Coryell and Chargers Continue Uphill Struggle Against Denver

It isn’t likely to count for much in today’s game, but Don Coryell has the sympathy of Dan Reeves.

“We know the Chargers are struggling,” the Denver coach said this week. “They’ve gone through some changes and distractions, like a coach (defensive coordinator Tom Bass) being let go, and that makes it difficult. I feel for Don (because) there’s a lot that’s not under his control.”

The word has spread throughout pro football that Coryell is on dangerous ground, in jeopardy of forfeiting his job if the Chargers can’t rally in the second half of the season and finish 8-8 or better.

The brotherhood of coaches, such as it is, may be sympathetic to Coryell, but he isn’t deceived as to the enormity of the task ahead. Beginning with today’s game against Denver, the Chargers must win five or six of their final eight games to appease owner Alex Spanos.

“I’m still in charge and I’m responsible for what happens,” Coryell said. “It’s my fault if we don’t do well. I understand that. If we don’t get down on ourselves, good things can still happen.”

San Diego fans are waiting for good things from the Charger offense, which is fully armed at the skill positions, but proved in Monday night’s loss at Los Angeles that it is average, at best, at pass protection. It was already clear that run-blocking was a weakness.

One of the primary questions today is whether the Charger offensive line can give Dan Fouts more than two seconds to set up and deliver the ball.

The Denver defense isn’t nearly as physical as that of the Raiders, but it has wracked up 31 sacks (6 fewer than Los Angeles, 11 more than San Diego) and has pressured quarterbacks without having to do much blitzing.

Coryell was asked why the Chargers don’t turn to the shotgun as a means of giving Fouts additional time to throw. His answer was consistent with what he has said all year: Fouts doesn’t like the shotgun.

“He’s always taken the ball under center, and he’s more comfortable doing it that way,” Coryell said. “He has such a quick read, and he doesn’t have to take his eyes off the secondary for an instant when he takes the ball from center.

“The shotgun is a great formation, one we practice a lot, and Dan has the option to use it any time he wants. But, basically, he’s just not comfortable in it.”

Another concern for the Chargers is the punting of rookie Ralf Mojsiejenko, who picked Monday night to have his only rotten game of the season. Coryell hasn’t lost confidence in him.

“It happens to golfers and passers, and it happens to kickers sometimes, too,” Coryell said. “That doesn’t mean he won’t come out and really boom some punts against the Broncos.”

He’d better because the Broncos are a team on a roll.

They’ve won four straight games and are tied with the Raiders at 6-2 for the lead in the AFC West.

The Broncos, who beat Kansas City, 30-10, last week, have allowed only 10 points to each of their last three opponents. And they’ve been nearly mistake-free, having gone four games without losing a fumble.

Quarterback John Elway, 22-10 in three seasons as a starter, produced touchdowns on all five first-half possessions last week. His leading receivers are Steve Watson (28 catches) and rookie Vance Johnson (20 receptions).

While the Broncos have been playing well, the Chargers have had a multitude of problems. But, as football coaches are hired to do, Reeves was able to read danger into the situation.

“Playing a struggling team at home is like taking on a wounded animal,” Reeves said. “We know they’re going to be fired-up today, and we have to match that type of intensity.”

The Broncos swept two games from the Chargers last year, both by a score of 16-13. If the Chargers can’t manage more than two touchdowns today, they’re a good bet to lose again.

At halftime of today’s game, the Chargers will induct former coach Sid Gillman and former receiver Gary Garrison into the team’s hall of fame.

After reading that Reeves had donned a tie on game days to curb his temper, Garrison was moved to quip: “I wish they’d let Sid take his bow tie off once in a while. We used to really catch it from him when we came off the field.”