Chargers News: Analytics Show How Abysmal Bolts Defense Has Been Under Staley

A far cry from his calling card as a coordinator.

Brandon Staley's role as the Rams' defensive coordinator earned him the Chargers head coaching job back in 2021. 

Midway through his third season, Staley's renowned defensive prowess is nowhere to be found as his seats continue to burn red hot with a 2-4 start to 2023. 

Staley's analytical-based approach has long induced groans from Bolts fans through his tenure but those numbers also detail just how porous his defense has been as head coach of the team.

#Chargers defense since 2021:
PPG: 25.0 (30th)
Total YPG: 361.2 (28th)
Rush YPG: 135.5 (30th); Pass YPG: 225.7 (20th)
Sacks: 97 (T16)
Takeaways: 55 (T11)
3rd down conv.: 43.4% (29th)
40 yd. plays: 37 (2nd most); 50 yd. plays: 18 (most)
Big plays allowed PG: 6.7 (3rd most)

— Joe Reedy (@joereedy) October 23, 2023

Overthinking and poor decisions continue to mire Staley's tenure as head coach and LA's recent loss proved no different. 

Despite facing Travis Kelce for the past three seasons, Staley chose to run a zone defense for the majority of the contest in their Week 7 meeting. 

The results? A nine-catch, 143-yard first half for the tight end in the most dominant half-hour stretch of his career. 

It's not just the fact that he fails to use timeouts properly, inexplicably fails on fourth down in his own territory, or simply can't execute in the clutch. 

The fact that Staley's "genius" system continued against one of the best zone breakers in football is at best malpractice and at worst insanity. 

How many games will it take for the man to change something when facing his division rival? 

When you have a chance to beat your biggest division rival at home and get back to a .500 record, why continue to leave Kelce wide open? 

At that point, you're simply asking to get beat and that's exactly what Patrick Mahomes and Kelce did all afternoon. 

A 400-yard, four-touchdown performance from Mahomes trumped Justin Herbert's contributions and once again proved who owns the AFC West as the Chiefs have for the past seven seasons. 

Staley has plenty of questions to answer at a 2-4 record and it's becoming increasingly likely this will be his last season as the Chargers head coach if LA misses the postseason. 

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