San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers earned the 2013 Comeback Player of the Year award by operating as Peyton Manning lite. He diagnosed the defense's intention before the snap, torched blitzes and tossed accurate passes to a bevy of receivers.
Now we have reason to believe Rivers will be running Manning's old Colts offense in 2014.
On Friday's edition of the "Around The League Podcast," NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks revealed that Rivers is running the same heavy no-huddle scheme that the Colts used when new Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich was Manning's position coach in Indianapolis.
Reich is even incorporating "K-Gun" concepts from his playing days as Jim Kelly's backup in Buffalo -- when both were teammates of Brooks.
"I think they're going to give Philip Rivers more leeway than he's ever had," Brooks explained. "I think you're going to see them play at a pace that we haven't seen them play at, and I think they're ramping up and they'll be far more exciting than we're used to seeing the Chargers in terms of passing."
That faster pace should lead to more plays and scoring opportunities while limiting defensive substitutions, in similar fashion to offenses run by the Broncos, Patriots and Eagles.
One of the primary beneficiaries will be Making the Leap candidate Ladarius Green, who was limited to a deep threat role as the No. 2 tight end last season.
Brooks believes Green is ready to outproduce Antonio Gates as long as Reich uses more two-tight end sets this season. The Bolts need Green's speed and playmaking ability down the seam to complement Keenan Allen on the outside.
We have been overlooking the Chargers as the 2014 Team of ATL. With Rivers at the helm of a more exciting fast-break offense, they are now on our radar.
*The latest "Around The League Podcast" picks the best receiver group in the NFL, and goes deep previewing the season with Bucky Brooks. *
