CHARGER NOTEBOOK : Bosses’ Comments Don’t Comfort Henning

You would think Coach Dan Henning might be relieved or pleased, or at least feel something after receiving a vote of confidence from Charger owner Alex Spanos and General Manager Bobby Beathard.

Think again.

“I didn’t receive anything,” Henning said. “What’s been in the paper didn’t come (personally) across to me.”

Spanos said this week he supports Beathard’s decision to stay with Henning throughout the 1991 season. Considering fan reaction, Spanos’ impatient track record and speculation around the country that Henning’s job might be in jeopardy, isn’t that news?

“Apparently a couple of writers went to the owner or the owner went to the writers and there was conversation,” Henning said. “I’m still in the same mode I’ve been in since I came here. The man told me I got a job to do, and I’m doing it.

“He didn’t hire Doug Henning, he hired Dan Henning. One’s a football coach and one’s a magician. I don’t think anybody expected magic. So I can’t control anything but what I’m doing, and that’s to do the best I can with what we have.”

Before Wednesday’s practice, Martin Bayless responded to reporters’ questions and said, “I’ve been told I’m the starter,” at strong safety in place of Anthony Shelton.

After practice, Henning said, “That’s not a done deal yet.

“Martin’s practicing in there right now, but Anthony did make some plays that we kind of expect that position to make. Anthony made some errors, but he’s not alone in the world.

“Since (Atlanta is) a run-and-shoot team, if they come out there and run-and-shoot, Shelton will be in the ball game.”

Defensive coordinator Ron Lynn said Bayless will start on the team’s base defense. In passing situations, Shelton will join the first unit.

Henning said the Falcons ran the ball against Kansas City two weeks ago and went to the run-and-shoot for approximately 20 plays. “The last game (against Minnesota) they raised it up some more,” Henning said, “and seeing as how we’re in last place in pass defense, I would imagine they would raise it up again.

“Martin won’t be in the ballgame if they go into the run-and-shoot right off the bat. But he may be in if they go with a three tight end offense.”

Bayless has started in 52 games for the Chargers in the past four seasons, but he lost his job to Shelton during the exhibition season. Shelton, however, was guilty of two critical errors in Sunday’s 34-14 loss to the 49ers.

“I’m still the same person I was before everything transpired,” Bayless said. “Whatever happened in the past already happened.”

There’s no denying that, and now it’s Shelton’s turn to regroup.

“It’s not like I committed a crime,” Shelton said. “If we had won the game nobody would have said anything. We lost and I’m in the spotlight, and I can take that. And I’ll be back.”

Shelton’s really not going anywhere. The Chargers have to play Shelton Sunday if the Falcons put four wide receivers on the field.

“We’re not looking to point the blame or make someone out to be the scapegoat,” Lynn said. “We’re struggling some at the safety positions, and my feeling was we needed to do something to enhance our experience. Martin gives us that.”

Wide receiver Anthony Miller leads the team with eight receptions, but he has also shown a tendency to drop the ball.

“I’m not too sure (why),” Henning said. “Every receiver drops a certain amount of passes; he’s just in a higher percentage than he’s been in the past. That’s disappointing.

“He hasn’t worked as much this year because of being injured twice. But that can’t be an excuse for a professional wide receiver, because what he has to do is put in double time when he gets back healthy.”

Miller had problems catching the ball in the second half of last season and struggled in training camp at times.

“That’s his job to catch the ball,” Henning said. “If he has a high percentage of drops that’s going to affect his next contract, too. And I know that’s important to him.

“He’ll catch them, though. He caught two big important passes the other day (against San Francisco). Two tough catches, by the way.”

Right tackle Broderick Thompson, who is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report with a strained groin muscle, said he will “most definitely” be ready to start Sunday against the Falcons.

Mark May, however, replaced Thompson in Wednesday’s practice.

“Mark May is going to practice to play there,” Henning said. “I’m basically ruling Thompson out because they don’t think he’s going to be able to practice all week. And when we come up to the game, if he hasn’t practiced, I’m not sure he’d be able to execute this game plan.”

Running back Ronnie Harmon has touched the ball an average of eight times a game, averaging 7.4 yards a carry and 10.3 yards a reception, so why not play him more? Why not have him in there on every down?

“If I thought he could hold up physically I would,” Henning said. “And then somebody would be (ticked off) because we didn’t give it to Rod Bernstine and Marion Butts. And there are some people who think we ought to give it to Eric Bieniemy.

“The (football) has four panels in it; maybe we could just slice it up.”

In a telephone conference call with reporters in San Diego, Atlanta Coach Jerry Glanville offered a ringing endorsement for former Charger quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver.

“I really like the guy,” Glanville said. “I like what’s inside him. I respect the guy for the way he goes to work, the way he studies.

“I also respect him for what he says about his ex-head coach. A lot of things happen and people go away sour, but he’s not a guy that downgrades the Chargers’ organization or his coaches.

“There aren’t many of those left. He may be out of that old Bobby Layne era. He may be the closest I get to having Bobby Layne with me.”