CHARGER TRAINING CAMP ’87 : A BALANCING ACT : Saunders Says Trademark Aerial Attack Won’t Be Grounded, Just Augmented

LA JOLLA — Since the “Offense of the ‘80s” is fast approaching the 1990s, it’s time to change the game plan a little. Dan Fouts, Wes Chandler and Kellen Winslow, who are the final remnants of Air Coryell, will still light up the sky this season. But meticulous Al Saunders, Charger head coach, has some old ideas: ball control, defense and winning.

There was a flicker of this last season, when Saunders took over at midseason and led the Chargers to a victory over Denver, 9-3. It probably was a fluke, but Saunders points to that game, squints and says, “See, you don’t have to score in double figures to win.”

Not that the Chargers, who opened training camp here Saturday, won’t throw the football. Saunders, besides paying attention to detail, pays attention to the fans. He says he gets letters from all over the world. Most of the people suggest new pass plays that have worked pretty well on the beach or playground, and Saunders, who returns every single one with a personal note, always says: “We’ve taken what you’ve said into consideration.”

Saunders knows it’s the Charger “Offense of the ‘80s” that gets 80,000 people into the stands. He knows fans everywhere come out to see Fouts, Chandler and Winslow.

But won’t they also come out to see a winner? He thinks so. The Chargers were 4-12 last season, so Saunders and Steve Ortmayer, director of football operations, have brought in a ball control runner (Barry Redden from the Rams), a Pro Bowl linebacker (Chip Banks from the Browns) and a Super Bowl special teams coach (Wayne Sevier, who was with the Redskins in 1982).

To illustrate change, Saunders has this habit of cupping his hands together, squinting and saying: “There’s never been a scoreboard that says San Diego offense vs. Raider defense or San Diego defense vs. Raider offense. Or San Diego special teams vs. Raider special teams. It’s San Diego vs. the L.A. Raiders. You win or lose as a football team. You’ve got to create an atmosphere that everybody on this football team is just as important as everyone else--whether a guy plays one play or 70 plays.”

And the players seem to be buying it. In Saunders’ greatest personal victory thus far, more than 60 players showed up daily for recent voluntary workouts. Linebacker Billy Ray Smith is unsigned, but he was there. Quarterback Mark Herrmann is unsigned, but he was there.

“If you’re in this game long enough, you can figure out what’s going on,” linebacker Andy Hawkins said. “If certain guys are working out and the coaches are around, it may be in your best interest if you work out, too. If you’re a borderline player and you’re sitting at home, what does that make you look like?

“An idiot.”

An AFC West Champion isn’t made overnight, but the Chargers will give it the old college try.

So here they are:

The Coaches

When Al Saunders--football’s Steve Garvey--was a kid, he’d get up at 5:30 every morning. He was a nationally-ranked swimmer, and he says his daily schedule was (a) wake up, (b) swim, (c) go to school, (d) swim, (e) eat dinner, (f) swim, (g) study and (h) sleep.

Now, he basically conducts life the same way, only it’s football instead of swimming, and it’s football sometimes instead of sleeping, too.

In this, his first training camp as Charger coach, Saunders’ two-a-day practices will start at 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., whereas former Coach Don Coryell’s practice times were much closer together. This is so the players get more rest and more time to treat injuries between workouts. Also, the practices will be snappier; the players better wear their helmets at all times, and two 7-on-7 passing drills will take place simultaneously, so there’s less standing around and more repetition.

One of Saunders’ new coaches is Roger Theder, who was most recently Frank Kush’s offensive coordinator with the Arizona Outlaws and Indianapolis Colts. Theder will be the quarterback coach and will also call the plays. So does he prefer the run over the pass or vice versa?

“Since my coaching days at Stanford and at Cal, I’ve been a guy who loves to throw,” Theder says. “But I’ve just spent years with Frank Kush, who’s the opposite of that. I learned from him that you need a balance.”

If it means anything, Theder’s 1982 Cal team ran and passed for the exact same number of yards, the only time that’s ever happened in college football.

“Ahh, I planned that,” said Theder, winking. “That’s so we could speak at clinics.”

Finally, the coach to spy on is Sevier, who was the Redskins’ special teams coach when they won the Super Bowl in ’82. As far as Sevier is concerned, a bunch of players will make this team because of their ability to cover kicks and break up wedges. He says his unit will be treated like starters. In Washington, for instance, Sevier’s special teams often were announced to the crowd instead of the offense and defense. He wants that same type of pride here.

The Quarterbacks

Six quarterbacks are in camp. As long as he can stand up, Fouts is No. 1, but Theder has told Herrmann to prepare himself as a starter. The other quarterbacks are Tom Flick, Rick Neuheisel, Mark Vlasic and Mike Moroski.

“This offense is made for Mark Herrmann,” Theder says, “because it’s a quick-read, throw-on-time offense.”

The strongest arm belongs to Vlasic, a No. 4 draft pick from Iowa, but Vlasic played behind Chuck Long in college and didn’t even start his entire senior year. Flick, last season’s third-string quarterback, led the Chargers over Denver last year, but he needs to be quicker setting up and throwing. And the same can be said for Moroski, the 49ers’ third-string quarterback last season.

Finally, the quarterback to spy on is Neuheisel, the former UCLA quarterback who was last seen with the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL. Theder raves about Neuheisel’s intelligence, though Neuheisel’s height is nothing to be thrilled about. He’s listed at 6-1, but admits he’s shorter. Theder says Fouts and Herrmann are locked in, but it’s a four-way fight for the No. 3 spot, with Neuheisel and Flick the early leaders.

The Running Backs

Redden, who was acquired this summer, was the Rams’ second-leading rusher (467 yards) and receiver (28 catches) last year. He’ll probably be the Chargers’ first- and second-down back, while Gary Anderson and Lionel James will be around more on third downs and passing situations. Of course, Anderson and James are running backs/flankers/kick returners/game-breakers. Theder is dreaming of ways to get them the ball and says he’s devising an offense that will have a lot more running plays out of passing formations.

Tim Spencer is locked in at fullback, and No. 1 pick Rod Bernstine, drafted as a tight end, might play there as well if his contract hassles get settled. And don’t forget Curtis Adams.

Finally, the running back to spy on is the 5-6 1/2 James, the “Little Train” that fell off track last season. James, who set an NFL record for most all-purpose yards in 1985, messed up his ankle in the seventh week last season and never returned. Anderson was voted the team’ MVP, and James was seemingly forgotten. But the ankle has healed.

The Receivers

They could always activate their coach--recently retired Charlie Joiner--but the wide receiving corps is a mini-question mark. They’re also mini. Chandler is 6-foot, Trumaine Johnson is 6-1 and Timmie Ware is 5-10. But then there’s always Anderson, the 6-foot running back who might be the best pass catcher of them all.

Free agents Bruce Davis (5-8 from Baylor) and Al Williams (5-10 from Nevada Reno) may or may not be legitimate.

Finally, the wide receiver to spy on is Jamie Holland, the No. 7 draft pick from Ohio State who has run a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash. The Chargers liked him in preseason workouts until his agent told him to go home rather than risk injury. Saunders said the other day: “I wish Jamie were here for these workouts. It’s a shame.”

The Tight Ends

With Kellen Winslow, Pete Holohan and Eric Sievers, it’s a position of strength. But Winslow has had a serious knee injury and Sievers had knee surgery this summer. Holohan is unsigned. So who’s left? Free agent Malcolm Moore, who spent last season on injured reserve.

Finally, the tight end to spy on (if he shows up) is Bernstine, who was coveted by the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins before the draft.

The Offensive Line

Saunders wants much improvement here. The Chargers averaged just 3.3 yards per carry last season. Only New England was worse. Tackle Jim Lachey was the best lineman and tackle Jim FitzPatrick was the worst last year. But FitzPatrick, a No. 1 pick in 1986, stayed in San Diego all summer and has firmed up much of his baby fat.

Dave Levy, the offensive coordinator who’s in charge of line play, said, “There’s not a new lineman here about whom you can say, ‘He’s a hulk! He’ll make your hair stand on end!’ But, listen, line play is not about physicalness, it’s all about efficiency. It’s a skilled position. Running backs and receivers are athletes, but this is skill. You’re taking your biggest, poorest athletes with the most weight and teaching him to do something in a skilled manner.

“Listen, there are plenty of big, tough guys who can’t block anybody. The bars and gyms are full of ‘em.”

Finally, the lineman to spy on is Chuck Rogers, the 6-9, 340-pound former tuba player from Edinboro State. He’s never played football, but he’s here because he’s big and he wants to learn.

“How can you take Physics 4 when you haven’t taken Physics 1, 2 or 3?” Levy asked the other day. “Chuck’s lost 30 or 40 pounds, but he’s never played. He’s way behind in his understanding of concepts. But if he weren’t, I’d go to every weight room in America and grab ‘em all.”

Offensive Conclusion

Saunders wants to protect Fouts, pound the ball with Redden and hit Anderson and James with the big plays. Don’t be fooled. The Chargers are still going to win with offense.

Defensive Line

Leslie O’Neal, last year’s defensive rookie of the year, probably won’t be back until 1988, so it’s all up to defensive end Lee Williams (6-5 1/2, 263 pounds), nose guards Terry Unrein (6-5, 283) and Chuck Ehin (6-4 1/2, 257) and defensive end Earl Wilson (6-4, 280), who’s O’Neal’s replacement. Without O’Neal, this line will need help from the linebackers to generate a consistent pass rush.

Karl Wilson, No. 3 pick from LSU, could be a big help, but the lineman to spy on is Dee Hardison (6-4, 275), who’s a former New York Giant. Defensive coordinator Ron Lynn is currently raving about Hardison.

Linebackers

Here’s the strength of an average defense. The starters are Chip Banks (right outside) and Billy Ray Smith (left outside), while Thomas Benson and Gary Plummer are inside. Plus, there’s Woody Lowe, Andy Hawkins and Ty Allert, who were here last season. Jack Squirek, the hero of Super Bowl XVIII with the Raiders, is here. So are free agents Joe Mauntel from Eastern Kentucky and Tyrone Stowe, who is an all-East selection out of Rutgers.

Banks always wanted to play the right side, but the Browns used him on the left side, which meant he had to deal with the tight end most of the time. With the Chargers, he’s on the right and will blitz whenever he feels like it.

Finally, the linebacker to spy on is Angelo Snipes. Cut by the Redskins last season, Snipes was signed by the Chargers, who were impressed by his speed.

Defensive Backs

Always the butt of jokes, this unit could be decent if it stays healthy. Lynn says the starters currently are John Hendy and Danny Walters at cornerback with Jeff Dale at strong safety and Vencie Glenn at free safety.

Both Hendy (knee and shoulder) and Walters (Achilles’ tendon) are coming off injuries, so Lynn had to bring in reinforcements. Who? Rookie corners Louis Brock of USC and Nelson Jones of N.C. State. Plus, there’s ex-Raider Ted Watts and free agent Carl Brazley of Western Kentucky.

“We got who we could get,” Lynn said.

He also likes cornerbacks Daniel Hunter and Ken Taylor. He says cornerback Wayne Davis has been somewhat of a disappointment so far, but still has perhaps the most ability. Gill Byrd is looking more and more like a nickel back.

San Diego State’s Steve Lauter, Stanford’s Walt Harris and Arizona’s Allen Durden are longshots.

Finally, the defensive back to spy on is cornerback Leander Knight (6-1, 193), a free agent out of Montclair State in New Jersey. He was impressive in the New Jersey Generals’ training camp last year before the USFL folded, and that’s why the Chargers signed him. Lynn says he was the early surprise in preseason workouts.

Defensive Conclusions

If O’Neal were here and healthy, this defense could be dangerous. Instead, linebackers Banks and Smith will need to generate a pass rush, so the defensive backfield can improve on the 56.6 completion percentage against them. Saunders points out that between weeks 9 and 14 last season, the defense allowed the least number of yards in the league.

Kicking Game

It won’t be a picnic for Rolf and Ralf. Saunders says he didn’t like the inconsistency of placekicker Rolf Benirschke last season (16 of 25 field goal attempts), and Sevier has brought in free agents Jeff Gaffney of Virginia, Steve Jordan of USC and Vince Abbott of Cal State Fullerton.

As for punter Ralf Mojsiejenko, Sevier brought in Jeff Hayes of North Carolina, who was the Redskins’ Super Bowl punter. And there’s also Joe Prokop of Cal Poly Pomona, who has been with Green Bay. But it appears Ralf is safer than Rolf.

The kicker to spy on is Abbott. Ortmayer had him in the Raiders’ camp last year, and he nearly beat out Chris Bahr. Ortmayer then recommended him to Sevier, who worked him out this spring. Abbot made a 61-yarder, plus two 57-yarders, and Sevier said he’s a good kick-off man, too.

“That was probably the best workout I’ve seen a kid have,” Sevier said.

Overall Conclusion

Saunders had this to say last week:

“We’ve never had the feeling we could win the game in all three areas (offense, defense and special teams). If we were going to win, we’d have a great offensive showing, and we’d hold on on defense. I want to win a game stopping them on third and four and getting the ball for the offense and having them run out the clock.”

Dan, Kellen and Wes? Meet Barry Redden and Chip Banks.