Chargers Say Only Record is Different
The Chargers may have acted like they won the Super Bowl after their 21-13 victory Sunday over the Raiders. But the celebration died down quickly Monday.
After reflecting on the their first victory, the Chargers realized they could just as easily be looking at 0-6.
“The only difference was the ability for us, offensively, defensively and on special teams, to make big plays,” said linebacker Gary Plummer. “We’ve played sounder defense the past five weeks than we played (Sunday), but we gave up the fewest number of points all season.
“One thing we have to realize is we haven’t arrived. We’re nowhere near where we need to be. You have to continually improve week after week.”
Said defensive coordinator Ron Lynn: “There was no less effort, no less enthusiasm than there’s been all season. We just came up with the big plays when we needed to.”
And the defense, for the second consecutive game, did not allow big plays. But that doesn’t mean the Raiders did not have big-play opportunities.
In the second quarter, the Chargers secondary left Tim Brown all alone, but Raiders quarterback Jay Schroeder overthrew him.
In the fourth quarter, Raiders receiver Willie Gault got behind Sammy Seale on a fly pattern, but the ball went through his hands.
“We made a couple big plays, but we lucked out a little (Sunday),” said Jim Mora, Chargers secondary coach.
Mora said the Chargers were due for a little luck.
“Every week you see dropped passes in all of the games around the league, but you never saw any by our opponents,” Mora said. “My heart was in my stomach on the Brown pass. Those were two touchdowns the Raiders had, but the ball bounced our way this time.”
The ball also bounced the Chargers way on two other occasions: interceptions by Henry Rolling and Gill Byrd fell in and out of the hands of Raiders receivers.
But Mora said the defense also is beginning to make their own breaks. Missed assignments and breakdowns in coverages are becoming less commonplace.
According to Mora, the reason is simple. Rookie free safety Stanley Richard is playing less and less like a rookie.
“If he hasn’t figured (the system) out, he’s close,” Mora said.
One play Sunday illustrated just how far Richard has come, but also how far he still needs to go. Richard came halfway across the field to breakup a certain touchdown pass to Gault. Instead of going for the ball, Richard went for Gault and was called for pass interference.
“That is just another part of his learning experience,” Mora said. “Stanley makes that play in practice every day. In fact, when I saw Stanley going over for the ball, I said, ‘That’s ours.’ ” I guarantee, he’ll make that play every time over the next 10 years.”
Plummer said the victory won’t solve all the Chargers’ problems, but it should help some players relax.
“The atmosphere in the locker room afterwards was championship-caliber,” he said. “Guys have probably put a lot of undue pressure on themselves. And then, you start pressing. That creates more errors.”
Even though wide receiver Anthony Miller continues to drop passes, General Manager Bobby Beathard said he will not trade Miller.
“We’re not interested in trading him,” Beathard said. “We want him to come back and get back to form.”
Miller did not catch a pass Sunday. Through five games, he has caught 12 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns.
“We’d like to get the ball to him some more, but if (teams) are going to double team him, we have to use him as a decoy,” Henning said.
Henning said Nate Lewis has dropped just as many passes as Miller this year. “But the expectations aren’t as high for (Lewis).”
Beathard, who spoke with some general managers Monday, said he did not expect to make a deal before today’s 1 p.m. trading deadline.
Tight end Arthur Cox is doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Rams because of a sprained arch. Cox sustained the injury in the first half Sunday.
Plummer reinjured his broken thumb Sunday when the four-inch pins in his thumb came out slightly during play. Plummer, who played with a cast Sunday, said he probably wouldn’t practice this week but expects to play against the Rams.
After going 12 for 22 for 118 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions Sunday, Chargers quarterback John Friesz is no longer the AFC’s lowest rated passer. His 61.3 rating puts him 12th out of 14 quarterbacks. New England’s Hugh Millen and Seattle’s Jeff Kemp are below Friesz.
With his two kickoff returns for 86 yards, Lewis took over the AFC lead. He is averaging 24.2 for 12 returns. Teammate Donnie Elder is second at 23.4 in 11 returns.