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12-13-2006, 05:21 AM
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#1 |
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***************
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Seattle
Posts: 25,435
Adopt-a-Bronco: QUANTERUS SMITH |
The Elephant in the Room ... Philip Rivers
It doesn't seem to me that any of the post-Charger debacle posts I'm reading around here are honestly facing what is an enormous problem for us the next few years.
Sure, LT and Gates are tough, and the Charger pass rush is brutal. But the real problem - the elephant in the room - is Philip Rivers. Before this season, he threw only 30 passes (most of them in last year's finale, and only after Lynch busted Brees' shoulder). But he came out this season and has performed at a Pro-Bowl level from Day 1. He took a few bad sacks early, but he ironed that out - and that was the only chink in this kid's game so far. The poise, confidence and leadership of this guy is jaw-dropping. I know we all have sky-high hopes for Cutler and the talent guys around him, but I can't imagine he'll be any better than Rivers ... how could he be? How could anybody? He's one of the 4 or 5 best QBs in the league already - behind Peyton and Brady for sure ... and probably Brees ... but who else?  It's gonna be a long decade against the Bolts with this guy. Fast track to the HOF .... there, I said it. |
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12-13-2006, 05:33 AM
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#2 |
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***************
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Seattle
Posts: 25,435
Adopt-a-Bronco: QUANTERUS SMITH |
He has that natural, mutant-like ACCURACY on every single throw ... that Jurgenson/Staubach/Montana/Young/Brady natural accuracy. It's a mutant gene of some kind ... I just wish he was in the NFC.
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12-13-2006, 06:00 AM
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#3 |
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24/7 Broncos
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 49,706
Adopt-a-Bronco: Peyton Manning |
Remember how terrible the quarterbacks were in the 90's? So many busts. From Jeff George, to Akili Smith.. Andre Ware... Dan McGuire... Todd Maranovich... David Klingler... Tommy Maddox... Rick Mirer... Heath Shuler... Trent Dilfer... Kerry Collins... Tony Banks... Jim Druckenmiller... Ryan Leaf... Tim Couch...
God is paying us back in spades for suffering the Quarterback talent drought back in the day. It's unbelievable how many really good quarterbacks have been coming into the league the last decade... |
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12-13-2006, 06:08 AM
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#4 |
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***************
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Seattle
Posts: 25,435
Adopt-a-Bronco: QUANTERUS SMITH |
Great list. I had forgotten how many busts there were ...
But who's a bust in this decade? Almost nobody ... it's a bit too early to tag Alex Smith a bust, and Aaron Rodgers hasn't really taken a snap yet. David Carr is not really a bust, and almost-bust Joey Harrington seems resurrected now. I think the only 00's bust so far .... is Michael Vick. I would HATE to have him on my team. |
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12-13-2006, 06:08 AM
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#5 | |
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Ring of Famer
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 12,429
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Quote:
That's why I'm so glad we drafted a young gunslinger. The playoff picture in the AFC for the next decade will likely be dominated by QBs like Brady, Rivers, Roethlisberger, Palmer, Vince Young, Manning who are young now. It was imperative that we find a real franchise QB to be able to compete in the AFC which is only going to get tougher. The NFC barely has enough QB talent. Brees going over there was great considering the type of year he's having. But they still only have a couple of guys like Hasselbeck, McNabb. Who knows, would anyone be surprised if Culpepper came back with a vengeance next season when his knee is healthy? |
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12-13-2006, 06:14 AM
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#6 |
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***************
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Seattle
Posts: 25,435
Adopt-a-Bronco: QUANTERUS SMITH |
Elvis Grrrrrrbac on that 90s list? Kordell? Maddox?
Jeff George is the worst bust ever ... cause he had an A+++ arm, but an F- head. Strongest arm I ever saw ... the velocity was jaw-dropping ... his passes seemed to actually gain speed as they travelled through the air. I don't think he had that Jurgenson/Young/Brady/Rivers mutant accuracy gene though. |
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12-13-2006, 07:05 AM
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#7 |
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armed
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,771
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i told people before the season started he would suprise us.
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12-13-2006, 09:04 AM
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#8 |
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Ring of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,317
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I wouldn't start a circle jerk over the kid just yet. He's playing with the premier running back in the NFL, one of (possibly the best) TEs in the league, and he has a cast of very good supporting people around him, most notably a big and powerful OL that keeps defenders off him and a D that gives him good field position.
Not saying he isn't a good QB, I just don't think what he's doing is all that different from what Brees was doing for SD over the last two years, except for Rivers they've fixed a few weaknesses on the line and gotten Vince Jackson into the fold as a reciever. The big change in the chargers from this year to last is that their D is now making plays every week, last season they were up and down, great game then bad game all season. This year even when they're giving up points they come up big with turnovers or sacks late in games. |
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12-13-2006, 09:15 AM
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#9 |
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Yes...swooping is bad...
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Florence, Colorado
Posts: 20,678
Adopt-a-Bronco: All of them. |
Makes me wonder about Drew Brees if he can go to NO and not only do well, but fantastically. Rivers still sidearms it too much, and that was wierd arc passes to gates. Chargers have done well this season, but I hope they dont expect to score 35, 48 points on Denver every season. That should be a pretty good game for the next decade or so if Cutler continues to improve the way he has.
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12-13-2006, 09:28 AM
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#10 |
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Ring of Famer
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,013
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im not convinced couch was a bust either, i think the right coach and he wouldve been money. i guess the same can be said for alot of guys though
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12-13-2006, 10:02 AM
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#11 | |
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Orange
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bend, OR
Posts: 8,038
Adopt-a-Bronco: dortoh |
Quote:
Yeah, I'll take a lot of heat for this thought...but..... I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that he had FOUR years to take in an awful lot of head knowledge prior to getting out there and taking the leadership role?? Just a thought...  |
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12-13-2006, 10:13 AM
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#12 |
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"Hoodie Jr"
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Hot Springs, Ouachitah
Posts: 77,090
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I saw Rivers in some college all star game and couldn't believe his accuracy. He's got a low release, but good mobility to find a passing lane. He's got a Bernie Kosar release point, but gets it off quicker and is obviously more mobile.
They aren't going to mess with River's mechanics or they would of allready done so. He's too accurate to mess with it when he can find a passing lane for that funky delivery. |
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12-13-2006, 10:17 AM
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#13 | |
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"Hoodie Jr"
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Hot Springs, Ouachitah
Posts: 77,090
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Barring injury, I can't wait to see Jay's second year. I was livid that they make a rule you can't go for the knees and they don't call it. Just another classic example of inconsistent calls. |
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12-13-2006, 10:28 AM
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#14 |
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Donk Hater
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 496
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Rivers also has that fiery spirit you LOVE to see from your QB. The thing that excites me as a Charger fan is that when LT is on his way down in a few years Rivers should be in his prime. That equals years of winning football.
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12-13-2006, 10:30 AM
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#15 | |
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Ring of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 31,895
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12-13-2006, 10:32 AM
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#16 | |
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Pro Bowler
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 657
Adopt-a-Bronco: Brian Clark |
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12-13-2006, 10:37 AM
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#17 |
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Ring of Famer
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dove Valley
Posts: 5,839
Adopt-a-Bronco: Spencer Larsen |
Aah, they are still the Chargers.
Seriously, they have had a run on great personnel moves that are paying off for them. They took a flier on Castillo. Dallas wanted Ware over Merriman. The deals to get Rivers and LT. Sooner or a later luck runs out... as we have learned better than anyone. Sooner or later injuries catch up, contracts come due and the opposition gets stronger. Sooner or later teams figure out what you are up to when you are making deals and start to immitate your success. I have a very good friend that is a Patriots fan. And I told him to enjoy the Pats run because those things end suddenly. Sure enough the Pats look like a very average team right now and the teams in their division are on the rise. Soon they won't get 6 free wins a year. My point? The Chargers are riding a rocket right now. They should enjoy it because sooner or later that rocket will run out of fuel. Yeah Rivers looks like the real deal, but that doesn't guarantee them anything. One blown out knee in a guy like LT or Gates and the picture changes entirely. If Merriman doesn't get off the roids he could go the way of Ricky Williams. |
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12-13-2006, 10:46 AM
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#18 |
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Ring of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 5,219
Adopt-a-Bronco: Rod Smith |
If you have a Great RB and one of the Best TE's in your team coupled with
great defense..all you have to do is just manage the game (similar to what Plummer did last year/Dilfer did it for 2000). If your RB keeps scoring TD once you enter in Red Zone area, your QB looks great... Most of the games, Chargers won due to LT. Unfortunately, no one is able to shut down LT(except Ravens) this year.. The Day LT gets Shutdown and if River's wins the games for chargers, I will believe in him.. Remember he played awful for the past two games(before denver game) and yet they won the game.. I don't think any other team would have won those games if QB played that bad... Don't be happy with him for just few games.. Remember Tony Romo..how he was unbeatable... it takes only couple of games,then everything become normal.. |
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12-13-2006, 10:49 AM
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#19 |
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Ring of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,422
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He's accurate, he's been aided by his line and "the greatest rb in the history of the game", not to mention an elite tight end.
So far he's done pretty much what i expected. Nothing to really wow you, but don't tell San Diegans that. ESPN loves him and that's all that matters. And, for the second straight week, a TD pass by Jay Cutler "doesn't count" according to ESPN because the receiver helped him out again. So when Marvin Harrison tips a pass to himself while tiptoeing along the sideline of the endzone, it's considered "shooters touch". Same with Scheffler only there happens to be a defender behind Scheffler's hand and it's "bailing out the qb". How about the TD that Champ gave away to Gates and Rivers? His once or twice per year "mistake" that actually would have turned out to be a great play had he pulled it off, but since it's champ would have been expected (see last years AFC title game). Champ makes that play like he should have, and Filipe doesn't look so accurate anymore. 4 TD's, 2 INT's. Over the course of a full season that's 32/16 (i know this isn't exactly reliable). I could live with that for a rookie. |
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12-13-2006, 10:53 AM
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#20 |
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Master Baiter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 1,476
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LT and Gates still scare me more whenever we face San Diego.
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12-13-2006, 10:58 AM
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#21 |
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Sauced...
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 15,120
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I'll admit the kid is amazingly accurate... his throws also take all day to get to the reciever. Trust me he won't look as special next season once everyone has enough film on him. Greise also looked all world in the begining then everyone figured out they should cover the guy over the middle 5 yards off the line of scrimage. Not saying he isn't going to be a thorn in our side from time to time but this amazing run he is on won't last.
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12-13-2006, 11:10 AM
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#22 | |
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Ring of Famer
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dove Valley
Posts: 5,839
Adopt-a-Bronco: Spencer Larsen |
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12-13-2006, 11:13 AM
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#23 | |
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Billy=Semi Tough Big Guy
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: between 5,000 and 10,000 feet elevation
Posts: 12,665
Adopt-a-Bronco: John Elway |
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12-13-2006, 11:18 AM
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#24 |
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Aaaayh!!!
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,371
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Considering where San Diego's been drafting for the last 6 years, they should be this good. They've twice had the #1 pick and traded down. Vick and Eli equate to LT, Rivers, Merriman and Kaeding. Thats a lot of good moves that is paying good dividends. Still, next year we will be back on top.
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12-13-2006, 11:25 AM
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#25 |
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Guerrilla Ontologist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Future
Posts: 42,696
Adopt-a-Bronco: Prima Materia |
Rivers can make the throw when he needs to.
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