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 Foley saves Seahawks' day
Posted: Monday September 20, 1999 05:22 PM
This week's Unsung Heroes is led off by the young offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers, Geep Chryst. In his first game as an NFL coordinator, he helped get the Chargers a win on the road. Due to the wackiness of the NFL schedule, San Diego had a bye on the opening weekend. No veteran coordinator -- let alone a rookie one -- has ever had to prepare for an opener against another team that already had a regular-season game under its belt. Most football people believe the most significant progress made by an offense comes between Games 1 and 2. Add in the fact that this was an away game, and I'm even more impressed. The Chargers offense put 28 points on the board in the first half and never looked back. Combine that with 38:30 of possession time and there's hope in San Diego. QB Glenn Foley, Seattle -- Any time a club asks the backup QB to fill in, the team is in the hands of a player they originally felt wasn't good enough to be their starter. I was with Glenn when we drafted him in New York, and I always loved his competitiveness and leadership. A series of untimely injuries has hampered his career. But when healthy, he has always gone on to the field to win, and Sunday was no exception. Foley went 18 for 30 for 283 yards and two fourth quarter TDs to bring the Seahawks back to a 14-13 victory on the road in Chicago and prevent an 0-2 start for Mike Holmgren's team. Safety Lance Schulters, San Francisco -- I've known Lance since his days at 1-AA Hofstra University. When I helped him get ready for his NFL workouts before the 1998 draft, it was clear to me that this kid had special talents and that the NFL was not going to be too big for him. When the 49ers let Merton Hanks go for cap reasons, part of their decision was based on how they felt Lance would do as Hanks' replacement. With the score going back and forth and QB Steve Young taking a really bad pounding, it was up to the defense to make something happen. It was no surprise to me that Lance came up with the big interception for a TD to put the game away for the 49ers and prevent the almost unthinkable 0-2 start that was pending at the time. RB Errict Rhett, Baltimore -- One day at camp last year, Errict told me that he was a better back than Barry Sanders. He was chuckling when he said it, but deep down inside I could tell he feared no one. In a surprise move, Ravens coach Brian Billick started him against the Steelers defense, one of the best in the NFL. Rhett responded to this opportunity with 101 yards rushing in 22 carries and a TD. And although the Ravens lost, I must say Errict, you were better than Barry Sanders Sunday. RB Tyrone Wheatley, Oakland -- Tyrone was traded to the Dolphins for practically nothing just to get him out of New York last spring. I couldn't blame the Giants for the move since he had done little since his first-round draft entrance to warrant more opportunity. Miami picked three running backs early in last April's draft, and Wheatley never put on a Dolphins uniform before he was out of there. In typical Raiders fashion, they picked him up to see if they could revive his almost dead career. Against a tough Vikings defense that held Jamal Anderson to 50 yards rushing the week before, Wheatley had 83 yards in 18 carries in helping Oakland win on the road in Minnesota. FB/TE Mike Sellers, Washington -- When RB Stephen Davis rushes for 126 yards against a usually very good Giants defense, you know the lead blocker -- a former CFL player -- is doing a lot of the dirty work.
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