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Is LaDainian Tomlinson finished?
Able to gain only 3.5 yards per carry on Sunday against a Kansas City defense ranked last against the run?
A San Diego columnist doesn’t think so.
“To say he’s finished is beyond ridiculous,” writes Nick Canepa in a column in today’s edition of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Canepa argues that Tomlinson was hindered by a toe injury earlier in the season, hasn’t gotten the same kind of blocking, and has seen a lot more eight-man fronts.
“Tomlinson led the NFL in rushing last year. Did all that skill erode during the offseason? Pretty darn doubtful, especially when you consider the athlete, a man who lives right and keeps himself in extraordinary condition.”
What says you? That’s our poll question of the day.
—Ian Allan
- Comments [5]
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Posted by Richard Loppnow | Nov. 11 at 12:04 PM
What says I, is "Ian, any reason as to why I should care what some local hack says about a hometown hero he needs to work with???" On the other hand, I would like your opinion on it, in my case sometime next week will be fine as I'm not playing LT against Pitt regardless. But really, Ian, sharing this Canepa character's opinion with us as if it has any value? To prove he's a clown, Canepa's arguing that THIS YEAR! LT's seeing more 8-man fronts than in the 2 prior seasons?!? Yeesh.
Posted by IAN ALLAN | Nov. 11 at 12:42 PM
I think that with a great back, you stick him behind any offensive line and he performs. Like with Barry Sanders. Drafted by a horrible Detroit team, and it was apparent from the very first game that he was a great back. He didn't need blockers, and it didn't matter if teams used eight-man fronts. The talent shines through. That's what I call a great back. You take a player (in his prime) like Sanders, Walter Payton, O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson or Bo Jackson. Stick them behind any offensive line, and they're still going to be very, very good. Tomlinson used to be that kind of running back. He's not that guy anymore. He's not making anyone miss, and he's not running away from anyone. He ran for only 78 yards and averaged only 3.5 yards per carry on Sunday against Kansas City. I don't care if the Chiefs keyed on him (and I'm not even sure that they did). They were allowing 5.4 yards per carry entering the game. The toe isn't the issue. the 3,000-plus career touches is. He's done -- in my opinion.
Posted by BRYAN BERTSCH | Nov. 11 at 12:44 PM
I think he's been dinged up, he's lacking that home-run burst (which ain't ever coming back), he doesn't have a good blocking FB (they really miss L. Neal) and the offensive running scheme implemented by Norv stinks.
Posted by Robert Heater | Nov. 11 at 04:35 PM
Damn Ian, you sliced LT up haha. But, I am inclined to agree with you. I certainly think LT can put up mid-level #1 RB type numbers if he keeps his traditional role in the SD offense..... but I can also say just as certainly that his best days are behind him. For a guy who had never really been hurt before, I thought his recent injuries (knee, toe) were strong indicators that his body just wasn't the same. He still shows flashes of his past brilliance, but they are just flashes and he doesn't maintain that level through the game. Excuses like a worse O-line, no Neal, Norv Turner hold no water. The man used to produce regardless and was easily perceived as the best player on the field... this just simply isn't true anymore.
Posted by ANDREW FRITZ | Nov. 12 at 10:17 AM
The most ironic thing about his decline to me is that he is ALL over commercials and promotions this year, almost Manning-esque from 2007. As an LT owner up until week 7 the most frustrating part was to see the commercials of him looking super-human, then cutting back to the actual game and seeing him get stuffed play after play for minimal yardage!