Luis Castillo News

Luis Castillo says a combination of factors has led to Chargers playing better on the defensive line.

Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 9:27 p.m. Nelvin C. Cepeda / Union-Tribune Shawne Merriman says he has emerged from the fog of doubt after major knee surgery and is the same player he was before.

Few cities with populations under 30,000 can boast of having produced three NFL players.

Chargers DE Luis Castillo might not be having a standout year statistically, posting just two sacks and 17 tackles, but daily team observers tell us that he is putting together a fantastic campaign.

The Chargers will travel across the country this week to play the Giants, who are 5-3 but on a three-game losing streak.

" There are certain games that give direction to a season, define a team, make a career.

" The Chargers may have found their balance at nose tackle with a rotation of Travis Johnson, Ian Scott and Ogemdi Nwagbuo.

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The Norv Turner era needs to end. Now. Yes, he has a 3-2 record in the playoffs as the head coach of the San Diego Chargers, including two victories over the Indianapolis Colts.

" What they said was resolute. What you heard was resignation. What the Chargers must do is what they have previously done.

From 2005 through 2008, the Chargers drafted a grand total of one defensive lineman, 7th round pick Chase Page who is no longer in the NFL.

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Coach Ron Rivera, while acknowledging the spate of injuries, expects everyone else to step it up.

October 6, 2009, 1:49 p.m. Two days after allowing the Pittsburgh Steelers 497 yards and 38 points, the Chargers defense met -- as a whole and in position groups -- for almost three hours today.

" All through last November and into December, a strand of the thread of hope the Chargers hung onto was the thought that they would get another shot at the Denver Broncos at season's end.

" The Miami Dolphins tried to surprise the Chargers with a deep pass on their first play from scrimmage Sunday.

Cheered by quarterback Philip Rivers, Eric Weddle heads for the end zone with a 31-yard interception return that gave the Chargers a 23-6 lead.

Guard Louis Vasquez is the only rookie in San Diego's starting lineup. Back when Fabian Vasquez and his brothers would put on the gloves and box in a makeshift ring in their backyard, their wild dreams were never about the gridiron.

Like last week's game, the Chargers face an AFC playoff team looking to establish themselves in the conference pecking order.

Larry English doesn't use Twitter and doesn't do Facebook. He does have e-mail, but doesn't use it often.