Brandon Staley: Sacrifices had to be made (Kyzir White) to rebuild Chargers’ defense

His 144 tackles final season led the Chargers and have been the third most within the AFC.

And in the present day Kyzir White is a Philadelphia Eagle.

“Initially, a lot respect for Kyzir,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley stated Monday. “He had an impressive season for us. It’s most likely my first time the place the difficult facet of the NFL is available in once you’re constructing a staff and there’s selections that you must make that generally don’t line up with all of the individuals you actually worth becoming a member of up with. I believe that’s simply a kind of selections.”

Talking on the NFL homeowners conferences, Staley additionally referred to as White “a favourite of mine” and stated he was joyful White was returning to the realm the place the linebacker grew up. White signed with Philadelphia final week.

The Chargers had the chance to retain White in free company however as an alternative allowed him to depart as Staley rebuilds a protection that didn’t meet his expectations — or specs — in 2021.

Together with buying and selling for three-time All-Professional edge rusher Khalil Mack, the Chargers signed defensive linemen Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson. These three substitute exiting free brokers Uchenna Nwosu, Justin Jones and Linval Joseph in strikes Staley believes will make the Chargers extra balanced and full up entrance.

The Chargers additionally signed Professional Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson to spice up a secondary that lacked playmaking, manufacturing and depth.

Of all of the departures, White’s appeared to have essentially the most emotional influence on the Chargers’ fan base, which watched him develop after becoming a member of the staff as a fourth-round draft selection in 2018.

Staley’s defensive revamping has positioned a give attention to two premiere positions: edge and nook. League-wide, inside linebacker just isn’t typically a place of emphasis, except the participant in query is elite.

With White gone, the Chargers’ linebacker group consists of Drue Tranquill and Kenneth Murray Jr. — each of whom have began — together with Nick Niemann, Amen Ogbongbemiga and Cole Christiansen.

Saying “we actually be ok with the blokes that now we have,” Staley instructed the Chargers nonetheless might add at linebacker, almost definitely within the draft subsequent month. They’ve 10 whole picks.

This defensive push comes after the Chargers spent final offseason bolstering their offensive line. The end result was one of many NFL’s top-five most efficient items and Professional Bowl recognition for second-year quarterback Justin Herbert.

Staley stated this yr’s roster retool has introduced consolation as he prepares for his second season.

“I really feel a lot extra assured about the place we’re,” he stated. “After I take a look at our staff final yr in comparison with the place we’re this yr, I simply have a stronger sense of who now we have on our staff…

“When you’ve been with a gaggle now for a yr, you’ve seen your individual staff, you’ve seen the division, you’ve seen the remainder of the convention, I believe you might have a a lot stronger sense of the place you want to go.”

A part of that confidence is familiarity, Staley significantly noting the additions of Mack and Joseph-Day, two gamers he has coached as an assistant. He labored with Mack in Chicago and with Joseph-Day with the Rams.

“You wish to know that your guys are on the market on that subject,” Staley stated. “It’s a extremely thrilling feeling for me to know that Sebastian and Khalil are going to be on the market.”

The largest offensive addition for the Chargers has been tight finish Gerald Everett, one other participant Staley is acquainted with, the 2 having spent the 2020 season along with the Rams.

“He offers us plenty of run-after-catch potentialities,” Staley stated. “He’s actually good with the ball in his palms. He can get actually vertical within the seam. He actually completes the ability place group in an enormous method.”

Staley additionally stated Everett has the flexibility to line up outdoors and play like a large receiver, versatility being one thing the coach relishes.

Everett joins a place group that additionally options Donald Parham Jr. and Tre’ McKitty. Free agent Stephen Anderson, who spent the final three seasons with the Chargers, stays an choice to return.

“I actually worth that place,” Staley stated. “From a defensive standpoint, the groups that may play you in two tight ends and make it appear like a bunch of issues … that makes it actually powerful on you. I believe it offers you a bonus structurally.”

One space the Chargers nonetheless are finding out is operating again, the place their seek for a dependable backup to Austin Ekeler continues. They drafted Larry Rountree III (sixth spherical) and Joshua Kelley (fourth) the final two years.

Staley stated they might take one other operating again in just a few weeks. Calling it “a younger man’s place for essentially the most half,” he defined that the Chargers did discover the operating again open market.

“Once you checked out free company, it wasn’t that deep of a gaggle,” Staley stated. “We simply felt like working by means of the draft could be a greater choice for us … We’ll see if it materializes.”