Butts Says the Chargers Need a Take-Charge Guy

Marion Butts is looking for a few good men. Even one.

The Charger running back says the team won’t break out of its pattern of frustrating near-misses until the players take it upon themselves to do so, and a leader emerges to take charge.

“We have to go out as a team and excel,” he said after Sunday’s 13-10 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Butts gained 63 yards on eight carries, most of them on a 44-yard run that helped set up the Chargers’ only touchdown in the second quarter. Butts and Rod Bernstine (78 yards rushing) helped the Chargers average nearly seven yards per carry, only to see the offense sputter inside the 20.

“The coaches are doing a helluva job of motivating us; they’re staying up 24 hours a night getting prepared,” Butts said. “We have a tremendous amount of ability on this team, speed everywhere, four running backs who could basically be stars. We have to believe we can win.

“We have the coaches as leaders but they can only do so much. We need a player as a leader, a role model, one of the vets to step up. We need someone to say, ‘We’re not gonna take it anymore.’ We need someone to look up to.”

Butts, who ranked among NFL rushing leaders with 1,225 yards last year but held out most of the preseason, said he might not be the man for the job. “I don’t know. It might have to be a veteran,” he said. “I can’t really explain it. If I could we’d be 3-0.”