Hard not to like. LT knows he is a complimentary back and we don't know how TJ would have handled that situation. LT for two years less $ than if we kept Jones at current contract for one. I would love to get a second round pick for Washington and add another back in the third or fourth.
I don't like this move. LT has lost a step and was horrible last year! He's old and looks like he is done! I hope to god i'm wrong but that's how I feel about this signing!
I would take the deal in a second. Edwards and Marshall together we would have one great passing attack to go along with the great running game.
i chose the first option but still believe we could draft someone with 1 of our first 3 picks.(LT is a two year rent, a nice one, but a rental. might as well groom him now while LT is in the locker room) then again weve got depth issues out the ass. we could go anywhere. this class is loaded with a ton of good RB's. especially bigger backs who would be good in a rotation. something suited for the ball control aspect of our offense.
LT caught 20 balls last year...hardly a threat. As a blocker yes, but he's no Leon Washington at this stage. LT's value is as a reliable runner between the tackles, in short yardage and at the goaline. That said, I'm ok with this (if they were butting heads with TJ) as long as they keep Leon.
How many runningbacks have had a fall-down season at 30 or later and then recovered to be any kind of back again? Not any that I can think of, with maybe Jerome Bettis being an outside case - although his comeback year wasn't so good. The problem I have with the signing is that LT declined pretty dramatically from 2007 to 2008 and then again from 2008 to 2009. This wasn't a one year thing, LT has been going downhill for awhile now.
the only way we go rb early is if leon goes.you don't draft rbs to groom.the expiration date on them is like milk.you get them as soon as your ready to use them or you waste alot.
while i liked TJ, i am all for LT...having those 3 at RB will be great, going to make sanchez much better....looking forward to the draft and beefing up the defense and getting that stud WR...very optimistic for the year ahead.
There's not many, but there are a few. Emmitt Smith 2003: 34 years old, 10 games played, 256 rushing yards, 2.8 average per carry 2004: 35 years old, 15 games, 937 yards, 3.5 avg John Riggins 1982: 33 years old, 8 games (strike-shortened season), 553 yards, 3.1 avg 1983: 34 years old, 15 games, 1347 yards, 3.6 avg, 24 touchdowns 1984: 35 years old, 14 games, 1239 yards, 3.8 avg, 14 touchdowns MacArthur Lane 1973: 31 years old, 13 games, 528 yards, 3.1 avg, 27 receptions 1974: 32 years old, 14 games, 362 yards, 2.6 avg, 34 recs 1975: 33 years old, 9 games, 311 yards, 3.9 avg, 25 recs 1976: 34 years old, 14 games, 542 yards, 3.3 avg; led league with 66 receptions Larry Csonka 1978: *32 years old, 14 games, 311 yards, 3.4 avg 1979: 33 years old, 16 games, 837 yards, 3.8 avg, 13 total touchdowns *he turned 32 on Christmas 1978 O.J. Anderson 1987: 30 years old, 4 games, 6 yards, 3.0 avg 1988: 31 years old, 16 games, 208 yards, 3.2 avg 1989: 32 years old, 16 games, 1023 yards, 3.1 avg 1990: 33 years old, 16 games, 784 yards, 3.5 avg; Super Bowl MVP
Obviously most of us would furious if we signed LT to be our #1 guy, but the fact that he's going to be one of three quality and proven backs makes this a great move. A washed up LT is still way better than all #2 running backs out there.
I went with option 1. If we keep Leon, great, if we don't, It won't be so detrimental, and i've no doubt Tanny could pick up something worthwhile if needed by any and all means. LT is by no means TJ's replacement, He is either Leon's replacement, or his supplement (ie. insurance based on the leg injury). Greene is TJ's replacement, period. LT has gas left in the tank, he can catch the ball if need be, and he's running behind OUR O-LINE! Seriously, I'd say it's beyond question that he will have a better year/stats than he did with SD the past two years, with less carries. Now let's get Brandon Marshall, and I can relax until draft day!
And my problem with this is that, you don't seem to reflect the philosophy change at the Chargers brass. During Marty ball era, they had Hudson Houck, who I deem very highly - he's as good as Callahan, if not better - at OL coach, and preached nearly the same stuff Rex is preaching - hard nosed running attack, and suffocating defense. This was when Tomlinson shined like the crown jewel of their offense. Now, with Norv calling the shot, Houck has been shipped (To Dallas - and now Dallas got a running game going for them. No wonder.) and the focal point has been shifted to Phillip Rivers and the passing game. In the meantime, their run blocking has gotten progressively worse year after year. It's still the same guys blocking for Tomlinson, but their run blocking has been very inept and putrid. If you looked at the last year's playoff game against the Jets, you'd easily recognize that the OL does not generate any kind of push - during Tomlinson's heyday, the OL, with same group of guys, would generate 2 yard push on average, leaving about extra 2 more yards for Tomlinson to pick up - and that's a solid 4 yard per carry on any normal down, on a normal situation. Tomlinson also had a very good vision and reflex to see a gaping hole and make a run from it (and break a few big ones) but in general that was how he gained his impressive YPC. Now, with the push from the OL virtually gone, he's down to some paltry 3.3 YPC - though I agree that he might have lost a step or two, I would think that pinning the whole thing on him would be rather unfair. That would be like assuming TJ actually earned all those yards by himself when he was here with us. I am cautiously optimistic over this move - and am willing to bet that Tomlinson will have a better season than TJ. True, TJ is in a mess that is Chiefs, but then why should that matter, if none of the above didn't matter in the first place?
I'm cautiously optimistic about the move. I think that LT could have a very productive year behind our O-line, and I think that part of the reason for his decline over the past couple of seasons may be due to Norv Turner's shifting the focus of the Chargers offense from Tomlinson to Rivers, as well as the emergence of Darren Sproles. I think that the combination of Greene, LT, and Washington could be very productive.
Actually we had 3 new guys on the o-line this year. A rookie RG all year, a rookie RT half the year, and a center who had never been a full time starter before (#1 center went down week 1)
Way to put it all in perspective #1 Jetsfan. We are building something great here and palyers are choosing the Jets without the Jets over paying.
there are a couple things more people need to understand about this whole deal: 1) LT or thomas jones never really was an option. jones was due around what 6 mil this season plus a 2 million dollar bonus?? tomlinson is getting around 5 mil on a two year deal. if jones could have been kept for that money or probably more, he would be a jet this year without a doubt. he did not want to restructure, we did not want to pay and should not have paid = end of jones in ny. we lost a team leader but paid a fair price. 2) tomlinson is not exactly washed up. he still scored 12 tds last year on what was a heavily pass first offense. is he a #1 back anymore? most likely not. is he a great complementary back to a young star and one of the most explosive players in the league behind arguably the best offensive line in the nfl?? come on now this is another incredible move the more i think about it. we're getting a player who was considered among the top 3 or 4 overall best players in the league prior to last season for relatively cheap in an uncapped year. not only that, but we are addressing a need and allowing ourselves to draft the best overall talent in the draft or address more serious positions where depth/future players are going to be needed. plus we get to see tomlinson in a jets jersey .. how fuckin cool is that. nothing this team does can surprise me anymore
I dont even know if I totally buy the idea that he is going to help us out in the passing game much more then Jones could have. In 2008 Jones had 36 receptions. Pretty good for a RB whose backup was Leon Washington (guy who gets most of those plays drawn up for him). Then in 2009 he only had 10. I think thats play calling more then it is that he couldnt do it. After Leon got hurt I never saw the Jets design plays for Jones to catch the ball out of the backfield. Now im not saying LT wont do a better job in that area then TJ but I dont buy the idea that Jones was a bad receiver. Or it least not as bad as people think he is.
Could care less. I didn't want Jones to stay and I'm not sure I want Washington to stay either. I don't mind the Tomlinson signing, but I would be surprised if he was here for both seasons of this contract.
