SAN DIEGO -- Zero in on Shawne Merriman during the course of the football game and you'll see the intense effort, the never-ending energy, and a frenzied will to reach the opposing quarterback.

You'll also see a roadblock.

Chargers opponents are going to great lengths to make sure Merriman doesn't wreck havoc in their backfields by assigning multiple players to hinder the linebacker's path to the quarterback. He figures to again face double teams when the Chargers host the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

"What happens to you when you become a dominant player is you get a lot of attention," Chargers coach Norv Turner said on Thursday. "You get double teams and you get specific game plans. That's the nature of what it is."

Five games into the season, Merriman has three sacks.

That would qualify as a remarkable start for most NFL players. But having stats befitting a mere mortal doesn't apply to Merriman, who had 17 sacks in just 12 games last season and recently tied former Chiefs star Derrick Thomas as the second fastest player in NFL history to record 30 career sacks, reaching that figure in his 31st contest.

But what the common fan sitting at home doesn't see is all the attention opposing teams are paying him in hopes of leaving Merriman sack-less.

"Me and Norv laugh about it each and every week because he's the offensive coordinator and he knows what teams do against me and we talk about what teams would do against Lawrence Taylor and guys like that," Merriman said. "It will come. You just got to keep fighting and stay with it."

It isn't always easy for Merriman to deal with. He admits to getting annoyed by the relentless stream of facing two or three blockers.

"Hell yeah, it's frustrating," Merriman said. "Not everybody sees that. It would be great for me to go out there and get two or three sacks a game but it's not about that. Whenever you can beat a team 41-3 (like last Sunday in Denver) or however much we beat a team, the victory is way more important than getting sacks, obviously. But all that stuff will come."

Legendary defensive end Reggie White (30 sacks in his first 28 games) is the only player to reach 30 career sacks quicker than the 23-year-old Merriman. Everyone associated with the Chargers understands that facing multiple blockers comes with the territory once a player establishes himself as an elite pass rusher.

"Absolutely, and he knows that," general manager A.J. Smith said. "It makes it very, very difficult. It's a team game and that's why you have to have people all over the place. People will have their moments, they will have their games, and it shifts in the course of a season."

Merriman knows the tactics Denver used, when he was shadowed by two guys most of the contest, will continue.

"That's going to be all year," Merriman said. "I'm not surprised about that. I have to get prepared for it. We have other guys who will make plays. That's just showing me respect. I expect that for the rest of the season."

Merriman was an immediate hit as a rookie in 2005, notching 10 sacks and winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors while being voted a Pro Bowl starter.

He ratcheted things up more last season with another Pro Bowl season while finishing third in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year balloting despite missing four games due to a suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. Merriman said that he unknowingly used a tainted nutritional supplement.

Merriman's 17 sacks last season led the NFL and tied Leslie O'Neal (1992) for second most in team history, trailing only the 17 1/2 sacks Gary "Big Hands" Johnson recorded in 1980.

Based on Merriman's track record, it seems only a matter of time before he goes on an explosive run of sacks.

"He's going to get his pressures and he's going to get his sacks," Turner said. "The only thing I know is he's not the first guy that has gotten that kind of attention in terms of doubles and all that in game plans.

"He's really playing at a real high level and I think everyone were playing against acknowledges that."

Chargers notes

QB Philip Rivers and RB Michael Turner are the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week for their performances against Denver. Rivers passed for 270 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a touchdown. Turner rushed for 147 yards on 10 carries, including a 74-yard scoring run. FedEx is donating $10,000 to Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego in honor of the performances. … DT Jamal Williams (knee) was again rested and missed Thursday's practice. WR Vincent Jackson (shoulder) and ILB Brandon Siler (back) returned to practice.

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