Vlasic Puts Chargers Ahead, but Defense Can’t Hold Off Rams
Mark Vlasic--the Chargers’ newest bearded wonder--walked out into the cool night air and gave his mom and dad a hug. His mother, as mothers are known to do, asked Mark how he was feeling, and he said: “Fine, Mom. Just fine.”
The Chargers were almost hoping he’d fall down and hurt himself or something. They think Vlasic--a rookie otherwise known as The Arm--could use a season on the injured reserve list to learn the ins and outs of pro football. But he didn’t fall down, and he certainly didn’t fall on his face. Sunday night, Vlasic threw a late 48-yard pass that fell softly into the hands of rookie receiver Jamie Holland. It put the Chargers ahead by a point with 2:47 remaining.
But in the end, it was the Charger second- and third-team defense that fell on hard times. Rookie Lou Brock, who just won’t forgive himself, dropped what would have been an interception, and another rookie, Carl Brazley, was beaten on a fourth-down 20-yard pass with 45 seconds left. The Rams were in field-goal range, and kicker Mike Lansford’s 30-yarder with four seconds left was the difference, 23-21.
Vlasic, who is 6-feet 3-inches tall and weighs 206 pounds, stood tall afterward in the Charger locker room, scratching his beard. He’d never grown one before, but he picked a good time, because the Chargers sort of like bearded quarterbacks. Dan Fouts and Vlasic look similar in the face. People ask them all the time to pose for pictures together.
“They think we’re alike?” Vlasic asked. “Well, I think it’s just the beard and the skinny ankles.”
Actually, someday it might also be the arm. Vlasic, who started one season at the University of Iowa, said some pro scouts asked him last spring to throw as far as he could, and he hurled a ball 60-plus yards. It has to be true, because after the Rams went ahead with four seconds left, Vlasic threw a “Hail Mary” pass that could have brought down hail. It traveled a good 50 or so yards and fell incomplete.
Charger Coach Al Saunders wasn’t particularly pleased with Sunday’s final score, but he said: “That (the Vlasic-to-Holland touchdown) was worth the game tonight, seeing those two hook up.”
For a while, Vlasic--the third Charger quarterback of the night--wasn’t sure he’d get on the field. Starter Mark Herrmann (8 for 15, 103 yards and 2 interceptions) left the game in the second quarter with a minor chest injury, and Rick Neuheisel (7 for 12, 34 yards) played part of the second quarter, all of the third and most of the fourth.
Vlasic’s first snap came with 5:02 left in the game and the Chargers trailing, 20-14. Ram running back Gerald Harris--who didn’t do a bad Eric Dickerson imitation (31 carries for 91 yards)--had just scored the go-ahead touchdown on a five-yard run.
Vlasic’s first pass was dropped. But then he had two straight completions, including a diving third-down catch by rookie Todd Spencer. Finally, on first-and-10 from the Ram 48, he faked a handoff and threw deep.
Holland, the rookie from Ohio State who is known more for his speed than his hands, didn’t look as if he’d catch up to to the ball. But he did.
“I’ve got what you call extra turbo in my legs,” Holland said.
There were other Charger highlights, of course. How about running back Tim Spencer’s touchdown catch? With the Chargers trailing, 6-0, in the second quarter, Herrmann--who had been booed after his badly thrown passes had been intercepted--found Spencer all alone for a 32-yard scoring pass over the middle. Spencer kept waiting for a strong safety to show up, but none ever did.
How about defensive end Lee Williams’ interception? Ram starting quarterback Jim Everett tried throwing a screen pass over Williams’ head, but it didn’t make it over Williams’ arms. Williams caught the ball on the Ram 25-yard line and seemed to have an easy touchdown. But he was caught 10 yards later by Everett.
“I saw (the end zone) for a minute,” Williams said. “I think the rule is when you pick off a ball, you take it up the near sideline. But I’m not a defensive back. I just took off with it.”
Five plays later, Neuheisel hit No. 1 draft pick Rod Bernstine with an eight-yard touchdown pass. It was 14-6, Chargers, with 1:52 left in the first half.
Now, the not-necessarily-good stuff. With a little over a minute left in the half, the Chargers forced the Rams to punt, and free-agent receiver Tag Rome caught it and made a short return. But the Rams had been called for illegal man downfield, and the Chargers, after some deliberation, accepted the penalty. They punted again, but Rome muffed it, and the Rams recovered on the Charger 34-yard line with 1:00 left.
With 12 seconds left, Everett hit tight end Damone Johnson with a 10-yard touchdown pass over safety John Sullivan. That made it 14-13.
“That’s never happened to me before,” Rome said of his muffed return. “It humbled me, though. I guess I realize they can be dropped.”
The Chargers dropped back in their prevent defense after Vlasic’s touchdown pass, and Brock had an opportunity to intercept a pass by Ram quarterback Hugh Millen.
“I should have had it,” Brock mumbled afterward, sitting all alone in the corner of the locker room.
Vlasic, meanwhile, was surrounded by reporters and his offensive linemen.
“Hey, I had great protection,” Vlasic said, winking at lineman Ken Dallafior.
“Kid, I like the way you talk,” Dallafior said.
Charger Notes After Sunday’s game, Steve Ortmayer, the Charger director of football operations, resumed negotiations with George Kalafaitis, the agent for unsigned linebacker Billy Ray Smith. “I think it is (getting close),” said Smith, who visited the Charger locker room. “I’m hopeful I’ll sign.” Asked if he’d be willing to sit out the season, Smith answered: “No.” . . . Injuries: Quarterback Mark Herrmann (chest), running back Kevin Scott (hamstring), defensive back Nelson Jones (ankle), tight end Kellen Winslow (wrist) and tackle Jim Lachey (knee). None is serious. . . . In the battle of the kickers, Rolf Benirschke made all three of his extra points, and Vince Abbott’s 43-yard field goal hit the right upright.