With their leading wide receiver out for the season, the San Diego Chargers are going to be relying on depth to get them by for the remainder of the season. Part of that depth will include Melvin Gordon who has yet to live up to the expectations placed upon him. The Chargers are desperate to get the run game moving and balance out the offense as coordinator Frank Reich made it clear that Gordon needs to step up.
Right now, Gordon is getting out played by all of the other running backs in the draft. Todd Gurley has become a breakout star while Gordon does not have a 100-yard game to his name and is only averaging 3.7 yards per carry. The Chargers need that to change and quickly as the coaching staff stresses he needs to fix mistakes first and foremost.
"There's something about having just to dig deep when it feels like everyone's questioning you and the world's caving in around you," Reich said, via ESPN.com. "That's when the great ones really start to build something up that you find surfaces over weeks and years. And it becomes part of their makeup and what defines their greatness in the long run."
While Gordon continues to get the starting nod for the Chargers, it is Danny Woodhead that has been the more productive player making a huge impact in the passing game. That must continue with Keenan Allen lost for the year to a kidney injury along with the injury to Branden Oliver who has been a productive third option. ESPN.com reports the Chargers placed Oliver on injured reserve after the running back suffered a turf toe injury. That leaves Woodhead and Gordon needing to step up.
The Chargers opted not to sign a receiver in place of losing Allen despite the talent on the market. With Reggie Wayne, Hakeem Nicks and Wes Welker all available, San Diego would rather trust the depth instead of bringing someone new on. With Allen out, Malcom Floyd and Stevie Johnson are the go-to threats while Dontrelle Inman will get more playing time with Jacoby Jones cut. They have not put up the numbers that Allen has, but Philip Rivers trusts the group moving forward, especially Floyd.
"Malcom is Malcom," Rivers said, via ESPN.com. "What he's good at, and what he's done over the last 12 years is who he is. So I don't think we'll ask him to do too many different things out of his comfort zone."
