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Comfort Zone: Rivers, who played plenty at N.C. State, benefited by sitting for a while at San Diego
AP File Photo
Philip Rivers has passed for over 6,000 yards and 44 touchdowns for San Diego.
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Published: September 6, 2008
When Philip Rivers went to N.C. State in 2000, he was thrown into action quickly.
He started his very first game as a freshman, then never missed a game in four years. He rewrote the school's record book, set five ACC passing records and climbed to No. 2 on the NCAA list for career passing yards.
When Rivers joined the San Diego Chargers as a rookie in 2004, he wasn't thrown into action much at all.
He spent his first two NFL seasons as a backup to Drew Brees, playing in just four games during mop-up time. He didn't take over the starting spot until 2006, when the Chargers made the commitment to him and let Brees leave in free agency.
But once again, the numbers are starting to accumulate quickly.
Rivers has passed for more than 6,000 yards and has 44 touchdown passes in his two seasons as a starter. And more impressive, he has led the Chargers to a 25-7 regular-season record -- which is more wins than any NFL quarterback except New England's Tom Brady, who has 28.
The Chargers went 11-5 last season, then beat Tennessee and Indianapolis in the playoffs before losing to New England in the AFC championship game.
As the Chargers prepare to take on the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in San Diego in a regular-season opener, Rivers can look back at those first two professional seasons as the foundation for his success.
He didn't like sitting on the bench at the time, but he got to understand the NFL game, and he got to fully understand the special talents of teammates LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates and others.
"When you get here as a rookie, you start over like you did as a freshman in college," Rivers said in a teleconference from San Diego earlier this week. "You have to start building that trust and respect with your teammates. For me here, not playing the first two years was somewhat tough because you have to take a little bit of a back seat, and rightfully so, when you're not out there every Sunday. But it was still important those first two years to lay the groundwork for when I did get the chance."
Rivers was voted to the Pro Bowl in his first season as a starter. Now, it's merely a matter of getting better with age. At 27, he is just starting to enter his prime.
"When I got (the starting job), I was able to step in and keep it going from a leadership standpoint," Rivers said. "You have to earn it out there on the field. You can work hard in practice, work hard in the weight room, show the guys you're working, but until you prove it on the field -- that was the turning point. And now, the more you play, the more experience you have, the more you continue to develop into your role."
Coach Norv Turner has been pleased with Rivers' development, and with the football smarts that Rivers showed throughout his years at N.C. State. At first, Tomlinson's running took the pressure off Rivers. Then, Rivers' passing eventually kept defenses honest with Tomlinson.
"He obviously benefitted from not having to play right away," Turner said. "He had a chance to play behind Drew, and when he got his chance, he played really well. I think the approach was fairly conservative early -- lead with LT and manage a game. I think he has grown over the last two years from that.
"Obviously we played in games last year where teams did a great job of shutting LT down. And through the second half of the year, that was probably one of the keys for us, we got balanced and we were able to take advantage of some great opportunities in the passing game. And it came back around and created opportunities for LT."
Rivers is quick to say he was blessed to be in this situation.
Tomlinson was the NFL's leading rusher last season, and was the NFL's most valuable player and offensive player of the year the season before that. Gates is a four-time Pro Bowl selection.
"I think I came into a great situation," Rivers said. "We have the weapons on offense, and our defense has been outstanding, too. It's a heck of a football team to play quarterback for."
There is pressure. The Chargers are the elite team in the AFC West and have been "on the brink of something special," in Rivers' words. But they have New England and Indianapolis and others to contend with in the playoffs if they are to make it to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla.
"We fell short of the ultimate goal the past couple of years but we've continued to climb up that mountain," Rivers said.
■ John Delong can be reached at jdelong@wsjournal.com.
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