Rivers Healthy, Happy at Chargers Camp

If the Bolts want to keep him that way they'd better run the football

In 2015 Philip Rivers set career highs in completions and attempts. What stands out about that is not the fact he threw the ball more than any other season of his 12-year career. It’s how many more times he threw it.

Rivers attempted 661 passes, most in the NFL. His previous high was 582 back in 2011, followed by 570 in 2014. When you have to chuck it 91 more times than you did the previous year something went terribly wrong.

With all those dropbacks Rivers was sacked 40 times but still made it through the 4-12 season relatively unscathed, helping him recharge a little faster for Training Camp 2016.

“I feel good,” said Rivers. “I do feel good. I think it was probably as healthy as I was in the season in some time, so I think I felt better in January than I usually do so that allowed for a really healthy off-season.”

Now, if the Bolts want to keep him feeling good they need to get him some help in the running game. San Diego had the least effective rushing attack in the NFL last year, ranking last in rushing touchdowns and average yards per carry.

“I’m going to make one thing clear about Melvin,” said head coach Mike McCoy. “It’s not Melvin Gordon and the running game. Let’s make that clear right now. I want to stop talking about him individually. In order for Melvin Gordon to have success in our system the other 10 guys have got to do their jobs better.”

That means everyone blocking well (except maybe Rivers, so we’ll make it the other nine guys), especially along the offensive line. That’s a problem new center Matt Slauson was brought in to help fix.

Rivers says Gordon, who had microfracture surgery on his knee in the off-season but is now said to be 100% healthy, looks a little more confident in his second NFL training camp. The first round pick from Wisconsin agrees with that, without going in to too much detail.

“Second year, by nature, you should be a little more comfortable,” said Gordon, who also said he’s better acquainted with the offensive terminology this season.

While the Chargers will tell you they have a stable of capable backs with Gordon, Danny Woodhead, Branden Oliver, and whichever fullback (Derek Watt or Chris Swain) makes the roster the onus is on Gordon to be the feature back. If he does that it will only make Rivers, already one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the game, even more effective.

In his first four years as a starter Rivers never toped 500 passes in a season and the Bolts won four straight AFC West championships. In his last six years as a starter Rivers has gone over 500 attempts every year and only earned one Wild Card spot.

That is not an indictment of Philip as a quarterback. It’s a statement about how important it is to be able to run the ball in the National Football League.

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