Chargers’ defensive-minded new head coach will be crucial to Herbert’s development
LOS ANGELES (BVM) – The Los Angeles Chargers have their franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert, and it now appears they have their head coach of the future. Brandon Staley signed his first head-coaching contract on Thursday and afterwards discussed a myriad of topics during a lengthy introductory press conference.
The 38-year-old Staley takes over after Anthony Lynn was fired at the conclusion of the 2020 season, and the new head coach has a much different background than his predecessor. Staley was the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams’ top-ranked defense in 2020 and his NFL experience is exclusively on this side of the ball. He was the linebackers coach with the Denver Broncos (2019) and the Chicago Bears (2018) before his one-year stint with the Rams.
Despite Staley’s defensive background, the former collegiate quarterback for the Dayton Flyers believes himself to be an offensive coach.
“I do consider myself an offensive coach,” Staley told reporters Thursday. “What has helped me so much on the defensive side of the ball is my offensive background. I’ve been fortunate to have some great teachers that have taught me a lot about offensive football.”
“l think that is probably the thing that I’m most excited about. Now I get to be an offensive coach for the first time since maybe calling some plays with my brothers in the backyard. I get to be an offensive coach now, too,” he said. “What I mean by that is that I just want to share all of the knowledge that I have to help Justin hopefully have a dual education. He is going to be getting this amazing education from our offensive coaching staff, but then there’s this other education that hopefully I can give him to sort of shape and complete his game as a player.”
There’s no doubt that Staley’s defensive expertise will be needed for a Chargers’ defense that allowed the 10th most points per game in 2020, but the new head coach’s rapport with Herbert will be just as important.
Herbert threw for 4,336 yards and 31 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions in 15 starts. The former Oregon star set the all-time rookie records for passing touchdowns, total touchdowns (36) and completions (396).
Because Herbert was excellent in 2020 with less-than-ideal circumstances, there will be immense pressure on Staley and his staff to recreate, or enhance, the magic of the quarterback’s rookie campaign. Staley’s background as a player and defensive coach, he said, will help create a system Herbert can thrive in.
coach + QB1 🤝 pic.twitter.com/NLvcdLmWfg
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 21, 2021
“My vision for the offense really fits Justin and what he can do well and where we want to take it and how we want to play and feature in his style of play,” Staley told reporters Thursday. “Not to impose a system on him, it’s creating the system for Justin and uniquely shaping it to his skill set. Because he is unlike anybody in the NFL. He’s his own person. I think my background as a player, my background as a defensive coach, we’ll be able to shape that in a really special way.”
Perhaps the most impressive part of Herbert’s rookie season was how he finished the season, and how he finished games. Herbert led the Chargers to six wins, including four straight to close out the regular season, and he led game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime during three of those final four wins.
The ability to close games is something all the elite NFL quarterbacks have the ability to do, and it’s something Staley couldn’t help but notice.
“One thing that really stood out for me was the two-minute (drives). I was able to catch a couple of games where he really thrived in the two-minute situations,” Staley told reporters Thursday. “When you talk about elite quarterbacks – the best quarterbacks are great at the end of the game. He is at just the beginning.”
At the end of the day, Staley has seen success in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball and coached some of the league’s best along the way. Khalil Mack, Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald have each thrived under Staley, and the new head coach will have plenty of defensive talent to bring the best out of.
With foundational defensive pieces such as Joey Bosa, Derwin James and Kenneth Murray, and a franchise quarterback seemingly on the verge of greatness, expectations for the 2021 season will be abundant in Los Angeles.
mission starts now. pic.twitter.com/gO54QyDXmv
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 21, 2021
