COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Los Angeles Chargers defensive backs coach Ron Milus pointed to a lofty role model on the field for Desmond King to emulate in his first season -- former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber.
A ball magnet, Barber totaled 47 interceptions and 28 sacks in 16 NFL seasons, earning a Pro Bowl invitation five times. Barber is part of the exclusive 20-20 club -- one of 15 players in NFL history to collect at least 20 sacks and 20 interceptions during his pro career.
“He’s by far one of the best nickel corner players probably in history,” King said. “That’s a guy that we talk about a lot in our position room. Milus always tells me that we want you to play like Ronde Barber. He’s mastered this position.”
Barber played in a similar scheme in Tampa Bay led by defensive guru Monte Kiffin, the mentor of Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
“We kind of evolved that defense and that nickel defender to be another linebacker, Barber told John Clayton of ESPN 710 Seattle. “So I had run rules and fit rules -- stuff that nobody else was doing before that.
“And off of that we could play nickel on first and second down, and not have to trot the third corner out there on third down, so it really became a full-time position.”
Bradley served as a linebackers coach for the Bucs during the tail end of Barber’s career in Tampa Bay. And while he likes the development of King, Bradley’s pumping the brakes on the comparisons to a potential Hall of Famer in Barber.
“Ronde Barber is elite,” Bradley said. “I think the world of Ronde Barber. He is a talented player. He played nickel, he played on the outside. He’s a guy that had 20 sacks and 20 interceptions. He’s done that over the course of time.
“But nothing to take away from what Des has done. He’s come off the edge. He’s made some plays for us. He’s made big plays for us. Where he is in his career, it’s pretty exciting. But he’s got to continue that.”
King has four sacks on the year, tying him with Rodney Harrison (1997 and 1998) with the second-most sacks by a defensive back in a single season in team history. Harrison tops the list with six in 2000.
King also has a 90-yard interception return for a score against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. King has been the Chargers' most significant contributor in his rookie season.
“When you look at the way Desmond is built, he can tackle,” Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said. “That’s one of the things he did well in Iowa. He played the slot a lot. He played in the box and was a good tackler. He has a knack for getting around blocks and getting to the quarterback. He’s been that way his whole life.”
King said he didn’t blitz at all at Iowa, so he’s developing a new skill in learning how to rush the passer.
“It feels natural,” King said. “So I’m just doing the best I can to go out there and execute it. It’s just having speed around the corner and beating the lineman. Me being small, it’s probably hard for them to see me coming off the edge behind Melvin [Ingram] and Joey [Bosa].”