SAN DIEGO -- Creating turnovers was a point of emphasis during the offseason and training camp, and the San Diego Chargers reaped the fruits of their labor with five interceptions on defense during team drills Tuesday.
San Diego’s second padded practice in a row was perhaps the team’s most physical practice in camp. Tempers bubbled over to the surface at times. Guard D.J. Fluker and defensive tackle Darius Philon had to be pulled apart after jawing with each other as both made their way to their huddles.
“It’s the habit that we created here,” Chargers head coach Mike McCoy said. “And if you can get one every couple of days, that’s going to carry over to the game. That one back is going to come through there, and it doesn’t matter where he is. He’s going to be lazy in the open field or on the line of scrimmage, and we’re going to get some strips.
“And with the way the back end is working, whether it’s a missed throw, a great play by the corner, a safety jumping in front of something or a pressure that forces the quarterback to throw off of his back foot -- there’s so many things.”
San Diego defensive backs Jahleel Addae, Dwight Lowery, Jason Verrett and Darrell Stuckey all had interceptions, along with inside linebacker Nick Dzubnar. Addae also had a batted pass that he could have caught for an interception.
Addae said the defensive front seven is creating consistent pressure in practice, helping to speed things up for the quarterbacks so they have to throw the ball early. Now that they have done a better job creating turnovers in the offseason and training camp, the Chargers have to do it in games, starting on Saturday against the Tennessee Titans.
“Saturday’s important,” Addae said. “It’s game week. You get a little more competition, people get edgy and that’s natural. When the red light for the camera comes on and the light shines on that field, it’s time to perform. And practice is what prepares you for that, so we want to take that type of mindset in practice.”
Injury update: Receivers Javontee Herndon and Travis Benjamin, along with center Spencer Pulley, defensive tackle Sean Lissemore and defensive end Tenny Palepoi did not practice on Tuesday. Receiver Stevie Johnson remains out with a meniscus tear in his knee. McCoy offered no update on whether Johnson had surgery or a timetable for his return. Center Chris Watt (knee) remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
