Tucker eyes repeat team performance

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Friday, Sep 26, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

As the Chargers prepare to travel north this weekend to play the Raiders, linebacker Jyles Tucker is eying a repeat performance of his last trip to Oakland.

“A repeat performance of what we did as a team the last time we were up there,” Tucker said emphatically. “We need to come out of there with a win like we did last time. That’s all that’s on my mind.”

Charger fans don’t need their memory jogged regarding what happened during Tucker’s first trip to Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. In just his sixth game on the Bolts’ active roster, the Wake Forest product produced three sacks. He forced a fumble on one and recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown. For his efforts, Tucker was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

“It’s crossed my mind this week just because we’re playing Oakland, but I haven’t thought much about it,” Tucker said. “In this league you’re only as good as your next game. I’ve got to try to make some plays and help us win this week. My mind is on (getting to) 2-2.”

In that Week 17 match-up, the Chargers took a lead and got many of their starters off the field due to the fact that their playoff seeding was essentially wrapped up. That meant more snaps for Tucker, who took advantage of a chance to pin his ears back and chase the quarterback.

“Circumstances in games dictate those opportunities,” Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner said. “We had them backed up, we were ahead, they were throwing … so you had opportunities to get in one-on-one pass-rush situations. He’s capable of beating guys in one-on-one pass-rush situations. We see that all the time in practice.”

Things are a lot different for Tucker as he makes his second trip to Oakland. He’s now a starter, which means more snaps and greater responsibility. Last Monday, Tucker posted his first two sacks of the season in a win over the Jets and got a pat on the back from his coaches for the way he prepared.

“I thought he showed the progress you’d like to going from not having played to being the guy in Denver to now being able to really settle down and relax and play,” Turner said. “He’s much more decisive. He cut down on mental errors and played more physical.”

Prior to the Jets contest, Tucker spent a little extra time in the film room, and that preparation helped him enjoy a big night.

“I was a lot more relaxed,” Tucker said. “We needed that victory and that really got everybody focused. We were ready. We’ve had that same approach this week so hopefully we’ll have the same outcome.”

Healing up

For the second-consecutive day, the Chargers didn’t have anyone miss a portion of practice.

“Things are getting better,” Turner said.

Center Nick Hardwick is listed as questionable on the injury report as he hopes to make his first start of the season. Kris Dielman, Jeremy Newberry, LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates and Jamal Williams are all probable.

Coaches are expected to make a decision on Sunday concerning Hardwick’s availability.

Homecoming game

Turner spent two seasons as the Raiders head coach, but this weekend’s trip to the Bay Area is nostalgic to him for bigger reasons than the fact that he’s facing his former club. Turner grew up in nearby Martinez, California and always enjoys a trip home.

“I went to games in the mid 60’s in that stadium,” Turner said. “It’s always kind of special to me to think back to growing up there and my friends and all the different things. It’s a special place for me.”

As a head coach, Turner is 3-0 lifetime against the Raiders. The Chargers aim for their tenth-consecutive win over Oakland this weekend.

On the road again

Starting Sunday, the Chargers will play four of their next five games on the road. Following their trip to Oakland, they travel to the East Coast for a Week 5 game in Miami. The Bolts return home for a week before heading to Buffalo in Week 7. Rather than flying back to San Diego after facing the Bills, the Chargers will fly to London for a week to prepare to face the Saints at Wembley Stadium.

In the next five weeks, the Chargers will travel a total of approximately 19,000 miles.

Top crew

CBS’s number-one broadcast crew featuring Jim Nance and Phil Simms will announce Sunday’s Chargers game.

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