Link: Jets To Work LT in Preseason
Manish Mehta of the Daily News, writes that LaDainian Tomlinson will get a fair amount of reps during the preseason.
LaDainian Tomlinson will have plenty of opportunities to show off his freshly minted tattoo of the Jets logo this preseason. The future Hall of Fame running back may have a track record of kicking up his feet in August to prepare for the rigors of the regular season, but the Jets plan to give the veteran a steady dose of work to acclimate himself to his new environment.
Contrary to popular belief, Tomlinson hasn’t been guaranteed any specific role. So, Tomlinson, who will turn 31 later this month, will do what he typically hasn’t done throughout his nine-year career: Play a good amount in the practice games.
“With change comes different expectations,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer told me. “LaDainian’s fighting for playing time. He’s got to earn the right. He wants to have the chance to start. So, he’s going to have to play… We can look forward to (him playing more in the preseason). Hopefully that will have something to do with him getting energized and getting off to a great start.”
The Chargers, of course, had a vastly different philosophy, resting Tomlinson, for the most part, in the preseason so that his body didn’t take any unneeded punishment. It’s interesting that the Jets have chosen to expose Tomlinson at a time when his body, well, could use the rest.
I don’t know if I necessarily agree with this. I would think the Jets would want to keep his legs fresh considering he is going to be 31 at the start of the season. It worked with Shonn Greene last season so I don’t have reason to believe it wouldn’t work with LT. However, Schotty has known LT for years, so I have faith he knows what he is doing here. Either way it is going to be interesting to see how this plays out.
41 Responses to Link: Jets To Work LT in Preseason
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Dave TN says:
Yeah. He’s not getting 20 carries a game this season, so he can play for 15 minutes.
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96DEBACLE says:
to bad the tattoo is the only thing thats fresh about him….
yeah thats right i said it! -
OMG27 says:
zzzing!
I don’t think there is anything to worry about here.
we only have so many RBs anyway, so if we rest LT and Greene until September it’d be a waste of a preseason. (I seriously could not be any more skeptical of this McNight kid).And if LT proves to have returned to top form by mid August, I’m sure Shotty will treat him as such.
Until then, he’s just another guy fighting for a job. -
juunit says:
I’m confident that he’ll have a good year on the ground. But assuming that he does not, he adds the element of receiving out of the backfield which is something we simply did not have last year once Washington went down. I just hope that they give him more than just screen passes because I’m just not sure if he’ll be able to create plays like that. Even just letting him run some short hooks would be a very good idea. That way if he isn’t able to get much yardage after the catch the play will still be for a gain. Whereas if he gets tackled right away in a screen play it will likely be for a loss. And his legs will be perfectly fresh… he isn’t 60 years old. The only thing that would cause his legs to not be fresh would be if he got lots of carries every game. He’ll be perfectly fine running a few extra plays in the pre-season because he’ll have plenty of time to rest up in between practices.
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spentmiles says:
Ha. Revis better zip it, or he’ll be running the ball. Remember when they put Pete Kendall in at center during preseason? haha.
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rollercoaster says:
I agree with the decision. It’s not as if he’s the full-time back. Plus, if not him, then who? Chauncey? Woodhead? McKnight? LT is the best out of that group honestly, 31 or not.
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Jake Long says:
Are the Jets going to paint LT’s walker green? I think it would look better with him pushing a green walker down the field rather than some other color. Go JETS!
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ramble914 says:
jake long can’t carry D’brick’s jock.
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LT should have to earn a spot just like everyone else.
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On a side note, it’s only been a few weeks so far, but Manish Mehta has far outperformed Cimini — not only in terms of frequency of blogging, but also in terms of depth and quality.
Very refreshing to get actual football info rather than rehashed snark.
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starz31 says:
R in Ct,
I’ve been loving the Manish articles. His style of writing is just refreshing. Not to mention very informative.
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SuperT says:
Translation = LT will be on the shelf with an injury before the season even starts.
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Eddie DiGio says:
Super T just has complete, utter blind hatred for LaDanian Tomlinson…
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Eddie,
I’ll gladly admit I’m wrong when the season gets here if need be, will you?
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You bet I will…but for the record Im not saying he’s going to rush for 1000 yds on 200 carries…
I just dont get the blind hatred, all while failing to acknowledge that there are any factors, other than LT being the oldest and worst RB in the NFL right now, that could have led to LTs drop in production…
He’s not what he was 5 years ago, but he is no where near the geriatric dinosaur that you insist on carrying on about
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And Jake Long should be talking up there, while it took Ricky Williams 5 years to quit smoking weed (enter Bob Saget from Half Baked), getting injured his first game back, then becoming a revelation last season…
If there are any group of fans who have nothing to say about older, injury prone RBs…its the Phish and Ronnie “Knee Ligament” Brown and Ricky …well, Ricky Freakin Williams
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Harvlis says:
I think LT will be playing, along with the starting O-line. He does have to get familiar with Sanchez, T-Rich, and the line. This is not a shock.
We open with Baltimore. LT has to come out of the blocks real strong. I wouldn’t be betting against him.
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So while a good percentage of the Jets fan base completely turned on TJ while he rushed for 1400+ yards last season and then the Jets replace him with LT (with the same salary) this season.
I find it interesting that you’re predicting he won’t rush for 1000 yards this coming season. Wonder how the majority of Jet fans will feel if that happens?
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How is he going to rush for a 1000 yds when he is the BACK-UP RB??? Shonn Greene replaced TJ, NOT LT!!!!!
How many times do we have to go over this before it sinks in???
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Eddie, Eddie, Eddie,
Outside of 4 or 5 RB’s (Chris Johnson, Steven Jackson, AP, MJD) The NFL is no longer a one back league.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if you think that SG is going to be healthy for all 16 games and carry the ball 20-30 times each game, it ain’t going to happen.
I can even recall times last season when TJ didn’t start the initial series for the Jets. Rex will play the hot hand, and it is not always going to be a case where SG has to start each and every game.
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StopTheWildcat says:
hey I like the idea of LT being a part of this offense, he may not be the centerpiece of it but he will contribute strongly to the overall success of the unit….and honestly after watching TJ after SG went down against the Colts, I was hoping he would just retire after that and save some face.
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Yea but TJ got the MAJORITY of the carries…just look at the numbers…I dont know how you are even arguing this.
Shonn Greene is replacing TJs workload, with LT taking the 2nd back role…an average of 10-15 carries a game at best. Not to mention having Shonn Greene softening up that defense.
All this behind the best run blocking O line in the NFL, the best O line coach and a head coach COMMITTED to running the football…
He can still be an effective, COG IN THE WHEEL, not the wheel itself
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No… you can’t recall games where Jones didn’t start… because he started every game. He started all the playoff games as well, even though it was painfully obvious that Greene was the better RB. And if you think you can predict the future based on the past, well then you’re just a moron. There are plenty of examples of professional athletes who got injured lots early in their careers and then ceased to have any injury problems. And Greene hasn’t even had lots of injury problems. He’s been in the NFL for one year, yet you already presume to know that he is weak and injury prone. I’d love to know how you figure that.
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“I can even recall times last season when TJ didn’t start the initial series for the Jets. Rex will play the hot hand, and it is not always going to be a case where SG has to start each and every game.”
Yea I remember those 20 carry 52 yd epic performances by TJ Week 17 vs the Bengals, or the Bengals 2, or the Chargers….and the AFC Championship game. Its delusional to think that one of the 5 best RBs ever to breathe can’t contribute behind the best O line in the NFL while teaming up with a 24 yr old wrecking ball
And Joe McKnight can ball a little bit as well…If need be, a rookie RB can step right in the NFL and be productive at that spot
So what you are saying is that if Shonn Greene gets injured, LT can’t help the team? Well what did TJ do down the stretch or the AFC Championship game? Did he run them to the Super Bowl on his back….no he fell down in the backfield
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juunit
Ive gone on with this guy about this for months and he can’t grasp the concept
His argument is based off of Shonn Greene getting horrifically injured….like its as certain as the Sun rising in the east
No team plans their team like “well, when he goes down week 5, we’ll just stick him in…”
Injuries are part of the game. But you have to plan your team as if your best players are going to be their for at least the majority of the time
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And TJ started every game at least in the regular season
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Super T
Im going to try to simplify this-
If Shonn Greene gets 60-65 % of the carries and LT gets 35-40 % this season….it will still be a two back offense and LT can still be an option as a reciever out of the backfield that TJ simply could not be…
Sometimes the carries may be split, sometimes Shonn will vastly out carry LT but If something close to that happens, LT can be an effective, productive part of the Jets offense
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Eddie (the all knowing),
Please knock off the condescending attitude just because I don’t share in your “LT was a great pickup by the Jets.” thinking.
Do you talk down to everyone who doesn’t agree with you? It sure doesn’t make you right. This “You’ve explained to me many times” and “You’re going to explain to me for the last time”……well I could continually repeat myself to you too, that “the Jets paid ENTIRELY too much money for a RB who is washed up.” and I have no clue why you can’t see this – Should I paraphrase this with statements such as “Do I have to explain that to you for the last time too”?
The bottom line is – we will see when the season starts, and I hope you will be man enough to admit when you’re wrong.
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Here is my last post on the subject tonight and I’m out -
Last season many teams (Miami, Giants, Carolina, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Denver, Dallas, T.B., Arizona, New England, Houston, New Orleans, Cleveland, Washington, Philadelphia, etc, etc) were either forced into going with many different starting RBs throughout the season due to not performing or due to injury. So to the guy who says I can’t predict the future, I would say it is a pretty safe bet it could possibly happen to the Jets too. Unless the Jets are somehow not prone to what happens to 75 percent of the rest of the teams.
As for LT being the backup, you’re correct in that the likely hood of him getting as many touches as SG isn’t as good. But HE STILL SHOULD GET A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT of touches as the backup due to the reasons I listed above (injury, SG possibly struggling, etc) and we will see what he does with his opportunities for the money the Jets are paying him. Hope you’re right.
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Right, it could possibly happen, which is far from a sure thing. Possibly is not absolutely, it isn’t even probably, it’s just possibly. And like Eddie said, you can’t assume the injury. Obviously in a sport like football they are going to happen. So to say that Greene is any more likely than any other player to get injured is just stupid. What if Larry Fitzgerald gets hurt? What happened to the Steelers when Troy Polamalu got hurt? And please, I’m relatively new to this site, but Eddie actually seems to be one of the fans on here who actually is logical about what he says. Considering how illogical some other fans seem to be, I think it’s pretty ridiculous to be calling him a condescending know-it-all. We’ll just agree to disagree shall we?
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Super T
Please guy
I said that if Shonn Greene got 60% of the season’s carries (that takes into account the possibility of Shonn missing a few games or some plays in certain games) and that if LT got around 40 % of the carries ( also taking into account the possibility of spot starting 2-4 games) and could add an option out of the backfield on 3rd down….that he could be more effective with the Jets better o line and offense that is built to run the football better than the one he was with in SD last year….still making it a two back offense with Shonn getting more of the workload as the PRIMARY back
Your response to that was
“Last season many teams (Miami, Giants, Carolina, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Denver, Dallas, T.B., Arizona, New England, Houston, New Orleans, Cleveland, Washington, Philadelphia, etc, etc) were either forced into going with many different starting RBs throughout the season due to not performing or due to injury. So to the guy who says I can’t predict the future, I would say it is a pretty safe bet it could possibly happen to the Jets too. Unless the Jets are somehow not prone to what happens to 75 percent of the rest of the teams.”
How, at any point in your response, does that disprove anything I said ? In all probability, Shonn Greene should carry the ball more than LT….and if that happens…I think LT can improve on his numbers last year…you dont think so…so whats new buddy??? We have to wait until they play the games to find it out…
The difference is I gave you a list of FOOTBALL related reasons why I think LT can improve from last year and/or add a dimension to the Jets offense that TJ lacked or the Jets had to make up for after Leon’s leg snapped, all or most of which you just fail to respond to or try and sweep under the rug…So here is why LT can be more effective than last year…
1-better O-line to run behind
2- best run blocking offense line coach in the NFL in terms of schemes
3- Defensive minded Head Coach COMMITTED to run the football
4- Pairing with a bruising back that can soften up defenses
5- LT feet, balance and cutback ability on zone block runs > TJ
6- LT as a pass catcher > TJ
7- LT blitz pick up > TJ
8- LT vision > TJ
9- LT Football IQ > TJ
10- No Charger RB ran for more than 3.7 YPC last year behind that O LineWhile you have simply repeated the obvious to me that
“LT is washed up”…
or “The Jets overpaid for LT”…
or “LT is 31″
or “TJ had more yds than LT”
or “LT ruined my fantasy team”…
or “Its a two back league”…
or “LT had a bad season last year”…
or “LT stole my lunch money”
or “LT smashed my girlfriend”
or “LT cause the economy to crash”Am I missing something???
Im looking at this as how LTs skillset fits into what the Jets do well and their supporting personnel that helps LT more than their respective counterparts did on the Chargers last season…
and you are telling me you are right because…
you just think the guy can’t play anymore based off of last year?
or Mike Francesca told you so ?
or its a two back league ?
or LT ruined your fantasy team?I hope I shed a little light as to why I got just a bit frustrated trying to discuss this with you…
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*I think LT can improve on his numbers last year*
Its all relative on how many carries he gets…obviously if he only carries the ball 100 times for 450-500 yds, improving on his 3.3 ypc 700+ yd season last year…then LT would obviously be more EFFECTIVE or EFFICIENT than he was last year with San Diego
Also if the Jets as a pass offense, score more points, get more first downs, increase time of poss, and gain more yds with LT as the 3rd down back, he will have helped in that regard as well
Im not talking about fantasy points Super T
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Super T
Just so you know…
The salary for an ELITE NFL RB ranges from 13-5.5 million dollars… usatoday.com gives a list of the salaries
LT’s 2.5 or 2.7 doesn’t even pay him as if he is one of the top 20 RBs in the NFL….Jets are hardly overpaying for what the Pats got out of Fred Taylor last year for almost INDENTICAL money
And to your point about LT being the “franchise”…He was also making the 2nd or 3rd most money as RB in the NFL under his contract with the Chargers…With all the upcoming FA’s the Chargers have coming up (V Jackson, Merriman, McNeil, Sproles, Shaun Phillips) how were they going to pay some of those guys with LT making that kind of money and no longer being able to carry the ball 300 times a year???
They had to cut him because he simply made too much money for being a complimentary player at this point in his career
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“well I could continually repeat myself to you too, that “the Jets paid ENTIRELY too much money for a RB who is washed up.” and I have no clue why you can’t see this – Should I paraphrase this with statements such as “Do I have to explain that to you for the last time too”?”
All you have to do is give me a response other than “LT is washed up because I said so”… but this is what its like discussing this issue with you
Me:Oh the Jets have a better O line than the Chargers though…
Super T: No he’s washed up cause he ruined my fantasy teamMe: LT still has better feet, cutback ability and vision to run behind the Jets dominant zone run blocking schemes than TJ does, and TJ put up some good numbers last year
Super T: No he’s washed up cause I said so
Me: What about his receiving skills
Super T: Washed up….overpaid…I said so
Me: Overpaid??? Fred Taylor made similar money for the Pats last season to be in a 4 back rotation with Maroney, Faulk, and Sammy Morris
Super T: OVERPAID FOR A WASHED UP BACK…
Me: You know that Darren Sproles numbers went down also after Goff left for KC and that right side of the OL fell off…
Super T: Sproles had no problem running behind that line
Me: He averaged 3.7 ypc
Super T: LT is washed upMe: Umm OK Well, I think he can benefit from running with a bruising, locomotive in Greene
Super T: Shonn Greene will miss 3/4s of the season and Its a two back league
Me: Suppose Greene still winds up with the majority of the carries, as is the Jets plan to make Greene the feature back
Super T: Its a two back league
Me: But what if Shonn only misses a few games and still winds up with more than half the carries and plays at least 3/4s of the season
Super T: Its a two back league
Me: Bro you are either taking crazy pills or simply hate LaDanian Tomlinson that you are incapable of discussing this issue objectively
Super T: Whats up with condensation…cause I dont agree with you!!!! I told you he’s washed up, just listen to me cause….well…I said so…and he ruined my fantasy team…and ITS A TWO BACK LEAGUE
*****end of sample exchange**********Dude If you tell me that you are counting on Shonn Greene being horribly injured or that its a two back league one more time, Im gonna puke
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Broski says:
Hey I like all the comments about our backfield it is going to dynamic just imagine war machine the terminator and LT in the same backfield and who can forget one of the best blocking fullback ever t-rich. I like this site pros and cons it doesn’t change the fact that this team is going to be a monster on Defense early and the O will follow with fury. I can’t wait to see how this team comes together ever since I been alive and can remember a Jets football team this talented. Please don’t waste it. J-E-T-S jets jets jets.
BRo -
Eddie and Super T need to get a room…
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I just wish we hadn’t traded up for McKnight. If he fell to us then OK sure… but trading up for him was flat out stupid.
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OMG27 needs to mind his own business
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I just want to go on the record to clarify my stance on LT, so if I’m “wrong” there will be no backtracking or saying, I didn’t mean it that way…
LT 09 stats- 14 games, 14 starts
223 atts 20 recpt’s
730 rush yds 154 rec yds
3.3 ypc 7.7yprec
12 rush TDsMy stance is that if LT carries the ball between approx 125-200 times, he will average 3.8-4.5 ypc for the Jets, he will also catch more passes than TJ’s 10 recpt’s from last season. Shonn Green should carry the ball anywhere from approx 225-300 times barring horrific injury (knock on wood), as the PRIMARY back in a TWO BACK OFFENSE. I cannot predict TDs until training camp starts because I have no idea who will assume goal line duties until the final 53 roster is out on the field.
If this happens it makes LT a more efficient player than he was with the Chargers last year, and a better fit as the SECONDARY, pass catching back than TJ would have been in the same role.
This is the basis of my argument Super T. If you are talking about LT carrying the ball 275-325 times, starting every game and Shonn Greene getting 75 carries, we are talking about two different things. Other than that being your stance, I don’t see how its beyond the realm of possibility for LT to reach some of those numbers based on the reasons I stated in the post from June 10th at 12:39 am
He will get 5 reps instead of 0 no bi deal