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2004 San Diego Chargers Season
The San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 35th season in the National Football League (NFL), its 45th overall and the third under head coach Marty Schottenheimer. It would be the first season the franchise would have involving quarterback Philip Rivers. The team improved on their 4–12 record in 2003 and finished the regular season 12–4, made the playoffs for the first time in nine years, and captured their first division title since the 1994 season. In the playoffs they lost in overtime to the New York Jets. At the end of the season Marty Schottenheimer was named NFL Coach of the Year. Offseason NFL draft Entering the draft, the consensus top pick was Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning. However, Manning had said prior to the draft that he did not want to play for the Chargers and would not sign with them if he was drafted. The Chargers would strike a deal with the Giants before the draft that would shape the future of both franchises. The Chargers would select Mann ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
AFC West
The American Football Conference – Western Division or AFC West is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division comprises the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers. The division has sent teams to the Super Bowl eighteen times beginning with Super Bowl I when the Chiefs played the Green Bay Packers. As of the 2021 season, the Broncos and Raiders were tied with the most Super Bowl wins within the division with 3 each; The Broncos have appeared in the most Super Bowls in the division with 8 and the Raiders have appeared in 5. The Chiefs are 2–2 in the Super Bowl, while the Chargers lost their lone Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XXIX. The Chiefs won the most recent AFC West title in 2022. It was their seventh consecutive AFC West title, moving them into a four-way tie with the Broncos, Raiders and Chargers for the most AFC West titles. History The di ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Quarterback
The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually considered the leader of the offense, and is often responsible for calling the play in the huddle. The quarterback also touches the ball on almost every offensive play, and is almost always the offensive player that throws forward passes. When the QB is tackled behind the line of scrimmage, it is called a sack. Overview In modern American football, the starting quarterback is usually the leader of the offense, and their successes and failures can have a significant impact on the fortunes of their team. Accordingly, the quarterback is among the most glorified, scrutinized, and highest-paid positions in team sports. '' Bleacher Report'' describes the signing of a starting quarterback as a Catch- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dave Ball (defensive End)
David Stewart Ball (born January 4, 1981) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, and earned unanimous All-American honors. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and has also played for the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans of the NFL. Early years Ball was born in Fairfield, California. He attended Dixon High School in Dixon, California, where he was a three-year letterman for the Dixon High School football and basketball teams. College career Ball attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played defensive end for the Bruins from 2000 to 2003. He was a starter during his final three seasons. In 2003, Ball tied for the national lead with 16.5 quarterback sacks, setting a UCLA record. He also set the UCLA record for most career sacks with 30.5. Ball earned unanimous All-A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Defensive End
Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football. This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formation (American football), formations over the years have substantially changed how the position is played. History Early formations, with six- and seven-man line defense, seven-man lines, used the end as a containment player, whose job was first to prevent an "end run" around his position, then secondarily to force plays inside. When most teams adopted a five-man line, two different styles of end play developed: "crashing" ends, who rushed into the backfield to disrupt plays, and "stand-up" or "waiting" ends, who played the more traditional containment style. Some teams would use both styles of end play, depending on game situations. Traditionally, defensive ends are in a three-point stance, with their free hand cocked back ready to "punch" an offensive lineman, or in a two-point stance like a strong safety ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shaun Phillips
Shaun Jamal Phillips (born May 13, 1981) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football for Purdue and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Phillips has also been a member of the Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans, and Indianapolis Colts. Early years Phillips grew up in Willingboro, New Jersey and attended Willingboro High School, lettering in football, basketball, and track. In football, he was an All-City selection, an All-South Jersey selection, and an All-State selection. College career Phillips accepted a scholarship offer to attend Purdue University following high school, choosing Purdue in part due to his desire to catch passes from quarterback Drew Brees as a tight end. After being forced to sit out his freshman season due to low standardized test scores, Phillips was immediately assigned to the defensive side of the ball, and started as a freshman at defensive end. He earned All-Big Ten honorable menti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2003 Purdue Boilermakers Football Team
The 2003 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Tiller and played its home games at Ross–Ade Stadium. Purdue played thirteen games in the 2003 season, finishing with a 9–4 record and a loss in the Capital One Bowl to Georgia. Schedule Roster Game summaries Bowling Green State A Purdue Boilermaker football team loaded with experience (8 senior starters on defense) entered 2003 with high expectations (#18 preseason ranking), but they suffered a stunning opening day 27-26 upset loss to the MAC's Bowling Green Falcons. After Purdue took the season's opening drive for a touchdown (a jump-ball touchdown catch by 6' 9" freshman WR Kyle Ingraham), Bowling Green QB Josh Harris responded with outstanding clutch play, throwing for 350 yards and 3 touchdowns in the see-saw contest. Midway through the 4th quarter with Purdue leading 24–20, the Boilermaker offense could not tak ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Center (gridiron Football)
Center or Centre (C) is a position in gridiron football. The center is the innermost Lineman (American football), lineman of the offensive line on a football team's Offense (sports), offense. The center is also the player who passes (or "Snap (gridiron football), snaps") the ball between his legs to the quarterback at the start of each Play from scrimmage, play. The importance of centers for a football team has increased, due to the re-emergence of 3–4 defenses. According to Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, "you need to have somebody who can neutralize that nose tackle. If you don't, everything can get screwed up. Your running game won't be effective and you'll also have somebody in your quarterback's face on every play." Roles The center's first role is to pass the football to the quarterback. This exchange is called a snap. Most offensive schemes make adjustments based on how the defensive line and linebackers align themselves in relation to the offensive line, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nick Hardwick (American Football)
Nicholas Adam Hardwick (born September 2, 1981) is an American former professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL), playing his entire 11-year career for the San Diego Chargers. He was selected by the Chargers in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2006. He played college football for Purdue. High school career Hardwick attended at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. Unlike most of his peers, he did not play high school football, having "ditched" the sport in the ninth grade. He was a three-year varsity letterman in wrestling and won a state championship. College career Hardwick was a sophomore economics major at Purdue University when his future San Diego Chargers teammate Drew Brees led the Boilermakers to the 2001 Rose Bowl. Inspired, he joined the football team as a walk-on, initially playing as a defensive tackle. The next year, he became the team’s starting center and ea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2003 Iowa Hawkeyes Football Team
The 2003 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. Following a 2002 season that saw the Hawkeyes finish 11–2 with a Big Ten Conference championship, expectations for a third straight bowl game were well warranted. With four offensive starters and seven defensive starters returning from the 2002 season, the Hawkeyes looked to be a primarily defensive team going into the season. The Hawkeyes opened the season strong, winning games over Miami, Buffalo, Iowa State and Arizona State en route to a 4–0 record. Undefeated and ranked ninth in the country, the Hawkeyes headed into East Lansing, Michigan for their Big Ten opener. Playing a Michigan State Spartans team that had just beaten Notre Dame a week earlier, the Hawkeyes turned the ball over four times and committed ten penalties in a 20–10 loss. However, with Michigan next up on the schedule, things would get no easier for the Hawke ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker (PK or K), is the player in gridiron football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals and extra points. In many cases, the placekicker also serves as the team's kickoff specialist or punter. Specialized role The kicker initially was not a specialized role. Prior to the 1934 standardization of the prolate spheroid shape of the ball, drop kicking was the prevalent method of kicking field goals and conversions, but even after its replacement by place kicking, until the 1960s the kicker almost always doubled at another position on the roster. George Blanda, Lou Groza, Frank Gifford and Paul Hornung are prominent examples of players who were stars at other positions as well as being known for their kicking abilities. When the one-platoon system was abolished in the 1940s, the era of "two-way" players gave way to increased specialization, teams would employ a specialist at the punter or kicker position. Ben Agajanian, who started his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nate Kaeding
Nathaniel James Kaeding (born March 26, 1982) is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played the majority of his career with the San Diego Chargers and retired after the 2012 season. Playing college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Kaeding earned All-American honors and won the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the top collegiate kicker in the nation. The Chargers drafted him in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He was twice named to the Pro Bowl, and he was a two-time All-Pro selection. However, he struggled in the playoffs, making just 8 of 15 (53.3%) field goals. He was released by San Diego midway through the 2012 season after a groin injury. He finished the season with the Miami Dolphins before retiring. Early years Kaeding was born in Iowa City, Iowa. He attended Iowa City West High School, and played high school football for the Iowa City West High Trojans. He won two state championships a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2003 Oregon Ducks Football Team
The 2003 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon during the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season The 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with an abundance of controversy, resulting in the claim of a split national championship. This was the first claimed split title since the inception of the BCS, something the BCS intended to elimi .... Before the season Recruiting Schedule Game summaries Mississippi State *Source:''ESPN Nevada Arizona Michigan *Source:'' *Highest ranked non-conference opponent Oregon defeated at home Washington State Utah Arizona State Stanford Washington California UCLA Oregon State Sun Bowl (Minnesota) References {{Oreg ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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