The Associated Press: LT back at practice for Bolts

LaDainian Tomlinson was back at practice for the first time since spraining his right ankle during the season opener, an encouraging sign for a San Diego Chargers team that's struggled to run the ball.

Tomlinson said Wednesday that he hopes he can play in Sunday night's game at Pittsburgh, where the Chargers haven't won since shocking the Steelers in the AFC championship game following the 1994 season.

Tomlinson missed the last two games with the ankle injury, an absence that coincided with the Chargers struggling not only in the running game, but when they had the ball inside the opponent's 20.

Also back at practice was rookie right guard Louis Vasquez, who hasn't played since spraining a knee in the season opener.

over 2 years ago John Gennaro 27 comments 0 recs |

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"Anywhere I can help this team, I’m willing to do it," Tomlinson said.

Is it just me or is that the kind of thing a UDFA hoping to make a roster usually says?

by Orz on Oct 1, 2009 7:46 AM PDT reply actions

LT

give LT a break if it wasn’t for him the chargers would not have made it as far as they did hell be back it might be rivers team now but remember it was LT back in the day we need him

chargersbear

by daddbear on Oct 1, 2009 8:43 AM PDT reply actions

I’m not that exited about this good news

We’ve already seen that the supporting cast is not up to snuff. And Norv keeps calling run plays that end up in a big pile of bodies 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Mehh… Who cares if LT is back in there? It isn’t like we should expect great things.

Now if they start using him for all purpose yards in the receiving game… Well now I get a little pumped. We have VJ and Floyd deep, Naanee and Gates in the middle slants and LT on the screens. That is a balanced passing attack. That is a way we can get productivity from LT in spite of the OL & FB.

by Trendsearcher on Oct 1, 2009 9:00 AM PDT reply actions

You are such a negative nancy

A kid who has a unicorn ranch in his room cannot call other people weird. Yes, we know about "Rancho Unicorno."

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Oct 1, 2009 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions

You stole my favorite term! You Monster!

Formerly, thats a no-go.

I apologize for my ignorant and blatant lack of refinement in terms of my cursage. I did not know much of this Tuel feller so I accidentally used another innocent mans picture. Believe me, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN!

by CaDuck on Oct 1, 2009 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Fine

He’s’ a debbie downer

A kid who has a unicorn ranch in his room cannot call other people weird. Yes, we know about "Rancho Unicorno."

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Oct 1, 2009 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions

how are you not excited?

even with poor blocking he still managed 4.2 ypc against a raiders team that came to play some defense…i’ll agree something needs to happen with the play calling or the run blocking scheme, but LT is so dynamic and i’m glad to see him back…i do think we’ve been under-utilizing bennett in his absence though…and our goal line set is not going to win us any games right now…we’re deadly in the spread and LT shines in that set…not to mention his pass blocking and ability to be used as a decoy…or a block and release into the flat…or, or or

...ya'll are brutalizing me... ronnie dobbs

by notorioushbi on Oct 1, 2009 9:17 AM PDT reply actions

Actually this season I think LT’s pass blocking has been very poor

In past seasons it seemed like he moved his feet to stay front of the rusher, even if he was giving up size, he made the stop.

This season it seems like his feet are not moving well. Consequently it seems like guys are either getting around him, or LT ends up diving to compensate. Maybe with more reps blocking gets better. But right now that drop off in blocking is all on LT.

by Trendsearcher on Oct 1, 2009 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions

You can tell that from a half of play?

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Oct 1, 2009 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

I recall around a half dozen plays seeing LT block so far

Counting pre-season, which of course counts for nothing unless Rivers gets injured as result of LT’s missed block.

by Trendsearcher on Oct 1, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Exactly

I wouldn’t look at pre-season blocks if for no other reason than LT was doing his best to stay healthy. Avoiding blocks is a good way to do that.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Oct 1, 2009 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions

true...

but we’ve only seen one half of play from him thus far and i think he’s got a good year ahead of him…if the o-line picks up the blitz inside-out then the back usually has a good chance to pick up an outside rush…and i do think with more reps we’ll see a much quicker LT

...ya'll are brutalizing me... ronnie dobbs

by notorioushbi on Oct 1, 2009 9:36 AM PDT reply actions

Try replying directly to the comment

by clicking the “reply” button. That was everyone knows which comment you’re referring to.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Oct 1, 2009 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

right....

sorry, i don’t think the coffee is working yet
btw…why haven’t we seen more of bennett? i know his pass catching has been limited but wouldn’t the o-line benefit from him beating up the defense a little to open up the playbook a little?

...ya'll are brutalizing me... ronnie dobbs

by notorioushbi on Oct 1, 2009 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Only Norv knows why and he's not telling

by Orz on Oct 1, 2009 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Because Norv is enamoured with Sproles.

Also, with Bennett in there, defense is most likely guessing RUN. Sproles is usually in on PASS plays, so with Sproles in there, he might think they have a better chance with maybe only 7 in the box.

by SJO on Oct 1, 2009 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions

We have certain financial obligations

that require us to be enamoured with him

Formerly, thats a no-go.

by CaDuck on Oct 1, 2009 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

that's what i mean

when i say they seem to be in our playbook. they are looking at our personel and anticipate run or pass. i sit in the peanut gallery, and my wife was amazed at how i could tell her whether it was a run or pass. it’s a vanilla scheme, and they don’t even seem to be trying to confuse the defense.

i’ve looked back at all three games, and it seems almost every time there are 11 defensive players to greet the runningback at the point of attack.

The peanut gallery has spoken!!!

by gatesoftds on Oct 2, 2009 2:15 AM PDT up reply actions

Yes but can you do it with the Captain on board?

i sit in the peanut gallery, and my wife was amazed at how i could tell her whether it was a run or pass

I do the same (missed a few last week though). The First Mate swears I can guess better with schooner of grog in my hand than without.

Yarrr ! Tie that scurvy dog Turner to the yard arm!

by Trendsearcher on Oct 2, 2009 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Just rest him

Worst case scenario, we’re 2-2 heading into division games, and LT gets to rest during the bye. I’ll take my chances against the Steelers as they are now.

by Dalton on Oct 1, 2009 10:29 AM PDT reply actions

2-2 going into the division games sounds good. 3-1, with a healthy LT and a victory in Pittsburgh under our belts, sounds great. It sounds “deep in the playoffs” great. It sounds 14-2 great. Let Norv, LT and the whole team take their shot to be dominant. If they lose, the bye is still there as are the division games.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Oct 1, 2009 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions