Extra time means extra work

Thursday, Sep 21, 2006
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Once this weekend arrives, the Chargers will take three days off to relax, reflect and reenergize themselves.  Until then, the Bolts are plugging away, taking advantage of the extended time they have to prepare for their Week 4 opponent who has gotten off to an equally hot start.

“All they have to do is go look at one reel of tape on Baltimore and I don’t need to say a word,” Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer said when asked how he’ll keep his team focused this week.  “With all the positive numbers we’ve posted defensively, Baltimore is ranked ahead of us in virtually every category.  They’re something now.  They’re going to be a real test, and we’re fortunate to get some extra time to work on them.”

The Chargers began their preparations for the Ravens on Wednesday and will have another practice Thursday before Schottenheimer dismisses his team for the weekend.  He’s challenged his team to work hard in order to sustain the momentum they’ve gained in the season’s opening weeks.

“As a team, we have to keep staying hungry and know that we’ve accomplished nothing,” quarterback Philip Rivers said.  “We’ve won two football games.  There’s a long way to go and the toughest road lies ahead.  The guys know that. We can’t get caught up in it.  It’s not a two-game season and we have some tough opponents ahead.”

Several Chargers including Rivers said that they plan to tune in Sunday when the Ravens host Cleveland.  Baltimore’s season has started much like the Chargers with two decisive wins that have included dominating defensive performances.

“Look at that roster,” wide receiver Eric Parker said.  “Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Chris McAlister, Samari Rolle and the list goes on.  They’ve got a ton of playmakers over there that can mess things up for an offense in a hurry.  Then they’ve got an offense that can grind it out and keep the ball away from you.  Playing in their place is going to be a huge challenge.  We’re going to enjoy our down time, but we’ve got to do everything we can this week to give ourselves a head start.”

In addition to getting a head start on the Ravens, Schottenheimer said that he’d also like his team to tweak a few things in the run game and in defensive coverage.  However, the extra time also gives the Chargers an opportunity to review and repeat fundamentals. 

“We’re just going to continue to work on the things that we targeted at the start of training camp and in the preseason,” Schottenheimer said.  “Right now it’s unlike getting your bye after Week 8, 9, or 10 where you have a chance to evaluate all this information on your team.  We’ll just continue to try to improve in the technical and fundamental skills that are always important to your success.  We’ve got some great challenges ahead of us and we’ll continue to work to prepare for them.”

Getting well

A handful of players sat out of Wednesday’s practice in attempt to heal up before Week 4.  Offensive tackle Leander Jordan (neck), tight end Aaron Shea (back), wide receiver Keenan McCardell (hamstring), defensive end Igor Olshansky (knee), guard Kris Dielman (hamstring), tight end Ryan Krause (hamstring) and guard Mike Goff (groin) did not participate.  Linebacker Shawne Merriman was also excused.  He’s recovering from a procedure done Monday to repair an injury to his nose.  

Schottenheimer said that he expects the majority of the group to be back on the field by next Wednesday when the team resumes it’s preparations for Baltimore.

“Igor indicated to me that he’s feeling better and Keenan says he feels very good,” Schottenheimer said.  “I would hope that no later than next Wednesday that we could get all of them back.”  

All the players that sat on Wednesday will also be off on Thursday.

No vacation for Volek

Quarterback Billy Volek is one player who won’t be hopping town this weekend.  After going through his first practice with his new team Wednesday, Volek plans to hang around Chargers Park this weekend to get a crash course in the Bolts’ offense.

“I think they’re going to give me Sunday off,” Volek said.  “I know the players get Friday, Saturday and Sunday off.  They’re taking off after tomorrow’s practice, but I need to stay here and be dedicated to this team and what they’ve got going on here.  Pretty much in the NFL you’re going to see the same blitzes, you’re still going to have the offensive terminology, but everything is different as far as calling the plays and protections and stuff like that.  I’m going to stay here and work on it.”

Schottenheimer expressed a desire for the seven-year veteran to be up to speed enough to be the number two quarterback at Baltimore, but neither party would commit to a time when that might happen.