Chargers News: Derwin James Confident His Side of The Ball Will Keep Up With The Offense

The Bolts' defense needs to improve in 2023.

The Los Angeles Chargers offense could -- at times -- be one of the more explosive units in both the AFC and the entire NFL. 

Running back Austin Ekeler had another productive year, and quarterback Justin Herbert established himself as one of the better signal callers in the league on the way to a season just shy of 4,800 yards. 

The same, however, cannot be said for the defense. On a side that includes superstars like DE Joey Bosa and safety Derwin James, the Bolts' defense was ripped apart last season. The team allowed 23.1 points per game last season, ranking them 23rd in the NFL and just shy of the 23.4 points the Chargers would score per contest. 

That doesn't constitute a winning, consistent franchise, and James made clear that this year's team will try to make sure a repeat of 2022's woes doesn't happen. 

“We definitely want to be that dominating group that we all know we can be,” James said.

“We’ve got the pieces to do it. We’ve got the guys to change that narrative.”

“A bunch of grown men coming together,” James said. “We’re not kids. We’re not little boys. When a bunch of grown men make up their minds and they’re tired of something, that’s when things change.”

via

Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times

It's clear that the Chargers have the offense to at least compete with the AFC's elite, like the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. 

The one glaring question ahead of a high-stakes 2023 season remains the defense. 

It's a familiar refrain, but James, Bosa, and the rest of the Bolts defense will attempt to make the team's struggles on that side of the ball a thing of the past.