Powell learned a lot from Chargers’ Lynn

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn knows Jets running back Bilal Powell very well.

Lynn was the Jets’ running backs coach when the team drafted Powell in 2011, and Lynn spent the first four years of Powell’s career with him. Lynn called Powell “one of my favorite human beings in the National Football League” this week.

“He taught me a lot of football,” Powell said. “He was a guy that played in the league for seven years, two Super Bowl rings, understands football. When I got here, man, he showed me the ropes of what it was like to be a professional.”

Lynn said he thought Powell could have the long career he has had when Powell first joined the team.

“No doubt about it. When we got him, we had a lot of good backs on that team,” Lynn said. “I really liked him coming out. He started kind of slow. There was some talk about maybe moving away from him early in his career. I always believed in him, his football IQ , his work ethic. We stuck with him. Thank God we did. He became a featured back for us. Right now, he’s seven years in and he’s very solid in all three phases — run, catch, blocking.”

Lynn is also tight with Jets coach Todd Bowles. The two coached together in Dallas a decade ago. When the Chargers got off to an 0-4 start, Bowles called Lynn to encourage him.

“That was my ace. Todd and I were together all the time in Dallas,” Lynn said. “He was a big reason I was in Dallas, as a matter of fact. He’s always been that voice of reason for me, a guy I can call and run things by. He’ll tell me the truth. That’s one thing about Todd. He’s not a bullsh---er. He’ll tell you the truth. He’s been a good friend to me.”

Bowles tried to convince Lynn to stay with the Jets when he replaced Rex Ryan in 2015, but Lynn went to Buffalo with Ryan for two years before joining the Chargers this season.

Jets special teams coach Brant Boyer had no issue with kick returner JoJo Natson taking kickoffs out of the end zone last week. He had a big issue with the blocking in front of Natson.

“We did a piss-poor job blocking up front — the kid can’t sprout wings and beat those blocks,” Boyer said. “It wasn’t very good coaching wise, blocking wise, it was not a good day blocking at all. I feel bad for the kid, he hasn’t had a chance in the return game as far as kick returns especially.”