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Mike McCoy stays, but Frank Reich among six San Diego Chargers fired

By Jay Paris, The Sports Xchange
San Diego Chargers Head Coach Mike McCoy watches his team play against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on September 3, 2015. The 49ers defeated the Chargers 14-12 in their final pre season game. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
1 of 2 | San Diego Chargers Head Coach Mike McCoy watches his team play against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on September 3, 2015. The 49ers defeated the Chargers 14-12 in their final pre season game. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

SAN DIEGO -- Mike McCoy is returning as head coach of the San Diego Chargers for 2016, regardless of where the team plays.

However, offensive coordinator Frank Reich and five other assistants are paying with their jobs for the team's slide to a 4-12 record this season.

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The team announced Monday evening that it will not renew contracts for Reich, offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris, tight ends coach Pete Metzelaars, wide receivers coach Fred Graves, defensive line coach Don Johnson and assistant offensive line coach Andrew Dees.

For a team beset by so many injuries this season, it is interesting that there was enough blame to purge that many assistants. In Reich's case, however, there could be outside influences at work.

Reich was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2014 to replace Ken Whisenhunt when the latter was named head coach of the Tennessee Titans.

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But after starting this year 1-6, Whisenhunt was fired in Tennessee and as of Monday was available.

The Chargers, fresh off losing their season finale in Denver on Sunday, made McCoy's status official Monday morning. Chargers president John Spanos made the announcement through the team's web site.

"All year they have been behind me 100 percent," McCoy said of the team's brass. "I'm very excited for the opportunity to be back."

The team waited until the afternoon to drop the other shoes, or coaches.

Reich's departure only makes sense if the Whisenhunt factor is considered.

Despite the surprise retirement of center Nick Hardwick, a series of key injuries all season on the offensive line and the failure of first round rookie running back Melvin Gordon to impress, the Chargers offense still improved from 2014 to 2015.

After becoming acclimated to the job in 2014, Reich showed improved output this season despite all the setbacks. The Chargers went from 18th to 9th in total offense (371.9 yards to 341.6) and from 10th to fourth in passing (286.9 to 256.1).

Although the Chargers apparently didn't appreciate Reich -- or simply want Whisenhunt more -- sources indicate he will not stay unemployed long, with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets already showing interest.

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McCoy would neither confirm nor deny Reich was gone, let along comment on the possibility of Whisenhunt

"We'll do what's best for the football team," McCoy said earlier in the afternoon when deflecting questions about the status of his assistants.

Until recently, there was speculation McCoy wouldn't return for the fourth and final year of his contract. McCoy just completed the team's worst season since 2003.

Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Broncos also concluded a season in which the team didn't win an AFC West game or defeat a team with a winning record.

But McCoy is certain he is the right person to flip the last-place Chargers and apparently Spanos agrees.

"Without a doubt," he said. "I can't wait for the opportunity."

The Chargers said they will apply for relocation, with an eye on Carson and joining forces with the Oakland Raiders.

"I am ready to be the coach wherever it is," McCoy said. "In a couple of weeks we will figure it out."

Spanos wasn't available for comment, but quarterback Philip Rivers saluted McCoy's return.

"I was certainly supportive of that and hoped it would be the case," Rivers said. "I didn't think starting over, with wholesale changes, was going to be the answer."

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So the Chargers will reload with McCoy at the helm.

Including the playoffs, McCoy is 23-27 during his Chargers' stint, his first as a head coach at any level.

"I told the team don't look at our record," McCoy said. "The record is what it is. But we never flinched and we kept fighting."

McCoy, despite one of the most dreadful seasons in franchise history, lives to fight another day. The Chargers have dropped 18 of their last 26 under McCoy.

But McCoy stays, even if there's no guarantee the Chargers remain in San Diego. Now all he needs to know is where the team will call home and, oh yes, who will replace those half a dozen fired assistants.

REPORT CARD FOR 2015 SEASON

PASSING OFFENSE: B-plus. Quarterback Philip Rivers had a stellar season, made all that more special considering he was playing behind a makeshift offensive line and had no running game to lean on. Rivers finished 10 yards shy of Dan Fouts' franchise mark of 4,802. Rivers had 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Rivers was sacked 40 times and was hit on many more occasions. The Chargers' receiving corps was hit hard by injuries and suspensions: Antonio Gates was suspended for four games and Keenan Allen, the team's top receiver, had his season end on Nov. 1. Running back Danny Woodhead led the team in nearly every receiving category.

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RUSHING OFFENSE: D-minus. The big offseason move was zooming up the draft to snag running back Melvin Gordon. But Gordon didn't rush for 100 yards in a game or score a rushing touchdown; his season ended up when he sustained a knee injury. Gordon had his blemishes, but running behind a shaky offensive line didn't help. The run-blocking was suspect the entire year and that was among the reasons the Chargers were, for the second straight year, near the bottom in every rushing category. But it was a good year for Danny Woodhead, although much of his production came as a receiver out of the backfield.

PASS DEFENSE: C. Among the encouraging signs in this dismal season was the pass rush. Melvin Ingram was able to reach double figures in sacks (10.5), the first Charger to do so since 2011. Jerry Attaochu also made strides and finished with six sacks. But the back end was inconsistent, with Brandon Flowers, before he got hurt, getting beat on a regular basis. The secondary, and that includes safety Eric Weddle, wasn't sure-handed with its tackling, especially early in the season. Cornerback Jason Verrett was named as a Pro Bowl alternate and that's not a stretch. The tough part is having him available for 16 games, as nagging injuries always seem to find him.

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RUN DEFENSE: D. The Chargers still are missing a dominate force at nose tackle in their 3-4 alignment and it continues to show. Corey Liuget, an end, had a solid year. But the rest of the line was pretty much nondescript. The run defense improved greatly in the second half when rookie Denzel Perryman replaced Donald Butler in the starting lineup. If Perryman continues to grow and Manti Te'o, the other inside backer, can stay on the field the Chargers could have something special. Still, the Chargers' run defense continues to be a soft spot in the overall defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS: D. After having one punt-return yard through 10 games, it's hard to give a good grade here. The Chargers never could generate much of a return game, punts or otherwise. Bringing in Jacoby Jones was a disaster and he didn't last the season. Rookie Josh Lambo was solid, although the length of his kickoffs weren't always as advertised. Mike Scifres had a so-so season; the price he pays for being stellar the rest of his career. The Chargers were among the worst when starting possessions, with their field position. That's because those hidden yards in special teams were seldom realized.

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COACHING: D. We guess Mike McCoy gets credit for his team totally packing it in. But McCoy's tepid offense and a defense which didn't come on until late was a bad combination. McCoy can't be faulted for all the injuries that hit his club, but other coaches around the league seem to be able to play winning football despite injuries. That McCoy was brought back isn't a big surprise, considering the Chargers are known for not paying coaches who aren't coaching for them. John Pagano again presented a defense which could cause issues for rivals. That his unit couldn't do it on a consistent basis speaks more to the lack of talent on defense rather than his schemes.

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