Henning Takes Aim at Charger Quarterbacks : Football: Coach is discouraged by performances of Tolliver and Friesz in loss to Rams.

Quarterback-controversy fans, take heart. You still might have something.

Charger Coach Dan Henning didn’t announce any immediate lineup changes, but there was considerable fallout from Billy Joe Tolliver’s 15-for-33, one-interception performance Monday night in a 24-3 exhibition loss to the Rams.

When Henning was asked about his quarterback situation, he didn’t mince any words.

“Based on last night, we don’t have one,” he said. “Based on the week before (against Houston), we had two outstanding ones. When you have real good ones, you don’t have that kind of drop-off.”

In the Chargers’ exhibition opener against Houston, Tolliver completed eight of 13 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions. Friesz was seven of 10 for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Although he did not give Tolliver a ringing endorsement, Henning did say Tolliver will remain No. 1 for now.

“What I saw last night didn’t change anything,” Henning said. “It just made me feel a little bit down about the position in general at this point in time.”

Henning said he might play Friesz in the first half Monday night at San Francisco and Tolliver in the second. Tolliver was given more than twice as many plays as Friesz on Monday night--46 to 22.

“We may play John in the first half or we may go by plays,” Henning said.

However he slices it, Henning appears ready to give Tolliver and Friesz equal opportunities to earn the starting job.

Friesz completed a higher percentage of passes than Tolliver, six of 13 for 70 yards, including a 79-yard pass that Anthony Miller dropped. But Henning lumped Friesz’s outing with Tolliver’s.

“I certainly wouldn’t expect them to have an erratic game like that,” he said. “I’ve seen more consistency this summer than they displayed in that game.”

After viewing films of Monday’s game, offensive coordinator Ted Tollner sounded as discouraged as Henning.

“We were disappointed in pretty much all phases, especially the pass game,” Tollner said.

Tollner said the offense was not prepared for the Rams’ eight-man defensive front, but he refused to use that as an excuse for the quarterbacks’ poor play.

“Because of what they did defensively, we made a commitment to throw the ball against that front,” he said. “We were not satisfied with the quarterback performance, with the receiver performance or with the protection performance.

“The biggest disappointment is when we did have an opportunity, when we protected and we had a receiver open, we didn’t hit him. It happened at least three times. And then a couple times, the receiver dropped the ball.”

Tollner found Miller’s drop discouraging.

“You hate to make excuses for anybody,” Tollner said. “He’s got to make that play. It happened in practice last week, the very same ball went through his hands. He’s got to get himself to the level he’s capable of.”

Tollner said he expects teams to continue daring the Chargers to pass the football.

“It was good for us to test ourself against that kind of defense,” Tollner said. “We didn’t come out very well in the test.”

Henning said the test might be over for many of the 33 players who will not make the final 47-man roster. Beginning Monday against San Francisco, Henning said he will limit experimenting with players and schemes.

“We’ll play less players and we’ll play the veterans more,” he said. “We’ll start to play more like it is the season.”

Houston General Manager Mike Holovak is expected to make another pitch for Charger holdout defensive lineman Lee Williams today. Holovak told the media in Houston that efforts to acquire Williams might now be his No. 1 priority.

Holovak has been in contact with Williams’ agent, Steve Feldman, and they reportedly have reached an understanding on a new contract for Williams should he be dealt to the Oilers.

Feldman has advised the Chargers that Williams might soon sue the team for inconsistencies in his signed contract. An immediate trade to Houston, however, would apparently stop or negate such litigation.

Sources in Houston said the Chargers have asked for the Oilers’ No. 1 pick next year and wide receiver Tony Jones or Shawn Jefferson. The Chargers also offered Williams straight up for wide receiver Haywood Jeffires, but so far Holovak has refused.

Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard said he fielded trade inquiries for Williams from Phoenix on Tuesday, but he said he received no specific offer.

The Chargers also have talked to Houston about dealing kicker Tom Whelihan to the Oilers.

The Chargers’ injury list continues to grow. Charger trainers have told Henning that linebacker Billy Ray Smith (strained knee) is 50-50 for practicing the week before the season opener.

Guard Mike Zandofsky strained his knee Monday and might not be ready for the opener. Defensive lineman George Hinkle pulled a groin and will miss some practice time. Because of some swelling in his neck, linebacker Gary Plummer might miss some practice time.