Slow start, fast finish for NFL-leading Tomlinson
By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | ∞
SAN DIEGO -- After three games of this current NFL season, there was no reason for anybody to believe that the Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson might win his second consecutive rushing title.
Remember those numbers that were attached to the reigning NFL MVP's name? They truly seemed out of place -- just 130 rushing yards and a paltry 2.3 average per carry.
By contrast, four NFL running backs were already over 300 yards after three games, and Pittsburgh's Willie Parker had a whopping 238 more yards than Tomlinson.
Yet as the season enters its final week, there is Tomlinson at the top of the list with 1,418 yards. He enters Sunday's game at Oakland with a 102-yard lead over second-place Parker, who will miss the Steelers' final contest because of a broken leg.
Only Minnesota's Adrian Peterson (1,305 yards) and Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook (1,291) have a legitimate chance of keeping Tomlinson from winning the crown.
Tomlinson is no longer the frustrated player he was during the month of September. Four consecutive 100-yard games have boosted him into the rushing-yardage lead, and his once-sagging average now is a healthy 4.7.
So the subject matter revolves around his chances of winning another rushing title, something few people would have predicted just three short months ago.
"Early on, I kept on saying, 'It's a long season and we have a lot more games to play,' " Tomlinson said earlier this week. "My thinking has always been that it doesn't matter what happens in the beginning. You watch horses race, and it's always dramatic when that horse comes from the back and he's running and it's just exciting.
"So I always look at myself like that a lot of times from whatever position I might be in. If I'm way in the back, I always just feel like as the season goes on, I'm going to come running somewhere. I'm not surprised but it has been an up-and-down season. I guess it may have proved something to you guys (in the media). And maybe it proved something to some other people, but I'm not surprised that we're in this position."
Tomlinson says the Chargers' offensive linemen might want him to win the crown even more than he does.
The line drew some criticism early in the season when the holes weren't there, but it has played tremendous football during the past four weeks. During that span, Tomlinson has rushed for an average of 136.5 yards per game despite not playing in the second half against Detroit on Dec. 16 and getting just four second-half carries against Denver on Christmas Eve.
"We definitely want it," center Nick Hardwick said. "We've been working hard this year. We've been improving. We'll see how it goes. We'd like to get it. It would be a heck of an honor. It would be another accomplishment that he's got that we're kind of along for the ride."
The upcoming playoffs also make for some interesting decision-making for Chargers coach Norv Turner should the Chargers run up a big lead over the Raiders. Turner has to weigh keeping his star back healthy while giving him the opportunity to achieve another individual honor.
Tomlinson maintains he's fine with whatever Turner decides.
"I'm not going to try to worry about it or focus on it at all," Tomlinson said. "The first priority is to win the game. I don't want to get caught up in worrying about some rushing title more than trying to win a game."
The whole scenario is a welcome subject after that dreadful start. Turner professes that he's not the least bit stunned that Tomlinson is back atop the rushing race.
"It's easy to say now, but I would expect L.T. to be in the middle of the race for the rushing title every year," Turner said. "I've learned over the years not to get caught up over something that happens over a two- or three-week period."
Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com.
Rushing for the crown
LaDainian Tomlinson is in position to win his second consecutive rushing title. Only three other players are within 200 yards of his league-leading rushing-yardage output.
Rank Player, Team Yards
1. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers 1,418
2. Willie Parker*, Pittsburgh 1,316
3. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota 1,305
4. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia 1,291
* -- will miss final game due to injury.
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JAMES wrote on Dec 28, 2007 12:18 AM:Hopefully LT gets the rushing title but the the Vikings are playing the Donkey wusses so Peterson could go for 300 plus!
"oooh Rivers trash talks too much, I don't respect him anymore, he's a classless guy...that's it guys, no more questions... gotta go get my nails done"
-Chump Bailey
Steven wrote on Dec 28, 2007 7:23 AM:For LT, last year's playoff game was the start of him not being himself. He seemed very bitter in that loss, and it took a few games to recover. Now, he and his Chargers are charged up for the playoffs. They are more prepared for any hurdle than they were last year. My dream scenario--Chargers march into Gillette Stadium against the Patriots with their "perfect" season on the line and LT runs all over them. At the end of the game, the whole does the "Lights Out" dance. Sweet!
KT CHARGERS wrote on Dec 28, 2007 10:02 AM:CHUMP DON'T LIKE RIVER BECAUSE RIVER
ALWAYS RUN THROUGH HIM EVEN HE'S THE BEST CORNER IN THE LEAGUE
Jaque wrote on Dec 28, 2007 12:37 PM:KT, do you type much? Or is it the thought process?
KTCHARGERS wrote on Dec 28, 2007 12:50 PM:jAQUE I DON'T TYPE MUCH BUT WHEN I TYPE
I ALWAYS HAVE POSITIVE THOUGHT ABOUT THE CHARGERS.. NOT LIKE YOU
Gio wrote on Dec 28, 2007 12:58 PM:How many rings does Rivers have - actually how many are in SD, period? 'Til that happens, the whole league laughs at rivers and the rest of em. Sorry.
Markus wrote on Dec 28, 2007 1:11 PM:Jacque, that's not nice. Can't we keep it between the lines?
Jaque wrote on Dec 28, 2007 2:29 PM:OK Markus...it was tough to resist, but I'll do my best to restrain myself tomorrow/Monday
Jimbo wrote on Dec 28, 2007 7:36 PM:Norv, we're glad that you finally figured out that good things happen when you feed the ball to LT and block for him. No need to change the secret formula for the playoffs either.
BOLT BELIEVER wrote on Dec 28, 2007 8:44 PM:CHARGERS ARE THE STRONGEST MOST TALENTED TEAM SURGING INTO THE PLAYOFFS RIGHT NOW B E L I E V E I T!
slobberknocker wrote on Dec 28, 2007 9:37 PM:Looks like Cromartie was the missing link to the Chargers Pass Defense and it's quite obvious the timing is perfect for Cromartie is guided with principles of aggressive passing defenses by Bill Bradley. In past year the concept was overtly conservative pass defense of "Bend but don't break" in other words play not to lose mentality.
sdboltfan wrote on Dec 28, 2007 11:56 PM:Gio.. its rivers 2nd year start.. no one expects him to have sb rings.. so your comment was useless and very unthoughtful.. non of the greats had rings in there first 2 years starting
chargerfan#1 wrote on Dec 29, 2007 8:34 AM:As far as Rivers talking trash, I seriously like that. We need someone that has a little fire under them. Please tell me one sport where players DO NOT talk trash. It's part of the game. Who cares if we haven't won a ring or what happened in the past. Anything to get under the other team's skin do it. Football is a mental game, 90% mental and 20% physical?!?!?!?! hahahha
ADEE wrote on Dec 29, 2007 11:18 AM:hey gio, let me guess....your a colts fan,no maybe a pats fan,i bet your a cowboys fan! your the true definition of a bandwagon fan. hey if the bolts win it all this year, well, then you'll be a bolts fan! are you from LA? if so i can understand your pain. heck i'd be upset to if the 3 NFL teams the city once had, packed up and left. GO BOLTS!
TheRealCothulu wrote on Dec 30, 2007 2:20 AM:Yeah I can see A.P. going for alot of yards against the Broncos. Especialy if the Vikings dont get that playoff spot, what else do they have to play for at that point? Its a home game for Denver, we will have to see as that game unfolds what will end up being LTs magic number to win a second str8 rushing title. Favorite Josh Lewin quote this year-"LT, in OT, the Chargers have beaten Tennesse"!
P.S.
AFC Championship or bust
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