Overall, Coryell Happy With Mathison’s Play : But He Is Still Not Pleased by Ruling

The coach looked haggard, as if he would have preferred to spend a sunny Sunday relaxing outdoors instead of holed up with a group of colleagues, a pot of coffee and a movie projector.

Such are the demands of the profession that Don Coryell was required to devote his day to reviewing film of Saturday night’s 27-24 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

The National Football League requires that each of its teams trim their rosters to 60 players by Tuesday, and there was much to be learned from film analysis.

Coryell disclosed little in the way of who might be deleted from the roster, but he did underscore a couple of themes he had discussed in the immediate aftermath of the loss to Dallas.

He stuck by his overall impression that No. 2 quarterback Bruce Mathison had played well against the Cowboys, even though he reversed himself on the quarterback’s culpability on an interception late in the game.

Coryell also stuck to his earlier contention that the officials appeared to err on a play that wound up costing the Chargers the game.

Dallas quarterback Danny White was ruled down in the grasp of linebacker Linden King and the play was blown dead, negating a fumble that resulted when King stripped the ball from White.

The Cowboys retained possession and two players later, Rafael Septien kicked the 48-yard field goal that beat San Diego.

Coryell said after the game he thought White was attempting to roll out and thus should have been treated as a ball carrier. If that had been the ruling by the official, White’s fumble would not have been whistled dead, and the Chargers would have had the ball. In fact, a lineman near the ball possibly might have scooped it up and run for a touchdown.

As it was, Art McNally, the NFL supervisor of officials, happened to be in the press box viewing videotape of each play as part of a league experiment on the feasibility of using instant replays to correct officials’ mistakes.

McNally did not reverse the official’s call, indicating that he took a different point of view than Coryell.

However, Coryell said again Sunday that he thought White should have been treated as a ball carrier.

“There was no question about it in the film,” Coryell said. “It was a play action rollout, meaning the quarterback is fair game. The ball should not have been blown dead.

“However, I can see how the official could make a mistake wanting to protect the quarterback in a preseason game. I can understand the whistle to save the quarterback, but it was the ballgame.”

Coryell said it was concern for the well-being of his starter Dan Fouts that prompted his strategy of using Mathison primarily in the two exhibition games to date. Of course, it was also imperative for the Chargers to prepare the inexperienced Mathison for the eventuality of assuming control if Fouts goes down in the regular season.

“We were well-pleased with Bruce’s play,” Coryell said. “He showed poise and control and he was cool on the sidelines.

“After looking at the film, though, I think the interception (by Dexter Clinkscale) was Bruce’s fault. He had two receivers he could go to, and he didn’t throw soon enough. If he went to his second receiver, we might have had a nice play.”

The interception gave the Cowboys the ball in Charger territory and set up the game-winning field goal.

Despite that mistake, Mathison has come a long way in two exhibitions, Coryell said. It’s likely he will play two and possibly three quarters in this week’s game at San Francisco.

Fouts, who hasn’t played much more than a half cumulatively in two games, simply can’t be risked in exhibitions, Coryell said.

“Dan is pretty well ready to go right now,” Coryell said. “We just don’t want to take any chances.”

For his part, Mathison said he felt a lot more comfortable against Dallas than he had a week earlier in his debut against Cleveland.

“I was sure of where to throw,” Mathison said. “When things happened, I recognized them quicker.

“My first game was a real learning experience. I looked at the films a number of times and said to myself, ‘This is what I should do on this play and I shouldn’t have done on that one.’

“I think I was more in control tonight. I was more patient. Instead of rushing, trying to make things happen, I let things develop.”

The defense appears to be developing nicely, too.

Coryell declined to cite any individuals, other than King, who made two interceptions, but he praised the overall effort of the defense.

“There were some tremendous hits,” he said. “Everybody played hard, and the line put a lot of pressure on the quarterbacks. It looks like we’re coming together.”

Of course, a huge squad cut is coming, too, and Coryell planned to huddle with his staff Sunday night to hold further discussions on that issue. The Chargers counted 83 players on their roster as of Sunday evening.

There was some question as to whether Kellen Winslow and Derrel Gofourth would count against that total. Both are injured, have not passed physicals and have not practiced.

Their status will be cleared up today or Tuesday, and some 20 players will be eliminated from the roster. Coryell has said several times this will be among the most difficult cuts he has faced in years.

There was some relatively good news on the injury front. Several players injured Saturday night probably will be able to play this week against the 49ers, Coryell said.