Henning Continues to Give Friesz High Marks : Pro football: Despite his low rating among AFC quarterbacks, the Chargers’ young leader is impressing the coaches with his composure.

John Friesz is rated 11th out of 13 AFC quarterbacks in Monday’s statistics, but Coach Dan Henning rated him much higher than that in his Monday news conference.

Henning expounded on the virtues of Friesz for almost 10 minutes.

“He’s made good strides,” Henning said. “How far he’s able to go from this point will depend on the ability you have to stretch the defense and how well you’re going to be able to protect him and allow him to stretch the defense.

“I think he’s got the arm to stretch the field sideline to sideline and the ability to throw the deep ball. He has the touch and the accuracy underneath. I’m convinced that he can read,” he said. “I’m convinced that he can throw all the necessary passes that a drop-back passer needs to throw.”

But Henning said he’s most impressed with Friesz’s composure.

“More quarterbacks in this league get themselves in trouble by being up and downers,” Henning said. “John is not like that.”

Friesz is not threatening Cleveland quarterback Bernie Kosar’s NFL record, but after Sunday’s game he has thrown 68 consecutive passes without an interception. Kosar’s record, set Sunday against Philadelphia, is 308.

In his past four games, Friesz has completed 98 of 153 passes (64.1%). For the season, he improved his completion percentage to 55.1%.

Rookie wide receiver Shawn Jefferson did not play a snap on offense Sunday and appears to be in Henning’s doghouse.

Henning said Jefferson, acquired from Houston in the Lee Williams trade, is still having a hard time learning his position.

“Sometimes he falls back on what he learned at Houston,” Henning said. “He’s not as completely accountable assignment-wise as Nate (Lewis) and Kitrick (Taylor), who have been with us for more than a year.”

But Henning stopped short of saying that Jefferson has been a disappointment.

“I don’t know why we would expect him to do anymore than he’s done,” he said. “We had to spot him because you can’t determine exactly what he’s going to do under every situation and I don’t think he can either. Whether he is a disappointment or not would have to be determined in the off-season.”

Although wide receiver Anthony Miller no longer is dropping passes, Henning said Miller, who has been to the Pro Bowl twice, still has not fully recovered from his hamstring problems.

Henning said that was proven in the second quarter when Seattle safety Brian Davis ran down Miller from behind at the Seattle nine.

“He’s healthier, but I don’t think he’s 100% back though,” Henning said. “If he’s 100%, I think he would have run away from that guy.”

Henning said he blamed Miller’s health for his earlier problems catching the ball.

“When his legs aren’t right, he’s not right,” Henning said. “Whenever he’s been healthy, he’s been 100% for us. In 1989, he only dropped two passes the whole year. Last year he was hurt a bit and dropped some. This year he’s been hurt a bunch and he’s dropped a bunch.”

Henning said recent adjustments are the biggest reasons why the Chargers have begun putting pressure on the passer.

The Chargers had a season-high four sacks Sunday after entering the game with just 13.

Henning said more liberal substitution has kept players fresh. That allowed them more energy to rush the passer.

He also said a variety of formations has confused defenses and given the Chargers better lanes for rushing the passer.

One formation has outside linebacker/defensive end Leslie O’Neal and defensive end Burt Grossman lining up off the ball and standing as if they are linebackers.

“They are sliding along the line so the (opponent) can’t determine whether they’re in coverage or whether they are going to (blitz),” Henning said.

It wasn’t your imagination. Seattle did get four timeouts in the first half. Henning said the officials told him one of Seattle’s timeouts was switched to a television timeout.