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Rivers crossing
By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
June 16, 2006
SAN DIEGO – Philip Rivers had to start with an apology.
"I'm sorry, but I don't really know how to put it," he said with the Georgia twang that makes him sound almost overly sincere. He rubbed a hand at the base of his neck as if he were hoping a massage would free up the words in his throat.
"I guess I really feel like I'm getting back to being myself," he said. "Doing what I'm doing now is the only way I've ever known football. That's the one thing that's been missing for me around here for the last two years. I'm just excited to be whole again."
So that's it. A Jerry Maguire epiphany – one of those "you complete me" moments.
Clearly, this is a sign of progress for Rivers, who spent the last two years awkwardly championing Drew Brees as the San Diego Chargers' starting quarterback. No more walking on eggshells or measuring words. No more speeches about the Chargers being "Drew's team." Finally, there is some relief in knowing exactly where he stands.
"It was a long time," he said, "but this is what I've been waiting for."
The statement contained a subtle tone of relief. But whether he can set the Chargers at ease in 2006 is anyone's guess. Will he follow in the footsteps of Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger, the other highly acclaimed quarterbacks from the 2004 draft who have risen in league echelons? Or will he flounder like J.P. Losman, the fourth quarterback taken in that draft's first round?
Therein lies the question. And make no mistake, Rivers' ability to perform as an NFL starter will continue to be the talk when conversations turn to San Diego's postseason aspirations.
"With Philip, it's the same thing I tell people when they ask, 'How do you think you guys did in the draft?' " linebacker Steve Foley said. "My answer is, 'Hell, I'll tell you come Sunday.' Right now, we really don't know. Everybody looks good when we're in sweats and jerseys. But the real test is going to come when we start playing games."
Foley didn't mean any disrespect, just an honest look at reality. Because while the defense has the potential to be much improved, it's Rivers who holds the key to a playoff run.
Chargers general manager A.J. Smith has wagered the franchise's future on a quarterback who has thrown fewer pass attempts (30) in two years than Brees averaged per game in 2005 (31.3). Rarely does a team eschew a veteran Pro Bowler after he's passed for an average of 3,368 yards and 26 touchdowns (and completed 65 percent of his passes) in back-to-back seasons. While winning 21 games, no less.
Yet, that's what the Chargers have done. Brees – who had cemented himself as a team leader and established several deep friendships with stars such as LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates – will be plying his trade in New Orleans. Meanwhile, Rivers finally gets to do some handiwork in San Diego and remind the NFL why he was the fourth overall pick in 2004.
Rivers has already earned respect in the locker room – including a speech from wide receiver Keenan McCardell who stood up and declared at a recent team meeting that he had full confidence in the Chargers' new quarterback. Two years of saying the right thing and deferring to Brees earned that kind of admiration among teammates, who knew it was a quarterback controversy that could have been far uglier. The fact that it wasn't is just as much a testament to Rivers as it is to Brees.
"He's the perfect leader, and I think he'll be that in San Diego," said No. 1 draft pick Mario Williams, who spent his freshman season at North Carolina State awed by Rivers' perfection. "The one thing I remember about Philip, he was good at everything. I mean everything. He was a natural leader and all those things that you expect a senior quarterback to be. But everything he seemed to do, he was successful."
Replacing Brees will be a tough task. But the lone truth working in Rivers' favor is that, as much as Brees was loved by teammates, he did make his share of mistakes last season, particularly in the team's December crash. Despite his rapid development, Brees still wasn't able to carry the Chargers on his own.
"[In 2004] we made all of the right plays, and that didn't always happen last year," Foley said. "Last year, we came in and we just knew we were going to be in the playoffs. From the beginning, people were acting like the playoffs weren't even a question. Everything was the Super Bowl and that's it. But to get to the playoffs, you've got to win the games first. That was something that we didn't really take seriously enough, starting with our first game."
It's hard to argue that Smith (who also factored in Brees' shoulder injury) made the wrong decision by promoting Rivers. Two years on the bench is more than enough time for first-round draft picks to acclimate to a scheme, particularly for Rivers, who was a four-year starter in college and graduated with the tools to be a successful QB in the pros. He has one of the league's quickest releases, and the concerns about his "push" throwing motion – a side effect from using an oversized ball during his formative years – have mostly subsided.
"One thing is, he's not a rookie," said Gates, San Diego's All-Pro tight end. "I mean, he's been in this system for two years. He's had the same playbook for two years. He knows it. He just hasn't had the shot to apply himself in a game.
"I think people should look at the other veteran players around him, too. It's not like Drew, when he was stepping in a couple of years ago and there wasn't a lot of veteran talent to take the pressure off. Philip is going to have a lot of help on offense."
That might mean a short term return to "Martyball," with coach Marty Schottenheimer managing games by feeding a steady diet of carries to Tomlinson and Michael Turner. The development of Turner – who provides a more bruising force in the backfield – has prompted coaches to think of more ways to get him involved in the offense. That might mean anything from a two-back set to a formation where Tomlinson is used as a slot receiver.
Continued next post.......
By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
June 16, 2006
SAN DIEGO – Philip Rivers had to start with an apology.
"I'm sorry, but I don't really know how to put it," he said with the Georgia twang that makes him sound almost overly sincere. He rubbed a hand at the base of his neck as if he were hoping a massage would free up the words in his throat.
"I guess I really feel like I'm getting back to being myself," he said. "Doing what I'm doing now is the only way I've ever known football. That's the one thing that's been missing for me around here for the last two years. I'm just excited to be whole again."
So that's it. A Jerry Maguire epiphany – one of those "you complete me" moments.
Clearly, this is a sign of progress for Rivers, who spent the last two years awkwardly championing Drew Brees as the San Diego Chargers' starting quarterback. No more walking on eggshells or measuring words. No more speeches about the Chargers being "Drew's team." Finally, there is some relief in knowing exactly where he stands.
"It was a long time," he said, "but this is what I've been waiting for."
The statement contained a subtle tone of relief. But whether he can set the Chargers at ease in 2006 is anyone's guess. Will he follow in the footsteps of Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger, the other highly acclaimed quarterbacks from the 2004 draft who have risen in league echelons? Or will he flounder like J.P. Losman, the fourth quarterback taken in that draft's first round?
Therein lies the question. And make no mistake, Rivers' ability to perform as an NFL starter will continue to be the talk when conversations turn to San Diego's postseason aspirations.
"With Philip, it's the same thing I tell people when they ask, 'How do you think you guys did in the draft?' " linebacker Steve Foley said. "My answer is, 'Hell, I'll tell you come Sunday.' Right now, we really don't know. Everybody looks good when we're in sweats and jerseys. But the real test is going to come when we start playing games."
Foley didn't mean any disrespect, just an honest look at reality. Because while the defense has the potential to be much improved, it's Rivers who holds the key to a playoff run.
Chargers general manager A.J. Smith has wagered the franchise's future on a quarterback who has thrown fewer pass attempts (30) in two years than Brees averaged per game in 2005 (31.3). Rarely does a team eschew a veteran Pro Bowler after he's passed for an average of 3,368 yards and 26 touchdowns (and completed 65 percent of his passes) in back-to-back seasons. While winning 21 games, no less.
Yet, that's what the Chargers have done. Brees – who had cemented himself as a team leader and established several deep friendships with stars such as LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates – will be plying his trade in New Orleans. Meanwhile, Rivers finally gets to do some handiwork in San Diego and remind the NFL why he was the fourth overall pick in 2004.
Rivers has already earned respect in the locker room – including a speech from wide receiver Keenan McCardell who stood up and declared at a recent team meeting that he had full confidence in the Chargers' new quarterback. Two years of saying the right thing and deferring to Brees earned that kind of admiration among teammates, who knew it was a quarterback controversy that could have been far uglier. The fact that it wasn't is just as much a testament to Rivers as it is to Brees.
"He's the perfect leader, and I think he'll be that in San Diego," said No. 1 draft pick Mario Williams, who spent his freshman season at North Carolina State awed by Rivers' perfection. "The one thing I remember about Philip, he was good at everything. I mean everything. He was a natural leader and all those things that you expect a senior quarterback to be. But everything he seemed to do, he was successful."
Replacing Brees will be a tough task. But the lone truth working in Rivers' favor is that, as much as Brees was loved by teammates, he did make his share of mistakes last season, particularly in the team's December crash. Despite his rapid development, Brees still wasn't able to carry the Chargers on his own.
"[In 2004] we made all of the right plays, and that didn't always happen last year," Foley said. "Last year, we came in and we just knew we were going to be in the playoffs. From the beginning, people were acting like the playoffs weren't even a question. Everything was the Super Bowl and that's it. But to get to the playoffs, you've got to win the games first. That was something that we didn't really take seriously enough, starting with our first game."
It's hard to argue that Smith (who also factored in Brees' shoulder injury) made the wrong decision by promoting Rivers. Two years on the bench is more than enough time for first-round draft picks to acclimate to a scheme, particularly for Rivers, who was a four-year starter in college and graduated with the tools to be a successful QB in the pros. He has one of the league's quickest releases, and the concerns about his "push" throwing motion – a side effect from using an oversized ball during his formative years – have mostly subsided.
"One thing is, he's not a rookie," said Gates, San Diego's All-Pro tight end. "I mean, he's been in this system for two years. He's had the same playbook for two years. He knows it. He just hasn't had the shot to apply himself in a game.
"I think people should look at the other veteran players around him, too. It's not like Drew, when he was stepping in a couple of years ago and there wasn't a lot of veteran talent to take the pressure off. Philip is going to have a lot of help on offense."
That might mean a short term return to "Martyball," with coach Marty Schottenheimer managing games by feeding a steady diet of carries to Tomlinson and Michael Turner. The development of Turner – who provides a more bruising force in the backfield – has prompted coaches to think of more ways to get him involved in the offense. That might mean anything from a two-back set to a formation where Tomlinson is used as a slot receiver.
Continued next post.......