Scott Mruczkowski News

His profession is football. His other game, it would seem, is Twister. Left foot here, right foot way over there.

It's been a tale of two halves for the Chargers this season: the first five games, in which they went 2-3, and the past five games, in each of which they have emerged victorious.

" The wildcat's out of the bag. Way out. A year ago, the Miami Dolphins turned the NFL on its ear with its variation of the old single-wing offense, the direct snap to the running back in a strategy designed to make football a truly 11-on-11 game.

Coach Norv Turner said the Chargers will "begin the process again" this week of trying to get Nick Hardwick to return to his starting spot at center.

After he was abused early on, taking 15 sacks in the first five games, Rivers has been kept much cleaner during the club's last three contests, getting sacked only three times.

" Chargers Pro Bowl center Nick Hardwick took yet another step toward a return to the lineup Wednesday.

Having taken a 'bye' week of my own, I thought that I'd put together a few musings for the general group.

One of the biggest issues the San Diego Chargers face on offense is the ability to establish the running game.

The Chargers returned to practice on Monday, still with many of the regulars off the field.

" Players are on notice. Whether Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera explicitly said so or not, there is a feeling within the defense that jobs are up for grabs.

October 5, 2009, 3:53 p.m. On the heels of a disastrous defensive night in Pittsbirgh there were questions asked of Norv Turner today about possible changes in the defensive lineup.

Shawne Merriman is one of several Chargers who should get a chance to heal injuries over the bye week.

October 4, 2009, 5:04 p.m. 5:05: Just waiting for NBC to finish its pregame show and get on with the game, which just got at least slightly bigger for the Chargers after Denver's come-from-behind win against Dallas .

With a new center and right guard helping protect him, Philip Rivers has lined up in the shotgun more than two-thirds of the times he's dropped back to pass over the past two games.

Darren Sproles and his fellow Chargers runners have found little daylight, ranking next-to-last in the NFL in rushing yards .

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The Associated Press 1:22 p.m. September 27, 2009 SAN DIEGO - Rookie right guard Louis Vasquez joined running back LaDainian Tomlinson on the San Diego Chargers' inactive list for Sunday's game against Miami.

" The children of slain Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas have not yet started school, but their college tuition is already funded.

The Chargers will apparently be without starting center Nick Hardwick until at least December and perhaps the rest of this season.

The Chargers declined to offer specifics of the surgery. The six-year veteran, a Pro Bowler in 2006, was hurt in the season opener at Oakland on Sept.