Quarterback Vlasic Sees First Charger Action at Bitter End
The Chargers, whose lost season was lost for good in the snow of Denver Sunday, finally returned home Monday, though not many took notice.
Not even a handful of fans was on hand when the team arrived at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, though there was one in an Iowa Hawkeye jacket there waiting to congratulate Mark Vlasic.
Sunday, Vlasic had seen his first action in a National Football League game, coming in at quarterback in the fourth quarter of the Chargers’ 24-0 loss to the Broncos.
Vlasic completed 3 of 6 passes for 8 yards and had 1 pass intercepted, but as far as he was concerned, at least it was a start.
“I was just happy to get in,” Vlasic said. “I was hoping it would be the other way around with us leading, but that didn’t work out.
“I didn’t expect to play right away this year, but you can only learn so much on the bench watching. The experience I got Sunday was helpful.”
Vlasic, who was the Chargers’ fourth-round pick in the 1987 draft, will spend the winter in San Diego instead of going back to his hometown of Monaca, Pa.
“Mark will get a chance to work out here this off-season and that will help him,” Charger Coach Al Saunders said. “He’s a young guy with a lot of talent and we have great hopes for him.”
Currently, the Chargers’ quarterback situation could be termed shaky at best, as Dan Fouts struggled late in the season and missed the Denver game because of a torn rotator cuff.
“As far as our quarterback situation is concerned, I think the most important thing we have to do is determine Dan’s health,” Saunders said. “Then we can go from there.”
If for some reason Fouts is unable to play next season, Mark Herrmann and Vlasic are currently next in line.
Saunders said, however, that under those circumstances the Chargers probably would pursue some help.
“Mark (Herrmann) has been backing up for us and he’s excelled in that job,” Saunders said. “Vlasic is very young and we know he has the physical talent. But as far as experience is concerned, he might be a ways away from jumping into the picture.”
Vlasic, 24, didn’t jump into the picture at Iowa until his senior season, having backed up Chuck Long, now with Detroit.
He started as a senior and Iowa went 9-3. Vlasic was the most valuable player of last year’s Holiday Bowl when Iowa beat San Diego State, 39-38.
Vlasic plans to attend the Holiday Bowl Wednesday night to see his former teammates play Wyoming.
“After that,” he said, “it will just be time to start getting ready for next year.”
Charger Notes
Time and again this season, Coach Al Saunders mentioned that the Chargers just couldn’t afford to make mistakes. But, they continued to make them, turning the ball over 43 times (tied with Buffalo for the most in the AFC) and had a minus-15 turnover ratio, the worst in the conference. . . . Some other final numbers: The Chargers were 11th in the AFC in total offense and 9th in total defense. They were last in the AFC in rushing offense and 27th in the NFL, ahead of only Atlanta. . . . In their final eight games, the Charger offense produced only seven touchdowns. The defense scored two touchdowns and had two safeties. . . . Saunders said he will soon meet with his coaches to begin discussion of changes the team will attempt to make for next season.