Charger Draft Choices Are Looking Good : Coaches Have No Second Thoughts About Settling for O’Neal, Unrein

The Charger defense didn’t get the helping Hand it originally sought in 1986, but all may turn out well.

Before this year’s draft, the Chargers pondered trading up to select defensive lineman Jon Hand of Alabama. Nothing materialized, and Indianapolis made Hand the fourth pick in the draft.

Four picks later, San Diego took defensive lineman Leslie O’Neal of Oklahoma State. Gunther Cunningham, Charger defensive line coach, thinks team management deserves a hand for its drafting.

“Leslie O’Neal is going to be more of an impact player than Jon Hand,” Cunningham said Sunday. “God knows he has a lot of pass-rushing ability. I think Leslie has shown everything we thought he would. There’s no question we picked him in the right spot.”

There’s little doubt whether the Chargers picked Terry Unrein in the right spot, either. Unrein, also a defensive lineman, was drafted in this year’s third round.

Cunningham, after watching films of Saturday’s 20-0 exhibition-opening victory over Dallas, was convinced O’Neal and Unrein have made veteran Charger defensive linemen defensive about their jobs.

“Leslie and Terry have had an immeasurable effect on Lee (Williams), Earl (Wilson) and Chuck (Ehin),” Cunningham said.

Maybe it’s more than coincidence that Williams, Wilson and Ehin contributed their share of big plays Saturday night. O’Neal and Unrein are pushing for their jobs.

Cunningham’s evaluation of their performances:

“(O’Neal) didn’t get any sacks. He waxed the quarterback’s (rear end) three or four times. That’s what we’re paying him for.”

“(Unrein) won’t have the impact O’Neal will have. In the first half, he seemed a little in awe. In the second half, he made some plays. He’s going to give Chuck Ehin everything he wants and more.”

Seemingly, the Charger defense was everything anybody could have asked for. San Diego had not recorded an exhibition shutout since 1980 or a regular-season shutout since 1979.

The new-found success could be attributed to a new defensive philosophy. The Chargers are supposed to react immediately under the scheme of new defensive coordinator Ron Lynn, instead of reading the play before reacting as in 1985.

“Everyone thinks we’re pretty good,” Cunningham said. “I’m (ticked) off. We’re still sitting and reading. I think we can be a lot better.”

Coach Don Coryell was pleased with the defense.

“The guys are developing a personality of their own with their wild and reckless play, brought on by our style of defense,” Coryell said. “We’ll get hurt during the course of the year. But I think we’ll make more big plays than bad plays that can hurt us.”

The defense deserved a hand Saturday night--even though the Hand they once desired is playing in Indianapolis.

Charger Notes

Linebacker Mike Douglass suffered a strained hamstring Saturday that could sideline him this week. The other injuries were less severe: defensive linemen Chuck Ehin (sprained ankle) and Chris Faulkner (pulled groin muscle) and center Jim Leonard (cut finger). . . . The Chargers claim Dallas made an illegal play on one of its two blocked field goals Saturday night. According to Don Coryell, Randy White of Dallas tackled blocker James FitzPatrick, allowing Michael Downs to block the kick. White should have been penalized because it is illegal for a defender to tackle a blocker without making an attempt to block the kick, Coryell said. Hank Bauer, Charger special teams coach, warned the officials of White’s tactics before the game, a Charger spokesman said.