All good issues are available in threes — together with reliability.
Anchored by kicker Cameron Dicker, punter JK Scott and lengthy snapper Josh Harris, the Chargers’ specialists have been a bedrock of stability the previous three seasons. That steadiness appeared in jeopardy when Scott’s contract expired this offseason.
Like a rock band dropping its guitarist, it regarded as if the group might need performed its ultimate tour collectively. However for Scott — whose bond with Dicker and Harris runs deeper than soccer — staying in L.A. felt like divine intervention.
“Truly, it was something me and my wife made a decision together from a place of prayer,” Scott mentioned of re-signing. “We felt like we were supposed to be here. The relationships that we have here, we just felt like this was the right fit.”
Assembled by particular groups coordinator Ryan Ficken, the unit thrives on distinction. Dicker is the energetic free spirit. Scott brings a reserved, considerate presence. Harris, 36, is the seasoned veteran.
“They’re like big brothers,” Dicker, the youngest of the group, mentioned. “It’s been really cool to have them in my life and helping with things on the field, off the field. Leading me through it all, and just going through the journey of life coming out of college, it’s nice to have those guys.”
The three specialists, together with Ficken, are holdovers from the earlier regime. Ficken, one of many few coaches retained when Jim Harbaugh was employed as head coach, engineered the transformation.
Earlier than his arrival, the Chargers ranked close to the underside in particular groups DVOA, or defense-adjusted worth over common — thirty second in 2020 and twenty eighth in 2021. With Harris and Scott’s offseason signing and Dicker’s arrival midseason, the unit rose to sixth by the tip of 2022 and second in 2023.
“The way they approach the game and how they respect one another and they understand that each other’s success is going to help all of us,” Ficken mentioned. “Having all three of them back another year just continues to allow us to grow.”
Below Ficken’s steering, Dicker has turn into one of many league’s most correct, changing 89 of 95 kicks since 2022. He had a franchise-record 150 factors final season with 39 discipline objectives and 33 additional factors.
Chargers particular groups coordinator Ryan Ficken, left, works with lengthy snapper Josh Harris earlier than a recreation in opposition to the Buffalo Payments in December 2023.
(Kyusung Gong / Related Press)
Scott completed high 10 in downed punts contained in the 20-yard line and posted the second-highest hold time within the league at 4.65 seconds final season.
“Selfishly, I’m going to say we have the best room in the league,” Harris mentioned. “Getting to come to work with JK, Dick and Fick, we really work well together. … There’s nobody else that I’d rather go out there with.”
When the Jacksonville Jaguars lower Scott early within the 2021 season and he went unsigned for the remainder of the 12 months, Ficken advocated bringing him to the Chargers.
“He called me and told me he wanted to have me as his punter for a while,” Scott mentioned. “I attribute a lot of just me being here to him. So I’m grateful for him. Really, really love that guy.”
And when there was an opportunity the trio may drift aside, Ficken acted because the glue holding them collectively. His religion in Scott in the end factored into Scott’s choice to re-sign.
“He really believes in me, believes in Josh and Cameron,” Scott mentioned. “He always expressed that, and it’s crazy, the power of when you have people believing in you, it helps you believe in yourself more.”
The group is assured to remain collectively for at the very least yet one more 12 months.
Scott signed a two-year, $6-million contract in March. Dicker secured a four-year, $22-million extension final season, making him among the many highest-paid kickers. Harris, nonetheless, is within the ultimate 12 months of his contract and can miss at the very least the primary 4 video games after being positioned on injured reserve with a shoulder damage. Rick Lovato will take over till Harris returns.
Whereas the turnaround of a once-abysmal particular groups unit is the measurement of success, the playful off-field moments outline their time collectively.
Generally it’s Harris providing Scott smelling salts — a observe Dicker, who is of course amped, skips. Or it’s Harris snapping a photograph of Dicker, Scott and Ficken subsequent to the Dicker’s well-known fair-catch kick cleats on show on the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
“I can’t answer,” Harris mentioned with a chuckle. “You guys are the best, but you’re sitting in here, so I guess I’ll have to go with my guy right now, showing support.”
