Chargers, Feeling Cornered, Try Lineup Change to Stop Losses

The Chargers will have a new left cornerback, several starters returning from injuries, and a more recognizable quarterback in this week’s game against Denver.

These changes, which range from certain to probable to hoped for, were made public Wednesday as the Chargers began to emerge from the shock of the 33-7 loss to Seattle two days earlier.

The new cornerback is Ken Taylor, a former Chicago Bear, who will replace the beleaguered Wayne Davis.

The starters expected back from the wounded list include fullback Tim Spencer, guard Sam Claphan and linebacker Billy Ray Smith. In addition, rookie defensive lineman Terry Unrein, who probably would have been a starter but for a knee injury in the season opener, will be activated.

Also anticipated is the reappearance of a quarterback named Dan Fouts, whose play the last month has made some wonder if that wasn’t an impostor wearing No. 14. Fouts has thrown 14 interceptions and has not produced a second-half touchdown during a four-game losing streak.

Coach Don Coryell defended Fouts, without whom the Chargers seemingly would have no chance of salvaging their season.

“There’s not anything at all wrong with Dan,” Coryell said. “He’ll come back and play great the rest of the year. I know he feels he’s let the team down, but that’s baloney. I don’t buy that. Not at all. He’s doing all in his power to help us win.”

There was no such vote of confidence for Davis, the second-year cornerback who has been picked on by every team the Chargers have faced. Most notably, he was the victim of a 55-yard pass that set up the winning score in Washington’s victory over the Chargers three weeks ago. He also was the culprit on three scoring plays at Seattle.

Defensive coordinator Ron Lynn decided to bench Davis, a fate that also befell him six games into his rookie season in 1985. He won a job in training camp this summer amid concern about his inconsistency.

“Wayne needs a break from all the stress,” Lynn said. “He’s just been coming up short. I think he anticipated this. He doesn’t feel he was treated unfairly.

“We have to get more productivity at the position. Ken is going to be playing most of the time now. We want to see him under the gun. He was good enough to hang around with the Bears last year.”

Taylor’s assets, Lynn said, include experience in playing bump-and-run, good use of his hands, size and desire.

Taylor, signed as a free agent Sept. 16 after being waived by the Bears in training camp, was picked up when Danny Walters was lost for the year with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. He has been quick to grasp the Charger defensive system, according to Lynn.

Taylor, an All-Pacific 10 selection as a senior at Oregon State in 1984, started one game and made three interceptions as a rookie with the Bears last year.

Davis’ demotion may be the first of several such changes, Lynn suggested.

“Wayne had five games to get the job done, and now we’re facing that at other positions,” Lynn said. “We’re not resistant to change if it’ll help us. There are a couple of places where we may be looking at changes.

“The bottom line is, these guys are paid to play and make the plays, not just show up in uniform. . . . I still think Wayne Davis can play the position. If I didn’t, we’d get rid of him, period.”

Whatever the extent of the Chargers’ faith in Davis, they are going out of their way to make a show of confidence on a team-wide basis.

“We can’t stop believing in ourselves,” Coryell said. “We have the capability to go out and beat good football teams. I firmly believe that all our players think that way.”

Offensive tackle Jim Lachey seems to be a big believer.

“We still have the confidence we can score at any time,” Lachey said. “Before the season started, we were confident this would be our year. How quickly things change . . . but, hey, we could win our last 11 in a row and be right there in the playoffs.

“After our first game (a 50-28 victory over Miami) we were talking about using that as a standard that we should play up to the rest of the year. I still think we can get back to that level.”

Owner Alex Spanos, who seems less impatient and demanding than in the past, reiterated the optimism he expressed last week.

“Our ballclub and our coaching staff are going to work out the problems,” he said. “I don’t have the answers and I don’t know anyone who does. It takes time. It’s not over yet.”

Special teams coach Hank Bauer mustered the same show of spirit.

“This is all really puzzling,” he said. “We have the same people and the same scheme on offense. Our defense is improved and our special teams are improved. I keep thinking that one win could turn everything around.”

Coryell and other coaches apparently thought that win would come Monday night in the Kingdome. After a team meeting and an upbeat week of practice, the coaches were more than a little optimistic about ending the losing streak. It didn’t happen, of course.

“I was in a state of shock after the game Monday night,” Coryell said. “I firmly believed we would win. What we know now is that nothing good will happen unless we make it happen.

“I think we have too many guys with good character, too many guys who are winners, for this team to fold. If I saw guys lay down or go belly up, I wouldn’t feel that way. But people are fighting and scrapping. Sooner or later, good things will happen.”

Coryell seemed pleased that Spanos hasn’t lost confidence.

“I think the whole organization is really behind us and wants the team to win,” the coach said. “That’s very helpful and a good sign. Things are going to get better.”

In the search to explain what’s wrong with the Charger offense, one theory is that Air Coryell has become too conservative, too run-oriented.

Coryell didn’t entirely dismiss that suggestion, but he didn’t give it a lot of credence, either.

The Chargers always seek to establish the run as part of their game plan, Coryell said. The Chargers found out early they couldn’t run successfully against Seattle, so they went more to the passing game, with three interceptions in the second half.

“We probably are more conservative than we have been in the past,” Coryell said. “We’re trying to help our defense by keeping the ball as long as we can. We will keep that in the back of our mind, but we’re still going to shoot the works. “I’m not conservative by nature. We won’t sit back. We’ll go after people. That’s the only way I know to come out of something like this.”