Cesaire the backup is better than Cesaire the starter

Wednesday, Nov 01, 2006
By Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

The Jacques Cesaire of 2006, the one playing a backup role, is playing better than the Jacques Cesaire of 2004, the one that started at defensive end on the Chargers’ 2004 AFC West championship team.

That may sound incongruous, but the fourth-year veteran from Southern Connecticut State agrees with the assessment.

“Definitely, I’m a better player,“ Cesaire said following Monday’s practice, a day after his forced fumble was a key play in the Chargers’ 38-24 win over the St. Louis Rams. “There are different things I’ve worked on in the offseason as far as pass-rush leverage, getting my body fat down and getting in better shape. You always have to get better every year.”

Cesaire made the Chargers’ roster in 2003 as an undrafted free agent and moved into the starting lineup in 2004 opposite defensive end Igor Olshansky, a rookie that season. But the Chargers drafted Luis Castillo in the first round of 2005 and the rookie from Northwestern emerged as a starter in place of Cesaire.

In other NFL locker rooms, a player in Cesaire’s situation might have been counting the days until he could jump to another team. But Cesaire not only accepted his backup role in 2005, he signed a five-year contract extension in 2006 despite playing behind two younger starters.

“I believe in this team and this organization,” Cesaire said. “We’re brothers on this team and we root for each other. If Igor or Lou or Jamal makes a big play, we’re all laughing and high-fiving. We know how hard we work and when one of us makes a good play, we all feel good. We want to win a Super Bowl. That’s how it is here. On other teams, guys might not want to accept their role. They have a bad locker room and you can see it on the field.”

But a funny thing happened to Cesaire on his way to a backup role. He finds himself rotating into the game for just about as many snaps as the starters. All he lacks is the title of a starter. Plus, he has started three of the 5-2 Chargers’ seven games this year while Olshansky has been injured. He started five games in 2005.

“My body feels like I’ve played a whole game on Monday and Tuesday,” Cesaire said. “Our D-line coach (Wayne Nunnely) tells us to prepare like we’re a starter and expect to play the whole game. Our starters can’t be in there for every snap, and me, D Rob (Derreck Robinson) and Ryon (Bingham) know we’ve got to be ready.”

Cesaire’s versatility allows him to fill in at either end position behind Castillo and Olshansky as well as come in as a backup nose guard for Williams, although he is shy of 300 pounds as a 6-foot-4, 295-pounder.

“He’s a ‘Jacques of all trades,’ ” said Williams, the Chargers’ Pro Bowl nose tackle. “He’s one of the most reliable guys out here because you can count on him as an end or a nose guard. He works hard and it pays off on the field.”

Cesaire was even willing to share credit for his forced fumble against the Rams that free safety Marlon McCree picked up and returned 79 yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead while reversing the game’s momentum back to the Chargers.

Cesaire was given credit during Sunday’s game, but Cesaire said on Monday that he and Williams sandwiched Rams running back Stephen Davis to force the fumble.

“I have to give Jamal credit … ” said Cesaire.

But before he finished his thought, Williams countered from nearby in the locker room, “Give Jacques the credit. He needs the stats.”

Cesaire also tipped a pass in the second quarter that was nearly intercepted by rookie cornerback Antonio Cromartie. He had three tackles for the game -- in the Chargers’ defensive scheme, the defensive linemen tie up offensive linemen to funnel tackles to the linebackers -- and 11for the season.

“Jacques did a really solid job for us,” Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “Those are big shoes to fill, with Igor, particularly in the running defense. But Jacques has done a really solid job for us.”

Cesaire may get his fourth start on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns at Qualcomm Stadium. Olshansky is expected to be listed as questionable, although he may resume practice this week after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery following the San Francisco game.

“The type of character we have on this team, I know Lou and Igor and Jamal can get the job done,” Cesaire said. “It doesn’t make me feel bad to have a person in there in front of me doing a good job. But at the same time I have to keep my confidence up. I have to keep doing well myself in order to have confidence, regardless of whether I’m in there as a starter or a backup.”