Secondary a primary focus after falling flat

By: MICHAEL KLITZING - Staff Writer | Monday, November 13, 2006 11:53 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO -- Marlon McCree's best guess is that the minds of the Chargers secondary were still in sunny San Diego on Sunday, not chilly Cincinnati.

"I really think that we were still on West Coast time," McCree said. "I think in our heads it was still 9, 10 o'clock in the morning."

Seriously?

"I have no idea," he said.Ý"I've never seen us play that way, and that's the only thing I can think of."

Whatever the reason, the Chargers' pass defense was undeniably dreadful against the Bengals ---- even if that performance was overshadowed over by the 49-41 comeback victory.

But the facts are ugly:

> Carson Palmer passed for 440 yards and completed his first nine attempts.

> Chad Johnson racked up 260 yards receiving.

> The defensiveÝeffort dropped the Chargers from No. 8 against the pass to No. 15 through Sunday's games.

Still, the Chargers didn't seem overly concerned on Monday with the pervious day's output, chalking it up to as a momentary lapse in focus.

"I don't know who that was in the first half," McCree said, referring to the unit that was torched for 282 yards through the air before coach Marty Schottenheimer's halftime tirade snapped the players back to attention.

As the Chargers tell it, the myriad of blown coverages had less to do than getting steamrolled by superior talent and more to do with such mental mistakes as players playing out of position, not running the right calls and a general breakdown of communication.

"They're a really good offense, but at the same time, the huge plays that we gave up were all us ---- mental breakdowns," said cornerback Quentin Jammer, who deemed the secondary's mistakes easily correctable.

"I'll never say any of it was a fluke because we should never have mental breakdowns of that magnitude. But 440 is 440. We won the game, that's all that matters."

McCree alsoÝspent Monday defending himself against being labeled a dirty player. It all stemmed from his fourth-quarter hit that knocked Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh out of the game.

On the CBS telecast, analyst Dan Dierdorf referred to the play as cheap shot and said McCree led with his helmet. Replays show McCree hit Houshmandzadeh with his shoulder; a falling Houshmandzadeh then knocked his head on the knee of linebacker Randall Godfrey.

McCree was flagged for pass interference for arriving early, but not a personal foul.

Ý"I wish people would not jump to conclusions and calling me all these bad names," McCree said. "I'm not that type of player, I never have been."

Schottenheimer came out in defense of McCree even without being asked about it.

"Dan Dierdorf -- I consider him a friend and a good person, but it was a bit of a rush to judgment," Schottenheimer said. "We don't coach it that way, and certainly that young man doesn't play it that way."

Houshmandzadeh told the Associated Press: "(McCree) was just trying to make a play on the ball. He got there a little too soon. It wasn't actually his hit that hurt me. It was the fact that the linebacker (Godfrey) was coming so fast. (Godfrey) tried to jump over me but as he jumped, he kneed me in the head. It was just one of those split-second type of accidents, basically."

McCree said he wasn't sure if a fine from the league was forthcoming.

"If they decide, based on what they saw, that a fine is necessary, I'll pay the fine and move on," McCree said. "The most important thing for me is that T.J. is OK."

CHARGERS NOTES: The four Chargers injured Sunday -- WR Malcom Floyd (ankle sprain), C Nick Hardwick (ankle sprain), WR Eric Parker (neck strain) and DT Jamal Williams (toe) ---- are each expected to miss at least some practice time this week, though the team did not comment on their status for this Sunday's important game against the Denver Broncos. DE Luis Castillo (ankle) is still in a walking boot and probably also will miss some time. ... Chargers WR Keenan McCardell had a No. 94 San Diego State jersey displayed in his locker, the result of the Nevada-Las Vegas product losing his bet with LB Akbar-Gbaja Biamila, a former Aztec. San Diego State beat the Rebels 21-7 on Saturday night at Qualcomm Stadium.

-- Contact staff writer Michael Klitzing at mklitzing@nctimes.com.