Eric Weddle's hoping for better memories after this trip to Pittsburgh/(AP Photo)
The Chargers began their week of practice on an encouraging note, as LaDainian Tomlinson and Louis Vasquez rejoined their teammates on the field, getting ready for the biggest test of a season that has already been testing. The Pittsburgh Steelers may be 1-2, but that doesn’t have anyone fooled. The defending champs are hungry, and they’re playing at home, a place where the Chargers haven’t won a regular season game since…well, since the game was invented.
Eric Weddle is hoping to make some new memories in Pittsburgh, because his old ones aren’t much good at all. Who can forget the punt bouncing off Weddle’s head to help the Steelers hold the ball for virtually the entire 3rd quarter of the 35-24 season ending playoff loss? Not Weddle, that’s for sure:
hear more from Weddle, plus Norv Turner and Malcom Floyd, after the jump:
The Pittsburgh game is the end of a four-game opening gauntlet against some of the most physical teams in the NFL. Oakland caused the most damage, but Baltimore and Miami left their share of bumps and bruises on the Bolts as well. Now, the Steelers, a team that head coach Norv Turner says is trademarked for being not just physical, but multi-dimensional:
The thought of L.T. returning to the Chargers backfield, and Louis Vasquez returning to the offensive line, would be welcome for a team that is now one for its last eleven trips inside the red zone. Obviously the lack of a power running game has hampered San Diego near the goal line, as noted by Turner:
More of this on Sunday, please/(AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
The problem with settling for three against the Steelers is that you’re unlikely to see the ball again. Pittsburgh played keep-away with the Chargers in both of last year’s games, dominating time of possession for 73:01 over the two games. The Steelers held the ball for 36:31 in the 11-10 Week 11 victory, and for 36:30 in the 35-24 playoff win.
In order to get the Steelers off the field on third down (Pittsburgh was 13-27 last year converting 3rd downs vs. the Chargers), Eric Weddle knows the team will need to do a better job both of containing Ben Roethlisberger, and in staying on assignment in the secondary when Big Ben scrambles:
Polamalu won't be around to make fingertip interceptions or crazy batted passes this time/(AP Photo)
You won’t find any sympathy in an injury-ravaged locker room for the Steelers having lost Troy Polamalu, either. In fact, the very thought of facing Pittsburgh without their hard-hitting star safety put a little smile on Malcom Floyd’s face, the kind you see when somebody daydreams about ice cream.
With a bye week to follow, there will be added time to either savor a defining win on the road against the Super Bowl champs, or to suffer the bitter taste of being turned aside empty-handed again in Pittsburgh. These are the games the Chargers have lost mostly in the past, a game which could give Norv Turner a much needed boost in town. Naturally, Norv isn’t thinking about that, he’s got his hands full with the gameplan:
Come back later on Wednesday evening for a report from Chargers practice here on 619Sports.Net.
