EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — On a second down in the third quarter of a Week 9 win over the Cleveland Browns, the Los Angeles Chargers defense set up in their big nickel package.
In this package, safety Derwin James Jr., one of the NFL’s bigger defensive backs, aligns as the nickel defending the slot. Alohi Gilman and Elijah Molden are the two deep safeties. This is one of the packages defensive coordinator Jesse Minter uses to get all three of his safeties — James, Molden and Gilman — on the field together.
James was lined up across from Browns slot receiver Jamari Thrash to the defensive right side. As quarterback Jameis Winston took the shotgun snap, James charged unblocked into the backfield on a blitz. The Browns attempted to set up a screen to running back Jerome Ford to James’ side of the field. James sensed it. Winston tried to float a throw over James’ head. James leapt, and batted the pass down for an incompletion.
This is just one example of the plays James can make when he aligns closer to the line of scrimmage. And over the past three weeks, Minter has been leaning into these alignments, packages and formations. James can align closer to the line of scrimmage when he is at nickel. During this three-game stretch, the Chargers have also been utilizing more dime packages, with six defensive backs on the field. And in these packages, James typically plays the dime position, which is a hybrid of linebacker and safety.
The reasoning for the utilization shift is layered.
Molden has been playing at a high level all season. In a Week 7 loss at the Arizona Cardinals, he only played 14 snaps. Minter said this week that he felt “disappointment in myself” for not getting Molden on the field more in Arizona. Molden has played at least 86 percent of the snaps in the past three games, evidence of Minter correcting what he viewed as a rotation mistake. To get Molden on the field more, the Chargers have been moving James around to nickel and dime.
The Chargers have also been dealing with injuries at cornerback. Asante Samuel Jr. (shoulder) has missed the past five games. Kristian Fulton has been dealing with a hamstring injury he first suffered in Week 6. He was limited in Weeks 6 to 8 and then was inactive for the past two games. Deane Leonard (hamstring) has missed the past four games. Ja’Sir Taylor, one of the Chargers’ options at nickel, has been battling a fibula injury since Week 1. All these injuries forced rookies Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still into action on the outside. Minter mentioned the “uncertainty at the corner position” as part of why James has been playing more nickel.
Then there is the very obvious reason. “When he’s close to the ball, when he’s close to the action,” Minter said of James, “he’s a very disruptive player.”
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In years past, the Chargers have played James at nickel and dime. This is not some new discovery. However, these packages in previous seasons were mostly sprinkled in. James playing at nickel was a changeup. The big question now is whether James at nickel can become the Chargers’ primary pitch on defense.
Can it become their fastball?
“We’re capable of doing that,” Gilman said. “and I think the last few weeks have shown that.”
This potential development in the Chargers’ personnel usage comes at a pivotal point in this 2024 season. The Chargers face Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals’ explosive passing offense on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium. The game kicks off a grueling stretch for Minter and the Chargers defense that will reveal what they are truly made of.
The Bengals rank fourth in EPA per dropback, according to TruMedia. In Week 12, the Chargers host Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. The Ravens are the league’s best passing offense by EPA per dropback. The Atlanta Falcons, the Chargers’ Week 13 opponent, rank sixth. Then the Chargers play at the Kansas City Chiefs, who rank 10th. And finally, in Week 15, the Chargers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who rank eighth.
The Chargers have the best scoring defense in the league through 10 weeks. They are allowing 12.9 offensive points per game. They will need to find another level for this stretch.
Is James playing nickel in a more full-time capacity what lifts them there?
“That’s our best combination,” coach Jim Harbaugh said.
James, Molden and Gilman have been on the field together for at least 49 snaps in each of the past three games, according to TruMedia. In these groupings, the Chargers have played 51.2 percent dime and 48.8 percent nickel.
Moving James close to the line of scrimmage unlocks the best parts of his skill set. This has always been the case, but now the Chargers have a player in Molden who frees up James to move around while maintaining stability in the deep part of the field.
“Having two guys who understand the defense and put people in the right places and play a step ahead of the game,” Gilman said of himself and Molden, “it just allows us to play fast up front.”
James can have a more immediate impact in the run fit. He can blitz more frequently, as he did on that play against the Browns. Minter can also identify matchups and use James as a chess piece in that way. For instance, James matched up in man coverage on Browns tight end David Njoku multiple times in Week 9 when aligned closer to the line of scrimmage. Minter believes James can play nickel “against anybody” — even smaller receivers.
“It allows me to be the aggressor,” James said of aligning closer to the line.
Minter will also use packages with James, Molden and Gilman all aligned in the deep part of the field, typically on second- and third-and-longs. The Chargers will get to different coverages and looks out of these alignments depending on which safeties rotate in which directions post-snap, creating disguise.
“We have three starting safeties,” Minter added. “They all need to play.”
The safeties will be paramount this week against Burrow and Chase. They need to protect the deep part of the field on go routes and posts. They need to tackle well after the catch. Chase had 264 yards receiving and two touchdowns last week against the Ravens. One touchdown came on a dig route catch-and-run. The other came on a post route over the top. He can score from anywhere on the field on any route. Receiver Tee Higgins has also been back in practice this week after missing the past three games with a quad injury.
“Sleepless nights,” Minter said this week when asked about preparing for Cincinnati.
The Chargers will likely be getting reinforcements. Fulton, who won a national title with Burrow and Chase at LSU, said this week that he expects to play Sunday.
“They’re on fire right now as far as their connection, and we know they’re going to throw the ball,” Fulton said of his college teammates. “That’s what you live for as a defensive back.”
Fulton would man one of the outside corner spots. The other spot could be filled by Hart or Still, or even Leonard if he is ready to be activated off IR. Leonard’s 21-day activation window was opened Wednesday. Still and Taylor remain possibilities at nickel.
Minter has options, and he can tailor his packages to matchups through this five-game stretch.
But the best grouping right now features James closer to the line of scrimmage and Molden and Gilman joining him on the field.
“Everyone’s really excited and loves the packages and what they’ve got going on,” Gilman said. “But I think we have a couple levels to take up before we really become what we want to be.”
(Top photo of Derwin James: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
