Chargers : Looking to Master Dog Days of Training Camp

SAN DIEGO â€”  Charger training camp at UC San Diego reached Day 16 Monday. The first exhibition game against Dallas is only six days away. So what does Charger Coach Dan Henning have to talk about?

Physics.

“Inertia,” he said after a morning workout. “A body at rest has to stay at rest unless affected by an outside object.

“In this case,” Henning said, “it’s Beightol.”

That got a laugh. Larry Beightol, the offensive coordinator, is known for raising his voice for motivational purposes. This is an important character trait at this stage of training camp, when enthusiasm is beginning to melt and players are finding the thought of a little rest and relaxation appealing.

“They’ve got to be pushed a little bit, and then they’ve got to learn new things and then they make mistakes,” Henning said. “They get frustrated. This is the toughest time in training camp right now.”

Cornerback Gill Byrd, in his seventh season, won’t argue.

“You can just tell the intensity level is down,” he said. “Everybody is just trying to get through practice today.”

But surviving is just a small part. Fatigue can be used as a measuring stick for desire, or lack thereof.

“When everybody is tired, there are players who are going to jump up to the forefront,” Byrd said. “So you’ve got to make sure you’re one of those players and keep going on.”

Tight end Rod Bernstine and quarterback Mark Vlasic, who missed the end of last season with knee injuries, have been told they are medically fit and can return to practice when they feel comfortable. Vlasic, one of four quarterbacks in camp, says the injury will stay in the back of his mind until he survives his first tackle.

“You’re kind of waiting for that first hit to get up and say ‘OK, it’s all right,’ ” he said. “The leg’s not back to what it used to be, but I don’t know if it ever will be.”

Bernstine said he has a sharp pain in the front of his knee and will likely wait two weeks before testing it in a contact situation.

“I’m just trying to take my time because I don’t want to have to go through this again,” he said. “It’s a long process, and it’s not fun at all.”

Also out with injuries are linebacker Gary Plummer (calf), running back Timmy Smith (ankle), wide receiver Anthony Miller (ankle) and center Courtney Hall (ankle). Plummer is expected to return to practice Wednesday.