O’Neal’s Holdout Appears to Be in Final Stages

More than two weeks after the start of training camp, the Chargers finally appear to be making progress toward signing first-round draft choice Leslie O’Neal, a defensive end from Oklahoma State.

The Chargers received two new contract proposals from Marvin Demoff, the agent for O’Neal, the team’s last unsigned player.

One of those proposals was immediately categorized as unfeasible, but the other was receiving serious consideration, according to General Manager Johnny Sanders.

“Nothing is settled, but we’re closer than in the past,” Sanders said. “We’ll continue talking by phone. We’re all anxious to get it settled. I’m very optimistic. It’s 75-25 he’ll be in practice by Monday.”

With an end in sight to O’Neal’s holdout, defensive coaches had mixed reactions. They are relieved O’Neal should be in camp without missing a great deal more time, but they regret what he has missed already.

“We know he’s going to make a contribution as a pass rusher,” said defensive coordinator Ron Lynn, “but we want to expand our defensive scheme to accommodate his abilities in areas other than rushing from the outside.

“We want to experiment with putting him over the center and standing him up in different places (in the line), but some options become less available as time passes. Some things may have to wait because we can’t experiment until he becomes familiar and comfortable with his No. 1 position (at end).”

O’Neal said Friday he thinks he can catch up with teammates in two weeks, but defensive line coach Gunther Cunningham believes the player is kidding himself.

“He learned a great deal in our informal workouts in May and June,” Cunningham said, “but that work was in sweats. It’s entirely different in full pads. He may think he’s in great condition, but no matter how much he’s been working out, it’s not the same as being here. Any of our players will tell him that.”

Cunningham, like Lynn, is convinced O’Neal will have an impact as a pass rusher, but Cunningham is eager to see him line up against a talented young offensive lineman such as Jim Lachey.

“Leslie outclassed 99% of the players he faced in college, but it’s going to be different in pro ball,” Cunningham said. “He’s not going to physically dominate every man he faces.

“I would expect he would probably come in here and set the world on fire his first week, but in the second week, when his legs are worn down, it’ll change. His mind will be gone, and he’ll be asking himself, ‘What in hell am I doing here?’ We don’t want him to get hurt when he enters that tunnel the second week, when he’s trying to catch up.”

The Chargers shifted two likely starters in the offensive line, with Sam Claphan going from right tackle to left guard in an exchange of positions with Gary Kowalski.

Claphan has started at tackle the past two seasons.Kowalski had replaced Ed White, who retired and joined the coaching staff.

“You never know until you look at guys in different spots,” Coach Don Coryell said. “We’ll go with this at least a week (including the exhibition opener against Dallas).”

Offensive line coach Dave Levy said he’s looking for the best five blockers and the right combination of blockers, in that order. The other likely starters are center Don Macek, guard Dennis McKnight and Lachey.

“We want to take a serious look (at Claphan and Kowalski in new positions), but if we don’t like it, we’ll flip them back to their old spots,” Levy said.

Earlier this week the Chargers shifted offensive guard Chris Faulkner to defensive end.

They are still in the preliminary stages of evaluating first-round draft choice James FitzPatrick and third-round choice Jeff Walker.

FitzPatrick, who missed a week in a contract holdout, appears to be as good an athlete as the Chargers expected, but he isn’t ready to contend for a starting job yet, according to coaches.

FitzPatrick doesn’t seem to be as advanced at this stage as last year’s rookie starter, Lachey.

“Jim was better (in his first week),” Coryell said. “Of course, we had to put him in there because we had no one else available. This year we have some real competition.”

Walker hasn’t practiced yet because of a pulled muscle in his right leg. He is in the final stages of recuperation and could play against Dallas next weekend. Walker is also being groomed as a backup punt snapper.