Brooks eager to turn the tide

By: JAY PARIS - Staff Writer | Thursday, November 23, 2006 9:19 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO -- It appeared the Raiders were Brooks and done.

That was the sense in the season opener, when the Chargers manhandled Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks.

Brooks was on the business end of seven of the Chargers' nine sacks, and was overmatched in the team's 27-0 loss. But he has resurfaced after missing seven games with pectoral strain, set to temper the Chargers' playoff express on Sunday afternoon at Qualcomm Stadium.

"The guy's excited about playing, he loves to play,'' Raiders coach Art Shell said. "Sometimes you see, somebody presents a face to you that's not really who they truly are. The guy is just excited about playing the game. He jumps up and down, he's excited about guys running patterns, excited about us having some success and the team was excited about it so that's what you guys saw.''

There's been little buzz about the Raiders this year, as they head for the tape of another dreadful season. On the heels of 4-12 and 5-11 pratfalls, the Raiders stand at 2-8, once again riding the AFC West caboose.

But there's hope, and he answers to Brooks.

"They are much better with him in there,'' Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "He has the experience, and I've seen stretches when he can get on fire.''

It was a fire drill gone bad for the Raiders they last time they eyed the Chargers. The offensive line put up little resistance and Brooks paid the price.

"Our group up front, even though they've been together in one spot for only a short period of time, they still have to play better,'' Shell said. "We have not done that. We've tried to do things. The guys are trying hard, and I understand that, believe me. They just have to get better.

"Even with Aaron in last week it gave us a little boost because there were times when people got free and he escaped. It kind of helps the confidence a bit when they know that even when they do miss somebody that there is a guy back there that can escape.''

That line will be compromised Sunday with left tackle Robert Gallery (elbow) and left guard Barry Sims (abdomen) not playing. So the mobility that Brooks brings could be particularly important.

"Aaron brings a lot of intangibles to the table with his ability to escape and his ability to read the defenses and make decisions that will get the ball out real quick and put us in the right protection schemes,'' Shell said.

Brooks itches to salvage a season which long ago circled the drain.

"It's in your heart and between your two shoulders,'' said Brooks, whose completed 106-of-219 passes for 1,320 yards, three touchdowns and nine interceptions. "Those are the tools that you got to use to go out and perform at the highest level.

"Even if you make mistakes, you got to go out there and it's all about performance. You got to try and play as smart as you can. At the same time, you can't get out there and second-guess yourself or doubt your skills or doubt your ability to lead a football team or play on this level."

No doubt, the Raiders are bad. But they would love upsetting the high-flying Chargers, who have won four straight but allowed at least 24 points in five consecutive games.

"We have to make sure we contain him as best we can, and if indeed he gets out of the pocket, guys that are supposed to cover had better stay in coverage or he's going to find someone and get an easy on one you,'' Schottenheimer said.

It's seldom a slam dunk when playing the Raiders ---- even with their shoddy record. An unlikely win Sunday could make what has been a disappointing season.

The Raiders nearly shocked the Chiefs last week before squandering a fourth-quarter lead in a 17-13 loss. Brooks was 13-of-22 for 179 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

"I just wanted to go out there and contribute and play my (butt) off for the coaches and my teammates and this organization to get back on track," said Brooks.

CHARGERS NOTES ---- The game against the Raiders on Sunday will be shown locally on KFMB/Channel 8 with enough tickets being sold by Thursday afternoon to erase the potential blackout. There are still some tickets available for the 1:05 p.m. kickoff. ... FS Marlon McCree (calf), LB Shaun Phillips (calf), WR Keenan McCardell (calf), DE Luis Castillo (ankle) and Jamal Williams (ankle) didn't practice on Thursday. RB Michael Turner tweaked a hamstring in the workout and wasn't able to complete it; it wasn't considered serious. All those missing work are expected to play Sunday, with the possible exception of Castillo. ... When the Logan Heights home of 13-year-old Michael Taylor Jr. burned down Monday, among the prized possessions he lost was his LaDainian Tomlinson autographed football. Tomlinson replaced it Thursday when he met the teenager after practice.

-- Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.