Winning breeds winning

Thursday, Dec 28, 2006
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Linebacker Carlos Polk can easily recall the way he felt on Sunday’s when he arrived with the Chargers in 2001.

“When I first got here, we wanted to win but didn’t always expect to win every week,” Polk said.

Six years later, it’s a completely different mindset for him and his teammates.

“When we go out on the field now, we expect to win,” Polk said.  “It’s been so much fun to be a part of change.  The front office has made so many great decisions over the last few years.  Everyone deserves credit.”

The Chargers look to wrap up their 2006 regular season by adding to the club record for victories, and they also look to cap what has been quite a three-year run for the franchise.  Charger fans have been witness to some of the best football played in the NFL over the past three seasons.  Since the start of the 2004 season, only the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots have won more games than the Chargers, who have posted a 34-13 mark over that time frame. 

Should the Bolts win Sunday and the Patriots lose to the red-hot Tennessee Titans, the Chargers would be tied with New England for the second-best mark over that time period.  

“I think this football team has continued to grow and mature,” Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer said.  “They’re getting a better understanding of the things that are absolutely necessary if you want to succeed in the NFL.  We’ve got a situation right now where we’ve gotten ourselves to the point that I feel with a certainty that there isn’t a guy out there that doesn’t believe that we’ve got an opportunity to win if we just keep playing.” 

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson echoed Polk’s feelings.  He believes a different mindset has been evident.  

“It says a lot of the way we’ve changed over the last few years,” Tomlinson said.  “It says a lot about the front office, to the coaching staff and the people that were brought in here.  I think they should be commended.”

From the moment offensive tackle Marcus McNeill arrived in San Diego, he sensed something special about his new team, something that he believes has helped him excel early in his career.

“The physical parts of the game have been challenging at times, but I think I’ve been able to overcome those because of the incredible atmosphere that I’m in,” McNeill said.  “There’s accountability and there are people who want to help you.  Those are signs of a great organization, and I think we’re all as happy as we could be to get to be a part of this one.”

McNeill practices

Three days after McNeill was forced to leave the field due to a “stinger” (neck injury), the Chargers’ rookie tackle was back on the practice field Wednesday.  He’s listed as questionable for Sunday’s game but feels confident that he’ll be able to play.

Those missing practice Thursday were defensive end Derreck Robinson (foot), guard Scott Mruczkowski (knee), defensive end Luis Castillo (ankle) and safety Bhawoh Jue (knee).  Jue is probable, Robinson doubtful and the others are all questionable. 

A good day

Merriman is now officially the NFL leader in sacks.  Officials at Elias Sports Bureau reviewed the film of Sunday’s game and determined that a second-quarter sack attributed to Jacques Cesaire should have been split between him and Merriman.  “Lights Out” now has 16 sacks on the season, a half sack more than Green Bay’s Aaron Kampman.  Merriman’s 3.5 sacks were also the most he’s ever recorded in a single game. 

Merriman’s effort Sunday also landed him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors from the NFL.  It was the second time in his career he’s received the award.  The other was following his two-sack effort against the Colts last December.

Cesaire, who has a career-high four sacks this season after the alteration, has teased Merriman about the play but is fine with the league’s ruling.  

“We’ve joked about it a little,” Cesaire said.  “I teased him about me doing the work on the play and him just finishing (Matt Hasselbeck) off.  Really, I’d love for Shawne to lead the league in sacks this season.  He works so hard.”

More milestones

Sunday provides Tomlinson with yet another opportunity to make history.  He leads the NFL with 2,243 total yards from scrimmage and needs just 128 to set a new team record.  He trails Marshall Faulk by just 187 yards for the NFL record. 

LT has a 98-yard lead over Kansas City’s Larry Johnson for the league rushing title.  Tomlinson has never led the league in rushing but doesn’t put much thought into the possibility of achieving the honor.

“As you get older, it’s all about winning championships,” Tomlinson said.  “That’s my main goal.  We haven’t even talked about (the rushing title).” 

Super talk

As growing talk about a possible February trip to Miami continues to swirl around San Diego, Schottenheimer said Wednesday that he doesn’t take issue with his players discussing the prospect.

“I think it’s hard to achieve a goal if you don’t have one,” Schottenheimer said.  “I think the other important aspect of it is that they understand that we still have quite a ways to go to reach that spot.”