There was a time, during the months leading up to the first-round of the 2015 NFL Draft, that the running back conversation revolved around whether Melvin Gordon or Todd Gurley should come off the board first. Really, the question wasn't whether Gordon was better, or at the least more talented - it was whether Gurley's injury issues would push him farther down draft boards than expected.
But on draft day, the expected came and went - Gurley went early and became a member of the Rams, and Gordon, the big, nimble ballcarrier out of Wisconsin, headed to the west coast to join the San Diego Chargers.
Unfortunately, while Gurley's surgically repaired knee held up quite well as he racked up 1,106 yards, 10 touchdowns and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, Gordon stumbled right out of the gate and never quite seemed to get his footing for the Bolts.
Despite plenty of opportunities, the former Badger finished his rookie NFL season with just 641 yards on 184 carries. Disappointing totals to be sure.
However, while the Chargers fan base probably felt let down by Gordon's 2015 exploits - he also fumbled five times - their disappointment may have been dwarfed only by Gordon's own frustrations.
"It was terrible," Gordon said recently. "I was terrible."
It's hard to argue with him. He averaged just 3.5 yards per carry, failed to record a touchdown and finished the season on the sideline after suffering a knee injury in Week 14.
"In the NFL, I think every player has something to prove," Gordon added. "You can never be complacent. Even if I had the greatest season of any rookie, I'd still be motivated. Unfortunately, my season didn't go the way I wanted it, so I'm extra motivated."
Motivation or not, the question now becomes; can Gordon push reset on his nascent NFL career and come out firing in year two?
The hope, it seems, of plenty Chargers fans rests with the arrival of new San Diego offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. Whisenhunt, the former head coach of the Tennessee Titans, was fired after his team started the 2015 season 1-6. Despite the inauspicious end to his time in Music City, Whisenhunt is a creative offensive mind who does what he can to spread the defense out both horizontally and vertically, creating opportunities for playmakers in space. He's had extremely successful stints with the Steelers, Cardinals and during the 2013 season in San Diego, when he took the Chargers offense from 31st in the league to 5th.
That year, disappointing former first-round pick Ryan Mathews posted the best season of his NFL career, managing to stay healthy for all 16 games and collecting 1,255 yards and six touchdowns as a result.
At his first Charger press conference, Whisenhunt spoke glowingly of Gordon, calling him a "talented man" that he was "excited to work with."
He also touted Gordon's surprisingly effective pass-catching ability. Gordon, though he wasn't known for it in college, finished his rookie season with 33 receptions on 37 targets for 192 yards.
The Chargers already have a pass-catching threat out of the backfield in Danny Woodhead on the roster, but if Gordon continues to develop those skills and improve his pass-blocking - another component he struggled with in 2015 - he could potentially become the three-down back that the Chargers hoped he could be.
But the road won't be easy, and Gordon will need to take a big stride or three this offseason if he's going to become the impact player that he thinks he can be. If the Chargers can add a player like Laremy Tunsil in the first-round of the 2016 NFL Draft - and after the Eagles-Browns trade, it sure looks like they should be able to - then the opportunity will certainly be there for Gordon to make an impact in Whizz's scheme.
