https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5734760/2024/09/03/derwin-james-los-angeles-chargers

Derwin James, one of the Chargers’ captains for the upcoming season, sat down for a very honest conversation with The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. He talked in detail about his struggles in the 2023 season which ranged from his on-field discipline to describing what many people are now calling ‘the Staley effect’ in which the defensive players were given six plus reads to make before they could even move and it made them play slower.

It was a fascinating read and the part I personally found most encouraging is that when he talked about his moment of realization last season, it most certainly showed up on tape. That instant translation from mentality to production means the elite talent is still there in bucket loads. In fact I wrote an entire article on his play from that game during my time at Bolts From The Blue. I even broke down a lot of the same plays that Popper wrote about to demonstrate how Derwin suddenly flipped the switch and started to play with the same contagious energy that made him an All-Pro.

“If James decides to bounce his feet even for a second he would give the back the space to cut around him with a lateral move in either direction. But Derwin’s disruptive mentality meant he cut off any angle at all by meeting him as early as possible. If you get the chance to watch this play please do because Derwin delivered a solid blow to stop all the momentum the running back had built up over 20 yards. It is a thing of beauty.”

You can read the full article here:

https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2024/1/5/24025153/chargers-film-study-nfl-derwin-james-brandon-staley-derrick-ansley-khalil-mack-pro-bowl

It was also great to read that he took a proactive approach to cutting out that tendency to draw personal foul penalties that held him back last season. It was something that was notable on tape, you could see him hesitating on his releases and play at 95% speed to make sure he did things “correctly” and I was very pleased to see those self appointed mental shackles drop off in that game against the Broncos.

“Earlier this season Derwin was flagged for unnecessary roughness multiple times and you could tell that this affected how he played afterwards. It is therefore great to see him play with the kind of assured style that made him so revered earlier in his career.”

Last season DJ was (unfairly in my opinion) singled out by the league for his brand of hard hits to make an example of him with the long term view of increasing the health of offensive players. Most players would talk to their coaches about what they can do but Derwin is not just any player, he went one step further and talked to someone in the league office to really get an understanding of how they want players to tackle safely.

“James said he contacted former Chargers assistant George Stewart during the offseason. Stewart has transitioned into a role at the league office as the NFL’s vice president of officiating training and development. He asked Stewart an important question: “What can I do better?” “He gave me some good tips on how they’re calling it and what they’re seeing,” James said.”

Daniel Popper talking to Derwin James for The Athletic

When Popper talked about Derwin’s blossoming relationship with Jesse Minter it was very apparent that his new defensive coordinator had an affinity with the quick read downhill zone play style that we saw from Derwin towards the end of last season. It was something I was personally very excited about as soon as I started to understand Minter’s defense, if James can play free and fast within a role that harnesses the best of his talents in the box, rushing the edge and flying downhill then we are in for something special.

I am emboldened enough to say that Derwin will have a career year and regain his rightful All-Pro status at the helm of Jesse Minter’s defense. What does our Stormcloud community think we can see from DJ this season?