|
07-21-2009, 06:05 PM | |||||||||||||||
I'll be back.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Casino cash: $3240478
|
Scouts Inc.: Film shows LT on the decline
LJ > LT
Suck it, Eggos. http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcwest/0...e-decline.html It pains me to say it because I respect what he has accomplished a great deal, but LaDainian Tomlinson is heavily on the decline and the end is near for an all-time great running back. I base this on one thing -- film.
As we enter 2009, there isn't a player I am more excited to see in the preseason than Tomlinson. All reports coming out of minicamp are extremely positive. But I want to see it on the field. However, this is a great player who has never needed the preseason and I would doubt we will get many glimpses of him until opening day. That is unfortunate from an evaluation standpoint, but there are some things about him that we do know. And most of them are no longer positive.
He no longer explodes out of his cuts like he once did. He rarely breaks long runs -- one of the very first things to go in a great running back. His trademark jump cuts are not what they once were. He doesn't make your jaw drop in the open field and doesn't move the pile as he once did. Some of this can be attributed to his toe injury, but last year's Tomlinson is more of what we will see than the great Tomlinson of the past. At this point, he gets what is given to him and little more. Tomlinson eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark only twice last season, with a high of 106 yards. Those two games were against the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints -- not exactly high-end run defenses. Tomlinson's eyes see the play to make, but his body can't finish it off. That is what happens when great players decline. Tomlinson's game isn't going to fall off a cliff; it should be a more gradual slide. His yards per carry declined in each of the past two years, dipping to a measly 3.8 in 2008. There will be fewer and fewer highlight runs -- even though he is now a part of a deadly passing offense that will pull defenders out of the box. The injuries probably will continue to be a problem -- that is simply what happens to running backs with the number of carries he has logged. A reduced workload -- giving way to Darren Sproles at times -- should do Tomlinson some good for the short term, but banking on him to be as durable as he once was would be unwise. He is now a complementary piece of an exceptional offense. Philip Rivers must be the central figure. He will continue to be productive. If you had to pick one running back who would get double-digit touchdowns this season, Tomlinson very well could be the choice. He is still an elite short-yardage runner and his competitiveness cannot be denied. He also remains an excellent pass-catching option. But make no mistake, he is declining and the Tomlinson of old is now just someone of the past. Someone we can only see on tape. Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com. |
||||||||||||||
Posts: 285,751
|
07-21-2009, 06:09 PM | #2 |
Ultrabanned
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Northland
Casino cash: $549356
|
Tell me about it, I drafted that asshole No. 1 overall in my FF league last year.
Still won it, but LT sure as shit didn't help me much. |
Posts: 41,994
|
07-21-2009, 06:13 PM | #3 |
Take a Chill Pill
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South Carolina
Casino cash: $7869900
|
Sig Bet?
|
Posts: 44,565
|
07-21-2009, 06:15 PM | #4 |
Supporter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Casino cash: $10005290
|
Tomlinson clearly was injured to some degree throughout last season, and I really have no way of judging how severe those injuries were.
Doesn't this statement kind of work against the article? |
Posts: 2,264
|
07-21-2009, 06:17 PM | #5 |
I'll be back.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Casino cash: $3240478
|
__________________
Chiefs game films |
Posts: 285,751
|
07-21-2009, 06:21 PM | #6 |
Valiant 'The Thread Killer'
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Kansas City
Casino cash: $5692380
|
|
Posts: 18,443
|
07-21-2009, 06:23 PM | #7 |
Take a Chill Pill
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South Carolina
Casino cash: $7869900
|
I seem to remember you losing that same sig bet last year, and me letting you off the hook.
Heres my offer. I am not so confident in LT having more yards than LJ (only because he'll be splitting time more than LJ will), but I am positive he will have more TDs. Lets do this. Each RB gets 1 pt per yard and 50 pts per TD Whoever has the most at the end of the season wins. |
Posts: 44,565
|
07-21-2009, 06:23 PM | #8 |
I'll be back.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Casino cash: $3240478
|
I don't think LT is going to last 16 games.
__________________
Chiefs game films |
Posts: 285,751
|
07-21-2009, 06:25 PM | #9 | |
I'll be back.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Casino cash: $3240478
|
Quote:
__________________
Chiefs game films |
|
Posts: 285,751
|
07-21-2009, 06:30 PM | #10 |
Take a Chill Pill
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South Carolina
Casino cash: $7869900
|
|
Posts: 44,565
|
07-21-2009, 06:34 PM | #11 |
I'll be back.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Casino cash: $3240478
|
__________________
Chiefs game films |
Posts: 285,751
|
07-21-2009, 06:39 PM | #12 |
Kind of a mod
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Donkey Land
Casino cash: $556899
|
This is clearly groundbreaking news.
|
Posts: 52,317
|
07-21-2009, 06:40 PM | #13 |
Take a Chill Pill
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South Carolina
Casino cash: $7869900
|
Oh yeah, what are the terms of the bet? Like what are the rules about the sig, and the length?
|
Posts: 44,565
|
07-21-2009, 06:41 PM | #14 |
Say hello to my little friend
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Larryville
Casino cash: $9598422
|
He also lacks heart.
|
Posts: 47,314
|
07-21-2009, 06:45 PM | #15 |
I'll be back.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Casino cash: $3240478
|
I say the entire offseason. Complete control over the other's sig. Can change it whenever you want.
__________________
Chiefs game films |
Posts: 285,751
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|