Chargers Get an Early Start on New Season
Name tags and medical charts should be standard equipment when the Chargers, with one eye on next Tuesday’s draft, convene today for veterans’ mini-camp at the practice field adjacent to San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.
The mini-camp, which lasts through Saturday, is the first of two planned by the Chargers this spring. In late May, drafted rookies and free agents will participate. Veterans may attend, but it’s not required.
One of the goals of this week’s mini-camp, according to Coach Al Saunders, is to help four new assistant coaches familiarize themselves with the veterans.
Saunders, who replaced Don Coryell at midseason last year, has made several changes in his staff. He named Charlie Joiner receivers coach, Wayne Sevier special teams coach, Bobby Jackson running back coach and Roger Theder quarterback coach.
“This is a starting point for everyone,” Saunders said. “We are 12 weeks from the beginning of training camp. What we have in mini-camp is a coming together, a realization that the really intense part of our preparations for the season are ready to begin.
“We’ve moved the mini-camp, which we used to hold after the draft, to a new time in advance of the draft so our scouts and new coaches can make a comparative analysis.”
The other main objective of the mini-camp is to give Saunders and his coaches a chance to see how various wounded players are mending.
The defensive backfield is among the areas beset by injuries--and the mini-camp probably won’t give the coaches any new insights because few if any of the wounded will participate this week.
Among those hurt are defensive backs Danny Walters (Achilles’ tendon), John Hendy (knee and shoulder), Kenny Taylor (back), Daniel Hunter (finger), Vencie Glenn (collarbone) and Gill Byrd (groin), and defensive linemen Terry Unrein (knee) and Leslie O’Neal (knee).
On offense, those recuperating from injuries include tight end Eric Sievers (knee) wide receiver Wes Chandler (foot), and runnings backs Lionel James (ankle) and Buford McGee (knee). As always, the health of quarterback Dan Fouts, who has been injured each of the last four years, remains a paramount concern.
“Mini-camp is like an inventory for us,” Saunders said. “We want to see the state of our injured players as well as judge the strength and cardiovascular fitness of players who have been on a fitness program since February.”
Defensive coordinator Ron Lynn, beginning his second year, is approaching this mini-camp differently than he did in 1986.
“Last year, we wanted to implement a new defensive system,” he said. “This year, we are looking at where we’ve come from and where we are going, and we’re asking ourselves how do we get there?”
The Chargers last year set out to rush the passer more effectively and they set a team record with 62 sacks. However, O’Neal’s late-season injury could keep him out all this year and threatens the progress of Lynn’s defense.
The Chargers must consider strengthening nearly every area of their defense in next week’s draft.
Matters would be a lot easier if O’Neal were healthy, but Saunders and Lynn don’t want to rush his recuperation from knee surgery.
The defense is hardly the only area in a state of flux. As Fouts enters the final years of his career, the look and feel of the offense will change too.
Joiner’s retirement leaves Chandler, 31, as the senior member of Fouts’ receiving corps.
“I can remember when I was 21 or 22, full of energy and able to run all day,” Chandler said. “I could get ready for the season in three weeks’ time back then. Now it takes me an entire off-season.”
He uses mini-camp to gauge his state of readiness.
“Mini-camp determines the type of year I will have,” Chandler said. “I like to get the heaviest part of my work done before mini-camp. I’ve done some weightlifting and added some bulk. I’m up to about 193 pounds, which is seven or eight pounds above my old playing weight. The thing I haven’t been able to do (because of a nagging foot injury) is work on running pass patterns.”
A knee injury has also limited Sievers. He won’t have an active part in mini-camp, but he doesn’t downplay the camp’s importance in preparations for the new year.
“It helps everyone take stock of where they are are,” Sievers said. “It’s certainly not a meaningless exercise that interrupts the off-season. You’d be surprised how you forget some of the plays and the cadence, even though it hasn’t been that long since we ran them.”
Chandler sees this year’s mini-camp in more personal terms. After four consecutive non-winning seasons, he’s eager to see the Chargers reach the playoffs again--before his career ends.
“When you’re young, you can’t see your future,” he said, “but at this point in my life, I can’t help but see my future. I know that one day I won’t be able to come here and laugh and joke and dedicate myself to winning with the other players.
“Just being here (for mini-camp) means a heck of a lot more to me than it ever did when I was younger. I have a taste for winning and reaching the ultimate goal, the Super Bowl. . . . Only the Good Lord knows how much longer I will be able to play. As far as I am concerned, I’ll play as long as I feel I have a competitive edge.”
Veteran quarterback Ron Jaworski, released earlier this year by the Philadelphia Eagles, was given a tryout by the Chargers Thursday. General Manager Steve Ortmayer said the workout went well, but no decision will be made until after the draft on whether to sign him.
“I don’t think he wants to go somewhere where they tell him he won’t have a chance to compete,” Ortmayer said. “Our position is that Dan Fouts is our quarterback. We just wanted to familiarize ourselves with him.”
Saunders wanted to get a read on the 15-year veteran, who is believed to want a salary of $500,000. Earlier this week, Jaworski tried out with the Raiders, and he is scheduled to work out in Seattle today.