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Chargers’ ‘stretch’ run may come later

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The stretch run was vital to the stretch run.

When the Chargers were at their best running the ball last year, Ryan Mathews, the blockers and wide receivers had mastered the intricacies of the stretch play. The stretch, an out-and-up rush play, became a foundation piece to Mike McCoy’s offense and abetted a late-season surge into the playoffs.

But it didn’t happen overnight.

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“It took awhile for it to come together,” Antonio Gates pointed out Monday.

I figured the stretch play would be a staple to this year’s offense. But that was before mobile, savvy center Nick Hardwick missed time in the preseason with a recurring neck injury that would end his season after one game. It was also before Mathews, just as he was finding a groove against the Seahawks, left Game 2 with a knee injury that is to sideline him a month. In addition, blocking tight end John Philips had reconstructive knee surgery in January and tight end-fullback David Johnson has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury.

Jeromey Clary, the main starter at right guard last year, was a better pass blocker than a run blocker, but his long arms served him well on the stretch. Clary was a candidate to return in the preseason until multiple surgeries sidelined him.

The Chargers, to their credit, aren’t bellyaching about their sputtering ground game. Running back Donald Brown dismissed injuries as an excuse Monday, and King Dunlap offered a harsh self-critique last week.

“When the running game doesn’t go, it’s on the offensive line, period,” the left tackle said. “You can say it’s the backs not running or hitting the hole, but at the end of the day, it’s on us up front. Our job is to protect the quarterback and open holes for the running back. So, from our room’s standpoint, we have to be way better.

“But we’ve got time to get better.”

Right now, the Chargers aren’t well-suited to scamper as blockers in unison toward the sideline and create crevices for the running backs. And though Brown bounced a draw and an inside-zone run against the Bills past a cornerback’s outside containment, he’s not Mathews’ equal as a stretch runner.

But don’t rule out the stretch’s emergence later in the season. The Chargers again might hit their stride later than sooner.

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