Burner Turner back to bruising ways

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Tuesday, Aug 07, 2007
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

During what Head Coach Norv Turner called a very physical practice, he saw something from running back Michael Turner that Chargers fans have grown to love particularly over the past two seasons.

“Our guys have been taking care of LT pretty good but they’ve bounced Michael around a little bit,” Norv Turner said. “And he bounced them around a little bit, too.”

Fortunately for the Chargers, Michael Turner is back for a fourth season to run through and around opposing defenders. With his status as a restricted free agent, the Bolts entered the offseason unsure if they would have their 5-10, 237-pound bruiser back. After no teams were willing to meet the team’s asking price of a first and a third-round draft pick, Turner happily signed a one-year contract with the Chargers and focused in on the season.

“It’s been nice to be here with all these guys that are such good teammates, just playing with them and getting ready for what we believe is going to be a special season,” Turner said. “I haven’t really even thought about the contract situation or what went on this spring. I’ve really just been looking forward to playing.”

Norv Turner spoke highly of the work his backup running back has done in the training camp and said he’d like to see him play a bit in Sunday night’s preseason opener. While LaDainian Tomlinson spends little time on the field during the preseason, Michael Turner has benefited from his reps. He’s led the Chargers in carries in each of the previous two preseasons. He rushed 23 times for 151 yards (6.6 avg.) last year and logged 25 carries for 222 yards in 2005.

“It’s a good time for me to work with the first team and get some good things done,” Turner said. “I expect my preseason routine to be about the same this year, which is good.”

While Turner has carried the load in August, he’s also done an admirable job of providing the Chargers with a change of pace during the regular season. Last year, he rushed 80 times for 502 yards and proved to be a valuable weapon for the offense.

“Michael adds a different dimension to this team,” Tomlinson said. “He allows me to really be comfortable about my playing time. Instead of forcing myself to stay in the game when I need a break, I don’t feel bad about it. I can go out and get my breath knowing that the ball is going to continue to move up and down the field.”

With Norv Turner’s penchant for finding ways to get his playmakers involved, he’ll likely put together creative packages with his backup running back in mind. However, the head coach said Tuesday that likely won’t involve Michael Turner and Tomlinson in the backfield together.

“When you get those two guys in the backfield, someone has to block,” Turner said. “We’ve got two great lead blockers in Lorenzo (Neal) and Brandon (Manumaleuna). We’ll get enough carries for both LT and Michael.”

Tomlinson’s versatility and ability to line up in several different places could provide the Chargers an opportunity to get both he and Michael Turner on the field at the same time, which is something LT’s understudy is looking forward to.

“I think you’ll see it more on a week-to-week basis as we game plan for specific defenses,” Michael Turner said. “Right now we’re pretty much working on our base stuff. It’s been a fun camp, though. We’re all excited about what this offense can do and I know I’m going to have a role in it.”

Davis, Naanee sit

Wide receiver Craig “Buster” Davis and tight end Legedu Naanee missed Tuesday afternoon’s padded practice. Davis had missed some time with a sore knee, but Turner said it was a sore back that kept his first-round pick out of action Tuesday.

“He took a pretty good shot last Wednesday night in the back,” Turner said. “He’s practiced all the way through this last week with it. It was real tight.”

Naanee, who Turner has praised for his work ethic through the first week and a half of camp, suffered a slight strain in his groin that kept him out.

“I don’t know that he’s missed a rep (prior to today),” Turner said. “It was a combination of taking care of his groin and then he needs to just get a little bit of rest. We need to make sure he’s ready to roll on Sunday.”

Turner said that he expects both players to return to the practice field on Wednesday. On the plus side, wide receiver Kassim Osgood (hamstring) and linebacker Brandon Siler (ribs) were back on the field Tuesday.

Starters to play

Turner said that he’ll wait until as late as Saturday to make a firm decision, but he expects a majority of his starters to play roughly one quarter in Sunday’s preseason opener against the Seahawks.

Turner would like to get his first group anywhere from 15 to 18 snaps but will use caution with certain players depending on their health.

“If a guy has a little something (injury) and, from a precautionary standpoint, it’s in his best interest to limit him a little bit, we would do that,” Turner said.

Nice work

Charger fans will likely get their longest look they’ve received at backup quarterback Billy Volek Sunday night. The eight-year veteran who the Bolts acquired last September will likely receive the bulk of the snaps under center against the Seahawks. While much as been made about the solid camp Philip Rivers is having, Volek has caught the eyes of his coaches as well.

“He’s quietly having a very good camp because he doesn’t get a lot of attention,” Turner said. “I think he’s really worked hard at learning the offense and knowing what we’re trying to get done.”

Turner expects Volek to play most of the second and third quarter in Sunday’s preseason opener.

Wednesday Night Lights

The Chargers will be back under the lights Wednesday as they hold their second night practice of training camp. Prior to the padded practice, players will sign autographs for kids ages 14 and under. The autograph session will begin at approximately 6:30 PM.

Beat the Heat

As teams around the NFL and from schools across the country prepare for two-a-day preseason practices, the Chargerswill join forces with the NFL and the Gatorade Company theto lead a nationwide “Beat the Heat” campaign aimed at educating parents and football coaches about the importance of hydration in order to keep athletes safe and on the field during the annual summer sessions. This year’s Gatorade Training Camp program is part of the ongoing effort by Gatorade, the NFL and Chargersto reduce the number of preventable heat-related injuries each year.

Fans in attendance at the Chargers’ Wednesday night practice will have an opportunity to donate $1 to the the Kendrick Fincher Foundation, honoring a young athlete who succumbed to complications from heat stroke during the summer of 1995. All fans who donate $1 will receive a Gatorade squeeze bottle.

Lisa Blumenfeld, Getty Images

The Chargers held perhaps their most physical practice of training camp Wednesday afternoon, and that gave running back Michael Turner an opportunity to run hard and have some fun.

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