Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers RB Melvin Gordon is trying to prove he's a fast learner

Published May. 26, 2015 11:00 p.m. ET

foxsports

Melvin Gordon has already learned a valuable lesson from his first huddle with the San Diego Chargers.

He has to play at Philip Rivers' speed or get out of his new quarterback's huddle.

"He told me how it's going to be," Gordon told ESPN. "He told me it was going to be fast. But he said it's just a process, and you have to learn how to take in the information and be able to play fast."

Gordon is doing everything he can to get up to speed. In the classroom, the Wisconsin product sits between Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown -- two veterans who can help ease his transition to the NFL.

He also said he's taking mental reps from the sidelines whenever possible. Gordon will watch a play develop from the sidelines, take mental notes, and ask questions to get the new playbook down pat.

Head coach Mike McCoy said he's noticed his new rookie's work ethic.

"Obviously we're not in pads right now and were not fully in game speed yet, but it's not a bad start," McCoy said.

There's still more for Gordon to learn. Like all rookie runners, McCoy said he has to prove he's not a liability in pass protection.

Gordon could also use some additional work as a receiver. That's where soaking up as much as he can from a proven receiver like Woodhead could come in handy.

"I think he's got a long ways to go, really learning how we're going to run the football here, protection schemes -- things like that," McCoy said. "He did a good job overall."

(h/t ESPN)