The Chargers have various position needs that will be addressed come draft day, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
With Brandon Staley the new sheriff in town, this won’t be about selecting the best defender and throwing them on the field. Instead, he has a specific mold at each position.
Starting up front, where Staley has a three-man look in his 3-4 base defense, versatility is key for his defensive linemen, as they must possess the ability to play from multiple alignments.
For Staley, the outside linebackers or edge defenders in his scheme are lengthy and explosive players who should be able to set the edge versus tight ends and “dominate” the edge in the run game.
“I think it’s something that’s not talked about enough,” Staley said. “It’s been the hallmark of where we played before.”
Overall, Staley loves to rotate his front by mixing looks and moving guys around.
One of the traits he liked about their third-round pick Terrell Lewis at Alabama was the way he played every position on the defensive line, from the seven-technique to the three and, a few times, even nose tackle.
As for inside linebackers, Staley looks for instinctive players who are “great processors” and “outstanding tacklers” with the ability to communicate and lead effectively.
Clay Johnston, the Rams’ seventh-round pick from a year ago, was just that. An instinctive football player who was always a hunt mode.
Like the defensive line, Staley requires position versatility with his defensive backs, especially at safety.
Terrell Burgess, who was drafted by the Rams last year, showed the range to play man coverage in the slot or diagnose from depth in a single-high role.
With his corners, Staley said players they value have to be able to cover man-to-man, have movement ability when playing off coverage, ball skills when they’re at the third level and the ability to tackle in open space.
Only 10 days until we find out how Staley will go about his first draft as the Chargers’ head coach.