The San Diego Chargers were looking to add a big-play dimension to their offense. They turned to Cleveland and found out it was all about the Benjamin.
Four years ago, at the 2012 NFL combine, wide receiver Travis Benjamin ran a 4.36 second 40-yard dash. This puts him about two-tenths of a second faster than the next fastest starting pass-catcher (Stevie Johnson). All this means is that his new quarterback Philip Rivers can try and out throw Benjamin and still fail in this manner.
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Simply put, Rivers has never had a wide receiver that can run as fast as Benjamin (no other receiver has posted a better 40-time during Rivers’ starting tenure). This bodes well for other receivers given the impact that Benjamin has on opposing secondaries.
Rivers is quoted (via The Sports Xchange) as saying, “Not that we’re just going to heave him a bunch of deep balls, but the threat that he can run by you, it makes every now and then an easy 10- or 12-yard completion.”
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Just as Benjamin gives Rivers something the quarterback has never had before this upcoming season, Rivers gives something right back. The former Cleveland Brown receiver has never had a quarterback of Rivers’ caliber. Thad Lewis, Brandon Weeden, Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer, Connor Shaw, Johnny Manziel, Josh McCown, and Austin Davis. These have been the quarterbacks throwing to Benjamin during his four-year career.
Last season, the first in which Benjamin became a full-time starter, he caught 68 passes for 966 yards and five touchdowns. These are very good numbers for a receiver who does not know how consistent the passes will be on target.
The Chargers signed Benjamin in hopes of revitalizing the return game as well. The entire Chargers team averaged 4.2 yards per punt return; Benjamin averaged 11.6 and averages 12.6 yards per punt return for his career. The longest Chargers’ punt return last season went for 18 yards, while Benjamin’s long was 78 yards for the Browns.
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All in all, Benjamin had 1,302 all-purpose yards with six total touchdowns with Cleveland in 2015. The speedy receiver will look to take the top off of opposing defenses in what will be his first season in San Diego. Chargers fans and players both have lofty expectations for what Benjamin can do for the Chargers offense.