Players like new defensive communication system

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Saturday, Jul 26, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

When Chargers defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell learned this spring that the NFL had approved a measure to allow a defensive player to wear a communication device in his helmet, he responded with a big round of applause.

After his first day of using the new tool, Chargers linebacker Matt Wilhelm had a similar response.

“It’s pretty simple,” Wilhelm said. “It’s great because the person wearing the helmet can focus on the huddle rather than waiting and waiting and waiting to decipher a hand signal.”

Quarterbacks have used the helmet radio since 1994 and defenders seem pleased that they now have the same opportunity as the offense.

“The NFL is not just doing it to do it,” Wilhelm said. “They’re doing it for a reason. I think it will be an advantage. I think it will definitely add something to the game.”

Wilhelm and linebacker Tim Dobbins each wore helmets equipped with the radio during the first two days of training camp as Cottrell used a walkie-talkie to send in the call.

Prior to the installation of the helmet radio, someone from the sideline would use hand signals to deliver the play to the huddle.

Each team must designate one player who will wear the device. The signal caller would have to be someone who is on the field every down. That leaves Wilhelm and safety Eric Weddle as the primary candidates to wear the radio helmet.

Mixing it up

Throughout offseason coaching sessions, cornerback/safety Paul Oliver took the majority of the snaps as the third corner with the first-team nickel defense. Saturday’s morning practice featured a lot of work with the sub packages, and first-round draft pick Antoine Cason got his first crack at working with the top group.

“We’re going to mix it up throughout the camp,” Turner said. “We’re going to give a number of guys opportunities at some of those situation positions. Over the next three weeks I think we’ll get a good luck at a bunch of guys.”

While all 22 of the starting positions are essentially locked up heading into camp, there will be competition between Oliver, Cason and Cletis Gordon for playing time in the sub packages. Oliver also worked at free safety with the second-team defense Saturday.

Play of the Day

Turner said several times during the offseason that he’s excited to see second-year linebacker Jyles Tucker continue to grow. Saturday morning Tucker showed one reason why Turner has reason for optimism.

During team drills Saturday morning, Tucker fired off the line, got his hands up and picked off a pass. It was very similar to the play Shaun Phillips made against Detroit last year in which he scored his first NFL touchdown.

“(Tucker is) a good player,” Turner said. “He’s a playmaker. He’s a very, very athletic guy and he’s going to make plays.”

Tucker turned in a strong camp last summer but spent much of his rookie year on the practice squad. He was elevated to the 53-man roster in November and excelled on special teams in addition to his three-sack performance in the finale at Oakland.

Williams update

Defensive tackle Jamal Williams says he feels as good as he enters his 11^th NFL season. This offseason, Williams had both of his knees scoped and is now easing his way into camp. Both Friday and Saturday he worked with his teammates during individual drills and spent the rest of practice doing conditioning on the side.

Turner said he and his staff are going to closely watch Williams and be careful with the three-time Pro Bowler, even if there’s some resistance when it comes to practicing.

“The funny thing about Jamal is he never likes to come off the field,” Turner said. “He likes to practice. He wants to practice two-a-days. Last year, I left it up to him a little. I will probably be a little more stubborn this year in making sure that we rest him. We’ll be figuring out through our schedule and figure the days we know we don’t want him to practice.

Williams missed some time last fall due to knee and ankle injuries, but Turner is proud of the way the anchor of his defense has prepared himself.

“I believe he is getting ready to have a great year,” Turner said. “He has worked awfully hard and he has done the things like you said with the knees to get himself in the best shape he can be. We are going to limit some of the things he does. Most guys need a certain number of snaps to get ready he is not going to need as many as most but up inside I think it’s good for those guys to get some. So we will monitor what he does.”

Seeing blue

The Chargers will wear their alternate powder blue jerseys twice this season. They’ll don the alternate look when they celebrate Alumni Weekend against the Patriots on Oct. 12 and will also wear them on Thursday, Dec. 4 against Oakland.

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Players like new defensive communication system

Saturday: Norv Turner