Leaf in Unusual Situation Today Against Raiders

San Diego Chargers rookie quarterback Ryan Leaf will find himself in an unfamiliar position today. So will the opposing Oakland Raiders.

Leaf, who will be making his sixth NFL start, will be the more experienced quarterback on the field. With Jeff George sidelined because of a torn left groin, the Raiders will start Donald Hollas--who has two NFL starts, the latest in 1992.

The Raiders (3-2) are in the unfamiliar position of having a winning record, their first since 1995. They come into the contest on a two-game winning streak after wins at Dallas and Arizona.

The Chargers (2-3) have lost three straight and are struggling on offense. They have not scored more than 16 points in a game this season, and Leaf has completed just 45 percent of his passes while throwing nine interceptions and one touchdown.

“You turn the ball over in this league, you lose. But you can’t be scared to throw the football, you have to just go out and keep chucking it,” Leaf said. “There never has been a quarterback that succeeded in his rookie year, so it’s just growing pains.”

The Raiders also have struggled on offense, and have relied on an opportunistic defense that has returned two interceptions for touchdowns. Without George that offense could be in a lot worse shape.

Until playing three quarters at Arizona last weekend in relief of the injured George, Hollas had taken just three snaps since 1992. During that time he had been cut by three NFL teams and even had a short stint in the Arena Football League.

Hollas was 12-of-22 for 104 yards and ran for a touchdown in the win at Arizona. But he also fumbled twice. When Hollas was handed a game ball after the victory, center Barret Robbins yelled out, “Just don’t fumble it.”

Hollas hardly looks the part of an NFL player. With braces on his teeth and wire-rimmed glasses, the 30-year-old Hollas looks more like a college philosophy student.

“He’s a smart guy. He’s too smart to be a football player,” Raiders receiver Tim Brown said with a laugh. “He’s not going to bring the velocity that Jeff George has, but Donald’s a good quarterback in his own right.”

The Raiders also are banged up at running back, with Napoleon Kaufman and Harvey Williams both nursing leg injuries.

The Chargers have injury concerns of their own, especially on the left side of the offensive line. Tackle John Jackson and guard Aaron Taylor both are doubtful with knee injuries. On the right side, tackle Vaughn Parker was listed as probable with an ankle injury.

The game between AFC West foes will feature some interesting reunions:

* Greg Davis, who kicked six field goals for San Diego in a win at Oakland last season, now plays for the Raiders;

* Joe Bugel, the Chargers’ offensive line coach, was fired as Oakland’s head coach after last season;

* June Jones, the Chargers’ quarterbacks coach, was the head coach at Atlanta when George went on a sideline tirade that led to a 13-game suspension and the end of his stint with the Falcons;

* Leaf will face Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson for the first time since they battled in the Rose Bowl. Woodson had an interception in that game to help Michigan defeat Washington State.

“That’s my buddy over there, Charles, we see each other twice a year now. We kind of started a rivalry there in the Rose Bowl,” Leaf said. “Charles has got that swagger with him. You can’t make mistakes with Charles out there.”