Brees Blows on; Rivers in Charge

By Ben McCoy  |   Tuesday, July 25, 2006  |  Comments( 1 )

San Diego Chargers
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If the expectations followed by the accomplishments of 2004 draft contemporaries Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning are any testament to what's in store for Philip Rivers, San Diego is headed for many a victory celebration in the upcoming 2006 season. As the NCAA's second all-time leading passer with 13,484 yards, Rivers is poised to bring sustainable depth to the Chargers' explosive running game.

Unlike Manning and Roethlisberger, Rivers has had the mixed blessing of spending his first two seasons mainly on the bench, studying the Chargers' offensive scheme under veteran Drew Brees, who posted an impressive passer rating of 104.8 in 2004 and clinched the record for the best single season in San Diego Chargers' history -- a title previously held by Dan Fouts. The following season, Brees posted a career-high in passing yards with 3,576. For the young and impressionable Rivers, hardly a better situation could befall him, despite his eagerness to get out onto the field.

However, challenges are in no short supply for the eager new starting QB. San Diego has experienced shaky leadership on the field since the days of Doug Flutie, and has been in desperate need of a Brett Favre or Donovan McNabb-style leader calling the shots and instilling confidence in the team. Rivers fits this criterion, proving himself a born leader with NC State while simultaneously shattering nearly every school and ACC record for passing.

Another often criticized element of the San Diego Chargers' offense was Brees' reluctance to throw the ball downfield, opting instead for a powerful running attack courtesy of LaDainian Tomlinson, or short field passing plays with his receiver of choice, tight end Antonio Gates. Given the efficiency of such an offense, few openly disapproved or even noticed the Chargers' conservative deep ball game.

In contrast, Rivers is no slouch when it comes to finding the open man far off on the horizon, currently holding the ACC record for 300-yard passing games (18), and 400-yard passing games (7). As if that weren't enough, Rivers is in elite company as only the seventh quarterback in NCAA history with three 3,000-yard seasons. Don't worry about the running game, however. Rivers has plenty of experience connecting with the backfield with college teammate T.A. McLendon, who set the NC State rushing touchdown record in a season (18), and posted the second-best rushing total by a freshman in school history with 1,101 yards.

Bolts fans have been hoping and praying for a solid and consistent passing staff since the days of yore. With the explosive Rivers, backed by veteran A.J. Feely and Clemson sensation Charlie Whitehurst, it looks like the beginning of a new and successful era in Charger town.

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