CHARGERS: Always intense Sanders making presence known with new team


SAN DIEGO ---- Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson were sitting in the locker room on Thursday, analyzing the first practice in which veteran free agents could participate.

The first topic was a reverse to Jackson, which has produced huge gains in seasons past. On this particular day, the play ended almost immediately.

"It was crazy," Jackson told his locker room neighbors. "I got the ball and before I even got to the corner, I was blinded by this dreadlock explosion."

That dreadlocked explosion was new strong safety Bob Sanders introducing himself.

The 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is a Charger now, and after four days of practice it's clear that Sanders is a fearless attacker with only one speed: full throttle.

"You have to practice the way you play in a game," Sanders said. "I don't care who you are; you can't go through the motions in practice and expect to be ready when it counts. I don't live that way. Never have. I practice hard and always give everything I have when I'm on the field. I practice hard. I play hard. I hit hard."

Sanders is aggressive, not reckless. He doesn't take cheap shots, but he does intimidate. He plays surprisingly close to the front seven, yet is rarely out of position because his reads are generally accurate.

"There's a line between being aggressive and being overly committed," he said after Sunday's practice. "You don't want to be in the box to stop the run when they're passing the ball. You're not helping your team out by doing that.

"I know the difference, and that's not by accident. I study, a lot. That allows me to stay aggressive, and when they do run the ball I'm flying towards it."

Sanders put in a ton of time with free safety Eric Weddle before the two veteran free agents were allowed to practice, breaking down each practice rep as it happened. He says he's grasping the Chargers defensive scheme quicker than expected, which means he's that much closer to playing fast.

Sanders seems incredibly focused for this point in his eighth training camp. He's excited about being a Charger and, after injuries ruined his last three seasons, Sanders is ready to enjoy football again.

"This year is so important for me," Sanders said "I'm coming off a lot of injuries, but being healthy and with a new team makes it feel like a new beginning. It's a breath of fresh air."

Sanders is tired of injuries sapping his talent. His last full season was his best, a 2007 campaign in which he recorded 71 tackles, 3½ sacks and two interceptions.

He only played six games in 2008 due to various injuries, the worst of which was a high ankle sprain. He missed five games in 2009 due to knee surgery and tore the biceps tendon on his left arm in his second game back. He tore his biceps tendon in his right arm in the 2010 season opener and never returned.


