McPherson picked to start for Rampage

Tuesday, March 04, 2008
By Brian Vanochten
The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- Adrian McPherson has earned a reputation throughout the Arena Football League as a run-and-pass dual threat as a quarterback.

He would rather be regarded, though, as more of a passer.

He will get a chance to change some of the perceptions about him around the league as the starting quarterback for the Grand Rapids Rampage this season.

New coach Steve Thonn named McPherson, 24, who started three games for the Rampage late last season, as the team's No. 1 signal caller for Monday night's home opener against the defending AFL champion San Jose SaberCats.

"I just have the ability to run," said the 6-foot-3, 220-pound McPherson, who has been labeled a "running quarterback" since his collegiate career at Florida State.

"I threw for 4,200 yards during my senior year in high school, and I started four games as a sophomore at Florida State and threw for over 1,000 yards.

"I think I've shown I'm a good passer. I really don't care whether people say, 'He's a passer,' but I want them to say, 'He's a great quarterback' and 'He's a winner.' I can run or pass it, but my focus is on winning football games."

McPherson, 24, prevailed in a tight battle in training camp.

He emerged as the No. 1 quarterback ahead of 27-year-old James MacPherson, a former Wake Forest standout, who spent last season as a backup to All-AFL first team quarterback Chris Greisen of the Georgia Force.

MacPherson is more of a traditional drop-back passer.

He completed three of four passing attempts while seeing limited action with the Force, where Thonn served as the offensive coordinator last year.

"I think they both had good camps," Thonn said. "They did a good job running the offense, and they protected the ball well. It was a very even camp between them."

McPherson earned 2004 AFL rookie of the year honors with the Indiana Firebirds after throwing for 3,297 yards and 61 touchdowns.

He finished third in the league that year with 259 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground.

Last season, he ranked second in the AFL with a combined 360 rushing yards with the Austin Wranglers and the Rampage. He also threw for 3,193 yards and 15 touchdowns, but he was intercepted 14 times.

Thonn sees a brighter future for McPherson.

"It's still a passing league. The quarterbacks that are good in this league are consistent," Thonn said. "As long as Adrian's making good throws and good decisions, he brings all those other intangibles to the game.

"If he can get to that point, he can be very good."