Young players make their cases
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Saturday, Aug 30, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com
Linebacker Antwan Applewhite knew he needed a big night Friday night and knew he’d be on the field enough to make a statement. The former San Diego State star came away from Friday night’s preseason finale at San Francisco 49ers holding his head high, and for good reason.
“That’s the way to go out,” Applewhite said. “I left it all out there. Hopefully it was enough.”
Applewhite, who just completed his second training camp with the Chargers and spent time on their practice squad last season, had four tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in the Bolts’ victory. Saturday morning he’ll find out his fate.
“I came to camp in a lot better shape this year and I was so much more comfortable with the defense,” Applewhite said. “I felt like I had a strong camp. If it doesn’t work here, hopefully I did enough to earn a job somewhere.”
A majority of the Chargers’ starters watched from the sidelines as their younger players carried the load in the Bolts’ 20-17 win. The starters who were on the field played just one series before giving way to reserves and those trying to make a roster.
On a team that returns 20 starters from their 2007 squad that advanced all the way to the AFC Championship game, roster spots are at a premium. But Applewhite was not alone in his final impression.
Safety Tra Battle came away with two interceptions. Running back Marcus Thomas, the club’s fifth-round draft pick, saw his most extensive action of the preseason and led the club in rushing. Sixth-round pick DeJuan Tribble broke up a pair of passes, and seventh-round selection Cory Clark has drawn praise from Head Coach Norv Turner throughout the summer. Running back Eldra Buckley, a member of the Chargers’ practice squad last year, delivered the game-winning touchdown.
“We’ve watched all of these guys very closely for about four months now,” Turner said. “We got our young players a lot of experience and a lot of experience in interesting situations. It was good for them.”
Thomas said he’s sure to feel more sore Saturday morning than he has in a while, but he’s hopeful that the soreness is eased by good news in the afternoon.
“You work hard all summer and do everything you can,” Thomas said. “It’s a tough deal. All you can do is be confident in the work you’ve done for a while. Then you see how things play out.”
Playing safe
Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding had an opportunity to make a play on Delanie Walker when the tight end returned the a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, but Kaeding pulled up and gave Walker a free pass, which was fine with his coaches.
“Nate was doing exactly as he was coached,” Turner said.
Last December, Kaeding fractured his fibula on his plant leg when attempting to tackle a Broncos kick returner on Christmas Eve. Kaeding promises it was the circumstance, not the situation that caused him to avoid the contact.
“I’m still going to stick my nose in there and I won’t shy away from contact,” Kaeding said. “In the final preseason game, I don’t want to risk it. Some of the guys gave me a hard time about it but that’s okay.”
Plus 10
The Bolts finished the preseason with a plus-10 turnover margin after picking up four Friday night. Cletis Gordon victimized Alex Smith twice and Battle grabbed a Shaun Hill pass in the third quarter to end a scoring drive. Battle also ended the game by intercepting Hill’s Hail Mary attempt.
“We do it in practice and we do it in games,” Turner said. “Good teams take the ball away and it’s something we’ve done very well. That’s encouraging.”
The Chargers led the NFL in interceptions a year ago and racked up 11 takeaways in four preseason games this year. In 106 attempts this preseason, none of the Bolts quarterbacks threw an interception.
Celebration time
Fullback Mike Tolbert will likely celebrate making his first roster on Saturday. Friday night he got to celebrate a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. Unfortunately the celebration went a little too far as he was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, but Tolbert explained there was a meaning behind his celebration.
“My nickname is ‘Yogi’ and that was my bear dance,” Tolbert said. “I was just having a little fun.”
Tolbert caught three passes on the opening drive, including the Bolts’ first score. He didn’t see much action after that.
“I was a little disappointed I didn’t play more because I feel like I still have more to prove,” Tolbert said.
Then Tolbert was reminded that players who are going to have prominent roles in the regular season often head to the sideline early in the preseason.
“Maybe that’s a good thing then,” Tolbert said with a smile.
Night of rest
Most of the Chargers’ starters, including quarterback Philip Rivers, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, tight end Antonio Gates, wide receivers Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson, linebacker Shawne Merriman, defensive tackle Jamal Williams, cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer and safeties Eric Weddle and Clinton Hart, didn’t see any action Friday night.
Turner thought it was best to rest the group after they played nearly three full quarters just four days earlier against Seattle.
Greg Trott, Getty Images North America
Fullback Mike Tolbert didn't play long but scored his second touchdown of the preseason Friday night.
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Highlights: Chargers 20, 49ers 17Watch highlights from the Chargers 20-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. |
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Gameday: Player of the GameCB Cletis Gordon had two interceptions in Fridays 20-17 preseason win over the 49ers and is chosen as this weeks Chargers.com Player of the Game. |
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Gameday: Norv TurnerNorv Turners post game press conference following Fridays 20-17 preseason win over the 49ers. |
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