Chargers S Derwin James is coming off of two bounceback All-Pro seasons with DC Jesse Minter. After struggling with an evolving role in the 2023 season under HC Brandon Staley, James has proved over the last two years that he is still one of the best safeties in the league.
For the first time since Minter was hired in 2024, James will enter the season with a new DC at the helm. Chris O'Leary has been naturally hesitant to give out defensive details or information on what will be different in his scheme. But based on what players have said about it at the podium previously, his defense is likely not going to be a simple copy-and-paste of what Minter did in his tenure.
Chargers DC Chris O'Leary gives some insight on how he plans to use S Derwin James.
Besides being arguably the best player on the Chargers' defense, James is also a key versatile chess piece. Compared to any other defender on the team, he's the one that can be put at practically any spot at all three levels of the defense. It's why the Chargers signed him to a record-breaking contract extension this offseason.
O'Leary was asked on Wednesday about how he intends to use James this season as the team transitions to his defense. Here's what he had to say:
"Subtle differences," O'Leary said. "You know, what he's done the last couple years, he's been an All-Pro slot corner, nickel, however you want to say it. I see using him the same way. He's going to be a little bit more versatile in the sense of is he to the field, is he to the boundary, is he blitzing, is he covering. We're going to do all of those things with him. But as far as him playing closer to the ball, being at the point of attack-we're going to keep doing those things with him. And we're excited to see what he can do."
"You want 11 Derwin James," O'Leary jokingly said. "We'd love to do more and all that, but I think at the end of the day my job is to get our players in position to do what they're best at."
O'Leary called out blitzing and "owning the perimeter" as the skills James is the "best in the world" at.
That would infer O'Leary could use James even closer to the line of scrimmage than he's played in recent seasons. Via Sharp Football Analysis, the Chargers were 29th in blitz rate last season under Minter at just 18.9%. While Minter's defense was dominant, it tended to force issues on opposing offenses via opportunism moreso than aggressiveness. At least using what O'Leary has said about his defense so far, that could be a trend that changes in 2026.
Time will tell what O'Leary's defense looks like when the unit actually takes the field. But James will be looking to lead the Chargers to a Super Bowl while potentially securing a third straight All-Pro nomination.
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