Time in the classroom has paid off for Bolts

By: STEVE SCHOLFIELD - Staff Writer | Tuesday, January 9, 2007 9:42 PM PST ∞

Marty Schottenheimer before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
BILL WECHTER Staff Photographer
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SAN DIEGO ---- A little more time in study hall has paid off for the Chargers' secondary.

Going into the season, the Chargers' secondary was considered one of the team's weakest links, having intercepted only seven passes in 2005. The defenders were ranked 28th among the NFL's 32 teams.

This year, the Chargers are 13th against the pass, and the secondary has 10 of the team's 14 interceptions. They have given up 24.1 fewer passing yards per game and recorded eight more passes defended (102) than a year ago.

In fact, as the season went along, the Chargers' secondary got better, recording eight interceptions in the last seven games.

Why the improvement?

"We are in the film room," said fifth-year cornerback Quentin Jammer.

The defensive backs meet by themselves for an extra 45 minutes of film work every Wednesday and Thursday after practice. During these sessions, the players can be brutally honest with each other; they'll go over what they should have been doing on a particular play, as well as studying opposing receivers.

"Marlon McCree started it," said Jammer. "He came in here and said it worked in Carolina, so he asked us to buy into it. And we did."

Added rookie Antonio Cromartie: "We can be pretty harsh on each other, but we just want to make sure everything is done right."

McCree, who had a chance to sign with a dozen teams, picked the Chargers because he figured the team had the best chance to reach the Super Bowl.

According to coach Marty Schottenheimer, McCree has been a wonderful addition.

"He is like having a coach on the field," Schottenheimer said. "He makes it work for us."

The other members of the Chargers' secondary ---- Jammer, Cromartie, Bhawoh Jue, Terrence Kiel, Clinton Hart, Drayton Florence and Cletis Gordon ---- all agree that McCree is the vocal leader.

"I know the value of winning," McCree said. "In Jacksonville, I had six interceptions and 85 tackles, and no one heard of me because we were 6-10. I go to Carolina, and I have three interceptions and get in the NFC championship, and I'm the hottest name in free agency.

"It's about winning. This league places a premium on winning teams."

McCree figured that if winning is so important, a little extra time looking at the opposition wouldn't hurt anyone.

"It has helped tremendously," McCree said. "And it is because all the guys have bought into it and recognize its value. If they had not all bought into it, it wouldn't have done us any good."

The soft-spoken Jammer, who finished the season with four interceptions, said the film study and the Chargers' play on the field have established a special harmony among his teammates.

"There's concentration and trust," Jammer said. "We trust each other. When we get together for the extra film study we talk about how we can help each other. We talk about how we're going to play them as opposed to how the coach wants us to play them."

After the meetings, says Jammer, there are times the defensive backs go back to position coach Brian Stewart and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and say, "We've got a better idea." Many times, their ideas are put into the game plan.

Jammer said that Cromartie has been a great addition to the team.

"He's not only going to be good, but he's going to be great," Jammer said of the 6-foot-2, 203-pound Cromartie, the Chargers' first-round draft pick out of Florida State. "As far as athletic ability, he has it. He is so physical and he's such a student of the game. When he's watching film, he's giving us tips on what the receivers are doing, and he's a rookie.

"He's definitely more than a rookie. There are a few things he needs to work on, but once he gets them, he'll be hard to beat."

McCree said the secondary's task is fairly simple.

"It is our job to cover them long enough for our pressure to get to them," he said.

That shouldn't be long at all. The Chargers led the league with 61 sacks.

-- Contact staff writer Steve Scholfield at (760) 740-3509 or stevescho@cox.net.