JAMES’ VERSATILITY KEY TO ‘D’
Presence all over the field makes defense best version of itself
He has gone from playing nowhere to playing everywhere, Derwin James once again visible all over the Chargers’ defense.
He has been on the field for 97 percent of the team’s defensive snaps through four games, missing only a brief stretch against Kansas City after he dislocated his shoulder and had to pop it back in place.
Under new coach Brandon Staley and now healthy, James is second on the team with 26 tackles and sealed a victory over Las Vegas on Monday with a late interception.
“We came together, me and him, before in the fourth quarter,” edge rusher Joey Bosa said. “We’re like, ‘This is on us, man. We got to do this.’ For him
to come up with it was awesome.”
James missed 2020 after suffering a knee injury in August, his loss helping derail a team that dropped nine of its first 12 games. This came after a 2019 season during which he was limited to five games because of a foot injury.
Now, similar to his All-Pro rookie year, James is being deployed throughout the defense, from the line of scrimmage to the player positioned farthest from the ball.
Staley said the Chargers are using James in five different spots, including both free and strong safety. He’s also playing what the Chargers call “star,” “money” and “X,” each a variation of sets that employ extra defensive backs.
On top of those roles, James also calls the defensive signals, an assignment that includes making sure his teammates are lined up correctly.
“It’s a tall, tall job description,” Staley said. “He’s one of the few guys in the entire world that can do it.”
Before his interception Monday, James was beaten deep by Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III for a 51-yard gain early in the fourth quarter. Afterward, Staley took the blame for the completion, saying “the error is really on me for asking him to do so much.”
James chose to give credit to the speedy Ruggs.
“He got up on me a little bit,” James said, smiling. “I should have backed up. I gotta be deeper.”
Despite the miscue, Staley has no plans of dramatically altering James’ workload simply because he is too important, his versatility too vital to making this defense function at its highest level.
The Chargers drafted James in the first round — with the No. 17 overall pick — in 2018. Since then, the team is 16-9 when James plays and 1116 when he doesn’t.
“If Derwin James were just doing two jobs out of five, it would be easier for him,” Staley said. “You might see more production from him. But it wouldn’t be as good for our team. Him playing five roles for us helps us be the best defense and the best team that we can be. That’s why he’s amazing.”
On Sunday, the Chargers face a Cleveland offense that features the NFL’s leading rushing attack and a quarterback in Baker Mayfield who can perform with a flair.
“We just got to keep it going, keep getting momentum because the season doesn’t end this week,” James said. “It don’t end next week. So we gotta keep stacking the wins.”