For many, a new coaching staff brings a new opportunity to provide a first impression. For some, it’s a chance to be used properly. For others, it could be a chance to have the best coach in your career.
For the Chargers, there’s a handful of players that should benefit from first-year head coach Brandon Staley and the defensive staff that he brought in, but to me, there is one in particular that stands out.
Safety Nasir Adderley, who has is entering Year 3 and has yet to live up to the expectations that most second-round picks have, is due for a breakout season under Staley and defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill.
Adderley struggled in his second season after missing a good chunk of his rookie campaign due to a hamstring injury. While he showed some flashes in spurts, he was too inconsistent in the single-high role in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s system.
Instead of assigning Adderley to the free safety position, Staley believes that he will be able to get the most out of him by utilizing his versatility and allowing him to play more aggressive, where he will be play in the slot (Star) and a sub-package safety-linebacker hybrid role (Money).
Not only will the roles that Adderley will be tasked with favor his skillset and his style of play, his coaches have been proven to get the most out of their safeties.
Under Staley’s watch, he helped Rams’ John Johnson turn into one of the team’s top defensive play-makers, and former sixth-round pick Jordan Fuller into a solid starter in his rookie season.
On the other hand, Broncos’ Justin Simmons developed into a second-team All-Pro player in 2019 and a Pro Bowl selection in ’20 and Kareem Jackson was a dominant force in the back end under the guidance of Hill.
If Adderley takes the leap, him and Derwin James could easily be one of the top safety duos in this league.