Carrington Gives Special Treatment : NFL: Charger would rather get noticed for his play at safety.

One highlight of the Chargers’ two-game surge has been their special teams’ play, and one highlight of special teams has been the play of Darren Carrington.

The third-year man out of Northern Arizona University by way of the Bronx, N.Y., has become the leader on coverage of kickoffs and punts, and the special teams coach says Carrington’s attitude has rubbed off.

Carrington leads the Chargers in special teams tackles--by far--with 13, including 10 solos, and his blocking on kickoff returns has helped the Chargers build the best return average in the NFL. He threw a key block in helping Nate Lewis spring a 95-yard kickoff return last weekend against New Orleans.

Carrington, a Plan B signee who was waived by the Chargers this summer but re-signed the next day, now returns to his hometown for Sunday’s game against the Jets (6-5) one of the acknowledged leaders of special teams. He is one of the Chargers’ least-known players making some of their biggest plays.

All of that is nice, but at this stage in his career he’d rather be known for his play at safety than strictly on special teams.

“I make the most of it,” he said before a recent practice. “I’d like to get out there (in the secondary), make a nice play, maybe a nice pick (interception), take it to the house for the family.”

Carrington sees some rare action at safety in nickel defenses, but the Chargers clearly prize him for his special teams role.

“He’s really somebody I’m happy with right now,” said special teams coach Larry Pasquale. “He’s definitely a factor on special teams, and he’s good on a wide variety of teams.”

Carrington’s signing filled the void created by Lester Lyles, who played a similar role last year but was left unprotected and left the team.

“He’s playing the same position Lester played last year,” Pasquale said, “and he’s really helping us out. He’s the kind of guy we lean on a little bit.

“He’s got the attitude you like for special teams. He’s a player who understands how important (special teams play) is. I don’t care what they tell me, it’s what they do . And what he does tells me he’s very focused. He’s very communicative during a game. He’s a good source of information to the coaches coming off the field, and he’s usually reliable.”

Carrington even takes film home to study opposing special teams. But he said on Sundays, special teams play is more an attitude than an intellectual exercise.

“You pick up little things here or there (off film) but most of it is attitude,” he said. “You kind of free-wheel, like when you were a kid, drawing up plays on the sidewalk. It’s a little more structured but you can relate it to that.”

While biding his time for a shot at defensive back, Carrington said special teams is a way to show he can play and show he can maintain a positive approach.

“I’ve got to, that’s how I am,” he said. “Things are not going picture perfect for me in my career as a safety. I’d like to be a part of more, but this is all I’ve got right now.”

In fact, Carrington is looking for improvement in some special teams performance.

“Our return team is doing a lot better than our coverage,” he said. “I’d like to cover more big plays, maybe block some punts.”