Chargers Will Turn to Flick : With 2 Quarterbacks Hurt, He’ll Make First NFL Start on Sunday
The last time Charger quarterback Tom Flick started a football game, his University of Washington team beat Iowa, 28-0, in the 1982 Rose Bowl.
The last time Charger tight end Pete Holohan played quarterback was nine years ago when he started three games as a freshman for the Notre Dame junior varsity.
Guess what’s in store for the Chargers, who have lost seven straight?
Flick is scheduled to make his National Football League starting debut for the Chargers against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.
And Holohan is his backup.
It has been a hectic couple of weeks for Charger quarterbacks.
The characters changed this week, but the script sounds familiar.
Quarterback suffers a concussion in Sunday’s loss. Backup quarterback learns Monday that he will start the next game.
On Oct. 19, Dan Fouts suffered a concussion against Kansas City. He was replaced by Mark Herrmann.
On Sunday, Herrmann suffered a concussion when he was sacked by Andre Waters in the fourth quarter of the Chargers’ 23-7 loss to Philadelphia.
Herrmann is listed as questionable to doubtful this week and Fouts is doubtful.
Enter Flick, who had thrown only one pass this season before replacing Herrmann against the Eagles. Flick completed 5 of 16 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown, the first of his professional career.
“I was pleased by the way he (Flick) threw the ball,” Charger Coach Don Coryell said. “He might have to carry the load this week.”
It has been a long road for Flick since his days as at Washington.
Flick was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 1981 draft and bounced around to New England and Cleveland before spending last season out of football.
“It’s kind of a miracle I’m here,” said Flick, who had completed 14 of 33 passes for 145 yards in three NFL seasons before this one. “I was keeping the house clean for my wife while she worked last year. I wasn’t even sure I liked football. It had became distasteful. I took football off a pedestal. It’s a game. You have fun. That’s why I had fun in the preseason.”
As a free agent, Flick completed 25 of 39 passes for 446 yards and 6 touchdowns in two exhibition games to make the Chargers.
After eight games, Flick gets his big chance.
Flick said he doesn’t feel any pressure about starting and isn’t concerned about making a quick impression.
“I grew up trying to impress people in high school and college,” Flick said. “It’s just not worth it. It’s a waste of time.”
While Flick started preparing for the Chiefs Monday, Herrmann still was suffering from a headache and stiff neck.
“Mark suffered a whiplash-type injury that affects his neck,” said Dr. Lee Rice, Charger team physician. “He is questionable. We don’t really know how fast he’ll come around. He could be used in an emergency, but we would hope not to use him.”
Herrmann might be able to practice on a limited basis toward the end of the week.
“It’s gotten better,” Herrmann said early Monday afternoon, “but not a whole lot better.”
Herrmann remembered getting hit by Waters and coming to his knees, but that was all.
Fouts, meanwhile, is recovering.
“Dan is the best today he’s been so far,” Rice said. “Mentally, he’s clear and his headache is gone. We’ll start him exercising today on the bike.
“But he’s doubtful for Sunday’s game. It would probably be in his best interest to hold off until the following week (Nov. 9 against Denver). If he had not had the other one (concussion), we’d be a little bit more liberal in our allowing him to be active and increase his physical activity program. We’re trying to take it slow and cautious because of his past history.”
Fouts also suffered a concussion and broken nose against the Raiders Sept. 28.
Coryell said Herrmann would be used only in an emergency against the Chiefs. He added that there is a chance the Chargers might sign another quarterback this week.
As of Monday, Flick’s backup is Holohan.
“There were 15 quarterbacks on scholarship (at Notre Dame) and they gave me uniform No. 31,” Holohan recalled. “It wasn’t long before I became a wide receiver.”
The highlight of his brief career as a quarterback was a 57-yard touchdown pass.
With the Chargers, Holohan has completed one of three passes, a 25-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Joiner in the 1984 season opener against Minnesota.
“It’s loose,” said Holohan, warming up his right arm Monday afternoon. “I’m sure I’ll throw a little seven on seven this week if Dan and Mark aren’t practicing.”
As for facing the Chiefs, Holohan said: “Hopefully it won’t happen. It’s a situation you don’t want. If I do get in, I don’t think we’d run too many nine routes (deep patterns).”
Quarterback has become a source of pain and gallows humor for the Chargers.
“We have Gary Losse (another Charger team physician) warming up,” Rice said joking.
Charger Notes
Injury Report: Defensive back Vencie Glenn (concussion against the Eagles), safety Jeff Dale (injured foot) and wide receiver Wes Chandler (injured his foot against the Chiefs two weeks ago and played briefly against the Eagles) are expected to play against the Chiefs. Linebacker Mark Fellows suffered a hip pointer and is expected to miss Sunday’s game. . . . The Chargers were forced to land at Miramar Naval Air Station Sunday night because Lindbergh Field was fogged in.