Gates gets defensive
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
by Casey Pearce , Chargers.com
In attempt to cover all of his bases this offseason, Chargers tight end Antonio Gates is getting defensive.
Gates is spending an extensive amount time with Chargers secondary coach Brian Stewart in hopes of gaining a better understanding of defenses. Stewart is taking Gates through an in-depth study of defensive coverages and teaching him how to recognize how opponents are trying to cover him.
“I’m entering my fourth year in this league and I feel like there’s so much more I have to learn about the game,” Gates said. “I approached Brian and asked him to share some of his knowledge with me. He’s been a lot of help.”
Gates is coming off a year in which he led all NFL tight ends in receptions (89), receiving yards (1,101) and touchdowns (10). He believes that getting into the minds of those trying to cover him will help him get even better.
“I want to be able to think like a defensive player,” Gates said. “When we’re in a game, defensive guys are calling out a lot of things that they recognize. I want to get a better understanding of what they’re looking at and what they’re taught to do. It would make my job easier.”
Gates believes that working with Stewart is paying dividends. As he studies film, the All Pro is recognizing more and more little things that he thinks will help him find creases in defenses.
“It’s not like I didn’t know what I was looking at before, but I’m getting a lot more confident,” Gates said. “When I know certain coverages and I can read where a team is playing, I can figure out where my man has help coming from. That allows me to know how he’s going to play me. You want to understand situations. It’s been very beneficial and I can’t wait to apply it to games this fall.”
The Detroit native is also getting a head start studying the Chargers’ 2006 opponents. He hopes to get a feel for what certain defenders like to do in the situations that he’s studying.
“Even when you figure out what coverage they’re playing, there are still guys who are going to gamble and take chances,” Gates said. “I’m trying to identify some of those guys so I’ll know who won’t necessarily be playing you by the book. I’m just trying to learn everything that I can.”
In addition to growing mentally, Gates is also focused on making strides physically. He’s been a regular in the weight room throughout the team’s offseason conditioning program and hopes to benefit from a little added strength.
“I’ve proven that I can catch the football, but being a complete tight end and a complete player is about more than that,” Gates said. “I want to be a great blocker. People don’t realize how difficult it is to block a 270-pound defensive end. I hope that the work I put in this offseason will just help me get better in every area of my game.”
“I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish, but you can’t ever believe that you’ve arrived,” Gates said. “I’m always trying to find ways to get better. I really believe that my time spent studying the game is going to help me do that.”
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
by Casey Pearce , Chargers.com
In attempt to cover all of his bases this offseason, Chargers tight end Antonio Gates is getting defensive.
Gates is spending an extensive amount time with Chargers secondary coach Brian Stewart in hopes of gaining a better understanding of defenses. Stewart is taking Gates through an in-depth study of defensive coverages and teaching him how to recognize how opponents are trying to cover him.
“I’m entering my fourth year in this league and I feel like there’s so much more I have to learn about the game,” Gates said. “I approached Brian and asked him to share some of his knowledge with me. He’s been a lot of help.”
Gates is coming off a year in which he led all NFL tight ends in receptions (89), receiving yards (1,101) and touchdowns (10). He believes that getting into the minds of those trying to cover him will help him get even better.
“I want to be able to think like a defensive player,” Gates said. “When we’re in a game, defensive guys are calling out a lot of things that they recognize. I want to get a better understanding of what they’re looking at and what they’re taught to do. It would make my job easier.”
Gates believes that working with Stewart is paying dividends. As he studies film, the All Pro is recognizing more and more little things that he thinks will help him find creases in defenses.
“It’s not like I didn’t know what I was looking at before, but I’m getting a lot more confident,” Gates said. “When I know certain coverages and I can read where a team is playing, I can figure out where my man has help coming from. That allows me to know how he’s going to play me. You want to understand situations. It’s been very beneficial and I can’t wait to apply it to games this fall.”
The Detroit native is also getting a head start studying the Chargers’ 2006 opponents. He hopes to get a feel for what certain defenders like to do in the situations that he’s studying.
“Even when you figure out what coverage they’re playing, there are still guys who are going to gamble and take chances,” Gates said. “I’m trying to identify some of those guys so I’ll know who won’t necessarily be playing you by the book. I’m just trying to learn everything that I can.”
In addition to growing mentally, Gates is also focused on making strides physically. He’s been a regular in the weight room throughout the team’s offseason conditioning program and hopes to benefit from a little added strength.
“I’ve proven that I can catch the football, but being a complete tight end and a complete player is about more than that,” Gates said. “I want to be a great blocker. People don’t realize how difficult it is to block a 270-pound defensive end. I hope that the work I put in this offseason will just help me get better in every area of my game.”
“I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish, but you can’t ever believe that you’ve arrived,” Gates said. “I’m always trying to find ways to get better. I really believe that my time spent studying the game is going to help me do that.”
how is that reactionary? it's not going out on a limb to say that Rivers will struggle in this,his first season as a starting QB..look, Palmer struggled in his first year as a starter,despite the fact that he sat for a full season to learn the offense...Big Ben is the exception to the rule,but generally speaking, qb's will struggle in their first year as a starter..
If you're right, Rivers is the SOD in just about every fantasy draft thus far.
