OT: Tomlinson will not play a down in the preseason - smart strategy or not?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Norm has decided to sit Ladanian Tomlinson out for the preseason instead of risking injury to the player,He is reportedly going to not play 1 down till week 1

Now if that does not emphasize who is the piece that keeps the puzzle together in San Diego nothing will.

San Diego is an also ran without Ladanian in the lineup so the team knows that and takes no chances.

Is that smart or should he get in real game action before the regular season starts - I guess it can be looked at both ways

I know I would rather see Brady,Wilfork and Maroney and Moss ect not play in the preseason to avoid injury but do you think this would be a good thing or should they get out thereif not for a quarter or two and get ready for the real stuff starting in week 1?

 

[spacecrime]

Re: OT: Tomlinson will not play a down in the preseason -smart strategy or not?

I'm fine with Maroney sitting all preseason.

I don't think sitting Tomlinson shows that the team is crap without him. It shows that RBs don't need to play to develop timing like QBs and receivers do, or that defenses do.

Norm has decided to sit Ladanian Tomlinson out for the preseason instead of risking injury to the player,He is reportedly going to not play 1 down till week 1

Now if that does not emphasize who is the piece that keeps the puzzle together in San Diego nothing will.

San Diego is an also ran without Ladanian in the lineup so the team knows that and takes no chances.

Is that smart or should he get in real game action before the regular season starts - I guess it can be looked at both ways

I know I would rather see Brady,Wilfork and Maroney and Moss ect not play in the preseason to avoid injury but do you think this would be a good thing or should they get out thereif not for a quarter or two and get ready for the real stuff starting in week 1?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: OT: Tomlinson will not play a down in the preseason -smart strategy or not?

I'm fine with Maroney sitting all preseason.

I don't think sitting Tomlinson shows that the team is crap without him. It shows that RBs don't need to play to develop timing like QBs and receivers do, or that defenses do.

I think without Tomlinson San Diego is an 8-8 team - Thats how good I think Tomlinson is to that team - Rivers IMO is not yet capable of putting the team on his shoulders and if Tomlinson went down thats exactly what would happen.

If Maroney went down we have enough offense to withstand the loss IMO

Vincent Jackson is the only true WR threat on that team,not including the TE Gates

 

[desi-patsfan]

Re: OT: Tomlinson will not play a down in the preseason -smart strategy or not?

LT not playing is great for them. Playing 4 snaps every game in the pre-season isnt going to help him much.

 

[rabthepat]

He has a history of reduced preseason play and a Chargers fan told me he doesn't even practice as much as his team mates to keep his legs fresh.

 

[Mix]

Re: OT: Tomlinson will not play a down in the preseason -smart strategy or not?

I think without Tomlinson San Diego is an 8-8 team - Thats how good I think Tomlinson is to that team - Rivers IMO is not yet capable of putting the team on his shoulders and if Tomlinson went down thats exactly what would happen.

If Maroney went down we have enough offense to withstand the loss IMO

Vincent Jackson is the only true WR threat on that team,not including the TE Gates

Chargers would still make the playoffs without Tomlinson. The team is stacked and Turner is the best backup in the league, I'd take him over a lot of guys starting for other teams. Rivers is good enough to lead that team to 10+ wins this year even if Tomlinson went down with injury.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

Re: OT: Tomlinson will not play a down in the preseason -smart strategy or not?

Chargers would still make the playoffs without Tomlinson. The team is stacked and Turner is the best backup in the league, I'd take him over a lot of guys starting for other teams. Rivers is good enough to lead that team to 10+ wins this year even if Tomlinson went down with injury.

All of the above is VERY debatable.

 

[rabthepat]

Re: OT: Tomlinson will not play a down in the preseason -smart strategy or not?

Chargers would still make the playoffs without Tomlinson. The team is stacked and Turner is the best backup in the league, I'd take him over a lot of guys starting for other teams. Rivers is good enough to lead that team to 10+ wins this year even if Tomlinson went down with injury.

I agree...Charger's fans are very confident in Turner's abilities. He is not LT but he is good enough for 10 wins.

 

[Keegs]

Re: OT: Tomlinson will not play a down in the preseason -smart strategy or not?

Rivers is good enough to lead that team to 10+ wins this year even if Tomlinson went down with injury.

Ummmmmm NO

 

[zippo59]

Preseason is pointless for these already established players. I would be fine with him sitting. The only thing I would be worried about is that he might not be in "football" shape by the time the season starts and won't be used to getting hit, but if he gets hit a little in practice then it shouldn't be a very big deal.

 

[OntarioPatsFan]

I'm pretty sure he sat the entire 2006 preseason and I think the 2006 season worked out pretty well for him....

the 2006 post-season, however, not so good.

 

[patriot lifer]

I'm pretty sure LT didn't play one snap last year too. As for Mike "The Burner" Turner, he's pretty good, but remember they have maybe the best offensive line and fullback in the game. They pretty much just need someone who's fast and won't fall down from a moment's contact as a backup.

 

[BoltsFan]

Last time LT played in preseason was the 1st game of 05. 1st time he touched the ball he busted one for 58 yards. He hasn't played a down since then in preseason.

Trust me, as much as SD fans love LT we'll all assert that we would still win at least 10 games even if LT goes down. Here's one reason why. The burner is no joke. There's a reason the Chargers put a 1st and 3rd tender on him, didn't look to move him, and wouldn't accept anything less. Staff likes him so much they are willing to let him walk next year for a compensatory. If SD didn't think he was the man, he'd be gone right now.

 

[brdmaverick]

I'd like Moss to sit out from all preseason games.


Remember, Deion Branch was a healthy scratch from all 2004 preseason games (2005 too if you count his holdout)

 

[JoeSixPat]

Smart strategy... for SD... Tomlinson gains little by taking reps in pre-season games... he's veteran and if in game shape he remains at the top of his game.

The cost benefit analysis by the coach was clear - sit him rather than risk injury.

No offense, but Maroney DOES need some pre-season reps IMO, coming off a rookie season where he didn't carry the ball on a full time basis and lost time to injury.

Cost benefit analysis says that while yes he risks injury, he also needs to improve by taking reps in pre-season games.

You can't have a one size fits all policy on this matter.

 

[DaBruinz]

Norm has decided to sit Ladanian Tomlinson out for the preseason instead of risking injury to the player,He is reportedly going to not play 1 down till week 1

Now if that does not emphasize who is the piece that keeps the puzzle together in San Diego nothing will.

San Diego is an also ran without Ladanian in the lineup so the team knows that and takes no chances.

Is that smart or should he get in real game action before the regular season starts - I guess it can be looked at both ways

I know I would rather see Brady,Wilfork and Maroney and Moss ect not play in the preseason to avoid injury but do you think this would be a good thing or should they get out thereif not for a quarter or two and get ready for the real stuff starting in week 1?

Gotta disagree. Though Michael Turner would be a step back from LaDanian, I believe that he could carry the load in San Diego. The Chargers also got Darren Sproles who seems to have recovered from his injury and is an electirc back and should be another great 3rd down option for them.

Losing LaDanian would force the Chargers to become more dynamic. But don't fool yourself into believeing that they don't have weapons. They do. That have a very good O-line and an All-Pro TE. Their WRs are young and unproven, but they have shown flashes that could make them scary.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

ultimately, i'd leave it to the coaches to decide whether there's a benefit to playing Brady et al in preseason "games," but, personally, I'd rather not see them playing meaningless downs at risk of injury from some cheap shot wannabe (think Keith Bulluck) who's trying to make a name for himself.

if we really believe that our O and D are among the best, if not the best, in the NFL, then these guys can learn more from practicing against each other than by playing most of the teams in the league.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'd like Moss to sit out from all preseason games.


Remember, Deion Branch was a healthy scratch from all 2004 preseason games (2005 too if you count his holdout)

Branch was held out because he's a injury prone twig.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Re: OT: Tomlinson will not play a down in the preseason -smart strategy or not?

I agree...Charger's fans are very confident in Turner's abilities. He is not LT but he is good enough for 10 wins.

Not sure, but is there a time recently when Turner had to step in and carry the load for the Sparklers for more than a few games? If so, what were his #'s, cause Rivers hasn't proven shat to me 'cept that he is a crybaby and thinks "Hobbs is the worst CB in the league"! The Sparklers would have all they can handle in the West w/o Tomlinson. IMO..They go from being a serious contender to a hopeful wildcard w/o LT!

 

[hernandeztribe]

I agree that not playing him is a smart move, and he should pickup right away. The gray area would be is if he can hang four quarters without getting some playing time.