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Here we go again.
LaDainian Tomlinson last year injured his toe in San Diego's game. He went on to have a subpar season, averaging 3.8 yards per carry. Those who think that Tomlinson is still a great running back blamed the toe injury, as well as poor blocking, to explain away that season.
Fast forward a year, and 2009 is already looking a lot like 2008. Tomlinson looked like just a regular guy on Monday against the Raiders. He doesn't seem to have special speed or power anymore -- he's not making anyone miss. And in that game, he rolled his ankle midway through the second quarter.
Tomlinson hurt his ankle on a shovel pass that resulted in his first lost fumble since 2006. In the second half, Tomlinson rotated with Darren Sproles, who scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute.
“It wasn't bad enough I couldn't play,” said Tomlinson. “Toward the end, it really got tight on me.”
I get the feeling that for the rest of this season, there will be a lot of talk about how Tomlinson would have had a big season if only he had stayed healthy. And I imagine there will be talk next July, about how much better Tomlinson will be and how great he feels now that he's not being slowed down by toe or ankle injuries.
'He was just trying to play on a bad ankle that was never quite 100 percent.'
But even the great running backs wear down and slow down over time, and Tomlinson right now is looking like another Shaun Alexander.
—Ian Allan
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Posted by Jared Cravy | Sep. 15 at 04:25 AM
I think it's evident your upside projection of Sproles far above the rest is true. The way it looks to me is Sproles may even be better for PPR format this year, and forward.
Posted by JEFF DAUGHERTY | Sep. 16 at 03:53 AM
Sproles looks like a top five running back, hopefully he can stay healthy. Kick returns are a injury waiting to happen.