Los Angeles Chargers Have Big Plans for Melvin Gordon

It looks like Melvin Gordon will be the guy for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017.

In 2010, the then San Diego Chargers drafted RB Ryan Mathews in the first round. And in turn, they released RB LaDainian Tomlinson, who then went to the New York Jets. Matthews was on again and off again with injuries in his time in San Diego.

That left QB Philip Rivers to carry the Chargers’ offense and the team hasn’t won anything since. It didn’t help that the defense wasn’t anything to write home about at that time. But the now Los Angeles Chargers have RB Melvin Gordon and the pieces for a solid defense.

New HC Anthony Lynn wants to use those two things to help Rivers win. Lynn, an RB for six years in the NFL himself, built his coaching career by building ground-and-pound attacks. After feeling his new team out on tape, he sees what he can do with Gordon.

Lynn said, via ESPN.com. “I’ve watched some tape on him. Man, he has some upside. He did a hell of a job from his rookie year to his sophomore year. And I told him we can take this to another level. We’re going to do some things running-wise that I can think can help him.”

Gordon did struggle as rookie then fell three yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark. It should be noted that he suffered an injury that took him out for the final three games of the season. And Lynn sees that Gordon can do better than just 1,000 yards.

He said “He’s not there yet. But that’s what is encouraging to me. When I look at the tape, I say, ‘Oh my goodness, we can help him get better here and here.’ And he’s already good. But there’s more yards [to be gained].”

“People ask me, ‘How did you coach LaDainian Tomlinson to do what he did when he played for me (with the New York Jets)?’ He was unbelievable, and a lot of that is God-given ability. But you can help make a runner’s vision better, get his run reads better and get him more decisive.”

Putting a running game and defense around Rivers makes the Chargers dangerous.

So if Lynn pulls this off with Gordon, the AFC better watch out.