Los Angeles Chargers

Philip Rivers' on a revamped running game: 'Love it'

Published May. 1, 2015 3:07 a.m. ET

foxsports

A stat line was run by Philip Rivers in the days leading up to the draft.

The Bolts are 22-15 when Rivers tosses at least 300 yards. But when a Chargers running back hits the century mark and tallies 100 rushing yards, they're 35-4.

Rivers' succinct response? "Love it."

Then the Chargers' quarterback will absolutely adore his flashy new toy out of the backfield. Melvin Gordon broke off a run of 44 yards or more in 15 of his last 27 games at Wisconsin. By contrast, San Diego's rotation of Branden Oliver and the now-departed Ryan Mathews broke off only six runs of 30 or more yards in 2014.

Gordon can help. Rivers knows it. And so does Tom Telesco, the man who brought Gordon to San Diego.

“To get one of the players we think can break open games for us – it’s a big difference,” Telesco explained.

San Diego was a Super Bowl threat when Rivers could lean on LaDainian Tomlinson early in his career. He's evolved since, but now Rivers doesn't have to throw on every down for San Diego to win.

He's got Gordon, and San Diego fans might learn to love that fact too.

(h/t U-T San Diego)