Ground-And-Pound Award – Week 9: Melvin Gordon

San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon running for touchdown vs Tennessee Titans
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WOW. What a day by San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon! Gordon tore through the Tennessee Titans defense for 196 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground, and another 65 yards through the air. His monster showing wins Melvin Gordon our Week 9 Ground-And-Pound Award!

Gordon averaged 6.1 yards per carry–almost twice his career average of 3.7 YPC–as he took off for big run after big run. Sometimes criticized for his lack of big-play ability after averaging 3.5 yards per carry and not scoring a touchdown during his entire rookie season, the Titans may have been caught off guard by Melvin Gordon’s explosiveness. But they shouldn’t have been surprised. Gordon’s mom warned them:

Gordon was clearly motivated as he rolled for a career day. It was the best performance by a Chargers running back since LaDanian Tomlinson was toting the ball in San Diego:

Gordon is a different back than he was last season. He looks quicker, more elusive and more decisive. He is having an impressive, Pro Bowl season and is on pace for 1,365 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. Gordon went from having 0 touchdowns in his rookie season to leading the league with 9 touchdowns in Week 9 of his sophomore year. His 768 rushing yards puts him at third in the league in rushing yards behind Dallas Cowboys rookie sensation Ezekiel Elliott and Titans running back DeMarco Murray. He will no doubt continue to roll through the second half of the season and help the Chargers keep pace with the rest of the hyper-competitive AFC West.

We definitely expect to see more highlights like these:

(Photo Credit: Sean Haffey/Getty Images)

(Photo Credit: Sean Haffey/Getty Images)

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