Weddle excited about new role
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Sunday, May 04, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com
Chargers safety Eric Weddle walked into minicamp a year ago with the all the tools to be successful in the NFL and all eyes on him after the Bolts traded three draft picks to get him. About the only thing that was missing in the Utah grad was an ego.
“He got drafted high and they gave up a lot of picks for him,” safety Clinton Hart said. “Sometimes that goes to a guy’s head and he thinks he should start right away. Weddle just wanted to learn. It was refreshing.”
As year two of his professional career begins, Weddle has earned the opportunity to be a starter, and while his role may be growing, his attitude has stayed the same.
“You’re always out to prove yourself,” Weddle said following Saturday morning’s minicamp practice. “Even though I’m with the (first string) defense, I want to prove that I’m the right guy for it. You want to get better each day. I know what my coaches expect out of me and my fellow teammates. I know what to expect out of the whole system.
“I wish I would have started last year. It didn’t happen, but it’s my time now and I’m going to make the most of it.”
It’s that level of maturity along with his production as a rookie that has Hart so excited about playing next to Weddle. Hart believes that Weddle’s confident yet humble approach to the game has played a big role in his success early in his career.
“He gets it,” Hart said. “He understood what we were telling him last year and he was willing to listen. He understood what he had to do to get where he is. Now he’s getting his chance and we’re all happy for him.”
As soon as he arrived in San Diego last May, Weddle worked with the first team defense in their dime package. That role allowed him to blitz, cover tight ends, play both near the line of scrimmage and away from it making plays. It also provided him with a chance to see that he could get it done at the NFL level.
“I got a lot of time last year in situations that will help me with my confidence,” Weddle said. “I’m excited for the chance to get back out there.”
Weddle’s rookie season produced 48 tackles, a sack, six passes defensed, an interception and three tackles for loss. In the postseason, he added an interception near the goal line that proved to be a crucial play in the Bolts’ Divisional round win in Indianapolis.
“He’s shown he’s a playmaker,” Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner said. “He’s a smart guy. (Becoming a starter) is just another step in his development. He’s obviously an outstanding player. With that group, we’ve got a lot of playmakers back there.”
The Chargers led the NFL in interceptions a year ago and believe their secondary has a chance to be even better in 2008. That belief is due in part to Weddle’s increased role. Hart can’t seem to say enough good things about the second-year pro who joins him in the starting lineup.
“He has all the tools that it takes to be a good player in this league,” Hart said. “He’s going to do great. He’s going to make it easy for me back there because we talk and communicate so well. He allows me to play my game and move around. It’s good to have someone back there that you have that continuity back there.”
Weddle is at the free safety position with the first team in the Chargers’ base defense, but with his versatility, he’ll still get to do many of the things he excelled at as a rookie. This weekend when the Chargers have worked on their sub packages, Weddle has remained in his role as the dime safety with Steve Gregory working at the free safety spot.
“I’ll still be playing all the dime stuff, that linebacker spot and play fulltime safety in the base,” Weddle said. “I love it because that role allows me to do a lot of different things. It’s fun.”
Weddle will see his number of snaps increase this season and see his role change, but that simple attitude that has been so critical in his development as a player remains the same.
“It’s a mindset,” Weddle said. “You’ve got to come out here and get ready to work. It’s not like college where you can take days off. You’ve got to come out here and get better and work at it. Being a starter, you can’t just have a bad day. You can’t take anything for granted.”
Mike Nowak, Chargers.com
Eric Weddle was on the field plenty during his rookie season, but as year two of his professional career begins, he now finds himself in the starting lineup.
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