Melvin Gordon's rookie season has come to an end after suffering a knee injury on Sunday against the Dolphins.
People will be quick to note that he had six fumbles, and compare him to Todd Gurley -- who suffered a bit of a drop-off of his own -- and label this season a disappointment. Obviously, the Chargers did not want to win fewer than seven games this year and bottom out in the AFC West. But it will be interesting to see how Gordon comes out in Year 2.
Running backs have a difficult transition to the NFL, especially if they play under one type of blocking scheme or operate behind a different type of offensive line. San Diego's front five was a unit in transition as well, and that should be considered when evaluating Gordon's rookie year.
"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," Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich said back in early November when asked about Gordon. "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."
That's San Diego's hope as the Chargers move forward. With so much uncertainty surrounding the organization, they would like more than just Philip Rivers to depend on.
