CHARGERS UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / DAVE McKIBBEN : Vanhorse Expects a Challenge from Kansas City’s Offense

Charger cornerback Sean Vanhorse has played football long enough to know what the Kansas City Chiefs will do Sunday.

They will go right after the second-year player making his first NFL start at cornerback because of an right ankle injury to starter Tony Blaylock.

“Yeah, why not?” Vanhorse said Thursday. “Hey, I would.”

Is Vanhorse ready for the onslaught of passes thrown his way?

“I’m as ready as I’m going to be,” he said.

Vanhorse is no stranger to playing time or starting. He has started four games at nickel back: both Indianapolis games, Denver and Houston. In those games, he participated in the majority of plays because of three-receiver sets used by the opposition.

He is second on the team in passes defensed with eight, and he has intercepted one pass and returned it 11 yards.

But Vanhorse, who played collegiately at Howard, realizes playing right cornerback in the base defense is not the same as playing in the nickel package.

“You’re out there more alone,” he said. “When I’m in the slot, we’ve got combination coverages with the safeties.”

Charger Coach Bobby Ross said he is confident Vanhorse can handle the added responsibility.

“Sean Vanhorse has played a lot for us,” Ross said. “He’s played well for us. He’s played every bit as much as Anthony. I feel he’ll step up and do a fine job.”

Vanhorse, a Plan B acquisition from Detroit, has spent the last two seasons on Miami’ and Detroit’s injured reserve lists with a stress fracture in his foot and an ankle injury.

And now, he starts in maybe the Chargers’ biggest game in two years.

Nervous?

“It’s a big game for the organization and the team,” he said. “I’m just going to do my best, like I would any other game. I’m excited, but I’m not overly excited.”

Vanhorse said he expects Kansas City quarterback Dave Krieg to exploit the Chargers’ aggressiveness by using the play-action pass with regularity.

“That’s a big part of their passing game,” he said. “You just can’t be as aggressive on the run. You have to play your responsibility for the pass. Let the other guys play the run, if you’re going to get in on a tackle, it will be five to eight yards into the secondary.”

When the Chargers go to their nickel package, Ross said Vanhorse will return to his normal nickel position and Donald Frank will play cornerback.

Charger trainer Keoki Kamau said Blaylock came in to see him on crutches. Blaylock sprained ligaments in his ankle during practice Wednesday and Kamau said he could miss the Cleveland game on Nov. 15.

If Blaylock misses two or three games, Ross said he probably would activate rookie Marquez Pope from the injured reserve list and place Blaylock on injured reserve.

Kamau said running back Eric Bieniemy (ankle) is questionable for Sunday. Guard Eric Moten (knee) will play and should start, although Ross said backup Mike Zandofsky might see more playing time than normal.

Ross on going back to Kansas City, where he was an assistant coach for four seasons from 1978 to 1981: “I liked living there. I liked the people there. I liked the Chiefs. I thought they were a hell of an organization. They certainly treated me well. But that doesn’t underplay the importance of this game and how much we want to win.”