Looking for Jacquet to shorten the field

SportsLine.com report
Sept. 6, 2000

Short fields?

The Chargers could use a few. That's why, for this struggling offense, the return of punt returner of Nate Jacquet will be critical Sunday when the team faces the visiting New Orleans Saints.

Jacquet was acquired from the Dolphins to give the return a game a lift.

But he was out last week, for the opener in Oakland. And, predictably, the Chargers had trouble moving the ball, or finding the end zone in a 9-6 loss.

Jacquet had a sore Achilles' tendon and couldn't go last Sunday. But he's been practicing this week and looks good to go.

STRUGGLING, BUT NEVER SHY: None too soon, apparently, because Ryan Leaf has pleaded with the coaches to open up the offense. Coach Mike Riley, to some degree, agrees.

But Leaf has to prove he can handle a rush without getting some help from running backs staying back to chip block, or tight ends hanging around to make sure Leaf doesn't get planted. One would think a quarterback coming off a four-turnover game wouldn't have much to say about opening up the offense.

But that's Leaf. He's still confident, despite these ugly numbers in 11 NFL games: two touchdown passes, 23 turnovers (18 interceptions).

Mixed emotions

Sept. 4, 2000

Coach Mike Riley was both discouraged and upbeat one day after dropping a 9-6 game to Oakland on Sunday.

Discouraged because the Chargers squandered a great defensive effort. Why?

Because their offense -- for this day -- stunk.

So where to go from here? Well, for openers, Ryan Leaf is in no danger of losing his job. Never mind he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble, giving him 23 turnovers in 11 NFL games.

Just as bad was the running game. The Chargers swore it would be better than last year, when they averaged a league-low 3 yards per carry. Against the Raiders, the Chargers could manage only a 2.7-yard average.

SOME PRODUCTION: Robert Chancey, getting his second NFL start, collected 74 yards on 23 carries. That's an upgrade over last year's effort.

Still, that's not good enough for a team that wants to establish a running game to take the pressure off a developing quarterback. Chancey could be pressed for the starting job this week if Jermaine Fazande's sore ankle continues to improve.

If Fazande is fit, there's a chance he will be the big back for Sunday's game against the Saints. It's either or, as the Chargers won't carry both backs on their game-day roster.