CHARGERS: St. Louis edges Bolts' 'B' team

Most starters get night off against Rams

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Saturday, August 16, 2008 10:12 PM PDT ∞

Chargers running back Marcus Thomas, right, catches a pass for an 8-yard gain before being pulled down by St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long on Saturday. Photo by Jeff Roberson - Associated Press.

ST. LOUIS ---- The St. Louis Rams defeated the Chargers' "B" team on Saturday night. Barely.

It certainly didn't hurt the Rams that more than two-thirds of the Chargers' normal starters were sitting out the contest as St. Louis benefited from the good fortune to squeak out a 7-6 victory before 53,039 at the Edward Jones Dome.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who had knee surgery nearly seven months ago, joined star running back LaDainian Tomlinson in the role of spectator as the Chargers reminded everyone why preseason football is meaningless.

Need another example for how little the result matters? Consider the postgame scene: A one-point loss in the regular season in which the offense had just 203 total yards and went 1-for-10 in converting third-down situations would create an extremely frustrated look on the face of coach Norv Turner.

But on this night in which a 3-yard scoring run by the Rams' Travis Minor proved the difference, the focus was on developing young players, not fretting over the outcome.

"There are a lot of guys that probably played the most they've played in an NFL game to this point," Turner said. "I told them it's a lot different making a play compared to putting together 12 to 15 plays in a row and operating and managing the game."

Turner cited cornerbacks Cletis Gordon and Antoine Cason as players who profited. The two players started in place of Quentin Jammer (who said afterward that he is not injured) and Antonio Cromartie (out with wrist and ankle injuries) and both recorded interceptions in the opening minutes that led to two Nate Kaeding field goals.

Cason's interception occurred on the Rams' first possession, and he returned the ball 53 yards to the St. Louis 30-yard line to set up Kaeding's 27-yard field goal. Rams quarterback Marc Bulger was trying to connect with tight end Randy McMichael, but the throw was high and caromed off McMichael's left hand and into Cason's hands.

Gordon got into the act on the Rams' next offensive play. He jumped the route as Bulger looked for Drew Bennett and returned the interception 16 yards to the St. Louis 29. The Chargers again stalled on offense and Kaeding kicked a 31-yard field goal.

"They played well," Turner said of the two young corners. "Really, the first interception was being in the right spot and it was a little bit of an errant throw, similar to some of the interceptions Cromartie had last year.

"The second interception, (Gordon) read the route extremely well and he had a great break on it. Cletis made a nice play."

The two players are competing for the third cornerback spot, so picking off passes against the Rams' first unit eases concerns. Gordon said that his interception will lead to an increase in confidence while Cason graded his performance as an upgrade over his showing the previous week against Dallas.

Just eight Chargers' starters were part of Saturday's starting lineup ---- five on defense and three offensive linemen.

In addition to Rivers and Tomlinson, other offensive starters who didn't play included receivers Chris Chambers (coaches' decision) and Vincent Jackson (hamstring), left tackle Marcus McNeill (neck) and fullback Andrew Pinnock (knee) as well as the two players on the Physically Unable to Perform list ---- tight end Antonio Gates (toe) and center Nick Hardwick (foot).

Defensively, Jammer and Cromartie were joined in sitting out the contest by defensive end Luis Castillo (back), defensive tackle Jamal Williams (knees) and linebacker Shawne Merriman.

Another starter, inside linebacker Stephen Cooper, wasn't on the field at the outset as Turner chose to start Derek Smith, who is slated to start the first four games of the season while Cooper serves a suspension for violating the NFL' s steroids and related substances policy.

Cooper did make a big defensive play to frustrate the Rams in the second quarter. The Rams had fourth-and-goal from the Chargers' 2 and Bulger completed a short pass to Brian Leonard. Cooper made a terrific open-field tackle to bring Leonard down for no gain.

His defensive play meant that the Rams drove 82 yards in 17 plays over a span of 10 minutes and 12 seconds without scoring a point.

"It felt really good but at the end of the day we should have been off the field before that," Cooper said.

Notes

RB Darren Sproles was sporting an ice pack on his bruised right knee after the contest after the contest. Sproles said he bumped knees with a Rams player on a second-quarter punt return. He said he hopes to practice Monday. ... Backup OL Scott Mruczkowski said he will undergo an MRI on Sunday to determine the severity of an injury to his left foot. Mruczkowski left the Edwards Jones Dome on crutches and said he has been dealing with plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the tissue that connect the heel bone to the front of the foot) since training camp began. He's unlikely to play again this preseason.

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com. Comment at sports.nctimes.com.