Knights of Andreas 2.03: Kings Among Knights

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Knights of Andreas

Part II

 

Chapter Fifteen – Kings Among Knights

 

Football is back.

 

The weekly injury reports, pre-game shows, and fan hype have finally returned after an offseason that felt even longer than the last one. Los Angeles Knights fans file into Farmers Field, its postmodern architecture and complex seat structure feeling new, as if the stadium just opened. In some ways, perhaps it has.

 

The Knights and Chargers kick off the second game of a Monday Night Football doubleheader. They are the last two teams to play in week one, and the league has already spent twenty four hours obsessing over Peyton Manning’s triumphant return against the Steelers on Sunday Night Football. But while most fans are already looking at week two, the Knights and Chargers have waited eight months for tonight’s game.

 

Jonathan Maverick lines up under center for the season’s first play from scrimmage, a play call he has anticipated for weeks. He takes the snap, fakes a handoff to Darren McFadden, and looks over the middle. He fires into an opening, and Logan Bishop cuts into the lane. The ball hits him in the numbers and he goes down for a twelve-yard gain. Perfect timing.

 

Over the next few plays, the Knights continue to move the ball and Maverick doesn’t miss a pass. He relishes his comfort with his receivers and the game, still remembering the overwhelming speed of week one last year. This season will be totally different.

 

The offseason gave Maverick a lot of time to reflect on what he perceives as an underwhelming career so far, but one analogy got him through it: in college terms, this is his junior year. He didn’t hit the big time until junior year at Penn State—didn’t even start as a freshman. So anyone who wants to call him a bust is about to be proven wrong in a big way.

 

In firm control of the offense, Maverick leads the Knights into field goal range, but pass rush forces him from the pocket on consecutive plays, and the drive stalls. As the field goal team takes the field, the offense returns to a tense atmosphere on the sidelines.

 

For the next few hours, both teams are undefeated, and anything that has been said and debated about their season is meaningless; everything can change with one game.

 

 

 

By summer, all significant transactions of the NFL’s offseason have occurred. Training camp always provides a few injuries, and roster cuts in August may yield the occasional surprise, but for the most part, everyone knows who the good teams are. That means it’s a great time for predictions.

 

The Super Bowl picks include the usual suspects, a Packers/Patriots game being the most common matchup. In the AFC West, predictions for division winner alternate between the Chargers and Broncos, with Peyton Manning’s health and ability a very intriguing collective question mark. Both teams also come up in AFC wild card discussions.

 

The Knights are left out of all prominent predictions. The national consensus seems to be that even continued improvement from a rebuilding franchise won’t be enough to make the playoffs. They simply aren’t talented enough.

 

Local beat writer Adam Javad predicts an 8-8 season, claiming the Knights are “one season away from being where they want to be.” Javad catches some flak for this from Knights fans. One in particular says on Twitter, “December: the Knights of Andreas have arrived. Six months later: the Knights of Andreas will arrive in another year.”

 

As of July 1, Las Vegas has the Knights at 70/1 to win Super Bowl XLII, the 19th-best odds in the league.

 

 

 

The second quarter begins with Coach Harden’s defense on the field, defending a comfortable 10-0 lead. From the edge, Sean Brock stares down Michael Harris, the poor soul San Diego believes is their best left tackle. Phillip Rivers takes the snap and Brock blows around Harris. He forces Rivers to step up and hurry a throw that lands incomplete.

 

Though he has yet to notch a sack, Brock has hit Rivers twice and plans on tormenting him all night. This game is the beginning of a critical season for Brock, in a contract year. The big payday is only months away, so he needs to go all out this season. He can’t screw it up.

 

On the other side of the box, Zack Grantzinger has been all over the field. He was giddy in OTAs when Coach Harden told him he wanted him “to do absolutely everything” on defense this year. So far, he’s been in the backfield, holding the line of scrimmage, and in coverage, excelling everywhere.

 

Lining up next to him on most plays, Sam Luck handles his own in the trenches. He enjoyed a breakout performance against San Diego’s offensive line last year, and he’s happy to see them again. Together, Luck and Grantzinger prove too much for the right side of the Chargers’ offensive line to handle.

 

Third and nine. Rivers takes a snap from shotgun as the Knights show blitz. The outside linebackers back off, and Luck ends up double-teamed. Rivers throws over the middle, but Grantzinger spins around and deflects the ball with one hand. Fourth down. Coach Harden emphatically congratulates his defense as they return to the bench.

 

 

 

The regular season is weeks away, not months. The Knights coaching staff gathers to watch film on the team’s third preseason game, the first half of which was a de facto dress rehearsal for the regular season. At the moment, Coach Daniel seems concerned with something on defense.

 

“Focus on Brock here, coach,” Daniel says to Harden as he winds the film. Brock drops back in coverage apathetically, allowing his man to run by him easily. The quarterback focuses on the opposite side of the field, unaware of the wide-open receiver on Brock’s side.

 

“We’re still working on that,” Harden says.

 

“All due respect, coach, Brock is a starter. If this is going to be a pattern, we need to do something about it. And let’s not pretend his coverage skills are so great even when he does try.”

 

“Trust me on this, coach. Week one comes around, any concern about pass rush is going to go out the window.”

 

Harden doesn’t enjoy debating Daniel on this subject, especially in front of other coaches, but he won’t back down either. He knows Brock only plays one hundred percent when he’s rushing the passer, but at the same time, he can’t fault the kid for wanting to play to his strengths. And as a coach, it’s Harden’s job to make sure he does so as much as possible.

 

 

 

Now leading 10-3, the Knights have the ball with less than two minutes to play and all three timeouts. Two-minute drill.

 

Maverick takes the snap from a double-tight end set. He spots Johnson open on a curl route but waits another second, sees Bishop running a corner, and fires. The ball sails perfectly into Bishop’s hands. Eric Weddle tackles him before he can get out of bounds.

 

Alex Johnson lines up, sees Maverick call the play, and runs the appropriate corner-post route, a favorite of his. The safety bites on the corner just enough to give Johnson separation. He looks up and sees the pass already heading his way. He catches it in stride and gets tackled from behind. He gets up, gives Maverick a “nice throw” point, and gets back in formation.

 

Now in Chargers territory with plenty of time to spare, the Knights take their time setting the next play. The lack of urgency frustrates Da’Jamiroquai Jefferspin-Wilkes; he wants to go deep and burn the defense right now. He is relieved, however, to hear Maverick signal just that: go deep.

 

Maverick snaps it as the clock ticks under a minute. Wilkes sprints toward the end zone and Weddle picks him up. In the pocket, Maverick sees pressure come up the middle. Nowhere to go, he heaves the ball downfield and absorbs a hit. Wilkes and Weddle run stride for stride as Wilkes sees the underthrown pass. He slows down for it and jumps in the air. Weddle jumps too, but Wilkes is too tall for him. He corrals the pass at the top of his jump and falls to the grass with a thud. It hurts, but he trots back up, spikes the ball, and runs back to formation. Knights ball on the ten-yard line.

 

Wanting to score with as little time left as possible, Coach Daniel lets the clock wind before calling timeout with 0:30 left.

 

Without changing any personnel, the Knights set up shop with Maverick under shotgun again, this time in a bunch formation. Bishop lines up next to the left tackle. As Maverick takes the snap for play-action, Bishop heads through a crowd of receivers and cornerbacks towards the flat. He emerges open, and Maverick flings it to him. Bishop makes the catch, sees a defender heading for him, and delivers a prompt stiff arm to the face. The would-be tackler falls to the ground, and Bishop runs into the end zone without further contact.

 

Bishop receives a healthy round of high fives on the sideline, especially from his head coach. A minute later, Phillip Rivers takes a knee, and the Knights take a 17-3 lead into the locker room.

 

 

 

A week into training camp, the Knights offense runs plays from various double tight end formations. From the sidelines, Coach Daniel watches intently; he knows such formations will be a cornerstone of the offense this year.

 

In his first years at the University of Connecticut, Daniel’s recruiting classes turned out perfectly, providing him a plethora of talented wide receivers to run plenty of four- and five-wide formations. The personnel in Los Angeles hasn’t quite shaped up that way. Through free agency and the draft, the Knights were unable to add a viable slot receiver, leaving them with nowhere near the depth Daniel would like. He does, however, have exceptional depth at tight end.

 

Logan Bishop may have gotten a lot of press for “the earthquake reception,” but he is slowly emerging as an every-down tight end. His blocking skills are far superior to Zach Miller, and as a solid possession receiver, he brings value in the passing game as well. Daniel focuses on him as the offense runs quick passing plays; Bishop catches everything thrown his way.

 

As head coach, it is Daniel’s job to adjust the offense based on personnel, not the other way around. This season, the Knights will run more bunch formations and spread the field less. Daniel was hesitant to such a change going into OTAs, but the evident skill of rookie guards Chase Grodd and Kevin Zeitler means the Darren McFadden/Jerome Jaxson tandem finally has room to run. Daniel and the Knights should, at long last, be able to set up a formidable pass game by establishing the run.

 

 

 

Down two touchdowns and only a field goal to show for their offensive efforts so far, the Chargers come out firing in the second half—just what Malik Rose wants.

 

Now that Vincent Jackson is a Buccaneer, San Diego’s biggest threat at wide receiver is Malcolm Floyd, someone Rose could cover with broken ribs. The Chargers have occasionally swapped and sent Danario Alexander to Rose’s side of the field, which is borderline insulting. Rose has yet to allow a single catch.

 

Floyd runs his routes aggressively, but he is no match for Rose. Rivers goes elsewhere with the football and manages to get a few first downs while Rose’s dominance continues. After another first down, Rivers looks to Floyd on an out route. Rose undercuts the route and Rivers foolishly throws the pass. Rose jumps for an easy interception, but Floyd grabs his facemask, twists his head, and breaks up the pass. The nearby ref throws an easy flag for offensive pass interference.

 

Angry, Rose bounces up and gets right in Floyd’s face.

 

“What?” Floyd says.

 

Rose presses his helmet against Floyd’s but says nothing, and the ref gets between the two. Rose walks back to the middle of the field for the call. Nearby, Chet Ripka is thankful he didn’t have to break up something worse. Ripka wouldn’t have been surprised if Rose had a few words for Floyd there, especially if the replacement refs got the call wrong. Ripka walks back to hear the next play call from Briggs Randall, which places him in a familiar place.

 

So far tonight, Ripka has spent most of his time in the box supplementing the run defense. He has blitzed occasionally and, on a series of unfortunate occasions, been stuck covering Antonio Gates. But overall, he is no longer asked to hold things over the top.

 

Rivers takes the snap and hands off to Ryan Mathews, who finds a hole in the offensive line. He jukes Randall but can’t dodge a diving Ripka, who pummels him into the ground. As the Chargers line up for third down, Ripka enjoys a round of praise from his teammates. His coverage skills may not be the same, but he still knows how to deliver punishing tackles.

Ripka prepares to cover the middle on third down. Rivers looks, steps up with pressure around him, and throws deep. Ripka turns and sees Griswold Johnson, the team’s rookie free safety, trailing Malcolm Floyd, who catches the slightly underthrown pass before Johnson brings him down. The forty-yard gain silences the crowd and gives the Chargers life.

 

 

 

By the second week of training camp, the players have fallen into a rhythm, gotten used to the coaches, and things are beginning to take shape. Most Knights already know the coaching staff, of course, but something always changes from year to year. No football team ever repeats exactly what they did the previous season.

 

On the defensive side of the ball, Coach Harden makes adjustments based on a very coveted rookie he was fortunate to land in the draft: Griswold “Flash” Johnson, free safety. Harden knows he will struggle to cover NFL receivers initially, but he has the recovery speed to make up for it. And that means a different role for another member of the defense, a veteran he respects immensely.

 

The horn sounds, ending a day’s work, and the players disperse. Harden finds Ripka and asks to see him after he dresses. Ripka agrees. Thirty minutes later, the two convene in a seldom-used office in team headquarters.

 

“So how are you, coach?” Ripka says. He knows what Harden wants to talk about; nothing wrong with a little small talk first. “How’s Melinda?”

 

“She’s good, Chet. Good. How’s the married life on your end?”

 

“It’s good. The kids, you know, they handled to move out here pretty well, and things are all settled down now.”

 

“Good to hear.”

 

“Yeah. So, what’d you want to see me about?”

 

“I think you know. You’ve seen Flash out there, right?”

 

“Sure have. He’s talented.”

 

“He is. More importantly, he’s fast as hell. Some free safety he’ll be if he can develop in other areas.”

 

“I don’t disagree, coach.”

 

Harden sighs and takes off his cap, revealing a hairline that has receded a bit since the conclusion of last season. “Look, Chet, let’s both be honest here. Flash is gonna do what you did last year, in terms of coverage over the top, because, you…”

 

“It’s okay, coach. I understand.”

 

“Regardless, you are still an important part of this defense. But I plan on using your talents in other areas. Using you more in run support lets me blitz more people, which, as you know, I enjoy doing.”

 

“Sounds good.”

 

“But you’re still going to have to cover people. So don’t go getting old on me.”

 

“Understood.”

 

As some more small talk rounds out the conversation, Ripka thinks of his family: both his grandfather and great-grandfather died at 71. Ripka is 34. So, theoretically, his life should only be at its halfway point.

 

It sure doesn’t feel that way.

 

 

 

As the third quarter ticks away, the Knights take over deep in their own territory nursing a 24-10 lead. The only non-quarterback who touches the ball every play, Brian Penner, looks forward to a long drive that milks a lot of clock. The Knights have passed more than run today, but when they have run the ball, it’s been beautiful.

 

Penner snaps the ball to Maverick and pushes forward. With rookies on either side of him, Penner and the offensive line get a big push, paving the way for McFadden, who goes five yards before being touched.

 

Second and three. McFadden takes another handoff with another huge hole. He gets a first down before contact, then gets another four yards.

 

This may already be the best offensive line Penner has played on. Chase Grodd and Kevin Zeitler have a lot to learn in pass protection, but they’re already maulers in the run game. There will be no more shortcomings in the trenches this year; the Knights will pummel their opponents into submission at the line of scrimmage.

 

Maverick hands off to McFadden again. Penner reaches the second level, plows a helpless linebacker to the dirt, and McFadden exploits the hole for a nine-yard gain. The referees blow their whistles and play halts. Players traverse the field for the fourth quarter.

 

 

 

The final day of training camp, the Knights’ head coach and defensive coordinator monitor from the sidelines as their players run through drills in pads.

 

“You know,” Daniel says, “this is something I noticed last year, but somehow I didn’t register that it would stick. We barely have any padded practices.”

 

“Yep, I’ve noticed too,” Harden says.

 

“That damn new CBA. What can you do, though, right?”

 

“Amen.”

 

“Just need to be more efficient in practice, I guess. You know what I’m talking about.”

 

Harden knows exactly what he’s talking about, and he has no intention of discussing it in detail.

 

“Speaking of,” Daniel continues, “I hope we don’t have any tackling issues come week one. With the limited practices we have in pads and all.”

 

“My defense knows how to tackle, coach. I have faith in our conditioning program.”

 

“In terms of efficiency, so do I. But in terms of volume? We won’t know until we get to that first game. Until the fourth quarter.”

 

 

 

With five minutes to go, the Knights have a 27-13 lead and a stranglehold on the game. Maverick lines up for second and goal from the six. He fakes a handoff to McFadden and looks for the kill shot. Zach Miller breaks on a corner, but he’s covered. Maverick spots Bishop open, throws it, and Weddle comes of nowhere. His momentum carries him out of the end zone and past diving Knights, into open grass. He treks the length of the field for a one hundred and three-yard interception touchdown.

 

Sulking back to the sideline, Maverick flips over a table holding two containers of Gatorade, spraying orange and purple all over the ground. Eric fucking Weddle.

 

A few minutes later, the Knights get the ball again, this time with a nervous silence in the air. Victory seemed imminent a moment ago; now the Knights hold a very fragile 27-20 lead. To let it slip away in this game, the season’s first game, against a divisional opponent, would be the worst possible indication that 2012 will be just like 2011, and that there is no hope on the horizon after all.

 

With McFadden still sucking air, Coach Daniel subs in Jerome Jaxson, whose carries have been limited so far. Jaxson lines up in the backfield, takes a handoff, doesn’t see a hole, hesitates, and is swarmed by linebackers for a one-yard loss. The clock ticks as the Knights line up again. Daniel sticks to his conservative, clock-milking approach, and Jaxson gets the ball on a toss. He spots a hole, lowers his shoulders, and goes down for a one-yard gain. As soon as he gets up, he knows he made a mistake. That was a huge hole; why didn’t he just bolt through it? He retreats to the huddle, where Maverick calls a passing play.

 

Maverick takes the snap and Jaxson runs to the flat, uncovered. Maverick spots him, pump fakes, and looks upfield. Seeing no options, Maverick tucks the ball and runs for a few yards, well short of a first down. San Diego calls timeout with 2:38 to go, about to get the ball back. Jaxson keeps his head down and finds a spot on the bench.

 

A solid punt by Shane Lechler pins the Chargers on their own nineteen, though they have 2:30 to play and three timeouts. Briggs Randall studies Rivers as he calls audibles against the crowd noise. Though extremely nervous, the Farmers Field crowd gets loud for what they hope is the final defensive stand. Randall sees Rivers make a familiar gesture and goes with his instinct. The Chargers snap the ball—no time to adjust the defense—Randall blitzes towards the right side.

 

Rivers looks right, then turns left for the screen to Mathews. He throws, and Randall darts through linemen to intercept the pass, waltzing into the end zone. Touchdown, Knights.

 

The crowd goes wild, victory now reclaimed just as quickly as it was thrown in jeopardy. A Sebastian Janikowski extra point makes it 34-20.

 

 

 

June 11. After a Saturday night at the movies with the family, the kids are in bed, as is Melissa. Chance is about to head there himself. He shuts off the TV and moves towards the stairs—thunderous booms outside surprise him.

 

What the hell? That didn’t sound like gunfire. He hears more booms and cracks. His panic subsides.

 

Fireworks. It’s just fireworks. But what’s so special about a random Monday night in June? Before he can think about it, his phone rings; it’s Schneider.

 

“Wayne? What’s going on?”

 

“Turn on NBC.”

 

Chance does so without a thought, the fireworks still exploding in the distance. He sees men in black jerseys celebrating on ice. The Los Angeles Kings skate around the rink, the apparent Stanley Cup champions. The arena around them booms with applause from the home fans.

 

“Are you seeing it?” Schneider asks.

 

“Yeah, I see it. That’s great for the city.”

 

“I guess.”

 

“You sound dejected, Wayne.”

 

“I mean, I should be happy for this. Good for the city, like you said. I just—I wanted us to be the ones to bring a championship back to L.A., you know?”

 

“I understand. But we will be the ones to bring a Super Bowl back.”

 

“When, Chance? When, exactly?”

 

“Soon. Very soon.” Chance isn’t sure if he’s lying or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GA_Eagle 595]

Yes.

[Vin+ 3,121]

 

Best one yet?

 

Best one yet.

[RazorStar 4,025]

They can't cover Bishop because he moves diagonally.

[Cherry 1,302]

Briggs

[Bangy 19]

Hmmmmm I wonder if Jaxson will struggle mentally and physically this year. Great chapter though

[Sarge+ 3,436]

I lol'd at the part about Chance being afraid of random fireworks. Totally something I would do. You know me too well.

 

Great stuff as always. This season/section is gonna be awesome.

[Maverick 791]

That ending tho

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Phew. When I read this over again this morning before posting, I was worried it was too boring. Glad you guys like it. The season has just begun...

[theMileHighGuy 656]

I thought it was one of the more exciting ones

 

D-Jam prolly coulda caught Weddle on that pick 6, but homie ain't chasin no one 100 yards for no 6.5 mil a year

[seanbrock 1,684]

Not boring at all Steven. I thought you did a great job covering training camp, preseason and week 1 all at once. It was fluid and made sense too. The description of the in game action was on point as always and in year two we're really starting to see some of our member's personalities shine through in the characters. I think Harden continues to be the best written character thus far. Him and Chance Phillips.

 

Things I'm most anticipating

 

1. First player to call out Brock

2. Brock's redemption.

3. Ripka continuing to mentor Rose

4. Penner leading the offense

5. Maverick and the young play makers on offense coming into their own and taking the reigns

 

Ha, I'm starting to get into this like I would on a TV show. Good stuff Stevo. Can't wait til next week. We can definitely beat the Dolphins. Jake Long gon get whooped.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Hump Day? More like BUMP DAY!

 

Last chance to (re)read before Friday.

[Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014]

Great work, Stevo. I liked how you incorporated everyone while also finding room for the flashbacks.

 

Almost glad I hadn't read it until now, seeing as the next chapter's two days away.

[BwareDWare94 723]

Loved it. Your ability to differentiate characters with their dialogue is growing by the chapter. No two characters talk alike, which is a major step in the novel writing process. I also enjoy how you swap between perspectives of different players and coaches during games. it works very well.