Chargers running back Melvin Gordon talks offensive struggles vs. Broncos.
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00:00I think what frustrated you the most about watching this one?
00:05We just couldn't get stuff on, it kind of puts us in a mimosas.
00:08Being inside, being inside, yeah, just wanting to be in right at the goal line.
00:13Not hurting to make a play, that's just not charged to the ball.
00:17Us getting to the goal line, we're gonna try as we can to get in.
00:22And we just wasn't successful with that today.
00:23So we, cuz they're in the interception, they're right there.
00:29And now that it's, it's a guaranteed touchdown.
00:34So, yeah, that's probably the most disappointing.
00:37These little things seem to be the big things right now.
00:39As we start doing these little things.
00:42Is that in preparation?
00:43Is that mental focus?
00:45What do you think?
00:48I'm not sure.
00:49I'm not sure, cuz I feel like we practice, we practice pretty hard.
00:54To me, that's the most frustrating thing.
00:58It's not like we come in half assed and practice, and we go pretty hard,
01:01and we get after it.
01:02And you don't see the results.
01:06They should pretend to point fingers, and this and that, and
01:08try to look for things.
01:09But I just don't know what it is.
01:11We appeared pretty good, I don't think.
01:14We just, the energy, like Coach Lance said, it wasn't there.
01:18And that can make all the difference sometimes.
01:21Do you think you guys are at a critical point,
01:23not to point fingers, that you can get this interacted?
01:26Yeah, it's not about that.
01:27It's not about, that's what we're here for.
01:30Guys start separating and kind of playing for themselves when people start
01:33pointing fingers.
01:35At the end of the day, you just gotta look in the mirror and
01:36see what you can do better.
01:37I think we all can play better than that.
01:40Not any of us can play our best football game.
01:43Just one of those days, as we said a lot during the day, watching guys.
01:48We just, we gotta get it back together and still learn how to football up.
01:53It's just one game in the second quarter, we gotta pick them all up.
01:55How did it feel to potentially just get back out there?
01:59Yeah, it was, physically I was good.
02:01The first hit, I got hit on the, kinda got a, it's different, you know?
02:07Like you can't emulate that no matter what you do.
02:11And you kinda get the first signal, okay, that's how it feels.
02:14It's bad, and you just gotta get used to being running, guys hitting you,
02:19and your stiff arm, and it's just so different.
02:22But it's getting back into just things, definitely going up from here.
02:27Where your body may feel good, how long will it take an NFL running back to
02:32kinda get into game shape, and playing shape, to where we can expect 100% number
02:36one?
02:37Yeah, I don't know, I guess, I don't know, I've never been in this position, so
02:42I can't really tell you when you start clicking.
02:45It's just when you start clicking, you get it.
02:47So, hopefully, the cobwebs are off after this game, and
02:51next game I can get rolling.
02:53What percentage would you say you're at?
02:56Not a hell of a lot, I'm good, but it's just getting back into the game speed,
03:01really, just getting back, adjusting to that, and getting the calls,
03:06not being able to really hear, leaning over the field,
03:09getting the calls last second, being able to adjust.
03:13It's those things that you have to get used to that you can't prepare for
03:17working on a field outside of where we're at.
03:19That's where you're training camp and all those things come in.
03:22Preseason games, I just deeply believe those reps,
03:25cuz him changing the play at the last second, right before a snap,
03:29that makes a difference.
03:30You have to move guys, your whole assignment changes with everything.
03:33So, it's that stuff that you gotta get back on to help you play a little faster,
03:38but I think I'll be all right.
03:39Were you hoping to get the ball on fourth and one towards the end of the half?
03:43You know what, as a playmaker, of course.
03:46But you got Mike and Tina, where they ain't playing the play ball,
03:49they'll tell you, yeah.
03:50It's just, we're all players that can make plays when the game is on the line.
03:56So we all want to fall, so yes, I want to fall.
03:59But you had three, four other guys that wanted it as well.
04:02Just didn't come to us.
04:03While you were out, were you able to keep in line with the playbook,
04:07keep up with the playbook and the plays that the guys were running and stuff?
04:10Yeah, I still watch, I have my circuit, so I still watch camp and
04:15I still watch the play, what's going on.
04:16So we all know the plays, it's just kind of getting back and
04:20adjusting to it, hearing them, running with that speed.
04:23Guys come in and tackle you, and practice is just tagging off.
04:27You got guys shooting at your knees, knocking you off balance.
04:31It's just a lot of little things that go into it.
04:34Appreciate it, thank you.
04:35Two and three in a very good division.
04:38What do you think the key is this next week?
04:41Just to be one of them, we got to go out there and make plays.
04:45We get to the goal line, we got to make it count.
04:48We get an opportunity, our defense played the night before today.
04:51When they're playing like that, and we're playing at a high level,
04:53it's gonna be hard to get them to play on special teams, to get us in the game.
04:57So we got to play better as a whole, but our offensive unit has to play better.
05:05I think we go out there, excuse me, we hit on all cylinders.
05:08Everybody, special teams, defense and offense play as one, I think we'll be all right.
05:12Multiple times when the offense is on the field today on the third down,
05:15the crowd got it, the defense chattered away.
05:18Is that the sort of energy that negatively affects the team?
05:20You guys talked about the lack of energy we have.
05:23It can, but we go out there, you kind of talk about it.
05:30That's on the sideline, I can hear it, but I can tell you 100%.
05:34The guys that's out there, they never really hear good noise.
05:38They just kind of blow up, so.
05:40I think the offense never really got the same as it ever felt.
05:44It really did, it's never gotten a groove.
05:47Running the ball, we're passing it, we're just looking for somebody to make a play.
05:52None of us really could, and we were dying to make one.
05:56So it just didn't happen to us, I don't believe it.
06:00So we obviously don't change that.
06:03We were explosive offense, we got the talent.
06:05But it was just one of them days that we just couldn't,
06:08nobody could get it going, so.
06:10Can you remember having a day like that before?
06:14Plenty.
06:14We would have when I first got here, but it's been a while.
06:19Always, someone somehow makes a play, get us going.
06:22And our defense makes plays to get us going.
06:25We just couldn't grab on to their energy and
06:28bring it on off the side of the ball, I can't.
06:33Did it kind of feel like last year's Denver game here, where it just-
06:36Came out short.
06:37Yeah.
06:37Yeah, a little bit, yeah, yeah.
06:43You mentioned that you're not the best shot, you never won a game this year.
06:46Did you kind of sense that they were giving you the best performance of the month?
06:49Say what now?
06:50You mentioned in the last interview that you're trying to get the best shot,
06:52but you never won a game.
06:53Did you kind of sense that there was some urgency?
06:56100%, they came out, they came out, and from my look,
07:01they were just a little bit more hungry than we were, and that's just unfortunate.
07:06Cuz I do feel we are a better team, but sometimes a better team don't always win.
07:11What did you guys have talked about the lack of energy?
07:15Was that surprising that that's how you guys came out?
07:19It is, it is, cuz we just, we got so many playmakers.
07:24A guy make a play and you just feed off that, but like I said,
07:28defense made so many plays in the session and all this.
07:32Guys feed off that energy, but usually we feed off them, but
07:36we just couldn't grab their energy today and feed off them.
07:40And no one on the offensive side of the ball could really make that play to really
07:44get us going, so.
07:45Do you have to be conscious of avoiding a mindset where,
07:51okay, we've got plenty of guys that can make plays, somebody else will do it?
07:55No, I don't think none of us think like that.
07:56I think when we out there, I was like, man, I need to make a play,
08:00I need to make a play, I need to make a play.
08:02We got guys that's alpha male that really wanna make the play,
08:05that wanna get it done.
08:06I don't think, no one's looking at the other guy to make something happen,
08:10even though we got trust that he can't make it happen.
08:13But I don't think we just wait around, well, I'm not gonna make it,
08:16I'll wait until he make it.
08:17I'm like, man, I need to make a play.
08:19We all thinking like that, something's gonna happen, it's early, so.
08:23What was your sense with Desmond's pocket trick that could have done the thing,
08:27that triggered it?
08:27It could have, man, but I gotta get it going, I promise, it's unfortunate, man.
08:33It was an early day, it's sad to say it, you hate to have him, but
08:36we just couldn't get the ball rolling on, for us to not score on offense,
08:41it's just crazy with all the talent we have, but we'll fix it, we always do.
08:48Phil, you've been on the scene for a while, do you have any doubts, though,
08:50or concerns at all about the guys in this locker room, players?
08:54To make meaningful plays, and to play meaningful football,
08:57until Desmond rolls around the field?
08:58No, no, we were 0-4 at one point, our back was against the wall,
09:06and we had Steve Giles in here, and we fought our way out of it.