A New Starter Is Nothing New for the Chargers : Football: Just like last year, Tolliver is benched at quarterback after exhibition season. This year, John Friesz will start.
If it’s the week before the Chargers’ regular-season opener it must be time to change starting quarterbacks.
Like he did a year ago when he promoted Mark Vlasic, Coach Dan Henning has put a wrap on exhibition activities by benching Billy Joe Tolliver.
John Friesz, based on his 17-for-19 second-half performance for 210 yards against the Raiders Friday night, will assume command of the Chargers against the Steelers in Pittsburgh next Sunday.
The Steelers finished 1990 with the league’s top defense against the pass and were No. 1 overall in defensive performance. Pittsburgh allowed a league-low nine touchdowns via the air.
“I’m going to do the best I can,” Friesz said Saturday, “but they can’t expect miracles.”
However, that may be exactly what the Chargers have in mind.
“Maybe this is the catalyst,” General Manager Bobby Beathard said. “He did it. The real exciting thing was there was an opportunity, and he took advantage of it, and that tells you a little about a player.”
Friesz rebounded from a poor exhibition performance against San Francisco, and although he was pitted against the Raiders’ reserves, the Chargers were at their preseason best with Friesz at quarterback.
“You can’t deny what he did,” Tolliver said. “That’s very impressive . . . 17 for 19 . . . and he moved the football well. It’s like Dan said, that was the spark we needed right then.
“I’ve been in those same shoes once before in my career, so I know what it’s like. He just needs to run with it.”
Two years ago Tolliver was Charger fans’ favorite son. He completed 54.7 % of his passes in exhibition play, threw a pair of second-half touchdowns to beat San Francisco and was on his way to beating Phoenix when he went down with a broken collarbone.
Jim McMahon opened the regular season at quarterback, but when McMahon faltered, the home folk demanded Tolliver.
“I’ve seen Billy Tolliver do almost what John did two years ago (completing 24 of 39 passes for 350 yards against Washington),” Henning said. “The concern I have is he hasn’t progressed from that point a great deal.”
Tolliver went 8-11 as a starting quarterback and has been criticized by fans, the team’s owner and its general manager.
However, he has remained a stand-up athlete under pressure, and while many demoted players would have gone into hiding Saturday, Tolliver took on all questions.
“I didn’t get it done,” Tolliver said. “You got to put it behind you and I got to do whatever I can to help John, and that in turn will help us.”
And so now it’s Friesz who offers the promise of better days ahead.
“I read a headline today that said: ‘Fans Speak and Henning Listens,’ ” Henning said. “I think Friesz spoke and Henning listened. If the fans are in the choir with Friesz, so be it.”
Friesz’s only NFL start came in the team’s 1990 finale against the Raiders in the Los Angeles Coliseum. He completed 11 of 22 passes for 98 yards with a seven-yard touchdown pass to H-back Craig McEwen and an interception.
“He wasn’t as good in that game as I thought he was at the time,” said Henning, after reviewing videotape of the Chargers’ 17-12 defeat to the Raiders last December. “In fact he wasn’t very good at all.”
However, Friesz completed exhibition play hitting 67.9% (36-53) of his passes, threw two touchdown passes and had an interception. Tolliver completed 48.6% (36-74) of his passes with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
“I talked to (linebacker) Gary Plummer going into the 49ers’ game,” Friesz said, “and he said the worst thing for a defense is when a quarterback is just picking them apart and being real patient. That’s what I wanted to do, so I got it to the guys with sure hands that were running little option routes.
“I’m not trying to do anything spectacular. I will not be greedy. I’ll let the chains move slowly and let guys like Ronnie Harmon, Derrick Walker and Anthony Miller make the big plays. They’re the guys that are carrying this team, and I just want to get it to them and let them do what they can do.”
Henning said he can only go on what he sees. And while, “I don’t think John has played any better in the preseason than Billy Joe has,” he said, “we’ve been asking for somebody to step forward, and John did.
“I don’t see it as a game-to-game deal,” Henning added. “John Friesz is going to be the quarterback, and he’s going to get the same opportunities Tolliver has gotten to show us he can maintain the level he gave us (Friday night).”
Last year, Henning lifted Vlasic in favor of Tolliver in the fourth quarter of the opening game. Henning doesn’t figure to go to the bullpen as early this season.
“From what I’ve heard they’re going to be a little more patient than last year,” Friesz said. “Knowing that every pass isn’t critical and it doesn’t mean that I won’t get another play and be pulled out, I feel confident they are giving me a legitimate chance to show myself.”
Will Charger fans offer Tolliver another legitimate chance to succeed?
“It’s very difficult stepping up to bat with two strikes against you every time,” Tolliver said. “But that’s the hand I’ve been dealt.
“I think maybe our guys will rally around John a little bit and realize that he’s young and we need to play that much harder. I don’t want to take anything away from John. He’s a good football player, but it is tough.”
Henning, who has defended Tolliver in the past, said, “Tolliver is sitting there, I’m sure, waiting for another opportunity. I’ve never seen any give-up in Billy.
“I’m disappointed for Billy because I know the guy has worked at it. And he’s a competitor, but all that doesn’t weigh when, in my mind, you get beat out.”