CHARGER NOTEBOOK / T.J. SIMERS : Jefferson’s Rapid Progress Impresses Ross

They are not wearing shoulder pads yet, and the defensive backs have been instructed not to make contact with the receivers in mini-camp, but no matter, Shawn Jefferson is emerging as a key performer in the Chargers’ attack.

Last year, fans couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about when General Manager Bobby Beathard held out for Jefferson, the Oilers’ ninth-round pick, when it came time to trade away Lee Williams. Beathard liked Jefferson, but upon arrival, the coaching staff did not.

Jefferson caught a dozen passes for 125 yards with one touchdown, but spent much of the time on the sideline.

Beathard to the rescue: He got rid of the coaching staff, and now Jerry Sullivan, newly hired wide receiver coach, has dedicated his time to prepping Jefferson for action.

“We started working together Feb. 8 and have kept at it every day since,” Jefferson said. “The main difference now is that I know what’s going on. I still had that (Houston) run-and-shoot on my mind, and that hindered me. It’s like I’m in school now and I’m learning.”

Jefferson’s improvement has delighted the front office and has become a regular topic of conversation in Coach Bobby Ross’ press conferences.

“I’m really pleased with Shawn,” Ross said. “I’ll tell you what, he has been good the whole time. He’s catching everything consistently, running excellent routes, and he knows what he’s doing. You have got to feel a lot better about things what with his development.”

Anthony Miller remains on crutches while recovering from knee surgery, and Nate Lewis went down Saturday with a quadriceps muscle strain. But Jefferson continues to catch everything thrown his way.

“Last year when I dropped balls, I didn’t know what I was supposed to be doing,” Jefferson said. “When you’re not clear about things, you think, ‘Damn, what am I supposed to be doing?’ And then, bam, the ball is there.

“There was a time when my confidence was down last year, but I’ve made a commitment to work. I’ve been in the weight room working my butt off, I go hard in every practice and I’ll do anything I can to show them that I do belong.

“You know when people talk about me doing well, that’s fine and dandy, but it’s like the coach says, ‘Don’t let it go to my head.’ Now that people are saying nice things, I have to keep them saying it.”

Running back Leon Brown, a free agent from Temple, participated in the first day of mini-camp and then disappeared.

“I haven’t seen him,” Ross said. “He just went.”

Linebacker Henry Rolling also remains lost. Rolling telephoned Ross to say he would report to mini-camp Friday, but he has yet to make an appearance.