Key to San Diego's Already Explosive Offense: More Screens to Sproles

It’s rare that a 5-foot-6-inch running back who checks in at 180 pounds strikes fear in the heart of opposing defenses.

It’s even harder to find one that gets franchised by his team, making him a $6.22 million backup.

But that shows just how valuable Darren Sproles is to the San Diego Chargers.

Entering the 2009 season, there are obvious questions surrounding LaDainian Tomlinson. The former MVP had a career-low 1,110 rushing yards and only 11 touchdowns, his lowest total since he put up 10 his rookie year in 2001. There is speculation that age was the primary reason for the down season, rather than injuries.

But Sproles' impact on the Charger offense isn’t as a backup. He’s a dangerous, valuable weapon if Tomlinson is in the lineup or not.

Sproles can run in the creases and to the outside. He’s not going to stand up many middle linebackers, but his short legs never stop churning, and he’s particularly hard for defensive backs to take down. His 5.4-yard-per-rush mark last season show his ability on the ground, especially in the open field.

That ability to make people miss in space is why San Diego has to be excited to have the feisty rusher on its roster again. And after experimenting with Sproles last season, offensive coordinator Clarence Shelmon knows exactly how to use him.

There isn’t a safer low-risk, high-reward play in the NFL than the running back screen and as Sproles showed last year, he is the perfect back to run it. It also helps to have two-time Pro Bowl guard Kris Dielman pulling.

Sproles averaged 11.8 yards a catch last season and caused fits for opposing defenses. He even took two screens more than 60 yards for touchdowns.

The beauty of the play is its versatility. It can be run in shotgun, I-formation, split back, double tight end, spread - pretty much any formation in football.

But the most exciting aspect of the screen play is that the Chargers already have so many weapons. Phillip Rivers can throw it deep to Vincent Jackson or Chris Chambers or down the middle to Antonio Gates. They could hand it off to Tomlinson or hit Malcolm Floyd in the slot. The options are endless.

On an offensively challenged team like Detroit, defenses don’t have a whole lot to fear. But on a team like San Diego, there are so many options that can be thrown at you, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of them all. And when the defense least expects it, Sproles can burn teams.

Last season, it was unknown whether or not Sproles could carry the weight of backing up Tomlinson after Michael Turner’s departure. After two consecutive 100-yard games with Tomlinson hurt, including 105 yards and two touchdowns against Indianapolis in the playoffs, Sproles proved he could shoulder the load.

If the Chargers hope to add some more explosiveness to their lineup, however, Sproles needs to be catching at least one screen every game. Even if he doesn’t take it to the house every time he catches the ball, he will make defensive coordinators adjust, and even that will just open things up for the rest of the offense.