San Diego Chargers: Jordan Todman and How He Will Replace Darren Sproles

The San Diego Chargers picked up Darren Sproles in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft.

His time with the Bolts has been productive and he has always fit the role asked of him by his coaches. He came into a tough situation where he backed up both LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner, but he didn't complain and served as a nice third string running back.

In the 2008 playoffs, Sproles earned near iconic status in San Diego after his performance against the Colts.

With Tomlinson injured on the sidelines, Sproles became the number one back and gained 328 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns to lead the Chargers past the Colts 23-17.

The following season the Chargers released the hall of fame bound Tomlinson and placed the franchise tag on the Iowa native paying him over $6 million. However, he did not quite live up to his expectations of being the new number one.

After a disappointing season where the Chargers missed the playoffs and had a running game that was the joke of the league, speculation began about letting Sproles go in free agency. The front office did little in way of denying the allegations, making it all the more clear that Sproles will most likely leave San Diego.

In the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft the Chargers made it even more apparent by drafting UCONN star running back Jordan Todman.

If Sproles is to be let go, Todman will be something that most sixth round picks rarely are: an immediate impact player.

With Ryan Matthews there, Todman won't have to worry about being the number one anytime soon, but he still could be a key part of the game plan. And when you take a look at him, that seems to be just fine.

Todman has many similarities to Sproles and they begin right when you look at him.

At 5'9" 195 pounds the former Huskie is small for an NFL player. His small frame has made him a difficult target for big linebackers trying to knock off his head to find. Blocking wise, he can get real low underneath DE and knock them off just long enough the give his QB some time.

His physical frame is not the only thing that makes him a promising prospect. He has the numbers to back it up.

At UCONN he earned numerous awards including 2010 Big East Offensive player of the year. He also was about the only positive thing in the teams Fiesta Bowl beat down at the hands of Oklahoma.

What may be even more surprising is his numbers at the combine. Let's compare him to the indisputable top choice RB in 2011, Mark Ingram:

40 Yard Dash:  Ingram- 4.62    Todman- 4.4

Bench Press:   Ingram- 21      Todman- 25

Vertical Jump:  Ingram- 21       Todman- 38

Broad Jump:    Ingram- 118      Todman- 126

20-Yard Shuttle: Ingram- 4.62    Todman- 4.18

In five of the six categories the two both participated in, Todman had the better results. Of course this does not translate into direct success on the field, but nonetheless helps prove that the athletic attributes are there.

Oh yea, he also fumbled the ball at UCONN a grand total of zero times!

But perhaps what is the most tantalizing quality about Todman's game is the things that cannot be measured.

The fact that he started as a freshman on a Randy Edsall team shows the maturity that this kid has. He has been smaller than the guys around him his whole life and has always made the best out of it. He is not cocky or brash and will easily understand his place on the team wherever Norv Turner should place him in the pecking order.

I am not going to declare that Jordan Todman is the best sixth round pick in the history of the NFL (I think Brady's got that honor for quite some time), but there is absolutely no reason why we as fans should not look forward to seeing him play.

Should Sproles go, Todman will be the best possible replacement we could hope for.

Once the lockout is lifted and the necessary players are let go, don't be surprised if Todman is one of the first players they have signed and one of the first at the training grounds.