"Chargers running backs coach Ollie Wilson was working with his group early in Thursday's practice, looking more like an offensive line coach teaching the finer points of hand placement and the quick slide step.

The Chargers backs hope to carry the ball more this week than they did in last Thursday's loss to the Oakland Raiders, but they also know where they'll be required just as often.

"They're real active," Ryan Mathews said of the Chicago Bears defensive front. "That's going to be a big part (for) us running backs is helping out our linemen a little bit."

If ever a group needed a little help.

The Chargers offensive line is a quilt of rookies and retreads, sprinkled with rust and just a pair of veteran starters."