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Casey Pearce, Chargers.com: It’s a saying that almost becomes cliché this time of year, but it’s a subject the Chargers are talking an awfully lot about this week.“They cause turnovers,” Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. “You look at it on film and it sticks out. It’s there. Obviously our focus is to take care of the football this week.”

In 2006, the Chicago Bears forced an NFL-best 44 turnovers en route to a 13-3 regular season. Cornerbacks Ricky Manning, Jr. and Charles Tillman had five interceptions each and 17 different defenders forced at least one fumble.

“That’s an amazing number,” Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said. “That’s going to be a big part of the game. It always is, and with both defenses, the way they get after people, the team who can take care of the ball and win the field position battle, that’s probably what it’s going to boil down to.”

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In the ‘notes’ section at the end of the article, Pearce also adds this injury report:

Wide receiver Eric Parker (toe) was the only Chargers to miss all of practice Wednesday. Running back Michael Turner (ankle) and center Cory Withrow (foot) were limited, and linebacker Anthony Waters was excused for a portion of practice due to personal reasons. Norv Turner is optimistic that his valuable backup running back will be ready to play Sunday.

“To me it’s always how you feel the next day after you work,” Turner said. “He worked pretty well. We’ll see how he responds tomorrow.”

Waters spent Tuesday with family in South Carolina due to the death of his grandmother and didn’t make it back for the start of practice.

SDUT: Chargers choose 8 for practice squad

 NCTimes: Chargers add eight to practice squad

Sun-Times: Rivera is Bearing up just fine

Sun-Times: Focusing on Rex certainly is nothing new for Rivera

Chicago Tribune: Chargers’ expectations raised

• S Tra Battle
• RB Eldra Buckley
• DE Andre Coleman
• DE Keith Grennan
• NT Louis Leonard
• OT Tony Pape
• LB Nick Roach
• LB  Jyles Tucker

Congratulations to those 8, hopefully they can continue to grow and continue the Chargers streak of finding practice squad diamonds.

Also, the Dolphins claimed Camarillo and Lekkerkerker off of waivers as Cameron continues his attempt to get every ex-Charger offensive player possible to Miami.

Look for more blitzing from San Diego’s secondary in 2007

Aug. 31, 2007

A lot of the questions in San Diego in the preseason have surrounded new defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell and just how his scheme was going to differ from the popular Wade Phillips’ system. Based on the preseason games, one way, in particular, has been just where the pressure on the quarterback is coming from — most notably the secondary. Phillips believed in relying on the front seven of the 3-4 alignment, particularly OLBs Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips, for the pass rush and playing more blanket coverage in the secondary to prevent big plays. While both Merriman and Phillips will still get plenty of cracks at getting to the quarterback, a new wrinkle to keep an eye on involves blitzing by the defensive backs, with linebackers and defensive linemen occasionally dropping back into coverage. Cottrell’s reasoning is he wants to give offenses that are so preoccupied with handling one of the best front sevens in the game something else to think about, and the team’s defensive backs couldn’t be more excited to be involved in this aspect of the defense.

QB – Philip Rivers / Billy Volek / Charlie Whitehurst

RB – LaDainian Tomlinson / Michael Turner / Darren Sproles

FB – Lorenzo Neal / Andrew Pinnock

WR – Vincent Jackson / Craig Davis / Malcom Floyd / Kassim Osgood / Eric Parker / Legedu Naanee

TE – Antonio Gates / Brandon Manumaleuna / Scott Chandler

LT – Marcus McNeill / Roman Oben

LG – Kris Dielman / Scott Mruczkowski

C – Nick Hardwick / Corey Withrow

RG – Mike Goff

RT – Shane Olivea / Jeromey Clary

DE – Igor Olshansky / Ryon Bingham

NT – Jamal Williams / Brandon McKinney

DE – Luis Castillo / Jacques Cesaire

OLB – Shawne Merriman / Carlos Polk

ILB – Matt Wilhelm / Tim Dobbins

ILB – Stephen Cooper / Anthony Waters / Brandon Siler

OLB – Shaun Phillips / Marques Harris

CB – Quentin Jammer / Paul Oliver / Cletis Gordon

CB – Drayton Florence / Antonio Cromartie

S – Marlon McCree / Steve Gregory

S – Clinton Hart / Eric Weddle

K – Nate Kaeding

P – Mike Scifres

LS – David Binn

(if any mistakes are noted – please let us know) 

Chargers release 15, place Race on IR

The Chargers waived 15 players including three veterans Saturday and placed rookie running back Germaine Race on “Reserve-Injured” to get their roster down to 53.

Those informed of their release included safety Tra Battle, center Mark Bihl, running back Eldra Buckley, wide receivers Greg Camarillo and Mark Simmons, defensive ends Andre Coleman, Keith Grennan and Derreck Robinson, safety Bhawoh Jue, offensive tackles Cory Lekkerkerker and Tony Pape, defensive tackle Louis Leonard and linebackers Antwan Applewhite, Nick Roach and Jyles Tucker.

The club also placed rookie running back Germaine Race on “Reserve-Injured.” Race suffered a toe injury in Thursday night’s preseason finale that require season-ending surgery.

Starting Sunday at 9 a.m., the Chargers may sign eight players to the team’s practice squad.

No official word on which 16 players the Chargers will remove from their roster today, but several players confirmed three veterans have been released — S Bhawoh Jue, T Cory Lekkerkerker and DL Derreck Robinson. All three were not present during the open period of practice earlier today and thought to be on the bubble