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SAN DIEGO – Good thing Danny Bateman is nowhere to be found in San Diego this week.

The fictional linebacker from “The Replacements” would have a chance to do monumental damage.

Three red jerseys dot the field each day, including what could be the best starter-backup quarterback combination in the NFL.

Philip Rivers and Billy Volek are as established a duo as exists on the West Coast.

So why is fifth-round pick Jonathan Crompton working a handheld headset radio during some repetitions instead of flinging the ball by himself until the veterans roll into town?

“We really care. We were counting down the days until we could get here,” Billy Volek said. “It’s a great opportunity to get a head start in front of the other vets. Whenever you get (a chance to work) early, you always want to take advantage of the opportunity.”

COMPLIMENTS: Head Coach Norv Turner continues to laud Legedu Naanee, saying he looks as focused as he’s ever been.

The coaching staff will prepare Naanee to be an elite receiver no matter what the rest of the roster looks like, just as the team does with all its talents, he said.

“I just want to get Legedu ready to play. We know the more good players we have the more opportunities you have to go score points,” Turner said.

Darrell Stuckey, now wearing No. 25, has been hoarding all the plays at strong safety with Steve Gregory not expected to report until Friday. Turner gave the rookie a thumb’s up through two days of training camp.

“Stuckey’s playing well,” Turner said. “He’s playing fast. You can tell he’s put some time in since he’s been gone.”

BUFFETED: Cam Thomas relishes the food available to him at Chargers Park, where the players eat several meals each day.

Not one passes where the 6-foot-4, 335-pound defensive tackle doesn’t spot something appetizing.

“Yeah, but I’ve got to be disciplined. It’s kind of nice, but it’s hard,” Thomas said. “I’ll be sweating, just scratching my neck, like, ‘Ahh, that looks good. … Oh, I can’t eat it. No!’”

BOLTS: Richard Goodman, an undrafted receiver, wore an unmarked blue jersey and took reps at cornerback, where he made an acrobatic pass breakup covering fellow rookie free agent Jeremy Williams … Legedu Naanee gripped a pass just below the ground to secure a catch … Seyi Ajirotutu made a handful of receptions, most of which clustered near the left sideline … Bryan Walters made the biggest gainer of the day, catching a 20-yard pass from Billy Volek on a slow-developing play.