Telesco, the Chargers have no time to wallow after a tough loss
COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) – Tom Telesco and the Los Angeles Chargers spent most of their time “licking their wounds” after Saturday’s second-half collapse in a road game of AFC wild cards in Jacksonville.
The general manager will have just a little more time to wallow, with plenty of questions surrounding the offseason.
“Losing in the first week, any playoff loss hurts, but losing in the first round is tough. Then the way we lost, it just stings a little bit more,” Telesco said Thursday of the Chargers’ 31 loss -30 to the Jaguars after they blew a 27-point lead in the second quarter. “We didn’t play our best when we needed to play our best, especially in the second half.”
The biggest question that was answered shortly after the loss was when owner Dean Spanos retained Telesco and manager Brandon Staley after speculating their jobs were on the line.
Telesco said the speculation, especially about Staley, was more outside noise than Staley’s opinion within the organization.
“It was probably more your discussion than ours. Our belief in Brandon hasn’t changed. He has our belief; our players believe in him,” Telesco said. “I understand the season didn’t end the way we would have liked, but he has our full support.”
Staley is 19-16 in two seasons as a coach. Yes, the Chargers made the playoffs for the first time in four years with a 10-7 record, but the team fell apart late for the second year in a row because of some of their decisions.
In his 10 seasons as general manager, Telesco’s track record isn’t much better. He has the eighth-longest tenure by a GM or de facto GM, but is the only one of those eight to not win a division title or make a Super Bowl appearance.
This season was just the third time the Chargers have made the playoffs with Telesco as general manager. Their overall record is 81-86.
Telesco was surprised when asked to evaluate his tenure and struggled to answer.
“I don’t even know how to answer those questions. We’re trying to put the best possible team on the field,” he said. “Here are some positives. Understand that I’m not sitting here saying I deserve anything. I work very hard at what I do. I put all my time, effort and energy into this job because if you don’t, you can’t compete at this level”.
Among the things Telesco will address immediately is working with Staley to find a new offensive coordinator after Joe Lombardi was fired Tuesday.
The Chargers ranked ninth in total offense but 20th in rushing yards per play and had the NFL’s second-highest pass-to-run discrepancy (65% passing to 35% rushing) .
Telesco isn’t looking for an equal balance between run and pass, especially with Justin Herbert at quarterback, but he wants more consistency with the rushing attack.
“You have to be able to run the football efficiently and effectively, especially in the second half of games where you have advantages. We haven’t been able to do that this year,” Telesco said. “The yards per carry should be better. We’ll look at it in the offseason because that has to be better to be a good playoff team.”
Telesco’s other important tasks in the offseason will be trying to break the salary cap and begin talks with Herbert’s agents about a contract extension.
When offseason practices begin in April, there will also be the process of trying to avoid collapsing against the Jaguars, causing a lasting hangover into next season.
“I think it’s about the people you have here and the mentality you have. It’s really cliché to say that this will motivate us in the offseason, but I won’t forget it,” he said. “A really good way to not lose a lead like that is to be able to run the ball better in the second half and get off the field at least once in the second half on defense and kick, things we already knew.
“Myself, I don’t really dwell on those negative parts. Brandon and I, as the leaders here, it’s our job to make sure everyone is in the right mindset.”
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