It's no secret to anyone how valuable Derwin James, Jr., is to the Chargers defense.
That obviously pertains on the field, where the safety is among the league's hardest hitters.
But it transfers off of it, too, as James essentially has a Master's Degree in Jesse Minter's scheme.
And Donte Jackson thinks he might know why.
"I think DJ's brain is a football," Jackson quipped on Thursday. "Literally, you open his head there's probably a football in there."
The new Chargers cornerback placed high praise on his teammate in the secondary as they continue their first training camp together.
Jackson, who joined the team in free agency, knew James prior to becoming teammates as they were both a part of the 2018 draft class.
Jackson has since gotten a much closer view of what James means to the team.
"That dude has been awesome," Jackson said. "When you talk about knowing every position, learning front and back, everything, you would think he's been in this defense for five-plus years but it's only his second year.
"I think that's the reason I'm so in it now, because you're playing with a guy like DJ," Jackson added. "You can only match his speed, you get left in the dust not doing what he's doing. You want to know something, how to do something, you look at No. 3. He's literally the standard, he's literally Charger football."
James has continued to line up in the slot frequently during camp, where he found success and became a Second-Team All-Pro selection last season.
And whoever is out there at cornerback next to James, they know they can have full confidence in No. 3.
"He will never let you be wrong," Jackson said. "He knows the defense front and back, every single position from the linebackers to what the front is doing, what the safety is doing, the corners are doing. Even though I know everything, he's still out there."
Tarheeb Still added: "I know when Derwin's there, he's going to be a wrecker. It's kind of like, he's on the side of me and I got to know how he's going to fit the run, what is he going to do in pass, if I can help him or how I can protect him, how he can protect me."
It doesn't matter if you're a veteran in the league like Jackson, or a younger player like Still — there's a lot to take from the All-Pro safety.
"It's been amazing just to work with that guy, see him every day, see how he composes himself, see how he asks questions, how he answers questions in meetings," Jackson said. "When you get to play with a guy on such a Hall of Fame-type level you always want to take every day.
"Me and DJ came in the same year, and I still look at him to learn stuff to know the standard of how football is played here," Jackson added. "That guy is literally the standard."
There's a reason James continues to be one of the elite leaders on the Bolts.
"He's what you want your football team to be," Jackson said. "If you want to know what way to go, how fast to go, how long to go, how long to go, you look at No. 3. That's what he's been for this defense, for this team for a long time.
"Me being a new guy, even though I'm a vet, I still look at him, take notes and watch what it is," Jackson added. "I can say the say the same thing about Khalil [Mack]. Those guys are the standard."
