Front seven magnificent even with the backups in

By: MICHAEL KLITZING - Staff Writer | Sunday, November 5, 2006 8:53 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Although its members have been dropping like flies, the Chargers' defensive front seven proved Sunday afternoon it isn't about to drop its lofty standards.

Two more of its key members were injured Sunday, but the group allowed the Chargers to hang around long enough for the offense to stir from its slumber in a 32-25 victory over the Cleveland Browns at Qualcomm Stadium.

"They did a tremendous job keeping us in the game," said Chargers tight end Antonio Gates.

Especially given the circumstances.

The Chargers' top two pass rushing linebackers ---- Shawne Merriman (steroids suspension) and Shaun Phillips (calf injury) ---- were inactive. But the adversity didn't stop there.

Mainstay inside linebacker Donnie Edwards went down with a hip pointer after a second-quarter interception, and defensive end Luis Castillo left with an ankle injury just before the half. Both eventually returned to the game, but both missed long stretches.

"I was just like, man, how is this happening?" linebacker Randall Godfrey said. "Steve Foley gone, Shawne Merriman gone, Shaun Phillips gone, Donnie Edwards gone, Luis Castillo gone ---- can you imagine that?

"That just tells me we have some depth at those defensive positions. Guys stepped up and played well."

Filling the void against the Browns was a cadre of players who most fans probably needed a program to identify. Familiar faces Edwards and Godfrey each had a team-high nine tackles, and unheralded linebackers Carlos Polk, Marques Harris, Matt Wilhelm and Stephen Cooper each recorded at least three.

As a result, Cleveland's Reuben Droughns, coming off a 125-yard game against the Jets, was held to 36 yards on 19 carries.

Harris, filling in for Phillips, had a sack and scored the Chargers' first touchdown by diving on a Charlie Frye fumble stripped by a blitzing Godfrey.

"We practice together every week, and we know we can count on each other," Harris said. "When you're on that field, you wait for that call and you go out and do your job."

The Chargers' linemen also got into the act as Jacques Cesaire paced the pass rush with two of the five sacks on Frye. Regulars Jamal Williams (six tackles) and Igor Olshansky (five tackles) helped to disrupt Droughns.

"We took a lot of pride," Cesaire said of the performance. "(Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips) sets up a great defense for us, and we're all brothers out here. If one guy goes down, someone else comes up."

ICleveland's six trips inside the Chargers' 20-yard line produced only one touchdown ---- and that came with 2:42 left in the game.

Not bad for a patchwork crew.

"We've got guys that can play any position," Godfrey said. "When you've got young guys that are ready to play outside, inside, that's good to have. And that's what happened today."

Contact staff writer Michael Klitzing at mklitzing at nctimes.com. Comment at sports.nctimes.com.