The Chargers used that alignment for the first time this season and it helped to make the difference in last Sunday's 24-16 victory against the visiting Oakland Raiders.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson took a direct snap and burst through a gaping hole in the middle to begin the scoring from 6 yards out. Not surprisingly, he's eager to call signals again.

"We worked on it the whole offseason, minicamp and training camp," he says. "So we had been doing it and we were just sitting there saying, 'Coach, when are you going to call it? We're ready.' "

The time might be right for more trickery as San Diego takes a 4-3 record into a difficult two-game stretch against NFC East opponents. The Chargers visit the 5-3 New York Giants, burning from three consecutive losses, before returning home to oppose the Philadelphia Eagles.

"The true measure is going to come against the teams that we have coming up," says Tomlinson, adding, "It's going to tell us a lot about ourselves in the next couple of weeks."

Coach Norv Turner liked his first glimpse of the Wildcat in regular-season action.

"I think it's something we can expand on," he says. "We'll expand it."

San Diego must do something to spark a surprisingly poor running game. The Chargers, who have dealt with problems affecting their offensive line, rank next to last in the NFL with an average of 74.7 rushing yards per contest. Tomlinson, in his ninth season, is not nearly as prolific as he once was.

He has carried 79 times for 267 yards and three touchdowns. His 3.4-yard average per carry is a full yard below his career average. Running mate Darren Sproles has 48 rushing attempts for 169 yards and a score.

Tomlinson thinks the Wildcat can help make a difference.

"You can really take the ball anywhere," he says. "It's kind of like a quarterback draw. You have the power blocks up front, the pulling guard and the fullback leading up in there, so it gives you so many options."

Another option is to have Tomlinson throw, something he does almost as well as any non-quarterback. His seven touchdown passes trail Walter Payton by one for the all-time lead.

"Trust me, I'm lobbying," he says. "But I don't think it's working."

Turner acknowledged after the Oakland game that he is "nervous" about using prized quarterback Philip Rivers as a potential receiver in the Wildcat. And Rivers is not exactly pressing for a role in the attack the Miami Dolphins popularized.

Rivers job in that formation, as he sees it?

"Get as close as possible to the sideline and stay out of the way," he says. "Just to get incredibly out of the way."

Enlarge By Mike Blake, Reuters LaDainian Tomlinson has scored just three touchdowns for the Chargers this season.