CHARGERS: Catching on with Bolts a blessing for Chambers

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Wednesday, August 20, 2008 12:26 AM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Chris Chambers reflects back 12 months and can't suppress a laugh.

The Chargers receiver is now playing for a Super Bowl contender, but in the summer of 2007, he was employed by a team representing the other side of the spectrum.

He was playing for the lowly Miami Dolphins, and he wasn't exactly envisioning a memorable season.

"Win a game," said Chambers, expressing amusement Tuesday as he reminisced. "Just win one game."

The Dolphins did win one game last season, and that came well after Chambers received a welcome reprieve by being traded to the Chargers in mid-October. The rare midseason NFL trade not only rescued Chambers from a dire situation, but also significantly helped the Chargers.

The acquisition removed pressure from Vincent Jackson and helped the Chargers' offense become more potent over the latter part of the season.

"We're very, very happy with how it worked out," general manager A.J. Smith said. "It was everything that we hoped and more. We felt he was an outstanding talent who could help the San Diego Chargers win and felt he was a championship-talent guy."

When the opportunity to trade for Chambers arose, Smith immediately sought Chargers coach Norv Turner for input. Turner was the offensive coordinator in Miami for two seasons (2002-03) early in Chambers' career.

Smith quizzed Turner about Chambers' character, work ethic and personality while assessing how Chambers would fit with the players in the Chargers' locker room. When Turner gave Chambers high grades in every area, Smith consummated the trade, peddling a second-round pick for Chambers, who was in the middle of his seventh NFL season.

The sudden switch from one coast to the other didn't come without challenges for Chambers. In addition to adjusting to a new area, he also was conscious that his presence would mean a reduced role for some Chargers receivers ---- not to mention adjusting to new quarterback Philip Rivers.

So he treaded lightly those first few weeks in hopes of earning the respect of his new teammates.

"I'm not the most outspoken person in the world," said Chambers, who has 440 career receptions and 47 touchdown catches. "It takes a lot for me to open up to people, especially when I've been in the same situation for seven years and been around the same people.

"I had to get used to the guys and how they respond to me and what they do in the locker room and some of the off-the-field stuff before I could go on the field and be able to produce.

"Once guys started trusting me and being around me more, it made it a lot easier. Those first few games, it was hard, probably a little harder for Philip to trust me on some of my routes. As we went on, he was able to develop some trust and gave me some opportunities to make plays last year."

Rivers said Chambers communicated well, which lessened the difficulty of the transition period.

"That is always a concern any time in the midseason when you are trying to get that type of chemistry," Rivers said. "But when he came in, with his approach, his ability, his mind-set, it made it real easy for me."

Chambers caught 35 passes in 10 regular-season games with the Chargers, before having a terrific postseason with 16 receptions in three contests. Chambers, who set a goal of reaching double digits in touchdown receptions, and Turner expect increased production with Chambers having an offseason to get acclimated.

"It's night and day," Turner said. "The benefit we had last year was he had been in the offense. Things weren't foreign to him in terms of system. That being said, this game is played by people and you react to people. I think he and Philip have a great chemistry and a great feel for each other."

The 30-year-old Chambers is signed through the 2009 season. Though he said there have been no talks about an extension, Chambers hopes to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the career. He believes he can play at a high level for another four or five seasons.

Of course, he's also aware that being on a Super Bowl contender beats wondering when Miami might win its next game.

"I feel blessed," he said, "to be in this situation at this point in my career".

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