Seahawks Hobbling Into San Diego : Chargers: A team, so far unable to take advantage of others’ misfortunes, today faces Seattle--another team in transition.
The Chargers can’t say timing has not been on their side. But in each of their first five games, they have failed to take advantage of the wrecks that have lined up across from them.
Take, for instance, Seattle--their next opponent. The Seahawks come to San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium today with an historically powerful running game mired in a miserable slump.
Worse for Seattle, the Seahawks have lost both their games in the highly-partisan Kingdome. Plus, they are missing wide receiver Steve Largent (elbow) and linebacker Brian Bosworth (shoulder). Both are on injured reserve.
“We’re not a real good football team at this point,” said Seattle Coach Chuck Knox. For the record, they are 2-3 and tied with Kansas City, the Chargers and the Raiders for second and last in the AFC West behind Denver (4-1).
In a 20-16 loss to Kansas City at Seattle last week, the Seahawks blew a 16-3 halftime lead. Running back Curt Warner managed only one yard in seven carries. Fullback John L. Williams wasn’t much more effective. He gained 22 yards in nine rushes. Only the Jets and the pass-oriented Dolphins have gained fewer yards on the ground in the AFC than Seattle.
Nor were the Seahawks able to stop the run against Kansas City. Christian Okoye, the Chiefs’ 253-pound fullback, rumbled for 156 yards in 30 tries. It was the most yards gained by a back in an AFC game this year.
The Chargers, it appears, are getting the Seahawks at the right time. But it looked as if they were getting the Raiders at the right time in their season opener.
The Raiders had just slogged through the first winless preseason in the history of the franchise. Late reporting Marcus Allen was disgruntled and out of shape. And quarterback Jay Schroeder left the game in the first period with a shoulder injury and never returned.
Final score: Raiders 40, Chargers 14.
The next week Houston arrived in San Diego with one of the worst road records in football. They were fresh from a 38-7 shellacking in Minnesota where the Vikings had sacked their quarterback, Warren Moon, seven times.
“I don’t think anybody could be worse off than we are,” said Oiler Coach Jerry Glanville before the game.
Final score: Houston 34, Chargers 27.
The Chargers won their first game the following Sunday when they did play the worst road team in football. When the Chargers beat Kansas City, 21-6, it was the Chiefs’ eighth consecutive loss away from home and the 16th defeat in their past 18 road games.
The Chargers then outlasted Phoenix, 24-13, thanks, in large part, to the absence of the Cardinals’ leading rusher, Stump Mitchell (injury), and their best pass rusher, Freddie Joe Nunn (suspension).
Last Sunday, the Chargers caught a flat Denver Bronco team that was still trying to figure out how officials had allowed Cleveland’s Matt Bahr to kick a game-winning field goal downwind when it should have been against the wind.
But the Chargers lost, 16-10, when fourth-quarter mistakes separated them from a victory that should have been theirs. Now come the struggling Seahawks.
Predictably, Charger Coach Dan Henning prefers to talk about what his team can do to improve. “We have to be like we were against Phoenix and be up by 11 at the end,” he said. “That’s when one critical error doesn’t put you out.”
Against the Seahawks, the Chargers will be without their best all-around offensive weapon, Rod Bernstine. Bernstine, the Chargers’ leading pass receiver and third-leading rusher, injured his left knee against the Broncos and won’t play today. Diminutive rookie Dana Brinson (5-9, 167) will try to take his place.
Defensively, right cornerback Sam Seale will probably return to the starting lineup. Seale missed the Denver game with a sore shoulder. His replacement, Elvis Patterson, did not tackle well.
Even though the Seahawks have only one rushing touchdown (tied for last in the league with Miami), Henning insists it is only a matter of time before they get untracked.
“The Seahawks are a team that doesn’t change,” he said. “They aren’t trendy. They have a formula and they believe in what they do. And I don’t see a great deal of change in the scope of what they’re doing.”
Still, one rushing touchdown in five games?
“Kind of uncharacteristic,” said Charger defensive coordinator Ron Lynn.
“We just haven’t played well in the three games we’ve lost,” Knox said. “When you lose, everything you do looks stupid.”
Charger Notes
Charger Hank Ilesic’s 64-yarder last Sunday was the longest punt in the AFC this year and tied for the longest in the league with Detroit’s Jim Arnold. After three games with the Chargers, Ilesic has risen to second place in AFC punting with a gross average of 44.3. Houston’s Greg Montgomery is first at 46.0. . . . The Chargers have lost eight of their past nine games to Seattle. But the series, which started in 1977, is tied 10-10. . . . Veteran Ron Mattes has replaced Notre Dame rookie Andy Heck at left tackle for Seattle. . . . Seattle’s leading receiver, Brian Blades, has 23 catches for 375 yards. But their most efficient receiver, perhaps, is Paul Skansi. All three of Skansi’s touchdowns this year have come on third down. And 45 of Skansi’s 53 career receptions on third down have produced a first down. . . . No NFL team has tried fewer field goals than the Chargers. But Chris Bahr has made good on both of his attempts. The Chargers are second-to-last in the league in penalty yard edge. Only winless Dallas is worse. . . . The Chargers rank last in kickoff return average but first in opponent’s net punting average.