As a Charger fan and as a person that RESPECTS #13 a whole lot, one of our guys had written this comparison on Dan and Philip Rivers...please feel free to check it out.
We can be so fortunate out here in the west if Rivers can somewhat match the numbers that Dan put up --one can hope and pray.
As a disclaimer - by no way are we measuring Rivers next to Dan - he's got a LOOOOONG way to go before that...just some real interesting quotes from people in the industry. Please check it out and feel free to leave a comment.
It’s a natural thing to do, comparing players from different eras. It’s part of what we do in order to develop-- in our mind’s eye-- a picture of what we might expect from a young prospect as he ascends the professional learning curve.
For about five years now, many football people who’ve observed Philip Rivers’ development agree that the North Carolina State alum’s football tool set most closely resembles that of Dan Marino, who came into the NFL 21 years ahead of Rivers.
A number of characteristics factor into this comparison, among them height (each of them 6’ 4â€Â), weight (Marino came into the league at 224 pounds, Rivers at 226), and slowness afoot (neither could complete a 5.0 second 40 yard dash without benefit of a jetpack on his back). The other unmistakable physical similarity between the two is the distinctive semi-sidearm motion and whip-like release.
However, as if often the case, closer scrutiny reveals more similarities… AND differences. Both played in FIVE college ‘Bowl’ games, and each compiled a 4-1 mark. When Marino concluded his college career, he ranked 4th, all-time, in TDs (79) and 5th in passing yardage (8,597). Twenty-one years later when Rivers’ college days concluded, he ranked 5th all-time in TDs with 95 (16 more than Marino), and 2nd in passing yardage with 13,582.
In Heisman Trophy balloting, Marino finished fourth in 1982, while Rivers finished seventh in 2003. In the 1983 draft, Dan Marino was one of SIX quarterbacks selected in the first round. In the minds of many, Dan was the second best of the six prospects taken, but he slipped down the board because of a rumor-- never completely substantiated-- that he had tested positive for marijuana at the combine workouts.
Dan ended up being selected 27th overall by the Miami Dolphins, who were coming off a loss in the Super Bowl only a couple of months before. I’d like to see the statistical analysis of how seldom it is that a Super Bowl participant is able to select a franchise quarterback in the ensuing draft!
Rivers, on the other hand, was somebody who’s ascension up the draft board came relatively late. Believed at the beginning of his senior season to likely be a 2nd – 4th round draft pick, Philip gradually made his way up the charts. He finally sent his draft rating into the stratosphere with a spectacular week of workouts at the Senior Bowl (where Marty Schottenheimer just happened to be coaching Rivers’ South squad), and subsequent Senior Bowl victory and MVP honors.
CONTINUE THE ARTICLE HERE
http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/cfx/index.html
We can be so fortunate out here in the west if Rivers can somewhat match the numbers that Dan put up --one can hope and pray.
As a disclaimer - by no way are we measuring Rivers next to Dan - he's got a LOOOOONG way to go before that...just some real interesting quotes from people in the industry. Please check it out and feel free to leave a comment.
It’s a natural thing to do, comparing players from different eras. It’s part of what we do in order to develop-- in our mind’s eye-- a picture of what we might expect from a young prospect as he ascends the professional learning curve.
For about five years now, many football people who’ve observed Philip Rivers’ development agree that the North Carolina State alum’s football tool set most closely resembles that of Dan Marino, who came into the NFL 21 years ahead of Rivers.
A number of characteristics factor into this comparison, among them height (each of them 6’ 4â€Â), weight (Marino came into the league at 224 pounds, Rivers at 226), and slowness afoot (neither could complete a 5.0 second 40 yard dash without benefit of a jetpack on his back). The other unmistakable physical similarity between the two is the distinctive semi-sidearm motion and whip-like release.
However, as if often the case, closer scrutiny reveals more similarities… AND differences. Both played in FIVE college ‘Bowl’ games, and each compiled a 4-1 mark. When Marino concluded his college career, he ranked 4th, all-time, in TDs (79) and 5th in passing yardage (8,597). Twenty-one years later when Rivers’ college days concluded, he ranked 5th all-time in TDs with 95 (16 more than Marino), and 2nd in passing yardage with 13,582.
In Heisman Trophy balloting, Marino finished fourth in 1982, while Rivers finished seventh in 2003. In the 1983 draft, Dan Marino was one of SIX quarterbacks selected in the first round. In the minds of many, Dan was the second best of the six prospects taken, but he slipped down the board because of a rumor-- never completely substantiated-- that he had tested positive for marijuana at the combine workouts.
Dan ended up being selected 27th overall by the Miami Dolphins, who were coming off a loss in the Super Bowl only a couple of months before. I’d like to see the statistical analysis of how seldom it is that a Super Bowl participant is able to select a franchise quarterback in the ensuing draft!
Rivers, on the other hand, was somebody who’s ascension up the draft board came relatively late. Believed at the beginning of his senior season to likely be a 2nd – 4th round draft pick, Philip gradually made his way up the charts. He finally sent his draft rating into the stratosphere with a spectacular week of workouts at the Senior Bowl (where Marty Schottenheimer just happened to be coaching Rivers’ South squad), and subsequent Senior Bowl victory and MVP honors.
CONTINUE THE ARTICLE HERE
http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/cfx/index.html
