Presenting your 2016 San Diego Chargers.
Chargers win against the Cardinals 19-3 in the first home preseason game of 2016 at Qualcomm Stadium.
San Diego Chargers punter Drew Kaser (8) punts the football during a week 1 preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 27-10. (Scott Boehm via AP)
San Diego Chargers quarterback Kellen Clemens (10) plays during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin (12) during a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Chargers beat the Miami Dolphins in the final home game of the 2015 season 30-14.
Chargers faced the Vikings for Preseason Game 3 on Sunday, August 28, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minnesota.
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) works against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
San Diego Chargers defensive back Dwight Lowery (20) sets into position during a NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, September 18, 2016 in San Diego. The Chargers won the game 38-14. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
San Diego Chargers defensive back Dexter McCoil (23) pursues the ball carrier during a NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, September 18, 2016 in San Diego. The Chargers won the game 38-14. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Chargers win against the Cardinals 19-3 in the first home preseason game of 2016 at Qualcomm Stadium.
San Diego Chargers safety Darrell Stuckey (25) runs in pursuit during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday, December 14, 2014. The Broncos defeated the Chargers 22-10 in Week 15. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Chargers faced the Titans for the first preseason game of 2016 on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at Nissan Stadium in Tennessee
Chargers faced the Titans for the first preseason game of 2016 on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at Nissan Stadium in Tennessee
Chargers faced the Titans for the first preseason game of 2016 on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at Nissan Stadium in Tennessee
San Diego Chargers cornerback Adrian Phillips (31) warms up prior to a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in San Diego. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
San Diego Chargers fullback Derek Watt (34) runs during a week 1 preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 27-10. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Chargers lose 17-20 to the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Chargers lose 17-20 to the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Chargers win against the Cardinals 19-3 in the first home preseason game of 2016 at Qualcomm Stadium.
Chargers lose 16-28 to the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.
San Diego Chargers cornerback Trevor Williams (42) drops back in pass coverage during the 2016 NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 in San Diego. The 49ers won the game 31-21. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Chargers practice in preparation for Week 13 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
San Diego Chargers tight end Asante Cleveland (45) warms-up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in San Diego.( (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Chargers linebacker Chris Landrum (46) celebrates with San Diego Chargers linebacker James Vaughters (45) after Landrum pressures San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) into an incomplete pass on third down, forcing a first quarter punt during the 2016 NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 in San Diego. The 49ers won the game 31-21. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
San Diego Chargers long snapper Mike Windt (47) plays during a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in San Diego. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
San Diego Chargers linebacker Kyle Emanuel (51) rushes the pass in action against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday November 1, 2015 at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
San Diego Chargers Denzel Perryman (52) during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 29,2015 in Jacksonville, FL.
(Tom DiPace via AP )
San Diego Chargers linebacker Joshua Perry (53) runs in pursuit during a week 1 preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 27-10. (Scott Boehm via AP)
The Chargers beat the Miami Dolphins in the final home game of the 2015 season 30-14.
Oakland Raiders running back Jamize Olawale (49) runs against San Diego Chargers linebacker Korey Toomer (56) during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Chargers faced the Vikings for Preseason Game 3 on Sunday, August 28, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minnesota.
San Diego Chargers center Matt Slauson (68) runs during a week 1 preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 27-10. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Chargers win 19-3 against the Arizona Cardinals at Qualcomm Stadium.
San Diego Chargers offensive lineman Joe Barksdale (72) pass blocks in action against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday November 1, 2015 at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Chargers faced the Vikings for Preseason Game 3 on Sunday, August 28, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minnesota.
San Diego Chargers Orlando Franklin (74) in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 29,2015 in Jacksonville, FL.
(Tom DiPace via AP )
San Diego Chargers offensive lineman Chris Hairston (75) pass blocks in action against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday November 1, 2015 at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
San Diego Chargers tackle D.J. Fluke (76) looks to block during an NFL game against the Miami Dolphins on December 20, 2015. The Chargers defeated the Dolphins 30-14. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
San Diego Chargers tackle King Dunlap (77) during the NFL regular season game against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Chargers won in overtime, 38-35. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
San Diego Chargers tackle Tyreek Burwell (78) blocks during the Chargers 2016 NFL minicamp football practice held on Tuesday, June 15, 2016 in San Diego. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
San Diego Chargers offensive lineman Kenny Wiggins (79) pass blocks in action against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday November 1, 2015 at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Chargers lose 16-19 against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium.
San Diego Chargers tight end Sean McGrath (84) warms up prior to a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in San Diego. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Chargers take on the Denver Broncos in a week 13 battle and fall short, 17-3.
San Diego Chargers rookie tight end Hunter Henry (86) gets set to go out for a pass during the 2016 NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 in San Diego. The Chargers won the game 19-3. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Chargers win 43-35 against the Tennessee Titans at Qualcomm Stadium
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Isaiah Burse (89) warms-up before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Ryan Carrethers gets set on defense prior to play in action against the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won, 10-3. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Darius Philon (93) during an NFL preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015 in San Diego. The Chargers won the game 17-7. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
San Diego Chargers defensive end Corey Liuget (94) chases the action during the NFL week 16 football game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013 in San Diego. The Chargers won the game 26-13. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
The San Diego Chargers already had three tailbacks on the roster, but when the New York Giants surprisingly waived Andre Williams, they quickly pounced on adding a fourth.
As General Manager Tom Telesco explains, the decision was a no-brainer.
"You always look for things you can hang your hat on as a player, and what we like about him is his power run game," he said. "He is downhill runner with strength. He'll get you yards after contact. He's a short-yardage, goal line back who can carry a heavy load. He carried the load in college, and carried a heavy load his rookie year in New York. To get a guy in here with his size and strength, with pretty good speed for a big guy, it was (an easy decision). And he is a pretty good special teamer, which helps when you are not the starting running back."
Perhaps no one was more surprised than Williams to find himself in the Chargers' locker room on Monday. A 5-11, 230-pound product out of Boston College, the Giants selected Williams with 113th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He burst onto the scene that year, becoming the first rookie to lead New York in rushing in 15 seasons. However, he struggled to find a groove last season when the team deployed a four running backs by committee approach.
Still only 24 years old with a track record of success, Williams never expected the Giants to cut bait after two years. He carried the ball 305 times for 978 yards and eight touchdowns along with 19 receptions for 137 yards over two seasons, and now looks to reward the Bolts' faith in him.
"It feels really good to be a Charger," he said. "I'm very happy, flattered and honored that this team claimed me off waivers. That they thought that much of me that they want me to be part of their team. I want to contribute, so first I need to learn what I have to do in order to perform on the field. Right now that means learning the playbook."
Williams is a physical running back who seeks out contact and punishes would-be tacklers. While that is his bread and butter style, he refuses to put limitations on how he can be used.
"I don't shy away from contact. I have a unique combination of speed and size. You watch the film, that's what you'll see. I'm not going to define my role. I am going to let the coaching staff define it. My focus is to show them what my abilities are. How they choose to use me after that is up to them, but I feel I can be very productive in all phases of the game."
Williams' addition also means the Bolts have two of the past three winners of the Doak Walker Award, which is annually given to the top running back in college football. He won the award following his senior season in 2013, and the next year Melvin Gordon took it home. Now, number 28 looks forward to getting his new teammate up to speed.
"He's a good back," Gordon said. "He was very productive in college, and definitely made some plays at this level. He is going to be a good contributor to our team, and push us to make us better. Really right now the big thing is for him to learn the playbook. That's the first thing he has to do. He's played in this league and knows how to be a running back. Now he just has to learn our system, so I am going to do whatever I can to help him there. Once he learns the playbook, he'll be rolling."
