Re: Maize's Chargers | Finding A Home, Building A Contender
Chargers Name Fichtner & Frazier as Coordinators
The Los Angeles Chargers are creeping toward their first free agency period since the move to LA. New Head Coach Harold Goodwin has prepared himself by evaluating the players currently on the roster. As well as preparing the coaching staff for the new season. No member of the Chargers staff under Mike McCoy was retained, so the Chargers are starting from scratch.
Goodwin brought in a "Chief of Staff," in hiring Mike Singletary. It was recently announced that Singletary is the team's Assistant Head Coach and Linebackers Coach. Last season. Singletary, ironically, worked with the franchise that had just moved to Los Angeles: The Rams.
Singletary spent last year working with Head Coach Jeff Fisher and with the Ram's linebackers. He spent three years away from NFL sidelines. He said recently that the time was spent with family and "refocusing" himself on coaching.
Previous to his sabbatical, he served at the side of Leslie Frazier in Minnesota. Frazier and Singletary had played together for the vaunted Bears defense in the 80's.
Singletary's first phone call when he joined the Chargers was to his friend and colleague, Leslie Frazier. Frazier accepted the request and was named the Defensive Coordinator for the Chargers.
This means the Chargers will be transitioning to a 4-3 defense that will use Cover 2 concepts. The Chargers did use four down lineman last season, usually with Melvin Ingram of Jeremiah Attaochu as a pass rushing end.
Frazier is excited about the challenge and believes the change will quickly improve the young defense. "We have players that are versatile and talented." said Frazier. "Plus, it's a very young unit. So the change shouldn't impact growth. They are still growing as players."
Leslie Frazier was the Secondary Coach for the Ravens last season. The Ravens improved tremendously under Frazier, becoming a top ten defense against the pass. In part to Frazier's coaching and the impact of former Charger, Eric Weddle.
Frazier and Singletary had success in Minnesota, including a playoff appearance in 2012. Overall, Frazier had a 21-32-1 record as Head Coach and went from Minnesota to Tampa and became the Bucs' Defensive Coordinator for two seasons. While the Bucs were rebuilding, Frazier got to work with Lovie Smith, one of the architects of the "Tampa 2" defense that is now coming to LA.
As for the offensive side of the ball, Harold Goodwin announced that he will be calling plays. He wanted his Offensive Coordinator to help with game-planning, installation and scheme. So Goodwin found a familiar face, hiring Randy Fichtner as Offensive Coordinator.
Fichtner and Goodwin were both hired by Mike Tomlin to join the Steelers coaching staff in 2007. That's the same season Bruce Arians became the team's Offensive Coordinator. Both coaches would work their way up, with Fichtner landing as the Quarterbacks Coach. Goodwin would become the Offensive Line Coach. Goodwin would follow Arians to Indy, while Fichtner stayed and took on a larger role with the offense.
Randy Fichtner's coaching career got started at the University of Michigan as a Graduate Assistant in 1986. Similar to Goodwin, who got his start in Ann Arbor. Goodwin was a lineman for Michigan, then a GA with the Wolverines.
Fichtner's time with Memphis, starting 2001 as Offensive Coordinator, is really where his coaching career took off. Installing a spread offense, Memphis became a prolific offense that set multiple school records. In the same time, Fichtner supported the development of Quarterback Danny Wimprine and Running Back DeAngelo Williams.
Ben Roethlisberger often credits Fichtner for Big Ben's control and understanding of the offense. At the same time, the Steelers have become a high-octane offense. Fichtner has worked closely with Todd Haley, Arians' replacement as Offensive Coordinator in 2012, building one of the best offenses in the NFL.
The Chargers now have their coordinators in place. In Frazier, they have an experienced coach that is looking to prove himself. Fichtner, in his first Coordinator job in the NFL, is hoping to build another productive offense.
It has become clear that the Chargers are focused on building a winning attitude. Hiring Singletary and Frazier will give the defense an edge. On offense, Fichtner and Goodwin are expected to build an efficient, balanced attack that will make the Chargers difficult to game plan against.
Chargers Name Fichtner & Frazier as Coordinators
The Los Angeles Chargers are creeping toward their first free agency period since the move to LA. New Head Coach Harold Goodwin has prepared himself by evaluating the players currently on the roster. As well as preparing the coaching staff for the new season. No member of the Chargers staff under Mike McCoy was retained, so the Chargers are starting from scratch.
Goodwin brought in a "Chief of Staff," in hiring Mike Singletary. It was recently announced that Singletary is the team's Assistant Head Coach and Linebackers Coach. Last season. Singletary, ironically, worked with the franchise that had just moved to Los Angeles: The Rams.
Singletary spent last year working with Head Coach Jeff Fisher and with the Ram's linebackers. He spent three years away from NFL sidelines. He said recently that the time was spent with family and "refocusing" himself on coaching.
Previous to his sabbatical, he served at the side of Leslie Frazier in Minnesota. Frazier and Singletary had played together for the vaunted Bears defense in the 80's. Singletary's first phone call when he joined the Chargers was to his friend and colleague, Leslie Frazier. Frazier accepted the request and was named the Defensive Coordinator for the Chargers.
This means the Chargers will be transitioning to a 4-3 defense that will use Cover 2 concepts. The Chargers did use four down lineman last season, usually with Melvin Ingram of Jeremiah Attaochu as a pass rushing end.
Frazier is excited about the challenge and believes the change will quickly improve the young defense. "We have players that are versatile and talented." said Frazier. "Plus, it's a very young unit. So the change shouldn't impact growth. They are still growing as players."
Leslie Frazier was the Secondary Coach for the Ravens last season. The Ravens improved tremendously under Frazier, becoming a top ten defense against the pass. In part to Frazier's coaching and the impact of former Charger, Eric Weddle.
Frazier and Singletary had success in Minnesota, including a playoff appearance in 2012. Overall, Frazier had a 21-32-1 record as Head Coach and went from Minnesota to Tampa and became the Bucs' Defensive Coordinator for two seasons. While the Bucs were rebuilding, Frazier got to work with Lovie Smith, one of the architects of the "Tampa 2" defense that is now coming to LA.
As for the offensive side of the ball, Harold Goodwin announced that he will be calling plays. He wanted his Offensive Coordinator to help with game-planning, installation and scheme. So Goodwin found a familiar face, hiring Randy Fichtner as Offensive Coordinator. Fichtner and Goodwin were both hired by Mike Tomlin to join the Steelers coaching staff in 2007. That's the same season Bruce Arians became the team's Offensive Coordinator. Both coaches would work their way up, with Fichtner landing as the Quarterbacks Coach. Goodwin would become the Offensive Line Coach. Goodwin would follow Arians to Indy, while Fichtner stayed and took on a larger role with the offense.
Randy Fichtner's coaching career got started at the University of Michigan as a Graduate Assistant in 1986. Similar to Goodwin, who got his start in Ann Arbor. Goodwin was a lineman for Michigan, then a GA with the Wolverines.
Fichtner's time with Memphis, starting 2001 as Offensive Coordinator, is really where his coaching career took off. Installing a spread offense, Memphis became a prolific offense that set multiple school records. In the same time, Fichtner supported the development of Quarterback Danny Wimprine and Running Back DeAngelo Williams.
Ben Roethlisberger often credits Fichtner for Big Ben's control and understanding of the offense. At the same time, the Steelers have become a high-octane offense. Fichtner has worked closely with Todd Haley, Arians' replacement as Offensive Coordinator in 2012, building one of the best offenses in the NFL.
The Chargers now have their coordinators in place. In Frazier, they have an experienced coach that is looking to prove himself. Fichtner, in his first Coordinator job in the NFL, is hoping to build another productive offense.
It has become clear that the Chargers are focused on building a winning attitude. Hiring Singletary and Frazier will give the defense an edge. On offense, Fichtner and Goodwin are expected to build an efficient, balanced attack that will make the Chargers difficult to game plan against.
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