Stuckey’s amazing block lifted Bolts
Perfect snap.
Perfect hold.
Timely, well-struck kick.
In the NFL, that almost always means three points.
When those events unfolded Sunday, Chargers edge rusher Darrell Stuckey blocked the football.
Arriving like a Flying Wallenda, the special teams’ captain impeded the ball with his left wrist.
For degree of difficulty and importance combined, Stuckey’s acrobatics may have been the top play in San Diego’s victory. And to hear Stuckey on Friday, he’s not entirely clear how he did it.
“It’s something that can’t be explained,” he said.
The importance: Stuckey’s block of Greg Zuerlein’s 46-yard try came with the Rams ahead 10-3 late in the second quarter. Zuerlein had made 17 of 18 between 40 and 49 yards (94.4 percent). The Chargers went on to win by three points, 27-24.
The difficulty: Twenty NFL teams went all of last season without allowing a blocked field goal. In 78 career attempts, Zuerlein was unblocked.
Stuckey was rushing from the right flank of San Diego’s line.
“Blocking one off the edge – that’s really hard to do,” teammate Shareece Wright said.
The block was Stuckey’s first in a five-year career. The thrill corresponded. He ran to the bench area before teammate Eric Weddle returned the ball 12 yards.
“You can’t anticipate when it’s going to succeed,” Stuckey said.
Zuerlein aimed left from the right hash mark.
Chargers bookends to Stuckey -- Wright and Tourek Williams -- helped create a narrow gap within the left edge of the St. Louis front between Rams blockers Lance Kendricks and Mike Person.
Stuckey launched himself through, still ascending when he cleared.
Inadvertently making the Rams vulnerable, it seemed, was Kendricks, the outermost blocker. Because the 6-foot-3, 250-pounder squatted very low, with his weight back, Stuckey gained precious space.
Like a track sprinter, Stuckey had started from a four-point stance. He was lower than any of the other rushers, allowing him to leap both upward and outward.
As Wright drew Kendricks away slightly, Stuckey soared by, tucked his knees and spread both arms breaststroke-style, still rising.
At the peak of his flight, beyond the blockers and floating into the backfield, he appeared to be sitting in an invisible hard chair.
His head was at least seven feet off the ground.
Descending, he swung his arms arms up -- a test of strength and control. That final move allowed him to block the kick. Only then did his feet land.
“To get through there and be able to get your hands up in time – it’s very hard,” said Stuckey, 5-foot-11 and 212 pounds.
Tucking his knees as he ascended was out of necessity.
“You leave one leg behind, you’re not going to get through there,” he said.
Prior to the 2010 draft, Stuckey went 10 feet in the broad jump. His vertical leap was 39 1/2-inches.
Gachkar still out
Linebacker and special teams performer Andrew Gachkar missed all three practices this week. The Chargers listed him doubtful on the injury report for Sunday’s game at Baltimore. Nose tackle Ryan Carrethers (elbow) was ruled out.
The Chargers listed defensive end Tenny Palepoi (family-related) and backup guard Ryan Miller (groin) questionable.
Eddie Royal (toe) was an addition to the probables. Also probable are Jahleel Addae (concussion) and Ryan Mathews (knee). Dwight Freeney sandwiched two missed practices around Thursday’s full workout. Freeney, 34, wasn’t listed with injury.
The Ravens listed no player doubtful or out. Receiver Michael Campanaro, who has six catches for 85 yards, is questionable with a thigh injury.
