out of each other. Philip, you

267
00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,840
Speaker 1: mentioned the defense and just going up against your first

268
00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,079
Speaker 1: team d every day in training camp. Um to add

269
00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,280
Speaker 1: a guy like Thomas Davis, um what he's been. I

270
00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,120
Speaker 1: feel like every time I've talked to a player or somebody,

271
00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,800
Speaker 1: his name has come up offense or defense. Um, it

272
00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:03,120
Speaker 1: feels like he's been here for a lot longer than

273
00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,040
Speaker 1: just a few months. Right, Yeah, it does. It's it's

274
00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,840
Speaker 1: it's impressive. I've always I've always wondered and how obviously

275
00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:12,400
Speaker 1: never wanted it to happen. I always wondered, what would

276
00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:13,960
Speaker 1: it be like to go into another locker room, to

277
00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:15,920
Speaker 1: be on another team? You know, how how would that?

278
00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:20,040
Speaker 1: How do you, you know, assert yourself in there and leave?

279
00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:21,600
Speaker 1: I mean the only way, you know how? Right? And

280
00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:23,880
Speaker 1: so he's done that now, going into his fifteenth year,

281
00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,959
Speaker 1: and he's done it in such a such a humble

282
00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,439
Speaker 1: yet I don't even know how to described it humble,

283
00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:32,680
Speaker 1: but yet, hey, I'm going after it way. This is

284
00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:34,040
Speaker 1: what this is how I do it. I mean, from

285
00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,440
Speaker 1: running the huddle and telling guys, you know, just different things.

286
00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:39,439
Speaker 1: But it was done in such a way that was

287
00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:41,880
Speaker 1: so sincere and so real, and he already had the

288
00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:45,040
Speaker 1: respect from what he'd done over his career that it's been.

289
00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:46,920
Speaker 1: It's been awesome to have him here. And I think

290
00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,559
Speaker 1: the biggest thing, not that we thought he couldn't, but

291
00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,480
Speaker 1: is that how he can still run and still call

292
00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,200
Speaker 1: that stuff you know, which which which I mean I

293
00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,120
Speaker 1: kind of expected it, but I mean you never know,

294
00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,760
Speaker 1: you know, and you're fifteen playing linebacker and then that's position,

295
00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,000
Speaker 1: so with such a punishing position, Believel, So he's he

296
00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,160
Speaker 1: he uh, he's brought a great deal. And I think, uh,

297
00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:10,320
Speaker 1: I think both his play and the leadership UH has

298
00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,320
Speaker 1: brought and is added to what was already a salty

299
00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,360
Speaker 1: group on defense. Like I said, going into year sixteen,

300
00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,880
Speaker 1: you have a lot of different teams that that you

301
00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:22,600
Speaker 1: can kind of judge or compare this team to UM,

302
00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,360
Speaker 1: being that the coaching staff is intact and a lot

303
00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,680
Speaker 1: of the same players are intact. UM. Is there a

304
00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:31,880
Speaker 1: particular part of your career that you can equate this too,

305
00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,840
Speaker 1: or is this just kind of a new chapter? Yeah, well,

306
00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:36,480
Speaker 1: I think it's a new chapter in the sense that,

307
00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:38,240
Speaker 1: you know, like you mentioned, it's you know, it's not

308
00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:39,839
Speaker 1: our third year in LA. I mean, I feel like

309
00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:43,840
Speaker 1: that's obviously has been a transition for everyone. UM. I

310
00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:45,800
Speaker 1: think it's a new chapter. But yet I can, I can,

311
00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,319
Speaker 1: I can draw some comparisons back to that. I keep

312
00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:50,480
Speaker 1: mentioning that that kind of that run from six to

313
00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:55,320
Speaker 1: oh nine when we won the division UM all shoot,

314
00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,840
Speaker 1: all four all four of those years, UM, and we

315
00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,480
Speaker 1: had that consistency, We had that mix of veteran and

316
00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,760
Speaker 1: and and young player. We had a lot of guys

317
00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:07,640
Speaker 1: going to the Pro Bowl those years, and shoot, we won,

318
00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:11,160
Speaker 1: you know, we won fourteen and eleven and then eight

319
00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,120
Speaker 1: and then uh thirteen again, so we want a bunch

320
00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:15,800
Speaker 1: of football games. So I think that's probably what it

321
00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,959
Speaker 1: compares to most as far as as far as looking back.

322
00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:21,520
Speaker 1: But it's kind of its own group. It's kind of

323
00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,120
Speaker 1: its own unique group. And um, you know, you look

324
00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,080
Speaker 1: back then and for me that was yours, you know,

325
00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:29,400
Speaker 1: three four or five, six, uh seven, you know, so

326
00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,080
Speaker 1: now as you're looking at it being you know, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen,

327
00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:35,400
Speaker 1: seventeen or whatever. So it's it's, uh, it's different, and

328
00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:37,160
Speaker 1: I'm enjoying the heck out of it. It's a fun.

329
00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:39,160
Speaker 1: It's a fun team to be around. The final thing

330
00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:41,560
Speaker 1: for you, as we get to week one, how how

331
00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,960
Speaker 1: excited are you to get under center, being that this

332
00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:46,920
Speaker 1: will be the first time in twenty nineteen. Yeah, I'm

333
00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:48,440
Speaker 1: fired up about it. I'm fired up to get out

334
00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:50,640
Speaker 1: there a little. There's piece of it. Can't believe it's here,

335
00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:53,400
Speaker 1: you know. I mean, it's it's when you when you lose.

336
00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:57,280
Speaker 1: Anytime you lose, unless you're winning the championship, you uh,

337
00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:00,360
Speaker 1: you know, you lose. Disappointed every team in the league. Guys,

338
00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:02,800
Speaker 1: are you finished the season disappointed? Whether you didn't make

339
00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,160
Speaker 1: the postseason or whether you get beat in the postseason,

340
00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,160
Speaker 1: so it's a long time to get to get back

341
00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:10,080
Speaker 1: to where you go again. And it's fresh again, so

342
00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:12,320
Speaker 1: looking forward to it. It's a good team, a playoff

343
00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:16,440
Speaker 1: team coming in here in Indy week one and looking

344
00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,600
Speaker 1: forward to being out there. Well, hey, we always appreciate

345
00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,680
Speaker 1: your time. Best select this upcoming season and we'll see

346
00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,200
Speaker 1: around here. Thanks. Sure. All right, guys, Before we get

347
00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:26,680
Speaker 1: to head coach Anthony Lynn here on the Backstage Chargers

348
00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:30,720
Speaker 1: podcast presented by your Southern California Toyota dealers, a reminder

349
00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,920
Speaker 1: to subscribe to the all New Chargers podcast network wherever

350
00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,360
Speaker 1: you listen to podcasts. It's your one stop shop for

351
00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:40,320
Speaker 1: all things Chargers, directly from the team, in depth conversations

352
00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:45,239
Speaker 1: and analysis with players, coaches, executives, national reporters and broadcasters,

353
00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,240
Speaker 1: and much more. All right, now, here's my conversation with

354
00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,600
Speaker 1: head coach Anthony Lynn. Coach, how are you? I'm doing good? Man?

355
00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:54,320
Speaker 1: How about yourself? Doing very good? Let's just start with this.

356
00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,920
Speaker 1: Let's recap the last six weeks train, the camp, preseason

357
00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:01,400
Speaker 1: and where you are now and what you saw over

358
00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:03,680
Speaker 1: this last month or so. Well, I can tell you

359
00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:07,000
Speaker 1: what it's a hard working group, Chris, and uh, we're

360
00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,480
Speaker 1: a better team now than then when we first got here,

361
00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,360
Speaker 1: you know, back in Onta. So that's all you can

362
00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:14,480
Speaker 1: ask for as a coach. And we went to training camp,

363
00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:15,920
Speaker 1: you know, we didn't want to come out of the

364
00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,160
Speaker 1: drag of all trades and master of nothing. We wanted

365
00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,840
Speaker 1: to focus on just a couple of things. And we

366
00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:25,560
Speaker 1: emphasize good decision making and uh, we emphasize you know,

367
00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,200
Speaker 1: being really good at the things that doesn't require talent.

368
00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,320
Speaker 1: And so hopefully we'll play a smarter game and I'm

369
00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:34,320
Speaker 1: talking about coaches and players and uh, and you'll see

370
00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:36,480
Speaker 1: good execution. Does it help you to have a lot

371
00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:39,280
Speaker 1: of the same people in this building entering your third

372
00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,240
Speaker 1: year as head coach? Absolutely, Man, Tom's got the heck

373
00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:44,720
Speaker 1: of a job of helping me keep the coaching staff together,

374
00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:48,440
Speaker 1: keeping our core group together in the locker room. Uh,

375
00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,280
Speaker 1: you know that that helps a lot. But you know,

376
00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:52,840
Speaker 1: people talk about wins and losses, but that stuff doesn't

377
00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,680
Speaker 1: carry over. You know, culture that doesn't carry over. It's

378
00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:57,880
Speaker 1: something that you have to go back and work at

379
00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:02,320
Speaker 1: every month, every week, every day. It's a reset, right, absolutely,

380
00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,440
Speaker 1: And I believe we have the men in the locker

381
00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,200
Speaker 1: room to get that done, and so you know, we'll

382
00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:09,239
Speaker 1: know exactly where we're at and how good we are

383
00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:11,920
Speaker 1: once we saw playing these games. We saw flashes of

384
00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,240
Speaker 1: it in the preseason, but certain guys we didn't see.

385
00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,919
Speaker 1: We didn't see Philip, we didn't see Penouncy ingram Bosa,

386
00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:19,680
Speaker 1: guys like that. How important is it just to have

387
00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:22,959
Speaker 1: them healthy going into Week one rather than getting them

388
00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:25,800
Speaker 1: a few series or in August. Well, what you didn't say.

389
00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,720
Speaker 1: You're right, you didn't see those guys in preseason games.

390
00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:33,360
Speaker 1: But those guys showed up a lot in Rams joint practice,

391
00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,840
Speaker 1: Saints joint practice. They took the buckle the reps, and

392
00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,560
Speaker 1: so I felt like we had an opportunity to get

393
00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:43,320
Speaker 1: these guys game type reps in a controlled environment, and

394
00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:45,280
Speaker 1: I took advantage of that. That's why you didn't see

395
00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,280
Speaker 1: him in the preseason. But they'll be ready to go,

396
00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:49,680
Speaker 1: have no doubt. Yeah, And Philip explained that, he said,

397
00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:52,240
Speaker 1: you know, if I get five six plays in a

398
00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:56,560
Speaker 1: preseason game, that's nothing compared to getting eighty passes in

399
00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,280
Speaker 1: against the Rams or the Saints teams that were in

400
00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:02,840
Speaker 1: the NFCJ Your games two good football teams. Man. Yeah, absolutely.

401
00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:05,680
Speaker 1: What does it mean to this team coach to know

402
00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:09,160
Speaker 1: that you have a guy entering his sixteenth season under center,

403
00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,719
Speaker 1: his two hundred ninths start in the regular season at

404
00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:16,560
Speaker 1: Philip Rivers starting against the Colts. You know, it means

405
00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:18,920
Speaker 1: a lot. You know, to have a veteran quarterback that

406
00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,119
Speaker 1: those the offense that can lead your team on the fail.

407
00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,359
Speaker 1: You know, that can put guys in positions to make plays.

408
00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:27,600
Speaker 1: It really means a lot. So we got to take

409
00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:29,719
Speaker 1: advantage of that, you know, the best we can right

410
00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:31,800
Speaker 1: now while we have this guy. And then on defense,

411
00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:34,520
Speaker 1: Thomas Davis comes in. Feels like he's been here a

412
00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,440
Speaker 1: lot longer than a few months, just in the short

413
00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:39,680
Speaker 1: time that he's been a coach. To mesa coach, what

414
00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,159
Speaker 1: is Thomas Davis brought into this locker room? You know, Thomas,

415
00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:45,919
Speaker 1: he's a relational guy and not only is he heck

416
00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:49,359
Speaker 1: of a football player, but he is intangibles off the charts,

417
00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:51,800
Speaker 1: and so he was a blessing to have him on

418
00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,560
Speaker 1: our team in our locker room, mentoring our young guys

419
00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,600
Speaker 1: and just watching him work. That speaks volumes for young

420
00:18:57,640 --> 00:18:59,560
Speaker 1: guys just watching him work every day. Have you checked

421
00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:01,840
Speaker 1: his idea to see how old he is, because he

422
00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:03,960
Speaker 1: doesn't look like he's thirty five years old. He hadn't

423
00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:07,919
Speaker 1: run around well, actually thirty thirty six, give it him

424
00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:09,439
Speaker 1: a year. He didn't run around like a thirty six

425
00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:10,879
Speaker 1: year I can tell you that he doesn't. I mean,

426
00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,080
Speaker 1: I mean, this guy teen years old, I can imagine

427
00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,160
Speaker 1: how fast he was. I mean, he's pretty fast now

428
00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,600
Speaker 1: when you see him out there against the Colts in

429
00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,960
Speaker 1: this this linebacking group and coach, they were decimated by

430
00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:25,879
Speaker 1: entries last year. And now you're bringing Davis, but you

431
00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,920
Speaker 1: also get Kaiser back, you get Denzel back to have

432
00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:32,159
Speaker 1: this kind of new look linebacking group. What's that going

433
00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:34,959
Speaker 1: to mean for the defense? You know, it can only help. Uh.

434
00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:38,080
Speaker 1: You know Thomas, you know, he's he's he's done everything

435
00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,879
Speaker 1: we've asked him to do. But uh, he's in a

436
00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,439
Speaker 1: new system for the first time in fifteen years. So, uh,

437
00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:46,480
Speaker 1: that's gonna slow him down a little bit. So he's

438
00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:49,800
Speaker 1: got some catching up to do there. Uh. Denzel's coming

439
00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:52,919
Speaker 1: off the knee injury, little Rusty Kaiser. We're monitoring him.

440
00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,040
Speaker 1: You know, I want these guys to get healthy and

441
00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,600
Speaker 1: We took car of these guys through our training camp,

442
00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,200
Speaker 1: so week one, look for these guys to be full speed,

443
00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:05,119
Speaker 1: ready to go. You have some youth and some veteran

444
00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,359
Speaker 1: experience there and that's what you needed that position. So

445
00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,520
Speaker 1: I think it's a deep group right now. Exactly two

446
00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,439
Speaker 1: years ago, coach, you were getting ready for your first

447
00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:17,119
Speaker 1: NFL game as a head coach against the Devin Broncos

448
00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:22,000
Speaker 1: Monday Football. How was Anthony Lynn in twenty nineteen different

449
00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:27,159
Speaker 1: from Anthony Lynn in twenty seventeen. Oh, my goodness. You know,

450
00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:32,440
Speaker 1: as a person, hopefully you know, you keep evolving, you

451
00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,879
Speaker 1: change for the for the good and uh, and I

452
00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:39,159
Speaker 1: feel like I have. I'm surrounded by great supporting staff.

453
00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,200
Speaker 1: I'm with a great organization. So you know, I have

454
00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:44,320
Speaker 1: no choice if if I come to work every day

455
00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,119
Speaker 1: to be the best anything lending that I can be,

456
00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:48,720
Speaker 1: I have no choice but to get better. So I'm

457
00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:50,280
Speaker 1: just thankful for the people that I come to work

458
00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:52,119
Speaker 1: with every single day and the players that I have.

459
00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:56,080
Speaker 1: We've seen the success sustained success from your one to

460
00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:58,240
Speaker 1: year two. Was there a moment or a couple of

461
00:20:58,280 --> 00:20:59,920
Speaker 1: moments over the last couple of years that you felt

462
00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,159
Speaker 1: like has made you an even better head coaching you

463
00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:05,960
Speaker 1: already were. You know, I learned from my mistakes, and

464
00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:08,879
Speaker 1: you know I've made I've made plenty of mistakes, and

465
00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,080
Speaker 1: I know I've learned from that. So yeah, I mean

466
00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,080
Speaker 1: those are moments where I feel like I grow and

467
00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:17,800
Speaker 1: learn the most. It is from my failures. Offensively, we

468
00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:20,119
Speaker 1: know Melvin's not here at the moment, but the running

469
00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:24,399
Speaker 1: backs that you do have, Justin Jackson, Austin Ekeler, Troy Maine, Pope,

470
00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:26,760
Speaker 1: you got to try newsom back on the practice squad.

471
00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:28,639
Speaker 1: What have you seen from those guys and how have

472
00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:32,119
Speaker 1: they worked over the last four weeks. Well, there's no

473
00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:33,840
Speaker 1: other unit that work as hard as that group, I

474
00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:35,639
Speaker 1: can tell you that. And they are talented. They have

475
00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:37,800
Speaker 1: some skill and we have to put those young men

476
00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:41,280
Speaker 1: in position they use their talents and Ken has done

477
00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:42,879
Speaker 1: a heck of a job of that. I feel like

478
00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,760
Speaker 1: this offseason, so I'm looking forward to seeing them play

479
00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,240
Speaker 1: and compete. Now we're better football team with Mevin Gordon,

480
00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:50,600
Speaker 1: There's no doubt about it. But I think the way

481
00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:52,760
Speaker 1: we're gonna use these guys, we're still going to be

482
00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:55,879
Speaker 1: effective in the offense. There's very little turnover. I mean

483
00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:58,920
Speaker 1: Tyrogos the Oakland. But Hunter comes back and you have

484
00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:01,920
Speaker 1: tight ends that not only can catch the ball, but

485
00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,560
Speaker 1: they can help and pass protection and run blocking. I

486
00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,280
Speaker 1: don't you could just speak to Hunter and Sean and

487
00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,480
Speaker 1: Virgil and just their versatility in your offense. You know,

488
00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:12,679
Speaker 1: you look at Hunter and you look at Virgil, I mean,

489
00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:15,119
Speaker 1: two of the better combo guys in this league as

490
00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:18,320
Speaker 1: far as receiving and blocking. And then a young Kolkin.

491
00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:20,440
Speaker 1: I think he might have been the most improved player

492
00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:23,120
Speaker 1: on our football team this year. So very excited about

493
00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:25,720
Speaker 1: his development and growth. Rip Shirts did a nice job

494
00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:28,560
Speaker 1: with him. But it's a good group, man, it's a

495
00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,080
Speaker 1: good slide group. We can keep those guys healthy. I

496
00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:32,800
Speaker 1: think those guys are going to do really good things.

497
00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:34,959
Speaker 1: I tell you these young tackles. Phillip said it. When

498
00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,800
Speaker 1: you go up against Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram on

499
00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:40,880
Speaker 1: a daily basis, you have no choice but to get better.

500
00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,280
Speaker 1: What have you seen out of their development not only

501
00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,200
Speaker 1: during training camp but also from last year to this year. Coach, Well,

502
00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:48,239
Speaker 1: you know every other in this league that they're going

503
00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:49,840
Speaker 1: to get better. I mean Pat Mayers is one of

504
00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:52,960
Speaker 1: the better technicians in our game. And so I have

505
00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:57,199
Speaker 1: no doubt in the development. But the good young players

506
00:22:57,280 --> 00:22:59,200
Speaker 1: and we're gonna have to they're going to go out

507
00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,080
Speaker 1: and they're going to perform at a high level. And

508
00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:03,000
Speaker 1: uh we we have all the confidence in the world

509
00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,440
Speaker 1: in those two. When you see the Colts, I'm sure

510
00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,960
Speaker 1: it's not necessarily you're looking into a mirror, but it's

511
00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,800
Speaker 1: a team that won in the wild car round, they

512
00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,800
Speaker 1: got to Divisionals, a very talented team, a talented roster

513
00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:16,960
Speaker 1: from top to bottom. Imagine you have a lot of

514
00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,120
Speaker 1: respect for what these guys have done. Oh, no doubt

515
00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:20,560
Speaker 1: about it. This was one of the highest teams in

516
00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:23,960
Speaker 1: the NFL last year. And so they have an outstanding

517
00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,200
Speaker 1: coaching style for as well. And Frank Wright and you

518
00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,560
Speaker 1: know Nick Seryani's office cornetor that you know him pretty well, No,

519
00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:30,920
Speaker 1: know him very well. You know he's my receivers coach.

520
00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:33,520
Speaker 1: But uh, the love the coaching staff. Like you say,

521
00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:35,639
Speaker 1: they have a talented boster. It's gonna be a heck

522
00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:37,960
Speaker 1: of a challenge on open day. And even without Andrew

523
00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:40,480
Speaker 1: loved coach Jakobe Brossette, it's not like he's making his

524
00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,359
Speaker 1: first career start. He has seventeen starts in this league.

525
00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:45,520
Speaker 1: You know him pretty well from your time in the AFS.

526
00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:49,040
Speaker 1: He East. What's the biggest challenge in trying to slow

527
00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,800
Speaker 1: a guy like Brissette? You know, he's like you said,

528
00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:53,840
Speaker 1: he's a He's a starter in this league. That's why

529
00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:55,680
Speaker 1: they have so much confidence in the in the unit

530
00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,120
Speaker 1: right now. And uh I watched him go I think

531
00:23:58,119 --> 00:23:59,879
Speaker 1: three and oh in New England when Brady was out,

532
00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,520
Speaker 1: So this guy can get the job done. He's a passer,

533
00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,359
Speaker 1: you know, he likes going through his progressions delivering the

534
00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:08,840
Speaker 1: ball down the field. But under the rest he can't

535
00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:10,240
Speaker 1: get out of that pocket and run a little bit.

536
00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,520
Speaker 1: So we're going out to contain this young man and

537
00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:14,080
Speaker 1: now hopefully we can speak the game up on him

538
00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:16,119
Speaker 1: a little bit. I mean, if actually this last year,

539
00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:19,639
Speaker 1: But how is game planning for Week one different than

540
00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:22,280
Speaker 1: any other week? Because all you have is your preseason

541
00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:24,440
Speaker 1: go off of and maybe last year's tape. But I

542
00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:26,280
Speaker 1: feel like every team is going to hold back a

543
00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:29,240
Speaker 1: little bit right Well, oh absolutely, but they're also gonna

544
00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:30,920
Speaker 1: work on the things that they need to work on.

545
00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,840
Speaker 1: But I worry more about us than the other team

546
00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,320
Speaker 1: week one, because the Tennessee is to over prepare. You know,

547
00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:41,880
Speaker 1: we didn't just start looking at Indianapolis today or yesterday.

548
00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:43,560
Speaker 1: You know, we knew this game was coming a long

549
00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:45,480
Speaker 1: time ago, and so we have to be careful that

550
00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:47,480
Speaker 1: we don't over prepare because it's not what we know,

551
00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:50,960
Speaker 1: it's what our players know. Finally, Coach, key to the game,

552
00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:53,439
Speaker 1: and really a key to every game this season. I'm

553
00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:55,840
Speaker 1: sure you have a few things that you preach that

554
00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,080
Speaker 1: if you guys can execute, you can win almost Sundays,

555
00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:02,240
Speaker 1: no doubt, a buy and you know what we preach

556
00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:06,240
Speaker 1: this competitive advantage of the things that doesn't require talent,

557
00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:11,639
Speaker 1: you know, effort, attitude, execution, you know, knowledge of your playbook,

558
00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:14,800
Speaker 1: discipline on the field, decreasing tunes and things like that.

559
00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,760
Speaker 1: So just playing smart football. You know, it doesn't require

560
00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:19,840
Speaker 1: talent to do that. So I believe a we can

561
00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:21,720
Speaker 1: win in those areas. We have a good chance, and

562
00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,600
Speaker 1: you got the talent, right, no doubt. Coach. I always

563
00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:26,440
Speaker 1: appreciate your time and it was such a busy week

564
00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:28,359
Speaker 1: for you. Look forward to seeing you on the field

565
00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:30,800
Speaker 1: on Sunday. All right, Chris, thanks man. All right, guys,

566
00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:32,879
Speaker 1: that's gonna do it for us on the Backstage Chargers

567
00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:36,640
Speaker 1: Podcast presented by your Southern California Toyota Dealers. But thanks

568
00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,159
Speaker 1: to Anthony Lynn and Philip Rivers for joining me, and

569
00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:41,680
Speaker 1: of course thanks to you all for listening. Remember be

570
00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,760
Speaker 1: sure to subscribe to the Chargers Podcast Network. We've got

571
00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:47,399
Speaker 1: some exciting things cooking up this season and we want

572
00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:49,760
Speaker 1: you along for the ride. Thanks so much for listening,

573
00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:51,879
Speaker 1: and until next time, I'm Chris Hayry