As the Chargers revamped their roster this offseason, one of the things Brandon Staley factored into the players he brought in were those with championship pedigrees.
Staley accomplished that early in free agency with the additions of J.C. Jackson, Sebastian Joseph-Day, and Troy Reeder, all of whom have held up the Lombardi Trophy at some point in their careers.
However, his work did not stop there, as Staley signed eight-year pro Kyle Van Noy, who has two Super Bowl titles under his belt.
“Something about me, I love winning,” Van Noy said. “I don’t care about stats. Most people do. That’s all fine and dandy. But at the end of the day, when you get to hold up the trophy, nobody really can say nothing. I want to be able to do that.”
Van Noy, 31, has spent time with the Lions, New England, and the Dolphins, where he racked up 28.5 career sacks, 424 total tackles, and forced ten turnovers: seven fumbles and three interceptions.
Most recently, with the Patriots in 2021, Van Noy had five sacks, 66 tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception.
Beyond bringing in players with a winning mentality, Staley sought out those who would help improve a defense that finished No. 26 in Football Outsiders’ defensive DVOA in 2021.
That meant getting the right ones to fit his scheme.
With position versatility being highly coveted in Staley’s system, it’s something that Van Noy brings to the table.
“A position that’s specifically defined for him,” Staley said when asked about Van Noy’s position.
Van Noy will contribute in various ways for the Chargers, but his bread and butter will be rushing the passer behind Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.
Van Noy has amassed at least 20 pressures and four sacks in the past five seasons.
Off the edge, Van Noy plays with a quick-thinking mind, closing burst, and the motor that allows him to patch moves together and affect the backfield action due to his effort.
Van Noy will also be used as a rusher from the inside.
Van Noy is effective on stunts/loops, utilizing a sense of timing, foot quickness, and short-area burst.
Further, Van Noy will provide some flex as an off-ball linebacker.
Against the run, Van Noy has quick read/react skills, and functional field range and is excellent in pursuit when he has a runway, chasing from the backside or making plays outside the numbers.
Against the pass, Van Noy has a knack for getting his hands on the football, with ten passes defended coming last season. His 83.9 coverage grade in 2022 was the highest among all linebackers, per Pro Football Focus.
Van Noy has an outstanding awareness and timing to make plays in coverage, following the eyes of the quarterback.
While most of his responsibilities came in zone coverage, Van Noy has the athleticism to match up with tight ends and running backs.
The star power of Justin Herbert is one thing, but the Chargers will be heavily relying on their defense as the driving force in a potential Super Bowl run, and Van Noy will be integral to the team’s success.
“That’s how he (Brandon Staley) and the owner want it,” Van Noy said about Los Angeles’ sense of urgency to win a championship. “Everybody in the building feels like they have something special going on.”