Chargers’ Ryan Ficken determined to make special teams special

COSTA MESA — The football was in the air Saturday at Jack Hammett Sports Complex, and Ryan Ficken was on the move. He wasn’t actually participating in a special teams drill, but he sure was coaching up everyone in uniform who was involved during the Chargers’ training camp practice.

John Hightower fielded the kickoff near the goal line and began sprinting up the field, with Ficken running just behind, encouraging him to hit the hole in the line of blockers that opened up to the right of the hash marks on the near side of the field. Hightower went wide instead of through the hole.

Ficken wasn’t mad.

But he wasn’t satisfied, either.

“Aw, Hightower, hit the hole,” he shouted, motioning toward it.

In fact, it looked as if Hightower had chosen poorly.

A bigger return could have been had if he had run through the developing hole.

Ficken’s goal in his second year as the Chargers’ special teams coordinator is a second consecutive clean operation, from Week 1 through season’s end. He said last season was best left in the past, however, all the better to focus on doing things the right way in the 2023 season.

With that in mind, he’s enlisted as many promising recruits to the special teams units as possible. Hightower, a second-year wide receiver from Boise State who has made several excellent catches during 11-on-11 team drills during camp, was getting a tryout as a kickoff returner Saturday.

“Last year was last year,” Ficken said. “That one is done. We’ve got to work back. From Day 1, we started with our technique and fundamentals. Just try to get it off the ground again and act as if no one knows anything and we’re new, everyone’s new here. But we want to stress technique and fundamentals.

“We’ve got to be consistent.”

Several key figures on special teams are back, including punter JK Scott, long snapper Josh Harris and kickers Cameron Dicker and Dustin Hopkins. Other jobs, including punt and kick returner and gunner, are open competitions. Ficken continues to search for only the best and the brightest.

“We’ve got to create depth in all situations and at all positions,” he said. “They know our expectations and what we expect out of those guys, but it doesn’t stop with them. (Mark) Webb is doing a great job working there. (Fellow defensive back) J.T. Woods, and some of these young guys, too.

“The message we told these guys from the get-go was, ‘How can you create value for yourself, to impact this football team in a positive way?’ I’m seeing that from these players here and we’re excited about that. I think (general manager) Tom Telesco and (coach Brandon) Staley, they targeted the right guys.

“Now, we’ve got to build on that and continue to have success.”

Ficken deferred to Staley when asked about the status of Hopkins, who hasn’t kicked during team drills since last week. Ficken said Staley would provide an update Sunday on Hopkins, who has been kicking on the sidelines. Dicker has attempted all the field goals during team sessions this past week. …

“Cam has picked up right where he left off,” Ficken said. “He’s very consistent, very smooth in his operation. We love where he is heading and the direction of where he is going with his kickoffs and his field goals. The way that he handles it, he’s a professional, so we’ve been very pleased right now with where he is at.” …

Hightower, Derius Davis and Pokey Wilson fielded kickoffs during a special teams session. The Chargers drafted Davis in the fourth round from TCU with the notion that he would be their return specialist, replacing DeAndre Carter, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders during the offseason. …

Linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. intercepted a pass from Justin Herbert to Keenan Allen, snatching the ball away from the wide receiver, and then sacked the quarterback on consecutive plays during 11-on-11 drills. Murray stayed with Herbert for several moments and then helped him to his feet. …

Right tackle Trey Pipkins III returned to team drills after sitting out several recent practices because of an undisclosed injury. Foster Sarell alternated snaps with Pipkins during 11-on-11 drills after replacing him while he was sidelined. It wasn’t immediately certain if Pipkins would participate in Sunday’s scrimmage. …

Edge rusher Joey Bosa sat out practice because of an unspecified illness that also sidelined tight end Gerald Everett and offensive lineman Rashawn Slater. Defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day was sidelined by a quad injury. Cornerback J.C. Jackson sat out because of right knee soreness.

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