Chargers Showcase Defensive Scheme

Defense was the order of the day during the San Diego Chargers’ first practice Friday at the Home Depot Center in Carson in front of an estimated 300.

The Chargers were sporting a new 3-4 alignment, but the most impressive thing was that they worked without defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who attended the funeral of Mark Hatley, the Green Bay Packers’ vice president of football operations who died earlier this week.

“It’s a whole different game for us now,” linebacker Zeke Moreno said about the new defensive scheme. “Right now, we’re attacking and people are moving to the ball. Although we’re still learning, everyone is enjoying this defense.”

The Chargers, coming off a 4-12 season, are youthful with 63 players who have less than four years of NFL experience. But that’s not a problem for Coach Marty Schottenheimer, who pointed out the improved play of second-year defensive back Drayton Florence.

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The Chargers still have not signed their top two draft picks, but General Manager A.J. Smith remains optimistic that quarterback Philip Rivers and defensive end Igor Olshansky will be in camp soon.

“We’ll be OK,” Smith said. “We could do it tonight because when these things take a turn, they can turn quickly. We’re talking to both and moving right along in the process.”

Former UCLA linebacker Donnie Edwards was not at practice because he suffered a cut on his calf that required stitches when he dropped glass table top. Edwards is expected to be sidelined at least a week.

The Chargers, who will practice at Home Depot Center until Aug. 26, will start two-a-day workouts today.

-- Lonnie White

Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. wasn’t on the field when the Cleveland Browns opened training camp in Berea, Ohio.

The Browns said they offered Winslow, the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, a contract that would exceed the $31-million deal Tony Gonzalez signed with Kansas City before the 2002 season.

But Winslow has not accepted the team’s offer.

“I believe the most disappointed guy is Kellen for not being here from the beginning with his teammates,” Coach Butch Davis said.

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Former USC defensive end Kenechi Udeze signed a five-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings, who selected him with the 20th pick in the draft.... Dallas agreed in principle on a deal with offensive tackle Jacob Rogers, a second-round pick from USC and the team’s only unsigned drafted player.... Pro Bowl middle linebacker Brian Urlacher will sit out most of the Chicago Bears’ training camp because of a hamstring injury he suffered Wednesday, but the team expects him to be ready for the regular-season opener.

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The L.A. Sports & Entertainment Commission on Tuesday is presenting “NFL 101 and 201” at Hollywood & Highland, an event designed to coach women and men so they can better understand and enjoy watching NFL games.

The event will be led by a team of football experts, among them Bill Walsh, former San Francisco coach; Amy Trask, chief executive of the Oakland Raiders, and Andrea Kremer, a national correspondent for ESPN. The agenda includes cocktails, buffet dinner, various class sessions and a Q&A; wrap-up.

For more information, contact Cindy Johnson at the LASEC at 213-236-2361.