Chargers’ Pass Rush Finally Arrives

The Chargers have been waiting for their pass rush all season. The wait ended Sunday in their 17-14 victory over Seattle. The Chargers recorded a season-high four sacks, including two that set up John Carney’s game-winning 54-yard field goal.

But the names were not exactly familiar.

Inside linebacker Gary Plummer registered his first sack since 1986. Second-year safety Anthony Shelton got the first sack of his career and cornerback Donnie Elder recorded the first full sack of his six-year career. Only outside linebacker Leslie O’Neal was a familiar name--he had his fourth of the season.

But the biggest sacks belonged to Elder and Shelton.

The Seahawks faced with a second and five on their 21 when Elder came flying in to tackle Krieg for an eight-yard loss.

“We were in zone coverage,” Elder said. “I saw the rollout my way. I saw a hole there and I just filled it.”

Elder said he was not blitzing.

“If the receiver (Louis Clark) had released, I would have had to cover him,” he said. “Since he stayed in to block, I went to make something happen.”

On the next play, Shelton dropped Krieg for a three-yard loss. Like Elder, Shelton said his sack was unexpected.

“It was a safety blitz, but I couldn’t get past the guard,” Shelton said. “(Junior Seau) had a great rush. I just stood there and they flushed him to me.”

Plummer, who made a sack in the second quarter, also gave credit to Seau.

“I’m not a guy that they’re going to blitz a lot, especially when you have an inside linebacker with the pass rushing skills of Junior Seau,” Plummer said. “The saying is that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But I’ve been watching Junior Seau and I guess a bit of it rubbed off.”

Seau said Ron Lynn, defensive coordinator, deserves some credit too.

“You have to commend Ron Lynn for the adjustments that he made on the off week,” Seau said. “We planned to attack the quarterback and we got a lot of pressure on him.”

Given the Chargers’ woeful record, Bayless said blitzing Krieg made sense.

“At this point, what the hell?” Bayless said. “Why not try something different. We had to do whatever it took to win. If we had to line up 13 people on the field and blitz, and they don’t see it, it doesn’t make a difference.”

But the pressure on the quarterback was not the only thing different about the Chargers. They actually created turnovers at critical times.

The Chargers had only recovered three of their opponents’ fumbles in nine games, but they pounced on two Sunday.

The most significant fumble was forced by Billy Ray Smith and recovered by Burt Grossman with 1:18 to play in the first half--Seattle was trailing, 14-0.

Seattle fooled the Chargers on a trap play at the San Diego four and fullback John L. Williams appeared headed for the end zone until Smith dragged him down from behind at the two and stripped the ball.

“I was supposed to run up the field, but they ran a trap play, so I crossed the guard’s face,” Smith said. “I jumped on (Williams’) back and I thought I was about to get carried in the end zone. So I planted my foot and pulled him back. When I did, I was able to knock the ball out. It was a lucky play.”

But Seau didn’t think so.

“That was the big play,” Seau said. “It helped keep our momentum. Credit Billy Ray for the tackle. Not only did he make the tackle, he stripped the ball. That’s experience. Nine years of veteran experience.”

Bayless, an eight-year veteran, created the other fumble. In the second quarter with Seattle on the Charger 32, Bayless dislodged the ball from James Jones’ hand. The ball shot backward and Plummer fell on hit.

Said Plummer: “Sometimes plays just come your way. It seemed like for the last six years around here, it hasn’t been that way. But you make your own luck. And (Sunday), we did that.”