Chargers Still Nearly Defenseless, 26-21

There are tougher, more important jobs, like trying to negotiate nuclear arms agreements, but pro football offers few tasks more thankless than trying to put some ‘D’ in the San Diego Chargers’ alleged defense.

Men such as Jack Pardee and Tom Bass tried it and left with their reputations in tatters. Early last week, the task fell to a taciturn redhead named Dave Adolph, who spent the first month of the season as a scout.

On his first Sunday since Charger owner Alex Spanos named him to succeed Bass as defensive coordinator, Adolph got a feel for the magnitude of the problem as he watched the Seattle Seahawks defeat the Chargers, 26-21.

Adolph, making his first public pronouncement on the San Diego defense, was far from satisfied. But neither was he dismayed.

“When they go down the damn field to win the game in the fourth quarter, we’re not pleased,” Adolph said. “We hope the biggest difference in the defense will be that we can stop ‘em in the fourth quarter.

“I want it clear I’m not here to take charge of this defense. I’m here to coordinate it, and there are four of us coaching it. It took me all week just to learn the terminology, and I know I stayed in my damn office too long.”

A loss is a loss, but the Chargers (2-3) succeeded in limiting an opponent to fewer than 400 yards for the first time this season. The Seahawks (3-2) managed just 253 net yards, a majority of which came from Curt Warner who had 94 yards rushing and 50 receiving.

There were some minor strategic changes, such as using linebackers to pressure the quarterback, but the biggest change was internal, within the helmet, according to members of the defense.

“We started feeling better about ourselves,” defensive back Wayne Davis said. “We started believing that our personnel is as good as any team in the league.

“I don’t know if it took a change in the defensive coordinator to do that for us, but I do know the change in our attitude didn’t come about until the change in the coordinator.”

Davis, who had been burned for four touchdowns by Seattle receivers in a game three weeks ago, was markedly better, permitting only a 14-yard scoring play from Dave Krieg to Steve Largent.

There were fewer constants in the Charger offense. Dan Fouts was missing, but Gary Anderson was installed at running back. Anderson, however, fumbled the first time he touched the ball, leading to a Norm Johnson field goal and serving as a portent that Air Coryell is not its old self.

“I was a little nervous,” Anderson said. “I saw the ball, but I took my eyes off it to look for running room and it hit me in the knee.”

Mark Herrmann, replacing Fouts, completed 26 of 35 passes for 344 yards and 3 touchdowns. Those are Foutsian numbers, but they were spoiled by three interceptions which abetted the Seattle attack.

Wide receiver Wes Chandler, who made 13 catches for 243 yards in the first meeting, was almost as good this time, snagging 9 Herrmann throws for 150 yards and 2 scores.

Actually, Chandler was convinced he had three touchdowns, and was irate that an official disallowed an apparent seven-yard touchdown throw in the second quarter.

“That was the worst call against me in my career,” Chandler said. It was ruled he didn’t have both feet inside the end zone on the catch.

“There was no doubt in my mind,” he said. “I don’t play this game based on doubt. It was just a bad call by the guy who overruled the first official.”

Referee Bob Frederic said side judge Duwayne Gandy originally signalled a touchdown. But the call properly belonged to field judge Don Hakes, who has responsibility for watching the end line.

“He came across and very clearly said to Duwayne that he did not have possession of the ball,” Frederic said. “He had possession, but both feet did not hit in the end zone, therefore it was not a score.”

The Chargers assumed a 7-6 halftime lead on a three-yard touchdown pass to Chandler.

The Seahawks, who committed 12 turnovers in their last two games and left Coach Chuck Knox muttering to himself, scored three touchdowns in the second half to stay just out of danger.

San Diego defensive end Lee Williams recorded three sacks in the first half.

The Seahawks, who enjoyed a 28-point third-quarter explosion at San Diego three weeks ago, went ahead following a Herrmann fumble early in the third period.

A 24-yard pass to Paul Skansi set up Warner’s one-yard scoring plunge.

The Seahawks, and 61,300 fans, probably thought it was out of reach after Dave Brown intercepted a Herrmann pass early in the final period.

An 18-yard romp by Warner appeased some of the restless fans and put the Seahawks ahead, 19-7.

But, out of nowhere, the San Diego offense came to life with a 94-yard drive in five plays.

A 43-yard pass to Tim Spencer was the catalyst. Then came a 17-yard reception by Charlie Joiner and a 23-yard toss to Pete Holohan before Chandler came up with his second touchdown of the afternoon on a six-yard pass from Herrmann.

The Seattle offense answered with a time-consuming 81-yard that culminated in a 14-yard scoring pass to Largent and a 26-14 advantage.

The Chargers, not conceding, drove 62 yards for a final score, a nine-yard throw to Joiner.

Still, the Chargers gained a semblance of new faith in their defense.

“We can’t be pleased to lose, but for the most part we had to be encouraged,” linebacker Billy Ray Smith said.

Another linebacker, Linden King, said the defense has adopted a new approach. “Coach Adolph challenges people,” King said. “He’s also bringing our confidence level up. We’re going to use the strengths we have.

“Everybody was questioning our ability after we got off to a shaky start, but he’s got us thinking very positively.”