Chargers Give Reins to Reserve : Vlasic to Get First Start; Ortmayer Silent on Saunders’ Future
The Chargers will start little-used Mark Vlasic at quarterback in place of Mark Malone Sunday in Atlanta.
It appears Al Saunders will coach the Chargers in Atlanta, too. But Steve Ortmayer, the team’s director of football operations, stopped considerably short of giving Saunders a vote of confidence Monday in the wake of the team’s sixth consecutive loss.
“I spoke to Mr. (Alex) Spanos today,” Ortmayer said. “And we’re all disappointed. I’m sure Al (Saunders) is, too.”
Asked if he could say that Saunders will coach the Chargers for the remaining 6 games, Ortmayer said, “I’m not going to discuss that.”
Asked to respond to a published report that former Raider Coach Tom Flores was waiting in the wings to replace Saunders, Ortmayer said, “On the record, I won’t dignify that.”
For his part, Saunders said he hasn’t had time to worry about his job status. “I can’t control what I can’t control,” he said.
Saunders has 3 years remaining on his current contract.
“Those decisions are made by other people,” Saunders said. “We expected it to be rough going this year, but two-thirds of our football team (special teams and defense) is in an improvement mode. But we’re far from being a consistent offense right now. And that’s the biggest glitch in the whole thing.”
Questions about Saunders’ immediate coaching future and the decision to switch to Vlasic are directly related. The Chargers’ 13-3 loss to the Raiders on national television Sunday was their sixth in a row and marked the third time in 5 home games this season their offense has failed to score a touchdown.
Malone has started the Chargers’ last 4 games. His quarterback rating of 61.9 is the second-lowest in the AFC. Only Raider Jay Schroeder (52.8) is lower on the most recent NFL listing.
Vlasic, a fourth-round draft choice from Iowa in 1987, has never started a game in the NFL. He played briefly last year against Denver late in the season. In that game, he completed 3 of 6 passes for 8 yards with an interception.
“Nobody wants to be on the bench,” Vlasic said Monday. “We’re all here to play. I’ve been saying I’m ready to play.”
Jerry Rhome, Charger offensive coordinator, suggested the quarterback change to Saunders. But at the same time, he said he is acutely aware of how little Vlasic has played.
“I’m going to honestly say that I hope Mark Vlasic will make enough plays to overcome some of the mistakes he’ll make because of the inexperience,” Rhome said. “I think at this point, you’ve got to hope a change will rally the team. It’s time to build a game plan around him.”
That won’t be easy. Vlasic has a strong and accurate arm by NFL standards, but his mobility is a clear weakness. The Chargers re-designed their offense in the off-season to accentuate the strengths of more mobile quarterbacks such as Babe Laufenberg and Malone.
Rhome insists Vlasic’s mobility has improved. “He’s worked hard to do a better job of moving around,” Rhome said. “It’s time for the rest of the offensive guys to stand up and help him.”
The Chargers’ offense ranks 27th in the league and last in the AFC. “Unfortunately, when you don’t win and your won-lost record is not what you’d like it to be, improvement does not seem all that evident,” Saunders said.
Spectators at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium Sunday night responded to the pregame introduction of Saunders with boos.
“That’s part of the business,” Saunders said. “It goes with the territory. You win and everybody’s happy. You lose and people aren’t happy. I can understand that. I’m not happy when we don’t win. You’ve got to have thick skin.”
Charger Notes
Steve Ortmayer, Charger director of football operations, said he knew of no new developments in running back Napoleon McCallum’s reported desire to free himself of Navy obligations and join the Chargers this year.