LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Emmitt Smith

by John Gennaro on Jul 20, 2009 5:08 AM PDT Comment 36 comments

There's been far too much comparison by everyone here, myself included, between LaDainian Tomlinson and Emmitt Smith to not take a closer look at these guys next to each other. We're going to look at them year by year, not just to see which player is better, but to help us predict where Tomlinson might be headed. A comparison of their stats and mileage is after the jump.

Year One: Although both players had record-breaking college careers, they were each looked upon as being too small and too slow for the NFL. Their first year would have to be a big one, because they would have to silence the critics before more people piled on.

	RushAtt	RushYds	RushTD	Rec	RecYds	RecTD
Smith	241	937 (3.9 Y/A)	11	24	228	0
Tomlinson	339	1,236 (3.6 Y/A)	10	59	367	0

Winner: Tie. It should be pointed out that Smith won the Rookie of the Year Award while Tomlinson lost out to Anthony "A-Train" Thomas. LT certainly carried a heavier load than Emmitt in his first year, but came away with roughly the same results.

Year Two: To me, there is no more important year in a running back's career than his second year. I've seen too many players have huge rookie years and do nothing afterward. I don't know if it has something to do with conditioning, or making an adjustment to how the defense players you, all I know is that it's a difficult thing to do. Players like Steve Slaton and Chris Johnson had great rookie seasons, but should still be looked at as relative unknowns. The great ones always get better in their second season, so it's no surprise when you see there numbers.

	RushAtt	RushYds	RushTD	Rec	RecYds	RecTD
Smith	365	1,563 (4.3 Y/A)	12	49	258	1
Tomlinson	372	1,683 (4.5 Y/A)	14	79	489	1

Winner: Tomlinson, but not by much.

Year Three: We're now entering the "peak" for both guys. Get ready for some big numbers. Going into their third seasons, Emmitt is 23 and Tomlinson is 24. Although both guys put on a lot of mileage in high school and college, this is what they've been aiming for their whole lives and it's time to take advantage.

	RushAtt	RushYds	RushTD	Rec	RecYds	RecTD
Smith	373	1,713 (4.6 Y/A)	18	59	335	1
Tomlinson	313	1,645 (5.3 Y/A)	13	100	725	4

Winner: Tomlinson (2-0-1). I know the argument is that he only had 100 receptions because the rest of the team was so bad and I'll accept that. However, if you're arguing that point than his 5.3 Yards Per Attempt is even more impressive.

Year Four: One big advantage LT has in this is that he's never missed a regular season game due to injury. Not once! Emmitt was consistently on the field, albeit usually with some nagging injuries, but he's probably just going to get smaller in LT's rear-view mirror after only playing in 13 games in his fourth season.

	RushAtt	RushYds	RushTD	Rec	RecYds	RecTD
Smith	283	1,486 (5.3 Y/A)	9	57	414	1
Tomlinson	339	1,335 (3.9 Y/A)	17	53	441	1

Winner: Smith (1-2-1). I know, I know, there's a huge difference in the number of touchdowns. Two things worked in Smith's advantage here. One is the big difference in Yards Per Attempt. 3.9 is nearly pedestrian and 5.3 is outstanding. Smith ran for 150 more yards in 3 less games than LT. That's impressive. The second thing working in Emmitt's favor is that he won the NFL's MVP Award in his fourth season. It's hard to say the guy wasn't the better RB that year when he proved himself to be the best player in the league that season.

Year Five: We've officially hit the peak of the peaks. The big numbers are about to get bigger. Emmitt pulled out a tough win in year four and this is his only chance for a comeback.

	RushAtt	RushYds	RushTD	Rec	RecYds	RecTD
Smith	368	1,484 (4.0 Y/A)	21	50	341	1
Tomlinson	339	1,462 (4.3 Y/A)	18	51	370	2

Winner: Tie. Sorry, I can't cut that any other way. Every single category is too close to call. Tomlinson is now 2-1-2 (2 wins, 1 loss, 2 ties) matched up against the first 5 seasons of his own idol. That must be nice.

Year Six: I know these guys are similar, but it always surprises me HOW similar they are. It's like they're the exact same player! More on this at the end.

	RushAtt	RushYds	RushTD	Rec	RecYds	RecTD
Smith	377	1,773 (4.7)	25	62	375	0
Tomlinson	348	1,815 (5.2)	28	56	508	3

Winner: Tomlinson (3-1-2). Emmitt's finest year could stand against every other LT year, but not 2006. Nothing to date can stand against LT's record-breaking MVP season. Emmitt did get much closer than I thought he would, but unfortunately he lost out in the MVP voting to Brett Favre (in his first of 3 consecutive MVP seasons).

Year Seven: After playing at an other-worldly level for 2-3 seasons, it was time for these guys to come back to earth and go back to simply being "great" again.

	RushAtt	RushYds	RushTD	Rec	RecYds	RecTD
Smith	327	1,204 (3.7 Y/A)	12	47	249	3
Tomlinson	315	1,474 (4.7 Y/A)	15	60	475	3

Winner: Tomlinson (4-1-2). The first easy victory. The drop-off in Emmitt's numbers from year six to seven is startling, even when you consider that this was around the time that he started dealing with nagging leg injuries every season. Tomlinson dealt with similar injuries in the playoffs of his seventh year. With Emmitt being on a team that consistently went to the Super Bowl and LT being on teams that didn't make the playoffs or got bounced early, it's possible that Emmitt just had more wear on his tires at this point in his career. In Emmitt's seventh season, he won his third and final NFL Championship with the Dallas Cowboys.

Year Eight: This will be the last direct comparison of the two players, since LT is preparing for his ninth NFL season.

	RushAtt	RushYds	RushTD	Rec	RecYds	RecTD
Smith	261	1,074 (4.1 Y/A)	4	40	234	0
Tomlinson	292	1,110 (3.8 Y/A)	11	52	426	1

Winner: Tomlinson (5-1-2). So LT's the better player, at least at this point in their careers. However, what I'm more interested in is the arc immediately after this. Smith's two down seasons were caused by nagging injuries, which is what has caused a recent drop in production from Tomlinson as well. Both players dropped a full yard per attempt once they hit this point in their career. Let's look at what Emmitt did during his final five seasons with the Cowboys:

	RushAtt	RushYds	RushTD	Rec	RecYds	RecTD
1998	319	1,332 (4.2 Y/A)	13	27	175	2
1999	329	1,397 (4.2 Y/A)	11	27	119	2
2000	294	1,203 (4.1 Y/A)	9	11	79	0
2001	261	1,021 (3.9 Y/A)	3	17	116	0
2002	254	975 (3.8 Y/A)	5	16	89	0

So is this what we can expect to see from LT over the next five seasons? It's possible. Everything else about their careers has matched up so well, it's hard to doubt it. Do you expect results like this or something better? Do you expect Tomlinson to be the LT from 2006 again? Can he stay healthy? Most importantly, if he puts up the same numbers Emmitt did for the next five seasons, will you be happy with that? Will the Chargers?

Do you have any thoughts about Bolts From The Blue? Any tips you want to send our way? Whenever you have something to say, don't hesitate to e-mail me directly.

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Comments

The similarity is pretty amazing

Nice work as usual on the stats, John.

First, let me say that I think LT has a bit left in the tank. The injuries have been tough for him as he has been extremely durable until the last couple of seasons. I hope that this has taught LT how fragile the career of an NFL RB is & that it is absolutely imperative that he do all that he can to be in the best possible shape for the season. As he ages that part is ever more important.

Would I be happy with LT putting up similar numbers as Emmitt at the end of his career? I’d have to say yes – with the caveat that his salary should be reflective of the decline in production. LT is a beloved figure in the NFL & especially to the Chargers, but this is still a business.

I have a couple of hopes regarding LT right now. Three actually.

One: That he get healthy & stay that way this year (and beyond!!).
Two: That Norv utilize the other RB’s that we have & that LT accept this as a good thing for the team.
Three: That he lead us to a Lombardi.

If the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will!!

Robert Hunter

by Buck Melanoma on Jul 20, 2009 5:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I was sad to see the similarities and then realize that at this point in Emmitt’s career (8 seasons in), he had played in his last Super Bowl.

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

by John Gennaro on Jul 20, 2009 6:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's hope that at least one thing is different

That this year will be LT’s first SB, but not his last as a Charger.

If the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will!!

Robert Hunter

by Buck Melanoma on Jul 20, 2009 6:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

great read

highly rec’d

by CoastalBronco on Jul 20, 2009 8:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I have an issue with the way you predicted LT’s next 5 years in SD. Year 8 2001 was the last year of comparison for Emmitt, but he had only 1 more year with Dallas, however you used Years 5-9 of Emmitt in Dallas to predict what LT would do in Years 9-13 in SD. You would have to use 2001-2004, Emmitt’s last 4 years in Dallas and Arizona to make a valid comparison of LT in years 9-12.

by SJO on Jul 20, 2009 10:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm wrong...I take that back.

John you were spot on with it. I can’t believe Emmitt was in the league 15 years.

by SJO on Jul 20, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I KNOW!

It was freaking forever.

No problem. I specifically left out Emmitt’s time in Arizona because he was the only player on the team that didn’t belong in the CFL.

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

by John Gennaro on Jul 20, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Besides stats....

the main thing that differs these 2 really is an SB win and I want LT to get that… then right there, LT would be the best RB in this decade… and possibly the best of all time… Thats all thats missing from his amazing career and his stats and every record he broke and i believe theres more to come.

***MZ LANZ***

by ChargersWitch on Jul 20, 2009 11:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

less carries/more passes

I would like to see what gartrell can do. If he’s the “power” back I’ve been hearing he is, let him do the third down and short yardage to save LT from the pounding. I would also like to see LT throw more passes like he did a few years back. That would also cause defenders to stick to their man untill LT crosses the line of scrimmage giving him more running room.

by irishlad on Jul 20, 2009 11:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The thing about trick plays

is that the more you use them, the less effective they are. Also, LT isn’t quite the player he once was. Defenses used to be forced to come after him, leaving somebody wide open or otherwise giving him space. Now, they may be willing to give him a little space because they’re confident he can do less with it, which leads to less wide open TDs.

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

by John Gennaro on Jul 20, 2009 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice article

Rec’d

I don't know whether I prefer Astroturf to grass. I never smoked Astroturf.

JOE NAMATH

by theGEN3RAL on Jul 20, 2009 12:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I almost made a huge mistake...

…and commented before I read the article. I was going to suggest that Emmitt owed a large part of his success to his superior OL and that’s why ES’ numbers dwarfed LT’s. WOW…can’t believe the similarities, season to season.

I’ve always been harsh on Emmitt because I grew up in Chicago watching Payton play and resented him breaking Walter’s rushing record. However, I think that Emmitt’s durability and productivity over the long haul speaks volumes about his career.

Here’s to continued statistical similarities as well as new Lombardi Trophy comparisons, starting in ‘09-’10.

Dope post—-Rec’d!

http://avengingjackmurphy.blogspot.com/

I don't agree with a word you're saying but I'll defend to the death your right to say it" ~Patrick Henry

"Shut the fuck up Donnie, you're out of your element!" ~Walter Sobchak from The Big Lebowski

by AIChief on Jul 20, 2009 1:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Al

I’m glad you admitted your almost mistake, it’s exactly the same way I felt before I dug into the numbers.

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

by John Gennaro on Jul 20, 2009 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

DYAR Comparison

Football Outsiders only has numbers going back to 1995 (1994 coming soon), so you have to start the comparison in Year 6. I’m also only including rushing stats here first:

Yr6..DYAR..Rk..YAR..Rk..DVOA..Rk..SucRt..Rk
ES…463….1….424..1…19.0%..2..53%…..4
LT….453….1….498..1…23.4%..3..49%…..9

Yr7..DYAR..Rk..YAR..Rk..DVOA..Rk..SucRt..Rk
ES…61…..19…99…12..-4.5%..22..48%…13
LT….287….2….282..2….13.6%.11..45%…28

Yr8..DYAR..Rk..YAR..Rk..DVOA..Rk..SucRt..Rk
ES…36…..19…73….15…-5.2%..20..46%…18
LT….88…..20..107….16..-1.3%…27..45%…32

Okay, now the receiving numbers:

Yr6..DYAR..Rk..YAR..Rk..DVOA..Rk..Catch%..TotalPasses
ES…3…….44…-10..45.-13.1%..44….79%…..78
LT….139….6…148…4…13.9%.17….69%…..80

Yr7..DYAR..Rk..YAR..Rk..DVOA..Rk..Catch%..TotalPasses
ES…-37… 57..-41….57.-25.4%.55….82%……57
LT….113….6….97…..9…10.6%.22….70%……86

Yr8..DYAR..Rk..YAR..Rk..DVOA..Rk..Catch%..TotalPasses
ES…-10….52….-8….52.-17.8%.51….81%……48
LT…..52….25….53…22..-1.5%..34….68%……77

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 20, 2009 2:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Basically

It’s the same conclusion for the 3 years backed up with some numbers that do a better job at evaluating performance as opposed to counting stats, which are tough to get a read on the differences in value and the value relative to the league. It’s also interesting to look at the “Total Passes” in the receiving category since LT is still targeted in the passing game more than Smith was at the same point even though their catch % stayed the same. That doesn’t come across as well when you just look at receptions. It does show that Cowboys were smart enough to know that even though Emmitt wasn’t dropping any more balls than usual, he wasn’t doing as much with them as maybe he used to.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 20, 2009 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Emmitt's next 5 years rushing

Rush..DYAR..Rk..YAR..Rk..DVOA..Rk..SucRt..Rk
98……205……4…279…3…6.2%…5…55%…..2
99..…..168……3…208…3…3.1%…9…50%…..5
00..…..68..…..18…65….17..-3.1%..18…47%….17
01..…..1….…..30..-13….31..-8.5%..30…40%….35
02..….-16…….32…-16..33.-10.1%.32…44%…..29

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 20, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Emmitt's next 5 years receiving

Rec…DYAR..Rk..YAR..Rk..DVOA..Rk..Catch%..TotalPasses
98……44…..24…45…24…10.6%…21…84%…32
99..…..-26….52…-22…51..-29.6%…54…84%…32
00..…..21..….?…..22….?….16.8%….?…79%….14
01..…..9….…?….-14….?…-6.6%……?…81%….21
02..….-26…..?.…-28….?…-35.6%….?…67%…..24

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 20, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dallas also had

Moose Johnston, a huge receiving threat out of the backfield.

by SJO on Jul 20, 2009 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm

Johnston (from 95 on) had one really good year (95), 2 bad ones (96 and 98) and 1 so-so year where he was only targeted 29 times. Not exactly a big factor. Maybe, it had more to do with offensive philosophy or QB play.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 20, 2009 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So ...

Will Hester be our Moose?

If the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will!!

Robert Hunter

by Buck Melanoma on Jul 20, 2009 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

The Stats are Great, But

The stats are very interesting to read through, and to this point in their careers the stats have been very even. In fact I would agree with you that LT has the slight edge.

However there are some things that the stats just can’t show. In some of the Cowboy’s biggest games there were times when Emmitt just would not let them lose. Whether it was taking over the second half of a play off game, or grinding out the clock on a huge series to secure a post season win. Or even just picking up that game changing third and one when there was no hole to be found.

It is not LT’s fault that he has been hurt for the Chargers biggest games during his career, but the fact is he has been hurt and unable to produce in the big play off games.

There is something special about a player that can step up during the biggest moments of the biggest games and that should not be discounted when comparing the two players. Here is to hoping that LT still has a few of those opportunities ahead of him.

by JeromeB on Jul 20, 2009 6:31 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Agree 100%

I just didn’t know how to write about that in the middle of a stat-based post without sounding hokey. LT has done incredible things on the field, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen an “oh my god he won’t let them lose” moment from him that I’ve seen from other players.

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

by John Gennaro on Jul 21, 2009 2:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe not in playoff games

But I’ve seen some OT games in the regular season where he put the Chargers on his back. There was a game against Washington in 2005. And I know there was a Broncos game that went into OT where he rushed for 200 yards that is imprinted in my mind as a game he refused to lose. I’m not saying these are on par with Emmitt, just that they do exist.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 21, 2009 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

December 1, 2002

Play by play.

Game goes into overtime and Broncos start with the ball. After a Marcellus Wiley sack, Broncos are forced to punt. Chargers get the ball at the SD 41. LT gets the ball 4 straight carries for 40 yards (9, 25, 0, 6) and its 3rd and 4 and Marty decides to kick a FG (38 yds) without going for another first down. The Steve Christie kick is blocked. Broncos drive results in a Jason Elam 53 yd FG that misses. LT gets the ball 6 of the next 8 plays including a 3rd and 3 which he converts to get them to 11 yd line. He gets another 2 the next play and the Chargers win when Christie makes one from 27 yds out. LT ended the game with 37 carries for 220 yds and 3 TDs. Brees only threw for 217. 10 carries for 57 yds in OT.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 21, 2009 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was also the teams leading receiver that day

11 receptions for 51. Next best was Eric Parker 3 catches for 48 yds.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 21, 2009 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

November 27, 2005

Play by play

For some reason the Overtime play by play is missing. I think it’s just sufficient to know that they won in overtime and LT had a 32 yard run to tie the game in the 4th quarter and a 41 yard run on the second play in overtime to win it. He also had 25 carries for 184 yds and 6 receptions for 29 yds.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 21, 2009 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Emmitt vs LT in Big Games

I am not trying to bash LT, he is a certain hall of famer and one of the best RBs in the history of the NFL. What I am trying to do is look at the two players with an open mind and give Emmitt credit where credit is due.

LT has most certainly been the main factor in many Chargers wins, but not a lot of the really big wins. He did carry the load in the two games that you mentioned and deserves a huge portion of the credit for those wins. But neither game was a play off game, or a game that even resulted in the Chargers making the play offs. In fact both of the games that you mentioned were in seasons that the Chargers failed to make the post season.
In San Diego’s recent post season victories, it could be argued that Turner and Sproles made bigger plays and had a bigger impact on the Charger’s wins.

I am not a big fan of stats, but for the stat fans out there, here are their post season numbers:
Emmitt
ATT YDS AVG REC YDS
349 1586 4.5 46 342

LT
ATT YDS AVG REC YDS
84 303 3.3 16 157

The best way for anybody to understand what I am saying is to go back and watch a tape of the Cowboys 96 NFC Championship game vs GB. He had many other clutch performances but in my mind that one was his best.

by JeromeB on Jul 21, 2009 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't remember claiming that LT was better than Emmitt in the playoffs

Or even implying it. I just wanted to help make the case that LT has shown up at times to lead his team to victory. Emmitt was on a Super Bowl caliber team by his second year in the league (age 22) and Emmitt had already won two Super Bowls at a younger age that LT even had a team that made the playoffs. You can’t even begin to compare the two when it comes to playoffs. It’s like trying to compare Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera based on playoff numbers. It’s not a fair comparison. All it does is make the person doing the comparisons look foolish for trying to make the argument.

And I haven’t even mentioned that Emmitt Smith was on a high revenue team in an era before the salary cap.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 21, 2009 11:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry for looking foolish

I was simply trying to give my opinion on the subject. In my foolish mind Emmitt had a better career than LT has had so far. His play in big games is only one reason for my feeling this way. There are many reasons why some players have better careers than others, you have stated a few. Perhaps another one of the reasons the teams that he played on were so good is because he was on them. I would like to apologize for my being so foolish. But please try and remember that almost nobody on this planet is as intelligent as you are, so be patient with the fools like me.
Emmitt played in 17 post season games during his career.
The Chargers have been in 7 so far during LT’s career. Had it not been for first round home game losses to the Jets and NE, the number “could” have been a few more.

by JeromeB on Jul 22, 2009 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have yet to say who the better player was

But, I can say without question, that none of your points have persuaded me in either direction. I can also say that “big games” are in the eye of the beholder. They are also subject to many circumstances usually outside of the control of a single player. Someone would have a hard time convincing me that if you put a 23 year old Emmitt Smith (who won a Super Bowl) on the 2003 Chargers (which is the team with a 23 year old LT), that they would have won the Super Bowl. For me, that’s the main reason that I can’t say that Emmitt Smith is better because he was on better teams and doing so is a pretty harsh judgment cast upon the other players on Emmitt’s teams.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 22, 2009 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am not trying to persuade you

I am not trying to convince you of anything, just giving my opinion. The Chargers have been a very good team during LT’s career (due in large part to him) with a few very good chances to win it all. They have won their division 4 of the past 5 years (winning more than 10 games in 3 of those seasons), and are currently one of the favorites to win this years superbowl (7-1 at the Casino were I work). He has played on teams that were more than capable of winning it all.
For the stat lovers:
Cowboys record with emmitt 116 – 92 .557
Chargers record with LT 71 – 57 .554

Some people still think we did not go to the moon, or that ghosts, the loch ness monster and big foot are real. Everyone has an opinion on everything. I do not pretend to think that things I post on a message board or say to people will change the way that they think, nor do I want them to.

Just to show how really of the mark on something I can be, in my opinion the greatest RB that I have ever seen play is Earl Campbell. In 78, 79 and 80 he was unreal. But like LT he did not have a lot of post season success, so look at my double standard. Maybe I am an idiot.

by JeromeB on Jul 22, 2009 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No worries

The moment you stop basing player performance on postseason success is the moment you start becoming a smarter football fan. So, think highly of Earl Campbell as much as you want.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jul 23, 2009 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good info

by GABOLT on Jul 20, 2009 7:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hester will definitly be our Moose..if he stays healthy

NEVER MISS A GAME,WHETHER BY BEING THERE OR WATCHING AT HOME,FO SHO!!!

by Gorditoe1 on Jul 20, 2009 10:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree about big games... for now

I think LT just hasn’t had the same post season opportunities Emmitt had. In ‘06 LT ran for 123 yards on 23 carries and 2 TD’s. This was a 5.3 avg. Had the Chargers won that day, LT could have been seen as “carrying” the team with PR having a pedestrian 230 yards passing and the only other score being a rushing TD by Turner. Aside from that game, I can’t think of many others that LT has had in the postseason that he was healthy enough for to make an impact on.

by PotatoMAN on Jul 21, 2009 2:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

06 Should have been their year

In the 06 season LT really was a dominant player. The Chargers were the best team in the NFL that year and should have won it all. In weeks 8 – 13 LT really did “carry” the team, and as you pointed out he put up big numbers in their play off loss to N.E. Had the pick not been fumbled or had the Chargers given LT the ball a little more in that game (especially in the 4th quarter when they got the ball with about 4 minutes to go) that probably would have been their championship season.

by JeromeB on Jul 22, 2009 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs