Eric D. Williams 10y

Telesco: Everyone seeking fast, physical

SAN DIEGO -- During his pre-draft media availability with reporters Wednesday, San Diego Chargers general manager Tom Telesco was asked about the silly season that generally takes place during the lead-up to the draft, with teams providing misleading information to reporters and analysts in order to disguise their true intentions.

Telesco said with so much information on the draft available, he feels less compelled to make things up.

"It just seems like now there's so much media attention that you don't even have to lie anymore, because who knows what's right or wrong," Telesco said. "So I'd rather not tell you something than lie."

Telesco also commented on having two extra weeks this year before the draft takes place in May.

"Initially I wasn't in favor of it," Telesco said. "But they make the rules, and we follow them. So if they're going to give us two more weeks, we're going to use it to our advantage.

"It has allowed us to do a little more extra information on people, do some extra projects we probably couldn't have done. But I think you have to be careful that you don't stare at the board too long. There's sometimes you look up there, and all you see is the negatives for every player, the longer you stare at it."

Telesco was asked about the blueprint the Seattle Seahawks used defensively to defeat the Denver Broncos, San Diego's AFC West rival, in the Super Bowl. He indicated the Seahawks haven't exactly reinvented the wheel.

"Fast and physical, everyone's looking for that," Telesco said. "They just executed better than anyone else right now. But we know what we have here. And we know on defense we have to be fast and physical, be able to rush people and cover people. Since Paul Brown that's what they've been trying to do."

Asked specifically about Seattle's penchant in finding tall, lanky cornerbacks who can cover like Richard Sherman, Telesco said finding those players is harder than it appears.

"Everybody has been looking for -- for years and years -- big corners that can cover," Telesco said. "I mean there's nobody that goes into the fall and says, 'You know what, I want some really small cover corners.' Everybody wants big and fast.

"Richard Sherman is a great corner. He's big. He's fast. He's physical. He plays the ball. He's what you want. But there's just not that very many of them. ... We need guys who can cover people, No. 1, and tackle. And if they come in a smaller size, they come in a smaller size. If they're average-sized, they're average-sized. But if you hold out looking for just Richard Sherman, you'll be waiting a long time."

The Chargers will have players report for training camp July 24 and hold the team's first practice July 25. San Diego is scheduled to hold a rookie minicamp May 16, a week after the draft.

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