San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner says running back Jackie Battle was superb in Week 4 – NFL News
Once again San Diego Chargers started with their running back Jackie Battle and it paid them off as they won their Week 4 tie 37-20 against Kansas City Chiefs.
Chargers benched their designated starting running back Ryan Mathews for most of the game, but it did not affect their running game that much.
Head coach Norv Turner appreciated Battle for the way he played throughout the game. Talking to UT San Diego on Monday, October 01, Turner said:
"We just have a lot of guys that can make plays. I thought it was important to let Jackie start the game. I wanted to make sure we got into a rhythm. We had a plan for specific things for Ryan, and I thought he responded in the four minutes right there at
the end. He was rolling and hitting it."
Despite winning three out of four games this season, Chargers are getting media attention for Mathews’ placement in the depth chart where he is now placed as no.2 in the running back position.
During Week 4 game, Battle ran 39 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 42 receiving yards and also scored once. Battle himself was satisfied with the amount of playing time he got in the game. Battle said:
“When they call plays and throw me out there, I just play. I really don’t know how many carries I’m going to get week in and week out. I kept trying to come off and they kept throwing me back in there.”
Mathews told the media that he was expecting to get lesser playing time after fumbling the ball so many times in Week 3 against Atlanta Falcons that ultimately led to the 3-27 loss.
Chargers gave a stiff response to his woeful performance and their general manager A.J. Smith clearly said that things could not go on like that forever.
Mathews will likely get more playing time in coming days, but looking at the form of Battle, it will be a tough battle to the top.
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