SAN DIEGO – 
The first play of team drills on the first day of training camp 2010 went to the receiver that was sidelined this offseason after he had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot. Running and cutting with fluidity, Naanee said the practice built confidence in his foot and that he felt fine.
A horde of media swarmed him after practice, all wanting to know about the possibility he could open the season in the starting lineup.
That’s heady stuff for a guy that caught 24 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns last season as he assumed a role as the third receiver. But the potential transformation follows a common trend among NFL wideouts, many of whom emerge on the field during their third or fourth seasons.
Head Coach Norv Turner regards Naanee’s potential well, but likes the confidence displayed by his 6-foot-2, 220-pound receiver just as much.
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Asked to evaluate Naanee’s strengths, Turner identified running after the catch and exploiting defenses with simple crossing routes. Naanee has produced when given the opportunity. He’s thrived on high-percentage throws, catching an NFL-best 83 percent of his targets last season. All the while, he’s studied what it takes to be one of the league’s elite pass catchers in one of its top offenses.
“I’ve been here a few years watching Vincent work and watching what it takes. I feel like I’m ready,” Naanee said. “By the third year you’ve played in some games, you’ve been in some different opportunities, you know how the quarterback likes to throw the ball and you’ve been in certain looks, so I think that’s the point where everything comes together.”
Philip Rivers identified his versatility and knowledge of the offense as key reasons he could excel with an increased role in the offense. The quarterback gets a close look at the time it takes receivers to develop in the NFL and thinks Naanee is on the cusp of a breakout season because of his effort and study time.
“He looks fresh. He’s worked hard this offseason to get himself healthy to be out there Day One.” Rivers said. “He’s made big plays when they’ve been presented to him.
“He’s stronger and seems more explosive. He’s hungry. Where that goes, we’ll see over the next month or so.”
