Defeats Have Chargers Talking to Themselves : Football: Players-only meeting called to determine what is needed to turn the season around.

SAN DIEGO —  The Chargers, 0-3 and headed to Houston as 11-point underdogs, conducted a players-only meeting this week in an attempt to persuade themselves that “we are not as bad as our record indicates.”

Quarterback Stan Humphries suggested the meeting last week, but it did not take place until this week when linebacker Junior Seau approached Coach Bobby Ross for permission to meet without the coaches.

“I don’t have any objections to that,” Ross said. “Sometimes those things are good and sometimes they can be bad. It’s none of my business as to what went on, and I don’t inquire about it. But the feedback was that they got something accomplished.”

Players such as Seau, linebacker Gary Plummer and cornerback Gill Byrd addressed their teammates.

“I think our state of mind is very positive,” Seau said. “We got together and started chatting and we’re working together now. I feel more confident going into this game than I did for the Pittsburgh game--attitude-wise.

“We all got together and just looked at each other in the face and said this isn’t training camp where you are going to get new guys in and recruit other players from other teams. This is the team we’re going to go with this year, and we have to realize that--this is all we have.”

While that could be a sobering thought for a team that has lost its first three games by an average of 13 points, it appears to have buoyed the team’s spirits.

“Anytime we can spend time together, it’s good,” said tackle Harry Swayne. “We’re the ones on the field that have to get it done. The coaches aren’t there, so it’s on us.”

The Chargers conducted a similar players-only meeting in 1990, and went on to lose the following Sunday, 21-16, to Cincinnati.

“I don’t know (if its effective),” said running back Rod Bernstine. “Some people need that; I don’t personally need it. I speak up on the field. For some people, though, I’m sure it will help.”

Humphries, who has shown a willingness to take command on the field, suggested to Byrd last week a team meeting might be in order.

“We just didn’t get to having it last week, but I think the players needed to get together and speak their minds,” Humphries said. “And whatever was said stays in the room.”

After Sunday’s 23-6 defeat to Pittsburgh, Ross told the players he accepted blame for their poor performance. The players, however, have been the ones dropping the passes, drawing the penalties and turning over the ball, and they said that became the main theme in this week’s meeting.

“It’s a wake-up call,” quarterback Bob Gagliano said. “Not that everyone isn’t aware of what’s happening, but sometimes you need each other to pick each other up. It’s like throwing a log on the fire to keep it going.

“We realize we’re not as bad as our record indicates and that we can put the thing together. Anytime you have one of those kind of meetings that’s what it’s all about. It’s to say, ‘Hey, let’s not give up. Let’s hang in there with each other.’ ”

The Chargers have met regularly as a team after each practice. Ross already leads the league in post-practice pep talks. However, the players said this week’s revival meeting was necessary to close the gap between the veterans and rookies.

“I heard they had a meeting,” General Manager Bobby Beathard said. “I’m not going to say that was commonplace in Washington, but there were plenty of them back there.

“What it means here, I don’t know. What it meant there, they were pretty serious meetings. When they had one back there, some things got straightened out. I think it’s important if the players feel it’s important.”