SAN DIEGO (AP) Coach Marty Schottenheimer wants the San Diego
Chargers to ditch their losing mindset during their bye week.
``It's plain and simple, in my opinion, we need to develop an
attitude about dealing with things that don't go exactly the way we
like them to do,'' Schottenheimer said Monday, a day after a 27-21
loss at Jacksonville left the Chargers as the NFL's only team with
an 0-5 record. ``We need to take charge and go change the things we
don't like, and don't enjoy, and we are going to do that.''
What the Chargers have been doing is losing, and with
regularity. Dating to last year, the Chargers have lost nine
straight and 12 of 14.
In danger of extending their playoff drought to eight seasons,
the Chargers are off this week, giving them time to nurse numerous
injuries and bruised egos.
``I'm not going to exclude the possibility of anything in the
effort to get this thing turned around,'' Schottenheimer said.
Schottenheimer is 8-13 with the Chargers, and is off to his
second 0-5 start in three seasons. The Washington Redskins also
started with a five-game losing streak under Schottenheimer in his
only season coaching them, in 2001.
The Chargers will practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,
before taking the weekend off. The players were off on Monday.
``Obviously, there is a tremendous amount of frustration and
disappointment that is shared by players, fans and coaches,''
Schottenheimer said. ``But we'll take this week and evaluate
everything we've done, and we're going to decide exactly what we
need to do in every phase: offense, defense and kicking game.''
Offensive lineman Solomon Page (ankle) should be able to go when
the Chargers resume their schedule Oct. 19 at Cleveland. Tight end
Josh Norman (hamstring) could also return.
On Sunday, wide receiver Eric Parker aggravated a shoulder
injury and guard Bob Hallen injured a pectoral muscle. Both were to
undergo MRI exams to determine the extent of their injuries.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)