The Los Angeles Chargers hired Jim Harbaugh as their head coach shortly after the season, and safety Derwin James has already felt a shift in the atmosphere since Harbaugh's arrival.
“Every year, you’re going to feel like you’re the team to beat, feel like you’re going to the Super Bowl,” James said, via Jeff Miller of The Los Angeles Times. “But this year it just feels right. … I can’t wait to play ’cause I really believe it’s going to be special.”
Harbaugh had one go-around as a head coach in the NFL before linking up with Chargers. He coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 through 2014 and experienced legitimate success, going 49-22-1 (including playoffs) and leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance. He also guided San Francisco to a couple of NFC West division titles.
James added that things “feel like Christmas” with Harbaugh at the helm in Los Angeles and called him “the most powerful leader” he has ever seen. He even went as far to say that Harbaugh can instantly command a room just by walking through the door.
Following his stint with the Niners, Harbaugh returned to the collegiate ranks where he served as head coach of Michigan for nine seasons. His tenure at Ann Arbor culminated in a national championship this past year.
Can Jim Harbaugh make the most of a limited Chargers roster?
Harbaugh may be a terrific coach and is clearly excited to get going in his new digs, but he doesn't really have a whole lot of elite talent at his disposal heading into his first season with the Chargers.
Los Angeles went just 5-12 last season, and it lost wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Gerald Everett over the last several months. All four of those players were integral pieces of the Bolts' offense, so now, Harbaugh almost has to start from scratch.
The good news is that Harbaugh does have an immensely talented quarterback in Justin Herbert, who has also been raving about Harbaugh. Herbert has taken his fair share of criticism, but there is no doubting his ability as a pure passer.
The Chargers will go into next season without a true No. 1 wide receiver, as second-year wide out Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer will be vying for that role. The team did select Ladd McConkey in the second round of the NFL Draft, but it seems unlikely he will move up the depth chart that quickly in Year 1.
On top of all of that, Los Angeles ranked 28th in the league in defense this past season. Due to financial constraints, LA was unable to do much to address the issue in free agency. The Bolts did invest four straight draft picks into the defensive side between Rounds 3 and 5 of the draft in April, but obviously, that is not proven talent.
The Chargers do have a pair of terrific pass rushers in Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, and James is an elite safety. But Los Angeles has a bunch of holes defensively that may rear their ugly head again in 2024.
We'll see if Harbaugh is able to make the most out of what is a fairly unimpressive roster this coming season.
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