To all my fellow @Chargers fans, here's a collection of thoughts around how our new HC Brandon Staley has game planned and executed on defense.

Eagle Front. What gets me excited here is the creative fronts from Coach Staley that lead to 1:1 match ups with our best pass rushers and scheme penetration for run defense. Here's two wide 9's, 4i's, and a 0-tech. cred: @weeklyspiral.

I'd imagine @jbbigbear enjoying this very much. This front helps create penetration for DL by forcing OL into double teams since it's hard to climb and stretch against 4/4i. This front design allows for Linebackers to run free giving @KennethMurray even more space to scrape.

Eagle front with LB's disguised as DL to create confusion. Exotic front alignment doesn't always require more blitzers, which bodes well for the Chargers who can generate 4-man pressure. The difference is Staley will do this often and with different looks. cred: @weeklyspiral.

One of my favorite plays from this year's Rams defense. CB Darious Williams opposite of Ramsey reads this brilliantly. Clearly more than just anticipation. It's film study hard wired into the players mind so that he doesn't even have to think about jumping route. Well coached.

Bolts fans should be excited. We've relied on single-high Cover 3 looks for far too long. Coach Staley is a two-high safety guy. This allows him to dial up different coverages at once. Cover 4 on the left w/ Ramsey island. Cover 2 on the right w/ nickel S. cred: @Andy_Benoit.

Coach Staley predicates Team Defense. This is a Cover 6 flip. Typically you'll run Cover 4 halves on the far side, but here is flipped. Cover 2 look resulted in the CB taking the vertical route due to the situation in the game. WELL COACHED. Disguising coverage + assignment FB.

One of the biggest splash plays that the @Chiefs have is running their 3rd receiver across the hashes i.e. Tyreek & Kelce. I love this defense because it puts our safeties in good position stay over the top here. Single-high looks create too much pressure on the FS.

"By playing so many light boxes, Staley asks his safeties to pick up a ton of slack in the running game. But the most important demand he puts on that position is the mental work in the passing game." I expect @DerwinJames to flourish under Staley. https://theathletic.com/2292820/2020/12/30/rams-playoffs-defense-brandon-staley/

Ex: @iamjohnthethird. Excellent read by John Johnson in that Cover 6 flip. Ramsey is 1:1 with DK who slants into Johnson's quarter. Smart play design by SEA on a very late over route by Lockett past the LB's where they assumed Johnson would sit near DK. : @Andy_Benoit.

Instead, Johnson read steps & immediately darts into his deep quarter covering Lockett. Takes away both DK and Lockett. Plants and acts like he's driving the DK route, then jumps back into deep coverage. Backup Nose causes a holding penalty and nullifies long Wilson scramble.

"What you must have in order for them to play their best is you must have their trust and respect, and they must know that everything that you’re doing is engineered to try and help them. And I think that is the rare recipe.” -BS Cred: @danielrpopper https://theathletic.com/2338498/2021/01/22/chargers-coach-brandon-staley-press-conference/

Brandon Staley's belief system is 1:1s in the run game and 2:1s in the passing game. His philosophy predicates eliminating momentum passing plays vs. the old adage of stopping the run first at all costs. He's realized that cost is now too considerable in this new age of passing.