Chargers Running With Branden Oliver For Now
By Dave Thomas
Going into their game last weekend with the New York Jets, the San Diego Chargers ranked next to last in the league (Oakland was last) when it came to team net rushing yards per game. So, how could the Chargers sport that stat and still be 3-1 after four games?
As they demonstrated in thrashing the Jets 31-0 and raising their record to 4-1, the Chargers showed that stats do not always tell the true story.
Starting the season, the Chargers figured on having a two-headed monster at running back, using starters Ryan Mathews (coming off a solid 2013 campaign) and versatile Danny Woodhead, who also can return kicks and punts and catch balls out of the backfield. Well, as Charger fans know all too well, that plan blew up during week three of the season.
After Mathews was injured in the week two win over Seattle (out indefinitely), Woodhead went down the following week with a broken fibula in the team's win at Buffalo. That left veteran Donald Brown and newcomer Branden Oliver to carry the load, at least until Mathews can get back.
San Diego Looking To Rush Past Chiefs And Broncos
During their win over the Jets last Sunday, the Chargers started the game with Brown as the lead back, but a vicious hit in the first half would ultimately leave him with a concussion. At that point, enter Oliver.
In by far his best NFL performance to date, the University of Buffalo product rushed for 114 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. In the two previous games (Buffalo and Jacksonville), Oliver rushed for all of 34 yards.
As noted by Chargers.com following the win, Oliver was a key reason San Diego was able to pound the Jets in submission. In all, the Bolts out gained the Jets (439-151) in total yards and held a 21-11 advantage in first downs.
So, can Oliver hold down the fort until Mathews hopefully returns sooner rather than later?
As of now, he has some help to move the ball down the field.
On Tuesday, San Diego re-signed former Charger back Ronnie Brown, giving the team some more depth at the position, along with previously signed former Chicago Bear Shaun Draughn also in the tilt.
While the Bolts will get one more suspected break in playing the rival Oakland Raiders (0-4) this Sunday, the schedule turns up the heat soon after with games against rivals Kansas City (Oct. 19) and Denver (Oct. 23). If San Diego is to win those two games, can they do it simply through the air with Philip Rivers and company or will they have to have a substantiated ground game, too?
Yes, Oliver's performance last Sunday was just one game, but it certainly had to be encouraging for Bolt management and fans.
Even though he wears the same number and has similar body characteristics of former Charger Darren Sproles, it is way too early to see if Oliver will put together the kind of career Sproles has to now.
That said it certainly was a welcome sight last Sunday to a team and fan base that is hoping the Chargers are in the running for a long playoff run this season.
For more Chargers news and updates, visit Chargers Central.
Dave Thomas has been covering the sports world since his first job as a sports editor for a weekly newspaper in Pennsylvania back in 1989. He has covered a Super Bowl, college bowl games, MLB, NBA and more. His work can be found on Examiner.com.