Skip to main content
Advertising

Chargers Official Site | Los Angeles Chargers - chargers.com

How Travis Benjamin Changes the Chargers Offense

The three newly signed Chargers visit the facility for their first interviews and press conference.

The San Diego Chargers would have boasted an explosive offense even without Travis Benjamin.

Adding him into the mix makes them even more potent, giving the team a new dynamic they haven't had in a long time.  

Simply put, the newest Charger can flat out fly.

Philip Rivers already had Antonio Gates, Keenan Allen, Stevie Johnson, Melvin Gordon and Danny Woodhead among others at his disposal. Benjamin now adds a pure speed dynamic the team has long coveted.

"The first thing I think of with him is just speed," Rivers said.  "He can really fly.  I think he will come in and fit right in with what we have here.  He's just so explosive. We saw it when we played (Cleveland) last year. He makes defenses look out because he can run by you in a hurry. He is very versatile and I think he will fit right in as another guy to spread the ball around to."

Number 17 has already dreamt up ways to take advantage of his speed.  In fact, he's been watching Benjamin's YouTube clips with his son to get a feel for his newest weapon and how he might be used. The Chargers demand a lot out of their wide receivers, so Benjamin expects to line up both out wide and in the slot.

"I'm looking to come into this organization to put my best foot forward to help Phil, Keenan Allen and Gates get out there and move the ball up and down the field," he said. "I'm comfortable anywhere. Either outside or inside; wherever Phil or the coaches want me to line up, I'm comfortable anywhere on the field."

With the opposition wary of Benjamin's big play ability to stretch the field, his presence alone will soften the coverage underneath for the rest of the Chargers to do damage.

"When you have guys like him on the outside, it changes things," Rivers said.  "He is the kind of guy where you have to look out or he's running by you, so he'll compliment what we already have.  Gates will be the first one to tell you that when we were rolling from 2007-10, it was Vincent Jackson, Chris Chambers and Malcom Floyd just running.  People were concerned, and Gates got his one-on-one matchup underneath."

Benjamin echoed those very same sentiments.

"Taking that double team off (is important)," he said.  "I know that last year coming from Cleveland I had that double team a couple of games, and I know Keenan gets double teamed out here.  From a defensive standpoint, you can't double team (everybody) on the field."

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.

From Our Partners

Advertising