Season Ended, Saunders Charges Ahead to ’87

The morning after the Chargers’ disappointing season ended, Coach Al Saunders wasted no time beginning to prepare for next season.

“We still have to make a great many strides before we reach the level of championship play,” said Saunders. The Chargers, who lost to Cleveland, 41-17 Sunday, finished 4-12, their worst record since they were 2-12 in 1975. “. . . It’s a great challenge because I think we have a long way to go.”

Saunders said defense will be the team’s priority in the 1987 NFL college draft, with particular emphasis on cornerback and linebacker. The Chargers have the fifth pick in the first round.

Speaking at the weekly gathering of reporters in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, Saunders said he sees no immediate need for a new quarterback to replace Dan Fouts and that Gary Anderson will be utilized more as a wide receiver next season.

Saunders said possible coaching changes won’t be considered until after the holidays. As for his players, “any personnel decisions won’t be made for a long time.

“Today starts the beginning of a new year,” said Saunders, who was 3-5 since replacing Don Coryell. “Not tomorrow or two weeks down the line.”

The Charger defense ranked 23rd in the league and was often forced to go with a makeshift lineup because of injuries and players who joined the team late in training camp or after the season started. “The strongest foundation to build upon and the best way to develop a winning tradition is to begin by strengthening the defense,” Saunders said. “In order to win a championship we must play consistent offense and strong defense. In the games we didn’t have success in, our defense was not strong.”

If the Chargers were to select an offensive player in the first round, Saunders said he would want “a big, strong running back in the mold of an Eric Dickerson . . . a dominant running back like a Chuck Muncie was. A guy who can make long runs and get the yardage on third and two. You’d love to have somebody like that.”

Saunders’ overall draft philosophy: “Choose the player who is the best player available in the position of need we have.”

Saunders believes Fouts, 35, “certainly has the ability to continue as an outstanding quarterback.”

Fouts missed four games this season after missing six, three and two games in the three seasons preceding this one. This season, Fouts completed 252 of 430 passes (58.6%) for 3,031 yards and 16 touchdowns. He had 22 interceptions.

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‘We go into the season hoping he’ll be healthy for 16 games,” Saunders said. “If we continue to develop a stronger running game, hopefully it will take some of the burden off Dan in terms of the pass rush.”

Anderson, often referred to as a franchise player, will be used more as a wide receiver after leading the team in receptions with 80 for 871 yards.

“We have to assess what Gary can do best for us,” Saunders said. “And right now the thing he does best is be utilized as a wide receiver, be used as a slot man and be utilized in the backfield as somebody coming out of the backfield. He is a running back and will be used in that capacity, but his role in the offense could be accentuated more in terms of his number of pass-catching opportunities, much as Lionel James was a year before.”

Getting the ball to Anderson in the open field and keeping him healthy will be primary objectives next season.

“His ability to accelerate in the open field is his best attribute,” Saunders said “. . . Gary is 183 pounds. The thing that concerns us about Gary is the down-after-down pounding you have to take as a running back. He played most of the season, in one way or another, beat up.”

While the training room was a busy place for the injury-riddled Chargers during the season, the weight room will be a busy place during the off-season.

Charger strength coach Phil Tyne and Saunders will work on an off-season program that begins Feb. 1. Saunders will outline off-season training plans for the players during meetings early this week.

“Conditioning and strength-training are two things we can get better at right now,” Saunders said. “We will put a priority on these two things during the off-season.”

The Chargers returned from Cleveland about 8:30 Sunday night. Monday’s meeting with reporters started at 8:15 a.m., because Saunders scheduled a team meeting at 9 and had individual sessions with players throughout the day. Saunders planned to meet individually with his players and their wives either Monday or today.

“Oftentimes wives are the biggest support group we have,” Saunders said. “It’s important that they understand what we expect of their husbands. It’s only appropriate that we provide them a forum.”

Charger Notes Results of the players’ vote on team honors were announced Monday. They are: running back Gary Anderson, most valuable player and offensive player of the year; linebacker Billy Ray Smith, defensive player of the year; offensive tackle Jim Lachey, lineman of the year; rookie linebacker Ty Allert, best special teams; wide receiver Charlie Joiner, most inspirational; defensive end Leslie O’Neal, rookie of the year.