COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Brenden Rice already had lots to show because the son of Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Jerry Rice.
Not being chosen till the 225th choose within the NFL draft two weeks in the past added extra gasoline to the hearth.
Many thought Rice can be a middle-round choose. As an alternative, he didn’t go till the seventh spherical, when the Los Angeles Chargers chosen the Southern California large receiver.
“My dad was sizzling,” Rice stated about not going till late within the third day. “The primary phrases he stated was, ‘Time to go to work.’ He stated, ‘I shall be with you each step of the best way.’ He stated, ‘Now, I’m going to be concerned in your whole exercises any further, and we have now lots of people to show incorrect, a whole lot of groups that go forward.’ It’s going to be one hell of a narrative.”
Rice watched loads of tape of his father whereas rising up, however he has a distinct physique sort.
“I mannequin my recreation after the larger kinds of receivers — the (Raiders’) Davante Adams, the (Titans’) Calvin Ridleys extra so, and even (Tampa Bay’s) Mike Evans,” Rice stated. “Having the ability to go forward and be bodily on the high of the route, create separation, or go up and make a jump-ball play, these kinds of performs, and be constant for my quarterback as nicely.”
As an alternative of wallowing in what he described as a irritating draft course of, Rice is making an attempt to look forward. With the Chargers rebuilding at large receiver, he can have loads of alternatives to indicate he deserves a spot on the roster.
“The whole lot’s upon me. In the event you guys don’t see me approaching this fall, that’s on me,” he stated. “In the event you guys see me on the market, then I put within the crucial work to place my greatest foot within the door and go on the market and produce.”
Really helpful Tales
After transferring from Colorado, Rice confirmed throughout his two seasons at USC that he’s a bodily receiver and nicely developed as a route runner. He led the Trojans with 12 receiving touchdowns final season together with profession highs in catches (45) and yards (791).
Moreover having Caleb Williams as his quarterback, Rice felt as if the switch benefited his recreation in different areas as nicely.
“I felt as if, after I went to USC, my IQ simply occurred to take one other bounce to a different degree,” he stated. “With that, I used to be in a position to go forward and discover holes into defenses, learn coverages, learn shadow methods, learn the DBs and what they’re going to do, watch the movie and know what I’m going to get from them, and what I’m going to see on recreation day.”
Rice goes from Williams — whom Chicago chosen with the primary total choose within the draft — to a different high quarterback in Justin Herbert. Rice is anticipated to be a helpful choice for Herbert when working the center of the sphere, particularly after Mike Williams was launched and Keenan Allen was traded to the Bears.
Rice was certainly one of three receivers the Chargers drafted. Ladd McConkey was picked within the second spherical, and Cornelius Johnson additionally went within the seventh spherical.
“Brenden has a whole lot of explosive performs down the sphere and lengthy landing manufacturing — Arizona State, UCLA, Stanford, these video games. He can stretch the sphere vertically,” Chargers assistant common supervisor Chad Alexander stated. “He does a whole lot of issues that you just actually, actually like. He blocks and does a very good job.”
Rice and the remainder of the Chargers’ draft class and undrafted free brokers are getting on top of things throughout this weekend’s rookie minicamp. Coach Jim Harbaugh lauded your entire rookie class after Friday’s apply for its preparation. Harbaugh additionally realizes there may be little time, particularly with on-field actions with the entire staff beginning in a few weeks.
“Consider it this fashion — we have now the veterans who’ve been going for about 5 weeks now. Pondering that is my job,” Harbaugh stated. “We’ve got rookies which might be approaching. They’re coming onto the (Interstate) 405. That visitors is transferring quick. Right here come these new gamers (this weekend) to get them to grasp the system, to be taught the performs in order that they gained’t decelerate the veterans after they merge on Monday.”
