Tolliver, Friesz Can’t Understand Firing

Those looking to Billy Joe Tolliver for insight into Tuesday’s firing of offensive coordinator Ted Tollner can look elsewhere.

“I just don’t understand the move,” Tolliver said. “Who knows why things happen around there? I guess anything can be done. I just don’t know what to say.”

Tolliver was the Chargers’ starting quarterback for the better part of two seasons, until he was replaced by John Friesz after the final exhibition game. Three days after that loss to the Raiders, Tolliver was traded to the Atlanta Falcons for a draft pick.

Friesz was also caught off guard by the move.

“Obviously, I’m surprised,” he said. “But that decision has been made by other people. I’m not going to get caught up in it. I have enough things to worry about right now.”

Tolliver said he felt badly that Tollner was being blamed for the offense’s recent problems. During his first two seasons with the Chargers, Tolliver worked closely with Tollner, the team’s quarterback coach.

“It’s just too bad for Ted,” Tolliver said. “He’s a good coach. It’s really unfortunate. But Ted will do fine. I know he’ll land on his feet.”

Friesz had nothing but praise for Tollner.

“Ted was good to me,” Friesz said. “He brought me a long way in the last 15 months. He spent a lot of extra time working with me. Most of the success I’ve had here has been because of Ted.”

In those 15 months, Friesz said he never doubted Tollner’s abilities.

“I felt very comfortable with everything he told me,” he said. “I’ve been 100% behind Ted.”

Tolliver said the recent moves might indicate that many within the Charger organization are under an increasing amount of pressure to win immediately.

“People are starting to get tight,” Tolliver said from Atlanta. “People are getting impatient.”

Still, Tolliver said he was surprised at the timing of Tollner’s firing.

“I thought the offense was getting better,” he said. “Every year they were getting another player to help. I thought it was going in the right direction.”

However, Tolliver acknowledged that the offense might have moved in the right direction sooner with more talent.

“There’s a bunch of good players in San Diego, but they’re just not that deep at every position like the good teams are,” he said. “With their talent, you have to be 100% perfect against the good teams to have a chance. There’s no margin for error.”

With Henning becoming the new offensive coordinator, Friesz said he expects to see subtle changes.

“It’s still going to be our offense, but there may be plays called at different times and there may be a couple new plays,” he said.

Tolliver says he thinks Henning will give the offense a chance to succeed.

“He’s got a good offensive mind,” Tolliver said. “I don’t think anybody’s questioned his ability to direct an offense.”

Friesz said he hopes the move will bring the offense out of its doldrums.

“I think things will change,” he said. “I just wish things could have changed earlier to save Ted’s job. . . . I’m just trying to go about my job and make sure they don’t make any more changes.”