The San Diego Chargers starting safety duo of Eric Weddle and Bob Sanders has not missed a play in training camp and they have no plans of a vacation. They are involved in every snap, whether on the field or watching intently while analyzing on the sidelines.

Weddle is entering his fifth season with the Bolts and was the team’s leading tackler in 2010 (80 solo, 16 assists). He signed a 5-year contract worth $40 million at the start of training camp. The huge payday was the largest contract extension of the team this season and makes Weddle the highest paid player at his position in the NFL.

Sanders, a former Indianapolis Colts star, is arguably the biggest splash the Chargers made in the free agent market this offseason. During his seven seasons with the Colts, Sanders has been a two-time Pro Bowl safety and 2007 AP Defensive Player of the Year. However Sanders, now healthy, has battled through injuries in recent years.

If they can stay healthy, the two believe they will be a force to be reckoned with. “Both at our best, we can be the best safeties combo in the league,” Weddle said on the nationally syndicated Jim Rome Show. While this is boastful talk, the two are working hard to make it become reality.

The NFL labor negotiations this summer led to a rule that signed veteran free agents could not practice until August 4 even when training camps started earlier. Weddle and Sanders were not deterred and they both still mentally participated in every snap. During the first week and a half of training camp they stood together on the sidelines and discussed how they would have handled each play. Now that they are both practicing, they continue this involvement on and off the field.

“We are building that chemistry,” Sanders said. “We don’t have a lot of time to get ready for the regular season. You definitely got to know each other in and out when the season starts.”

Weddle explained exactly what they are doing. “We are going through all the checks and adjustments within a play,” Weddle said. “We have two to four checks within a play. I am getting Sanders up to speed with that. I am preparing him so he can go out there and play fast and not worry about the thinking part of the game. We have also been growing as teammates and friends. We are going to be on the field together a lot. We need to be on the same page.”

Weddle also said he is learning from Sanders. “We are always bouncing ideas off of each other,” Weddle said. “A guy like Sanders, I can learn a lot from and I have. It’s been good.”

Sanders concurs, “You don’t want anything left out here, in the locker room, or in the meeting rooms. You want to be able to take everything out on to the field and let it transfer. We have just been talking and getting to know each other.”

The two also believe that getting to know each other is just as important as knowing the playbook. In Sanders estimation, other than the quarterback and the center, there is not another pair of guys on the field who need to be in as good of communication with each other than the safeties. Much of the time the two are spending with each other is devoted to developing their communication skills and trust with each other.

Sanders elaborated. “If I get sucked up on play action I want to know he is going to play over and is going to be able to help me out. I think building that trust and knowing you can trust the person next to you is important.”

According to Sanders, it is all about sharing with each other their approach to the game and developing a team philosophy. “To be physical, to play fast, and to be smart. That is going to be our philosophy this year.”

Coach Norv Turner agrees with that philosophy and has taken note of the ability of Weddle and Sanders to work well together. “They are making the type of progress together that you would like them to make,”coach Norv Turner said. “Those guys have a lot of experience, so that helps them.”

Developing trust and executing the playbook at a high level is an on-going process and may take a few weeks into the season playing at full speed for the two to reach their potential together. “It will take a couple of games,” Weddle said.“Sanders is a pro. He is one of the best at his position. I don’t think it will be too long before we are playing well with each other.”