Revamped Charger Defense Gets First Real Test Tonight
So far, Ron Lynn, the Chargers’ new defensive coordinator, has employed a sense of humor to camouflage any deep-seated fears about the task facing him.
Now, though, it’s time for a dose of reality, courtesy of the Dallas Cowboys, tonight’s opponent in San Diego’s first exhibition game.
“I expect us to be totally dominant,” Lynn said Friday in his best deadpan fashion.
He quickly amended that prediction to include a few passes “zinged” in the direction of the rookie safeties he will deploy. He also said he would measure the success of the new defense not so much by the scoreboard as by the personality it displays.
Lynn said he wants to see his players run around and smack ball carriers in front of 50,000 people the way they’ve done in front of 100 at practice.
Among the players he is eager to evaluate is linebacker Thomas Benson, whose recent acquisition from Atlanta for a conditional draft choice prompted a Falcon coach to say: “The Chargers get a ninth-round pick if he finds California and a seventh-rounder if he finds San Diego.”
Playing off that line, Lynn said: “He found his way to town, which is a plus, and he found our training camp, another plus. He also knows where to line up in the huddle. Seriously, he’s got good size, can run and close a gap.”
The kidding stops here--or does it? That’s one of the questions about Lynn and his defense that should get a preliminary answer tonight.
The Chargers aren’t going to use all their new defensive material against Dallas. They want to save a little, or a lot, for the regular-season opener against Miami on Sept. 7. Coach Don Coryell has long favored this strategy with respect to offense.
The Cowboys, fresh from their London appearance against the Chicago Bears last weekend, will be subjected to a simplified version of the Chargers’ new penetrating, pressure defense.
The San Diego defensive line starters will be the same ones who ended the 1985 season: Lee Williams, Chuck Ehin and Earl Wilson. They will be backed up by rookies Leslie O’Neal and Terry Unrein and former tight end/offensive guard/blocking back Chris Faulkner.
Wilson bears watching.
He has forfeited about $3,000 in fines this summer in a battle to get his weight from the 290 region to 275 pounds.
Defensive line coach Gunther Cunningham, who jokingly blamed teammates for sneaking food to Wilson’s dorm room, said he is satisfied with Wilson’s efforts, which have reduced his bulk to 279.
The Chargers’ pass rush better be effective because the secondary may be vulnerable tonight.
There will be rookies aplenty at the safeties because of injuries to John Hendy and Jeff Dale. The starters at safety will be rookie Jerome Tyler and veteran Gill Byrd, with rookies Mike Zordich, Daryl McCoy, Mike Travis and Ron Milus rotating through the secondary.
The Chargers are looking to the USFL for reinforcements, according to Lynn.
“We don’t even have to find a starter to be improved,” he said. “If we could find a third corner to help us, that would strengthen our hand.”
Lynn, along with Coryell, has singled out cornerbacks Wayne Davis and Danny Walters for their inconsistency.
The Cowboys need not worry about facing Charger quarterback Dan Fouts or running back Gary Anderson for an extended period. Fouts won’t play more than a few series, and Anderson won’t be used much longer because of a cracked ring finger on his right hand. Mark Herrmann and Wayne Peace will follow Fouts.
The starting offensive line probably will get a longer look, with the exception of veteran center Don Macek, who will be protected as much as possible in the preseason.
Of primary interest to line coach Dave Levy is the recent position switch involving Sam Claphan and Gary Kowalski. Claphan went to left guard in an exchange with Kowalski, who became the starting right tackle. Levy thinks the swap could be permanent, pending returns of the exhibition games.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, will attempt to improve on last week’s sloppy offensive showing against the Bears. The Cowboys lost three fumbles, had one pass intercepted and dropped two passes in the end zone.
Dallas outgained the Bears, 302 yards to 251, but lost, 17-6.