Phillips strikes Pro Bowler pose

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Monday, Dec 03, 2007
By Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

Shaun Phillips’ routine following a sack is to make like a bowler. He poses as if he’s lining up his shot, mimics the steps and arm swing of throwing a strike and finishes by peering down the “alley.”

Question is, though, is he thinking “pro bowler” or “Pro Bowler” when he hears the term.

“I think of all the great football players in the NFL,” Phillips said of the annual Pro Bowl all-star game played in Hawaii. “I’m a football player first.”

Two-time Pro Bowler Shawne Merriman, the Chargers’ other outside linebacker, is deserving of the accolades he has received, but one of these days Phillips might join him on the field in Hawaii.

In Sunday’s 24-10 win at Kansas City, Phillips had nine tackles -- second to inside linebacker to Stephen Cooper’s 10 -- along with a 1.5 sacks, a sack that forced a fumble recovered by Merriman, a pass defended and a quarterback hurry. On his sack and forced fumble at Kansas City, Phillips saw the ball as he came around the tackle’s block and switched his focus from the quarterback to the ball.

“You always want to go for the ball first,” Phillips said. “You want to create a turnover; that’s what it’s all about; get the ball back for the offense. They teach us to get the ball out.”

Phillips, a fourth-year pro, said his “pro bowler” dance was inspired by his grandmother, a frequent bowler that he said bowled a perfect 300 game a couple of times. But he actually doesn’t bowl very much.

“I average about 190, but I could do better if I practiced more,” he said. “I probably bowl four or five times a year, and one of them is at Merriman’s event.”

He was referring to the second annual “Lights On Bowl” that Merriman hosts at the Poway Fun Bowl as a fund-raiser. The event benefits deserving efforts to aid the homeless as well as wildfire victims.

Phillips now has 7.5 sacks for the season to rank eighth in the AFC and Merriman is second with 9.5. The Bolts as a team are tied for second in the AFC with 31 sacks with New England. They’re just two behind Pittsburgh’s 33.

The rankings might be overlooked by comparison to last year’s totals of 61 team sacks and Merriman (17.0) and Phillips (11.5) combining for 28.5 sacks. Phillips said the team is playing the same now as it did earlier in the year despite the perception by many that the Chargers have altered their scheme or aren’t blitzing enough.

“We’ve been doing the same thing we’ve been doing all year,” Phillips said, “but this week we were getting to the quarterback.”

One reason for the reduced totals is last year the Chargers led most games in a 14-2 season, forcing teams to throw the ball. That allowed the Chargers to “pin their ears” back, as Merriman said, on the pass rush.

But this year the Chargers have been in close games or playing from behind and opponents have kept the ball on the ground or gone to three-step-drop passing games.

Chargers head coach Norv Turner said the defense was playing better than the team’s record indicated, blaming the losses on key plays that went against the Chargers.

“I think we’ve had a good mix (of blitzes) throughout the year,” Turner said. “When I looked at the tape of the first Kansas City game (a 30-16 loss), I got the same sick feeling I had the day after the game. We did a lot of good things, but we had too many bad plays. This week we avoided the bad plays and were able to make the big plays.”

Two weeks ago in the win against the Baltimore Ravens, the Chargers praised the secondary for its coverage leading to sacks. Against Kansas City, Phillips said the defensive linemen played a strong game.

“It takes 11 men on the field on the same page in order for a defense to be successful,” Phillips said. “We’ve been able to do that.”

And when they do, Phillips not only plays like a Pro Bowler, he has the opportunity to pose as one.

Lenny Ignelzi, AP

Linebacker Shaun Phillips had a couple chances to celebrate Sunday in Kansas City.

	Monday: LaDainian Tomlinson On Monday, RB LaDainian Tomlinson shows off his Walter Payton jersey and he talks about what the legendary player meant to him growing up. Play
	Monday: Philip Rivers On Monday, QB Philip Rivers talks about the teams 24-10 win against the Chiefs and tells the media as the season goes along "We are becoming more and more dangerous." Play
	Monday: Norv Turner Head Coach Norv Turner on Monday gives an updated injury report and discusses the teams 24-10 win over the Chiefs with the local media. Play
	Monday: Shaun Phillips LB Shaun Phillips on Monday talks about the Chargers defensive line and the great things they've done the past couple of games. Shaun also commented on his signature bowling move after a big play and how he came up with it. Play
	Monday: Shawne Merriman LB Shawne Merriman on Monday discusses the teams defense with the local media and mentions "We are playing better team defense." Play
	Highlights: Chargers 24, Chiefs 10 Broadcast calls and video highlights of the Chargers win over the Chiefs in Week 13 Play