LayLow Posted December 24, 2008 Author Share Posted December 24, 2008 (edited) Please take my "man-love" for LT into account when you read this. I do not know the skill level of your league or the scoring but here is a Charger fan's take on what happened to LT, and to an extent the Chargers this year. The team's health going into camp and then into the season was in question. There were more long term lingering injuries than most outsiders knew or cared to understand about. As far as most in the football world were concerned, LT's sprained knee would be fine, Rivers' knee was the big question and who knew that Merriman was injured for the last few years and finally had to shut it down. In reality, Gates could not go for much of camp, and started slow, and LT sprained his big toe in game one, an injury that I believe is still effecting him to an extent. The real issue that was not talked about was that Hardwick and McNiel, both pro-bowl quality O-linemen, were hurt as well. The O-line, never really had time to gell and get a flow going. Only now are they beginning to move people around. This, combined with LT being slowed and the injury to Gates, required that the Chargers retool their offensive identity on the fly. Rivers amazed everyone by beating the odds with his recovery and VJax emerged, along with the passing game to fill the void. The other side of this coin is how crappy the D has played until recently. Not being able to get off the field has put them behind in games and in a few shoot outs. All of this forces a team to pass more, taking the luxury of getting the run game going out of the picture. As these areas get better and LT and the other skill guys all get healthy, the team seems to be peaking at the right time. As for next year, barring any catastrophic beatings and/or injuries to the Chargers in the last game and maybe the playoffs, I see a much healthier and fresher team going into camp. All of this bodes well for LT and the Chargers. I was surpsed by the fact that LT actually passed 1000 yards last week against the Bucs. Here is what I expect: 1 - LT is aging. I think the biggest concern is injury, not performance. He is not the kid any more, but I still think he has enough jiggle to make folks miss. He will be rested more, but still be the feature back. The Chargers know they are a better team when they are running and that is Norv's focus as well. What you see right now from the Bolts is more out of necessity than choice. LT should have a better off season not having to worry about rehabbing a knee and can get the toe rested and healthy. 2 - They need to address Right Tackle. Clary is in over his head and has been a liability. Also, giving the line a camp to get in the flow of things should help them start the season off better. It has been a frustrating season for a line that likes to pound on people. 3 - Durability. LT has manned up for his whole carreer. He has played with seperated ribs and many other injuries that others would shut it down for. This is why I did not question him in the playoff game against the Pats. As he gets older, it is harder to stay healthy. Finding another guy like Turner to spell him and utilizing Sproles as they have, should help to keep him fresh. He takes great care of himself, but you can't ignore the age factor. 4 - Full Back! Lo Neal was missed. Tolbert had no idea who to block most of the time and could not spring LT into the second level where his jump cut would freeze people (the toe injury also took this away from him for most of this year as well). Hester has come in and is doing a much better job and is more versatile. As those two get to know what to look for in the running game as lead blockers, LT will not get hit at the LOS or in the backfield as much as he was this year. 5 - Defense. With Merriman returning and RIvera taking over the scheming and play calling, the defense should get many more stops and TOs next year. This will give the offense a chance to get up and burn the clock more than they did this year. The Bolts are a better team beating people 24-13 than when they are trying to win the 38-39 ball games. Even under Marty, this team almost always seemed to get a feeling in the first half and turn it on in the second. There is too much parity in the NFL now to do that and they need to play a full 60. I think there was a misplaced arrogance that the team had at the beginning of the year. Swagger is one thing, but they seemed like they were acting entitled to a playoff spot without earning it. This year has taught them some humility and they should be better for it next year (and this year if they advance). LT will be a top 10, maybe a top 5 back next year, barring injury. The team will re-focus more on ball control and look more like the team from last year. With Rivers maturing into a quality NFL QB and having VJax, Gates, Floyd, Naanee and Chambers to throw to, it will be much harder to stack the box against LT than in the past. The defense will improve with RIvera starting from day one and the return of Merriman. This too should help his production when the above issues are resolved. I don't see LT running for 1,500 anymore, but will probably for the next few years be more of a Marshall Faulk type producer toward the end of his career. Still involved in the passing game and get a good load of the ground work. I do think that he could be good for about 1,500 total yards from LOS and 12- 15 TDs, if things return to normal. Norv himself is not real comfortable being a pass first team, so I think you will see an attempt to get back to that balance. Look at what he did for Emmit and Gore. I wouldn't draft him high in a new dynasty league, but in a modified re-draft like yours, I think you could be pleasantly rewarded by holding him for another year (maybe two). Hope this helped! It does. I will be watching all offseason to see what they do. Unfortunately, since i made it to the superbowl (and lost), my serpentine pick is #9 after I choose my keeper...so keeping LT would be almost the same at drafting him with the #2nd pick in a draft. Edited December 24, 2008 by LayLow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 ..so keeping LT would be almost the same at drafting him with the #2nd pick in a draft. True but will there be a better option at what amounts to #2 pick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Muto Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 I am in a dynasty league and in 2006 I dealt D-Williams, Gore and 3 1st rounders for Tomlinson and Gates...I know I can't recoup that as Williams exploded into a god but I wonder if I should deal Tomlinson and settle for some players or do I just ride him out and try and win a title with him next year now that I have blown this year's chance by sitting Rivers last week like an idiot. What players would you try to get for LT if you dealt him in a dynasty league ? Boldin ? A-Johnson ? What backs are worth it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip_Side Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 I am in a dynasty league and in 2006 I dealt D-Williams, Gore and 3 1st rounders for Tomlinson and Gates...I know I can't recoup that as Williams exploded into a god but I wonder if I should deal Tomlinson and settle for some players or do I just ride him out and try and win a title with him next year now that I have blown this year's chance by sitting Rivers last week like an idiot. What players would you try to get for LT if you dealt him in a dynasty league ? Boldin ? A-Johnson ? What backs are worth it ? Muto I thought you said you'd never been in a dynasty league? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 Muto I thought you said you'd never been in a dynasty league? He made mention several times of a dynasty league, including here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip_Side Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 He made mention several times of a dynasty league, including here Hmmm, I was just reading from what Kpholmes was saying about him never playing in one. http://forums.thehuddle.com/index.php?showtopic=277439 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterMan Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 He should bounce back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBoog Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 I know it was the Doncos D, but after tonight and the things Madden was saying, I think I'd hold him another year... at least! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Yakuza Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 He has been consistantly declining for two years now. I wouldn't take him in the top 5 next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LayLow Posted December 29, 2008 Author Share Posted December 29, 2008 True but will there be a better option at what amounts to #2 pick? Right now, guys that could be available are as follows Deangelo williams, westbrook, jacobs, marion barber, Lynch, stephen Jackson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 Right now, guys that could be available are as follows Deangelo williams, westbrook, jacobs, marion barber, Lynch, stephen Jackson. Nice selection. Will Williams repeat his 2009 second half? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LayLow Posted December 29, 2008 Author Share Posted December 29, 2008 Nice selection. Will Williams repeat his 2009 second half? I don't think so. I wouldn't draft him unless i was positive I could get stewart too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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