Whether they connect on a perfectly executed sideline route, have a pass over the middle blown up or don't even get a throw off, Antonio Gates and Philip Rivers will often confer after a play. ?Just to see if he's seeing what I saw,? Gates said. ?Just little things that will make us grow.? It is these subtle machinations that demonstrate the objective for Gates to be more integral to the Chargers offense than he was last season. Gates is a different creature to throw to, and Rivers is in better grasp of that than in 2006. ?With a year under my belt it can be more of an understanding,? Rivers said. ?A couple times (last season) I came off him too soon, trying to be too careful, play by the textbook. I could have maybe cut loose a couple times. He could have caught it. That comes with experience.?