Chargers Say Gagliano Will Start Against Chiefs
Jack Reilly, the Chargers’ quarterback coach and offensive play-caller, said Wednesday he is preparing for the team’s regular-season opener with Kansas City with Bob Gagliano in mind as the team’s starting quarterback.
“Whew, that’s what I’ve been waiting to hear,” Gagliano said. “I gathered that, but I don’t ever take anything for granted, I’ll tell you that. There’s no security in football or most things in life. You can’t let up.”
The Chargers have said they will wait until after tonight’s exhibition finale in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium with the Rams to name a starting quarterback, but Coach Bobby Ross also conceded Wednesday that Gagliano has a decisive edge on Stan Humphries.
“It would have to be a helluva performance (by Humphries),” Ross said, “and Bob would have to just fall flat on his face.”
Reilly, however, has watched Gagliano at work this summer and does not foresee such a collapse.
“Everything I know about him, I think that would be hard to believe,” Reilly said. “I’m preparing for Kansas City as if Gagliano will be the starter. I feel comfortable saying that, and I’ve talked to Coach Ross, and he does, too.
“And when we commit to a starting quarterback we’re not going to just pull him to pull him. He becomes the starter, and then we’ll just see how everything unfolds at that point.”
Gagliano has continued to guide the first offensive unit in practice since John Friesz’s season-ending knee injury, and he has remained sharp. Humphries, who reported 10 pounds overweight, has struggled at times with the Charger offense.
“Bob still has to go out and play well, consistently well,” Ross said. “He has done that and I don’t see any reason why that won’t happen. He’s been very consistent.
“But I don’t want to see us go in there and flub. You know what I’m talking about: three interceptions, two fumbles, we’re staggering at the line . . . It’s not having the confidence in Bob, it’s just that we did make the commitment on going through the whole exhibition thing and I think we should.
“Now obviously we wouldn’t be starting him if we didn’t think he was ahead. He’s done very well.”
There has been a feeling within the organization that the team is looking for the opportunity to start Humphries, much like it did a year ago when it wanted Friesz to replace Billy Joe Tolliver. Such a feeling would explain the delay in naming Gagliano the team’s starting quarterback for the regular season.
“I think under the circumstances with the trade, that’s what people would anticipate,” Reilly said. “But I think everybody wants a quarterback to go in and be competitive and have the Chargers win. That’s what we’re all looking for.”
Reilly said the quarterback that gives the Chargers the best chance to win at this time is Gagliano. He said based on Gagliano’s performance and the fact that Humphries has had limited practice and playing time, it’s too much to expect that to change in one last exhibition game.
“Bob has risen to the occasion in the past two weeks and it has been impressive,” Reilly said. “I think the players and the coaches has a lot of confidence in what he’s doing at this point.”
Gagliano, who is 7-5 as a starting quarterback in the NFL, will play the first quarter and on into the second before being relieved by Humphries. The Rams, 3-0 in exhibition play, are allowing an average of 12 points a game.
“If they decide to start Bob, I can’t say that’s wrong or right,” Humphries said. “If they make the decision that Bob’s their guy then I will go up to Coach Ross and tell him, ‘Hey, anytime, anywhere, I’m here.’
“When you only have eight to 10 days to try take a job from a guy that’s been here a year, that’s an uphill battle. I’d say I’m probably 85% feeling comfortable on the field and knowing everything that’s going on. But I’m not giving up yet; let’s wait and see what happens with the first game.”
Ross said he will play his starters into the third quarter against the Rams.
“One of the things we need to improve upon, which I will address with our team, is in the last two games we came out and put three points on the board in the second half,” Ross said. “We’ve got to do better than that in the second half.”
He said he plans to hold out defensive tackle George Thornton (ankle), defensive end Burt Grossman (knee), guard Mike Zandofsky (knee) and wide receiver Shawn Jefferson (hamstring).
Jefferson’s injury continues to cause concerns for the Chargers. Ross said that it will be an 11th-hour decision on whether to carry Jefferson on the roster or on injured reserve.
“We’re not doing a thing with him for two weeks,” Ross said. “Then we’re going to see where we are, and make that decision. I don’t want him to have to go on injured reserve.”