Defense Spoils McGwire’s Homecoming

The last time Dan McGwire played in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, he had a game to remember--completing 32 of 53 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns against the No. 3-ranked Miami Hurricanes.

That game, Dec. 1, 1990, nationally televised and McGwire’s last as a collegian, helped propel the former San Diego State star into the NFL as the Seattle Seahawks’ first-round selection.

McGwire reappeared Sunday, almost two years later, when Seattle starter Kelly Stouffer was knocked out of the game with a separated shoulder. This time, the performance was less memorable.

“I didn’t play well,” McGwire acknowledged after the Seahawks’ 17-6 loss to the Chargers.

McGwire’s percentage wasn’t bad. He completed 12 of 21 passes, but he threw for 70 yards and suffered three interceptions. In his senior year at SDSU, McGwire used to throw for 70 yards in one bomb to Patrick Rowe. In 11 games, McGwire surpassed 300 yards eight times and 500 yards once.

But the circumstances are much different now for McGwire, appearing in his second NFL game.

The defenses are more complex, the players faster and maybe the confidence level is not as high.

“I felt really familiar with the field because I’ve played here so much,” McGwire said.

McGwire entered briefly in the second quarter when Stouffer’s knee brace bent after a hit from Gary Plummer. He threw an incompletion, and handed off twice to Chris Warren for one yard.

Stouffer re-entered on the next series, but was knocked out for good two plays later on a Leslie O’Neal sack. McGwire was welcomed back by Charger cornerback Tony Blaylock, who stepped in front of Seattle receiver Louis Clark and intercepted McGwire’s sideline pass.

“It was a great defensive play,” McGwire said. “Things like that happen. He sat on the route.”

The interception on Seattle’s 31-yard line led to a Charger touchdown before halftime.

McGwire threw another interception before halftime when his Hail Mary was caught by Charger safety Stanley Richard.

In the second half, McGwire spent most of his time running for his life and throwing dump-off passes to John L. Williams. He was sacked three times.

“I’m responsible for some of the sacks,” McGwire said. “I held onto the ball too long.”

Seattle’s only serious scoring threat of the second half came via the run. Chris Warren broke loose for a 52-yarder that took the ball to the Charger 12. But the drive ended when Warren was tackled seven yards behind the line of scrimmage on a screen pass.

Louis Clark, who caught four passes, said McGwire was forced into a short passing game.

“They took away the deep pattern quite a few times,” Clark said. “They got into a Cover Two defense where the cornerback rolled up and the safety came over top. So we had to just dump the ball off.”

But Clark said there will be better days. He saw glimpses of that even in McGwire’s worst moments.

“Dan was fired up out there,” Clark said. “He took command of the huddle, got everybody focused in what we were going to do. He was in control out there. Dan’s a good leader. We have all the confidence in the world in Dan.”