Every step of the way, since the Los Angeles Chargers hired Jim Harbaugh as their new head coach they continue to tell us, without telling us directly, who they are going to be — A smash mouth, downhill running team. From hiring Greg Roman to drafting an offensive lineman with pick five to stocking the cupboards with three new running backs.
Yet again, the Chargers signaled their intentions when they released their first unofficial depth chart of the season. At the top of the running backs section, they include both Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins as starters.
Los Angeles Chargers Name Dobbins and Edwards Co-Starters
Dobbins and Edwards had been teammates for four years with the Baltimore Ravens, playing under John Harbaugh, Harbaugh’s younger brother. They joined forces again in Los Angeles this offseason, hoping for ample opportunities in their new offense.
It is unclear whether or not Jim Harbaugh will adopt the new rest-your-starters approach to the NFL offseason, or if he will stick to the old-school method of having them play the first few series. If it is, in fact, the latter we will get a glance at what exactly this rushing attack will look like at live speed.
It’s clear that Roman believes in this duo as much today as he did when the Ravens brought them together to operate the committee in Baltimore’s backfield in 2020. Gus Edwards was an undrafted free agent in 2018 and J.K. Dobbins was drafted 55th overall in the 2020 draft. That plan never came to be, as Dobbins missed much of his first four seasons. Although for the limited time, they did play together, the Raven’s rushing game was a force to be reckoned with.
The Chargers list Isaiah Spiller as their next running back on the depth chart, followed by Jaret Patterson, Elijah Dotson, and Kimani Vidal.
