In dire need of linebacker help, the Philadelphia Eagles added a predicted starter to the position by signing Kyzir White.
To learn more about Philly’s new defense attorney, I thought it would benefit Bleeding Green Nation readers to get an inside look at him. And so I contacted Michael Petersen from Bolts out of the blue. Here’s what the Los Angeles Chargers blog rep from SB Nation had to say.
1 – How would you sum up White’s time with the Chargers?
White joined the Chargers as a converted safety, the position he played several seasons in West Virginia. He gained 15–20 pounds ahead of the 2018 regular season and won a starting job, which he kept for about three games before going down with season-ending surgery.
After struggling to remain consistent on the field throughout 2019 and 2020, White finally had the breakout season we all knew he had in his first season in Brandon Staley’s new 3-4 defense was capable. He was a real leader on defense, even when superstars Durwin James and Joey Bosa were on the same team. His passion and energy were infectious, and his play really got the Chargers stuck in some games they might not be in.
2 – How do Chargers fans feel about the team not re-signing him? The right move to let him go?
Chargers fans, myself included, are quite baffled that the team hasn’t re-signed White, especially after seeing him sign for a very reasonable $5 million. Without White, the Chargers’ linebacker space is extremely flat and almost devoid of truly impactful talent. From the looks of it, you’re seeing Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill, Nick Niemann, and Amen Ogbongbemiga. That’s a problem.
While the team has made a handful of very wise moves to bolster the unit ahead of the upcoming season, it just seems so questionable that they’re completely ignoring an entire position on the field. If you believe in the old adage, “You’re only as good as your weakest player,” then the Chargers are doing themselves a disservice by pulling away from White.
3 – I saw They’ve hailed White as the Chargers’ biggest pleasant surprise from the 2021 season on BFTB. Why do you think it took him some time to emerge and do you consider him an emerging talent?
As mentioned above, White started immediately as a rookie for the Chargers. He caught his first career interception against the Bills in week three of this season, just minutes before succumbing to a season-ending injury. That knee injury plagued him for two more years before he was given another chance to lead the defense in 2021. Now more than three years from the original injury, White looked revitalized and grounded all season. Whether it was time or simply the new defense he was playing in, White looked much more comfortable, and that comfort allowed him to play in a different gait that we hadn’t seen of him up until that point.
4 – What are its strengths?
White’s athletics really shone last season as a former college safety man. He’s been a tough hitter since his West Virginia days, and while he doesn’t hit the boom as often these days, he’s really proven himself as a run-and-chase linebacker at the professional level. I think the biggest thing that White improved over the past season was just being a reliable and consistent player every time he was on the field. Blatant mistakes were few and far between, and he became a type of player who considered it a “day off” for White if he didn’t make at least one splash move to bolster defense.
5 – What are his weaknesses?
Although White had improved quite a bit in this area in 2021, he struggled a lot with coverage in 2020. He was in the top 10 linebackers for yards allowed in coverage that campaign, which didn’t sit well with Kenneth Murray — a rookie — at the time — who was also in the same top 10. That might be a stretch to go into, but I would just be wary that his improvement in 2021 could have been just a matter of a year.
If I had to name something else, I would say that White could still improve when it comes to taking blockers in the attacking point. He’s still hovering around 230 pounds in weight and was never one to make contact between the tackles. He makes his best plays when he’s able to scrape over the top and take down blockers with his speed and athleticism.
6 – Is there anything to know about him off the field?
I don’t have much to say about that, which is usually a good thing in the NFL. White is a model player off the field. He is active on social media and really loves his fans. He’s never had trouble with the league and has always been one of the more entertaining players to talk to when he’s on the podium. Eagles fans will love this guy.
BLG accepts: The signs suggest that white is a smart addition. He’s coming off a career year as he just recently turned 26. He seems to be an emerging talent. That Chargers fans are upset about losing him is another positive indicator. Howie Roseman’s dubious track record of signing free-agent linebackers understandably dampened the excitement surrounding White’s signing. But with a contract worth up to $5 million, the Eagles are spending more than they typically do for the position. The one-year nature of this deal reduces risk when White flops. If White plays well, the Eagles can re-sign him to make him a long-term fixture or allow him to go freehand to aid in their equalizing picking formula next offseason. All in all, it’s hard not to like this move. The Eagles are making a good bet on a player who could potentially be a good starter for them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI7dzFuoNjI
