joelbolt
11-01-2006, 11:31 PM
Chargers TE Gates scoring as he learns (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/chargers/2006-11-01-nfl-report_x.htm)
By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
Here's a remarkable revelation from San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates: The undrafted, former Kent State basketball player is still refining his ability to better diagnose defensive coverages.
And yet the 6-4, 260-pound Gates has scored 27 touchdowns in the last 36 games. Only Marvin Harrison, with 30 touchdown catches over that span, has more.
Gates, who has 32 catches for 384 yards with four touchdowns for 5-2 San Diego, spent time this offseason watching tape with secondary coach Brian Stewart to better understand defensive coverages.
"I'm still doing a lot of things on natural ability," Gates says. "It's scary. I'm still learning how to read coverages.
"I still struggle reading. Sometimes I don't know exactly what zone it is. I get mixed up. I had to learn how some teams play Cover 2 or Cover 6; how some teams play coverages different."
All the extra time Gates spent this offseason working with first-year starting quarterback Philip Rivers is paying dividends.
"Philip has a really, really quick release, but being with him so much this offseason, everything has slowed down for me," Gates says. "I have a great feel for him and vice versa."
By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
Here's a remarkable revelation from San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates: The undrafted, former Kent State basketball player is still refining his ability to better diagnose defensive coverages.
And yet the 6-4, 260-pound Gates has scored 27 touchdowns in the last 36 games. Only Marvin Harrison, with 30 touchdown catches over that span, has more.
Gates, who has 32 catches for 384 yards with four touchdowns for 5-2 San Diego, spent time this offseason watching tape with secondary coach Brian Stewart to better understand defensive coverages.
"I'm still doing a lot of things on natural ability," Gates says. "It's scary. I'm still learning how to read coverages.
"I still struggle reading. Sometimes I don't know exactly what zone it is. I get mixed up. I had to learn how some teams play Cover 2 or Cover 6; how some teams play coverages different."
All the extra time Gates spent this offseason working with first-year starting quarterback Philip Rivers is paying dividends.
"Philip has a really, really quick release, but being with him so much this offseason, everything has slowed down for me," Gates says. "I have a great feel for him and vice versa."