Rampage QB had a dream week
Chip Burch
Friday March 28, 2008
MacPherson was almost flawless in torching the Kansas City Brigade 92-52 on Monday. He was named Arena Football League co-offensive player of the week and became the only player to be unanimously chosen for ArenaFan.com’s offensive player of the week since the award was first handed out in 2005.
Not a bad start for someone who was just trying to win a game.
“The only thought that was in my mind especially at the time was just get a win,” he said. “That was the most important thing when (head coach Steve Thonn) told me I got the job; do the job enough to come out with a win. It turned out to be a pretty good night.”
“Pretty good” is an understatement. MacPherson was 24-of-27 for 307 yards and nine touchdowns. His season quarterback rating now stands at 139.2.
“First and foremost I wouldn't have been able to do that on my own,” he said. “Certainly it's the teammates that were around me. The offensive line did a good job keeping the defense at bay. I had time to sit back there and deliver the ball to the receivers who were getting open.”
Even before then he got some help just getting the start. Thonn switched to MacPherson after former rookie of the year Adrian McPherson struggled to move the ball consistently.
“This is something I've been preparing for and wanting to get my shot at,” James said. “I felt like it was my turn to get the chance to be the starting quarterback. As a backup I wasn’t getting the offensive reps and I was running the plays against the defense.”
MacPherson was the backup to Chris Greisen at Georgia last year. But when Thonn took the job with the Rampage, MacPherson followed, bringing with it Thonn’s offensive philosophy.
“It helps out tremendously because just having spent a season with him (Thonn) last year it helped not only knowing the offense but knowing what he's thinking and knowing what he's done in the past,” MacPherson said. “In calling plays he asked ‘What do you like here?’ It helps out tremendously when you can communicate. He trusts us with adjustments to the game.”
Having watched Greisen for a year also helped.
“Chris was a guy that every day in practice and almost every game he was there ready to play, and that was one of the biggest things,” MacPherson said. “It was a great opportunity to be there and I learned quite a bit on how to be successful in this league.”
MacPherson talked about the changes he’s made since becoming the starter.
“Since Week 1 I've been preparing as if I were going to start. So that didn't change the process during the week,” he said. “In terms of preparing to be the starter it changed in that during the week in practice I'm taking all the offensive reps. Now that I'm the guy I'm taking on the responsibility of communicating with the wide receivers, take charge of the offense and execute the plays that were called.”
He’ll get another shot at that when the Los Angeles Avengers go to Van Andel Arena Sunday to face the Rampage.
“It's going to be a tough game,” he said. “L.A. has got one of the better teams in the league, and they have a lot of talent on that team. We're going to have to gear up and be at our best and hopefully that's good enough to get a win. Right now we're trying to take it one game at a time and try to get this win.”
Chip Burch has been covering the Rampage since 2005. He is a sports reporter for WSCG AM-FM in Greenville Michigan, where he currently resides.
