Former Chargers HC Brandon Staley gets outlandish compliment from 49ers DB

Brandon Staley's tenure with the LA Chargers did not go as planned. After a 4-1 start in his first season earned the faith of the entire fanbase, Staley slowly watched that faith dwindle before his story was abruptly ended with a 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Staley — and former general manager Tom Telesco — were fired before the end of the season, eventually paving the way for Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz to replace them. Staley did not get another head coaching job, nor a coordinator job, as he was given the title "assistant head coach/defense" by the San Francisco 49ers.

Staley is now an important member of the defensive coaching staff in San Francisco and it appears he is already making a massive difference for the team. Third-year cornerback Deommodore Lenoir had the highest of compliments for Staley, which are bound to make Chargers fans scratch their heads (h/t Kyle Posey, Niners Nation).

"He’s a genius. It’s like having Kyle on defense. Just the knowledge that he brings to the room and how much guys respect him, respect his word when he speaks. It’s a blessing for him to be here with us. I really respect him as a coach, as a person. The joy he brings to our room, with just the knowledge of teaching us so many things, it’s a blessing to have him here."

Brandon Staley gets called the Kyle Shanahan of defense after being fired by Chargers

This is not the takeaway Chargers fans would have had about Brandon Staley after his tenure with the team. Staley came to the Chargers hailed as a defensive genius who just led the LA Rams to the league's best defense and he was never able to live up to that billing with the Chargers.

The Chargers ranked 29th, 21st and 24th in total points allowed and 23rd, 20th and 28th in total yards allowed in Staley's three seasons with the team. Opponents scored 27 or more points in 22 of the 48 games Staley coached (45.8%).

As polarizing as his fourth-down decisions were, it was always the lack of success on the defensive side of the ball that held the Chargers back. In his first year, there was an excuse as he didn't have "his guys" but even after making big splashes for the likes of J.C. Jackson and Khalil Mack, Staley could not lead a well-rounded defense.

The big complaint during Staley's time with the Chargers was how overly complex his scheme was and how he was not coaching to his player's strengths, instead asking those players to adhere to his scheme even if they could not execute.

The Chargers needed Staley to simplify the defense in order for it to be successful. He never did that. And now that he is gone, players like Daiyan Henley are jumping for joy over the fact that Jesse Minter's defense is built to confuse the other team, not confuse the players on defense itself.

It would be disingenuous to suggest Staley does not have a well-equipped defensive mind. You don't stumble into the No. 1 ranked defense by accident, and you don't get this kind of praise from an NFL player for nothing.

As a schematic coach who can coach players up to look at the defense in a different way, sure, Staley can be described as a genius. But those in the 49ers' building, and around the league for that matter, need to be cautious about buying into the Staley hype if the uber-talented 49ers defense succeeds this season.

If there is one thing Chargers fans can definitively say it is this: Brandon Staley is not the Kyle Shanahan of defense. 49ers fans, be warned.

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