Chargers News: Derrick Ansley Can Spark Bolts Defense With Brandon Staley Gone

The Los Angeles Chargers will look like a new team heading into their primetime matchup with the Buffalo Bills. This is because they have a new interim head coach in Giff Smith and interim GM in Jojo Wooden.

Smith and Wooden took over from Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco, who were relieved of their duties by the Spanos family. What makes these moves even more exciting is that it gives current defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley time to shine.

Ansley never got to call the defensive plays, as Staley took on that role. This aspect of Staley's coaching was often scrutinized and was a huge reason why he was let go.

However, Ansley knows the value of being put in the position to finally call plays.

"Smith said earlier in the week that there will be some “subtle changes” to the defense. Ansley admitted that he and Staley have “two different minds.” And so it will be interesting to see what buttons Ansley pushes over the next three games now that he is fully running the show.

via

Daniel Popper, The Athletic

Ansley will get to run his own style of defense, which we imagine could be vastly different. Despite the "subtle changes" between the two, there is a ton of value in knowing that they are of "two different minds."

Ansley can shock the NFL world if he rallies his players into putting a hurt on the surging Buffalo Bills. The Chargers can end the Bills playoffs hopes tonight with a big win, and also save face from having a less-than-stellar season.

There is a lot at stake for the Bills and the Chargers can remind everyone that they can become an AFC powerhouse in 2024.