Chargers May See Themselves in Oilers : They Have Same Records as Well as Very Similar Philosophy About Defense
Unlike the Rockets in basketball and the Astros in baseball, football’s Houston Oilers haven’t given a city with a depressed economy much to cheer about this season.
But despite a dismal record (3-10) that matches that of the Chargers, the Oilers could prove to be an entertaining opponent today in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.
There is nothing much at stake in today’s game except the desire of two losing teams to add a positive note to the 1986 season.
The Oilers, like the Chargers, have won two of their last four games and would like to continue that semi-encouraging trend as the season moves into its final three weeks.
“They’re going to be an outstanding team down the road,” Charger Coach Al Saunders said. “They’re feeling some spark now. . . . We may be at the same level emotionally.”
The Oilers will be without starting quarterback Warren Moon, who suffered a bruised thumb in last week’s 13-10 overtime loss to Cleveland. However, his replacement, Oliver Luck, played the best game of his career against the Chargers in a 37-35 Houston victory last season, completing 24 of 42 passes for 286 yards.
Given that performance, plus the absence of injured running back Mike Rozier and the presence of receivers Drew Hill and Ernest Givins, the Chargers can anticipate a passing flurry from Luck.
Hill, who has 54 catches for 904 yards, and Givins, who has made 855 yards on 49 receptions, need 96 and 145 yards, respectively, to give the Oilers their first pair of 1,000-yard receivers since Charlie Hennigan and Bill Groman did it 25 years ago.
“They are magnificent receivers,” Saunders said. “They are two of the most explosive receivers in the league. It will be tough to keep them blanked out. I would expect them to try to test us deep--and it will be a real test.”
The Chargers, operating for the first time this season without ace pass rusher Leslie O’Neal, will try to maintain pressure on Luck in order to take some of it off their secondary.
O’Neal, who underwent knee surgery this week, has been replaced by Earl Wilson. He joins Lee Williams and Terry Unrein as the principals in the San Diego pass rush, which could be supplemented by blitzing linebackers and defensive backs, according to defensive coordinator Ron Lynn.
“We know Lee is probably going to draw the majority of the attention, so we have to get an improved performance out of everybody,” Lynn said. “Earl has played pretty well the last three or four weeks, and we’re certainly counting on him. He has quick feet, he’s tough and he has a feel for what is required.”
The Chargers, second in the National Football League with 50 sacks, are 10 short of tying the club record set in 1980.
The Chargers expect the return of cornerback Gill Byrd, who has been bothered by a groin injury.
In some ways, the Oilers are a mirror image of the Chargers.
Their defensive philosophy is similar--get to the quarterback, try to force turnovers, go basically with man-to-man coverages. This approach makes it difficult to play possession football against them, which suggests that the Chargers may be in a mood to throw quite a bit.
Quarterback Dan Fouts, who completed 24 of 31 passes for 290 yards in last week’s 17-3 victory over Indianapolis, needs 200 yards to become the third player in NFL history to pass for 40,000 yards. He would join Fran Tarkenton (47,003 yards) and John Unitas (40,239).
The Houston defense, however, has been effective against some of the league’s best passers. Only two quarterbacks, Boomer Esiason and Mark Malone, have completed more than 50% of their passes against the Oilers, who have allowed an overall completion rate of 44%.
In limiting Cleveland’s Bernie Kosar, who had thrown for more than 400 yards in two of his previous three games, to 172 yards and a 39% completion rate, the Oilers were led by linemen Ray Childress and William Fuller, safety Jeff Donaldson and linebacker John Grimsley.
The San Diego offense isn’t in the best condition. Its top blocker, tackle Jim Lachey, is unlikely to play because of a pulled hamstring. Lachey may be available for reserve duty, but his starting job probably will go to Ken Dallafior.
Indicative of the Chargers’ offensive problems this season, Wes Chandler became the first San Diego wide receiver this season to surpass 100 yards in a game when he caught 5 passes for 110 yards last week.
The club’s and the American Football Conference’s leading receiver is running back Gary Anderson, who has 69 catches for 696 yards and 6 touchdowns.