Defense Providing Hope, but Chargers Could Use Help on the Offensive Line

Due to a couple of unusual injuries--”freak accidents,” according to Don Coryell--the Chargers are desperate for offensive linemen.

Thanks to another freak accident--a crushing performance by the defense--the Chargers are talking openly of sweeping their final three games.

Whether that would be enough to save Coryell’s job is conjectural, and will remain that way until the schedule is played out. But a 9-7 record would give him at least an even chance of avoiding the fate of being fired.

Sunday’s 40-7 win over the woeful Buffalo Bills was not a thing of beauty, either live or on film, Coryell said. The play of the defense, which intercepted four passes and kept the Chargers involved while the offense sputtered, was an obvious highlight.

But the loss of offensive linemen Sam Claphan and Gary Kowalski, both of whom suffered knee injuries, left the team short of blockers for this Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Chargers will audition several potential fill-ins--including Ken Dalliafor, Wally Kersten and Steve Knight--while awaiting further updates on the status of Claphan and Kowalski.

“They both got hurt on extra point plays,” Coryell said Monday. “They were both freak things, the guys just fell on top of the pile. They were both wearing knee braces, which saved them. You wouldn’t expect more than one injury like this per season, and certainly not two in the same game.”

Both players suffered strains of the medial collateral ligament, but neither is expected to require surgery. It’s possible Claphan, who appears to be the more seriously hurt, may be placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season, according to Coryell.

Claphan had just returned to the lineup after missing a couple of games with a leg injury. His replacement, ironically, had been Kowalski.

The loss of this tandem forced Dennis McKnight, normally a guard, to finish the game at right tackle, with Jim Leonard moving in at right guard.

The Chargers aren’t too healthy on the other side of the line, either. Left tackle Jim Lachey has a sore shoulder and guard Ed White is sore over much of his 38-year-old body.

The only other significant casualty of Sunday’s game was tight end Kellen Winslow, who suffered bruised ribs, but is expected to be ready for the Steelers.

The battered state of the offense, along with the first half blahs that cropped up for two straight games, are of concern to Coryell. But, for once, he had the defense to praise for the job it played in bailing out the offense.

“The defense got the big plays, kept us in the game and got us the lead,” he said.

Defensive back John Hendy, who made two interceptions, one of which he returned 75 yards for a touchdown, headed the list of notables. Also singled out were linebacker Woody Lowe, who had a couple of sacks, and strong safety Gill Byrd.

Coryell seemed pleased when someone mentioned that the Charger defense, with 34 sacks and 21 interceptions, has already turned in its best set of statistics since 1981.

That’s all well and good, but a strong, consistent finish would be even better, said Ron Nay, No. 1 adviser to owner Alex Spanos.

A week ago, in the wake of a disconcerting loss to Houston, Nay suggested that some members of the team, particularly the defense, had only four games to demonstrate they belonged in the National Football League. Whether he meant it critically or not, the players responded in the desired manner.

“It was time for them to take over and get the job done,” he said. “Nobody ever thought we had quitters on our defense, they just needed to do a better job of concentration.

“We never gave up on our defense, and they showed that when they bear down, they can be a very good defense. They could have pouted and acted like prima donnas, but they came back fighting and proved to themselves what they could do.”

An individual who was very much on the spot was placekicker Bob Thomas, who watched five hopefuls unsuccessfully try out for his job last week. After missing six of nine field goals in recent weeks, he made a pair against Buffalo, and appears safe for the rest of the year, Nay said.

“I think he’s back on track,” Nay said. “He responded to the competition.”

Nay cited quarterback Dan Fouts for helping keep morale high.

“He’s always going to play like hell, and that rubs off on everybody else,” Nay said. “The veterans set the pace on any club, and Dan is our leader.”

Nay declined to provide a statement on Coryell’s status.

“As an NFL coach, you have to produce,” Nay said. “Don isn’t on the spot any more than a lot of other coaches. The decision (on his future) is still a month away. I think we (meaning Spanos) want to wait and see how the team plays the last three games.”