Chargers’ Mims is Beginning to Emerge

Maybe Chris Mims was worth trading Lee Williams for after all.

Mims, drafted with the first-round pick acquired from Houston in the Williams trade, began the exhibition season looking more out of place on an NFL defensive line than James Stockdale, retired admiral, in a vice presidential debate.

In training camp, Mims ackowledged he was too weak and confused to seriously contribute. That was three months, 12 games, and about 10 pounds ago.

Mims, stronger, smarter and more confident, is beginning to show the promise the Chargers saw when he was drafted out of Tennessee.

Mims, 6 feet 5 and 270 pounds, had his first two-sack day as a professional Sunday in the Chargers 26-0 victory over Indianapolis. He also made four other unassisted tackles. Mims now has four sacks this season, second to Leslie O’Neal’s seven.

“I’m just learning as the weeks go on, trying to get to the quarterback,” Mims said.

A defensive end in college, Mims has spent most of his time learning a new position--left tackle. After barely contributing the first four games, he has come on to get all four of his sacks in the last four games.

“I’m still learning defensive tackle,” he said. “There’s a long way to go, but I’m being patient with it.

“I feel a lot more comfortable. I’ve been at it for eight weeks but I’m not complaining. It’s put me on the field a lot faster than sitting there playing behind Burt (Grossman) and Leslie (O’Neal). It’s helping out the team, too. And being the first-round pick and all, I really do want to help out.”

Mims said his work in the weight room has helped him this season.

“It helps me out on the inside that I have more strength than when I started the season,” he said. “And I’m getting stronger week by week.

“If were playing tackle during preseason, I’d be beat up right now. You probably wouldn’t be able to talk to me. I feel good now, a couple bruises but nothing big.”

Bill Arnsparger, Chargers’ defensive coordinator, didn’t listen to skeptics who believed Mims would never be strong enough to play tackle in the NFL.

“He’s improved a lot,” Arnsparger said. “We really don’t care what a lot of people say. We just appreciate the way he’s worked and the way he’s contributed to the overall team.”

Mims contributed his first sack on the last play of the first quarter. He dropped Colts quarterback Jeff George for a three-yard loss.

Mims gave the secondary credit for his sack.

“My first sack was a coverage sack,” he said. “He hesitated, he hesitated, and I was able to get him.”

He got his second sack in the second quarter on a quick move around the corner.

In all, the Chargers had seven sacks on an injury-plagued Colts offensive line.

The key to defensive line’s play?

“Determination,” Mims said. “We knew they were going to throw the ball and we wanted to get to the quarterback. We worked the edge and went at it. The guys that had a single man blocking got to the quarterback. We had a good push up the middle and pressure on the outside so everybody was getting in on it.”

By the fourth quarter the Chargers had a big lead and Mims replaced O’Neal at right end.

Next week, Mims returns to tackle where he continues to learn.

“I hope one day to have it all down pat,” he said. “I can get better.”

The Chargers can’t wait.