Easy n Dirty Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 (edited) Had a discussion with some friends while watching last night's game as to whether or not Tomlinson has surpassed the original LT, Lawrence Taylor. It's almost an impossible discussion since they play(ed) different positions, makes it very difficult to compare them. The only way I can think of to ask the question is as above - you are the GM of a new NFL franchise, and you have a choice of taking Lawrence Taylor or Ladainian Tomlinson. Can only take one - which one is it? EDIT - not necessarily asking which would be your first player of choice, as many if not most would opt for a QB if the question was phrased that way. Simply put, you can have one of these guys, in their prime, but not both. Who would it be? Edited December 18, 2006 by Easy n Dirty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Easy answer for Easy n Dirty... Tomlinson, for sure. Yes, defense wins championships, but a stud RB is absolutely essential. Look at a guy like DeMeco Ryans. Talented, yes, but did we think he'd be a complete animal at LB? Give the Texans a few years and they might just have a decent D. Not saying championship D, but still... a good (or even great) defense can be built with parts that people didn't think were absolute game-changers from the get-go. A star RB, though, is essential. He gets the ball, what, 30+ times in a game? Where would the Chargers be without him right now? All due respect to Michael Turner, but the Bolts would be a .500 team without LT. Maybe worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefjay Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Tougher decision then expected. I wanted to vote LT1 but could not do it in the end. LT1 was such a force but had a lot of help along that defense. Being a Lions fan I haven't seen a pass rush in years so I know how valuable it is but Tomlinson is just special and now we see what he can do for a team with a solid defense. I think a Super Bowl win is a definate possibility this year, not because of LT necessarily but the defense that goes with LT. The combination of the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy n Dirty Posted December 18, 2006 Author Share Posted December 18, 2006 I don't find it to be that easy - I actually voted for Taylor, though I'm certainly in the minority so far and am not at all convinced even of my own vote. But I think Taylor stood out more from others at his position than Tomlinson does. Don't get me worng, Tomlinson is far and away the best RB in the nFL right now and may be staking his claim to best ever - but there are quite a few other RBs that you can win with. Same could be said for Taylor I guess - there are alot of other outside linebackers you can win with, but I don't know if you could find another outside linebacker to replace the kind of production and impact that lawrence Taylor brought to the football field. I've never before or since seen a guy dominate the game, on a regular basis, from the linebacker position. Whereas there have been other guys who dominate the game from the RB position. Just my initial inclination, though I'm far from convinced on this one, which is why I was curious to see what others thought. I am surprised though to see this characterized as an easy decision, seems like anything but IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 I'd have to go with Tomlinson. He is just such a big threat. He can beat you running, recieving, and occassionally passing. LT1 was great, but you could run to the other side, and set up protections to deal with him. In other words you could prepare for him, and if you had the personell, you could limit his impact. I have yet to see Tomlinson be limited in such a way, even when they brign 8 men up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chargerz Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 I'd have to go with Tomlinson. He is just such a big threat. He can beat you running, recieving, and occassionally passing. LT1 was great, but you could run to the other side, and set up protections to deal with him. In other words you could prepare for him, and if you had the personell, you could limit his impact. I have yet to see Tomlinson be limited in such a way, even when they brign 8 men up. Exactly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zooty Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 I don't find it to be that easy - I actually voted for Taylor, though I'm certainly in the minority so far and am not at all convinced even of my own vote. But I think Taylor stood out more from others at his position than Tomlinson does. Don't get me worng, Tomlinson is far and away the best RB in the nFL right now and may be staking his claim to best ever - but there are quite a few other RBs that you can win with. Same could be said for Taylor I guess - there are alot of other outside linebackers you can win with, but I don't know if you could find another outside linebacker to replace the kind of production and impact that lawrence Taylor brought to the football field. I've never before or since seen a guy dominate the game, on a regular basis, from the linebacker position. Whereas there have been other guys who dominate the game from the RB position. Just my initial inclination, though I'm far from convinced on this one, which is why I was curious to see what others thought. I am surprised though to see this characterized as an easy decision, seems like anything but IMO. Would you take Taylor over Walter Payton or any other of the great running backs the NFL has seen? I would and I think Tomlinson will be on of the top 3 if not #1 RB to ever play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 well, taylor has a couple rings. and taylor was a HUGH part of why the giants won those rings -- that defense scared people chitless, and it was LT that scared them more than anything. LT1 is still head and shoulders above anyone else to ever play that position IMO. none of this can really be said about tomlinson at this point. tomlinson is 10 times the man lawrence taylor is, and he's well on his way to being one of the all-time great RBs. but lawrence taylor was the more singular, dominating talent of the two IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 well, taylor has a couple rings. and taylor was a HUGH part of why the giants won those rings -- that defense scared people chitless, and it was LT that scared them more than anything. LT1 is still head and shoulders above anyone else to ever play that position IMO. none of this can really be said about tomlinson at this point. tomlinson is 10 times the man lawrence taylor is, and he's well on his way to being one of the all-time great RBs. but lawrence taylor was the more singular, dominating talent of the two IMO. Perfect! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy n Dirty Posted December 18, 2006 Author Share Posted December 18, 2006 Perfect! Well, I know I voted for Taylor, and he only has 2 votes at this point, so which of Az and Skippy didn't vote for him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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