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[QUOTE=Dcat;3533040]I think the bolded statement above is incorrect. Not only did the OL change and decline in effectiveness, but with all the SD coaching changes, the offensive game plan changed radically with respect to the running game. Both Sproles and LT had terrible YPC. Also, LT was taken out of the short passing game in favor of Sproles. If it were just LT whose run production declined, then I'd be more worried, but it was the entirety of the Chargers running game that regressed.[/QUOTE]
LT still had the same left side (McNeil, Dielman) that he had in '06 when he had 1,815 yards and 28 tds and in '07 when he had 1,474 and 15 tds and the same Center (Hardwick). He did have a new right side and Nick Hardwick was hurt last season but to go from those stats before to just 730 yards and 3.3 ypc has more to do with reduced speed, explosiveness and just the simple fact that the Chargers overused him for the past 9 years. Sproles is overrated.
The argument that the gameplan changed can easily go the other way. Defenses being forced to spread out to stop Rivers to Gates and Jackson should have meant a more wide open field for LT to run in.
Hopefully the move works out but Tomlinson is not the same player he was up until 2 years ago. I wouldn't have resigned TJ either I wanted a younger back for 3rd down situations and depth.
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