In a surprising turn of events, the Los Angeles Chargers have Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins listed as co-starters atop their depth chart at running back. This decision has left many fans and analysts scratching their heads, wondering how the carries will be split between these two talented players.
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman shed some light on the situation, revealing to reporters that he has a clear plan on how he will divide up the workload between Edwards and Dobbins. “It’s not as complicated as you might think,” Roman stated confidently. But what exactly does this plan entail?
The recent arrival of head coach Jim Harbaugh has sparked speculation that the Chargers will have a renewed focus on the running game. Harbaugh’s past teams, most notably his successful tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, have been known for their strong ground attack. Roman, who has coached both Edwards and Dobbins during his time with the Baltimore Ravens, is expected to continue this tradition of emphasizing the run game.
“When Edwards and Dobbins were both healthy in the 2020 season, the Ravens were third in the NFL in rush attempts and eighth in rushing yards,” Roman pointed out. This statistic underscores the potential of this dynamic duo to dominate on the ground. However, there is one major obstacle standing in their way – Dobbins’ unfortunate history of injuries.
“Dobbins seldom has been healthy in his career,” Roman lamented. The talented back has missed significant time in multiple seasons, including the entire 2021 campaign and most of the 2022 season. In fact, Dobbins has only played in a total of 24 NFL games due to various health issues.
With Dobbins’ injury woes in mind, it is clear that health will be a major factor in Roman’s play calling. In stark contrast to Dobbins, Edwards has proven to be a workhorse back, with seven games of 17 or more carries in his 69 career contests. This disparity in workload suggests that Roman may lean more heavily on Edwards if Dobbins continues to struggle with injuries.
As the Chargers gear up for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on the running back position. Can Edwards and Dobbins coexist as co-starters, or will one emerge as the clear frontrunner? Only time will tell how this intriguing situation will unfold on the field.
