Fouts and Chargers Didn’t Have a Chance : Raider Defense Torments San Diego With Six Sacks, an Interception

When he returned from a knee injury last week, quarterback Dan Fouts said he’d never seen so much offensive talent on one field.

While he was down, the San Diego Chargers had added running back Gary Anderson from the USFL and had regained the services of receivers Kellen Winslow and Wes Chandler.

As events developed Monday night, Fouts would have had a better view of Air Coryell’s multiple toys had he occupied a seat in the peristyle end of the Coliseum.

Because of the Raiders’ unrelenting pass rush--six sacks plus numerous deflections and one interception--Fouts and the Chargers absorbed a 34-21 defeat.

“That’s probably the best pass rush I’ve ever seen,” said Fouts, who would have had better luck dodging freeway traffic. With the protection he received, Fouts could have at least used a call box.

“I can’t tell you if they were doing anything different. I was just trying to see over them.”

As Coach Don Coryell put it: “He didn’t have much of a chance. No question, it was the best pressure we’ve faced.”

Howie Long, Bill Pickel and Greg Townsend spent much of the evening staring at Fouts’ beard through the bars of his facemask as the San Diego quarterback studied the smoggy heavens.

“He (Fouts) was very verbal about not getting enough time, and he let his offensive linemen know about it,” Long said. “A few times we got in there just close enough that when he threw the ball, he was hitting his hand on his blockers’ helmets. A quarterback has to have some time.”

The pressure on Fouts had a lot to do with the Chargers losing their seventh straight game to the Raiders, leaving them 0-for-L.A. since the Raiders moved to town. It was also the 12th loss in the last 13 games against AFC West teams for San Diego.

“I was kind of reminded of last night’s game in the World Series,” said tight end Kellen Winslow, who only last week returned from a year off while he recuperated from a knee injury inflicted by Raider linebacker Jeff Barnes.

This was the first look at the Raiders for San Diego rookie offensive tackle Jim Lachey.

To be more exact, he had his first look at Raider defensive end Lyle Alzado when he checked into his hotel room.

“I looked out the window and there was Lyle on a billboard in a three-point stance and saying welcome to L.A.,” said Lachey.

The Ohio State rookie held his own in verbal exchanges with Alzado. “He was getting on me about the Buckeyes, but I just told him I went to a real football school, not Yankton,” Lachey said.

It was tougher fending off the Raider rush than trading verbal sallies. “That’s a great defensive line, the best in football,” Lachey said. “They have their little stunts and antics. It is kind of hard to block six or seven guys on one play when they’re all blitzing.”

Center Don Macek has seen the Raiders rush many times, but he’s never seen it any better.

“They were grabbing us and stunting and making big plays,” Macek said.

“They gave us more problems than anyone has all year. You’ve got to be able to hold them out, that’s all there is to it. And we didn’t do it tonight.”

The San Diego offense, built around the pass, is only as good as the five blockers up front, Macek said.

“We expect to be able to block people--that’s our game,” Macek said. “But their defensive line had so much intensity tonight, and they have it most games.”

Macek called Long the most dominant defensive player in pro football.

“We always give him special attention,” Macek said. “But he’s not their only great player. They have several others and that’s what gives them the extra element other teams don’t have.”