Monday, October 29, 2018 | Hoag Performance Center | Costa Mesa, Calif.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS HEAD COACH ANTHONY LYNN
Opening Statement:
"[We] gave the guys a week off — it was good to see them back today recharged. [They] got some time to spend with their families and got away from the game, but now we're ready to play football again. Today we'll have a glorified walk-through and get back our normal routine."
On the importance of the team having a full week off:
"I think it's important to get away. They've been at it for a long time since training camp. I thought it was important for to get away for the whole week and spend time with their families. I think mentally, it's good."
On DE Joey Bosa:
"That's why I don't put timetables on player injuries. He'll be ready when he's ready. He's working at it and fighting to get back as soon as he can."
On if Bosa will practice this week:
"He may do some things on the side."
On Bosa's activity during the bye week:
"He's been gradually working himself [back] on the field. He's been running straight ahead and today we may try some change in direction, but he's getting close and it's still a process."
On being conservative about Bosa's rehab:
"We've been really cautious with it the whole time. We're not going to put him back on the field until he's ready, I can tell you that."
On the kicking game:
"[K] Caleb [Sturgis] is feeling better and is going to kick today. We'll see how he looks today."
On whether K Caleb Sturgis will be the starter when fully healthy:
"[It is possible] when [Sturgis] is healthy, but we have to take a look at what [K] Michael [Badgley] is doing. I think [Badgley] is doing a heck of a job for us, but right now we have two kickers."
On what contributed towards the improvement of the pass rush:
"I think it's [because of] reps. It's the younger guys getting more live game reps and wanting to win their one-on-one [matchups]. I think this whole team has become better as the season has gone on, as they should — but these guys, they learn from their mistakes. They work on those things. We emphasize it. They get better."
On scheme changes that improved the run defense:
"I think it's more of the penetrating gaps up front. The linebackers are doing a heck of the job playing off a lot of our defensive lineman. We've got some eight-man boxes with different coverages and things like that. Like I said, we emphasize working the techniques and it shows. Last week, we didn't have one of our better days, but over the course of the season the rush defense has been better."
On the Seattle defense:
"That whole football team is huge. They've won four of their last five [games]. Seattle is one of the toughest places to play in the National Football League. They're hot right now. We're studying that tape right now — though I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't looking at it last week, I was — but we'll get our installs in with our players on Wednesday and a little bit today. That's a tough football team that's pretty hot right now and playing some good football."
On Bosa's status for Sunday:
"I don't want to rule him out. I think earlier in the year, I was comfortable doing that. Now he's getting closer, so I don't want to rule him out right now. We'll see where he is."
On RB Melvin Gordon III:
"I think the week off really helped Melvin. He ran well [two weeks ago] and is going to do some things this week. We'll see where he is. You know, hamstring [injuries] can be tricky, so you don't want to rush those either."
On whether Gordon will practice on Wednesday:
"I'm sure he'll be out there with us on the field."
On being cautious with Bosa's return due to possibly avoid re-injury:
"I think you can learn something from that. You don't want to come back from injuries with the small bones in your feet too soon because it could lead to something else. We're just being really cautious with that."
On winning close football games:
"I think it's credit to [the team]. They're tough and gritty. We talk about finishing and conditioning — being in the best shape and conditioned team on the field. They work at it. If you see the guys after the practice, they're out running gassers and inside running in the pool. They're on the treadmills. A lot of times, it comes down to stamina. You know, it's last man standing and these guys are in great shape right now. I think that plays a part in it."
On the firing of former referee Hugo Cruz:
"I think that's the first time I've seen an official get fired during the season. Maybe it's happened before and I just don't know, but they have jobs to do. We have jobs to do. Coaches get fired during the season and players get fired during the season. That's accountability — it happens."
On T Joe Barksdale:
"It was good to see him back [on the field]. I think he had three series in last week [against Tennessee] and we'll get him some more reps this week. We'll just add on the reps he's getting."
On the importance of winning the turnover battle:
"That's a part of playing smart [football] — taking care of the football. We've done an outstanding job of that this season, as well as taking [the ball] away."
On WR Keenan Allen in the offense:
"Well, there's only one football. [Allen] is animated, but as brothers — [QB Philip Rivers and Allen] are tighter than any two on this team, I can tell you that. Sometimes, they're going to have disagreements, but I think it's ok to have a culture where you can have that peer-to-peer accountability and disagree with one another. I can tell you this, they love one another, they're friends, and it's one heck of a tandem right there."
On if Barksdale will return as a starter when fully healthy:
"We're working Joe back in. He was out for four weeks, but the game speed and the chemistry up front with the [offensive] line — sometimes that takes time. [T] Sam Tevi has been doing a good job and we'll continue to play both of those guys."
On areas to improve for the second half of the season:
"Third down on both sides of the ball. [Also], to improve the kicking game and improve the special teams. Not just field goals, but kickoffs and things like that. We definitely have a lot of [areas] to improve and things we can focus on to get better at. Being at seven games, we're not there yet, but I do feel like guys are heading in the right direction."
On the strength of the remaining schedule:
"I'm just trying to get through the second quarter [of the season] right now. We have one more game left and would like to finish the second quarter 4-0 if we can. So right now — we're just doing everything we can to get that done."
On TE Hunter Henry:
"He has looked a lot better than I thought he would at this point, to be honest with you. Anything's possible."