LEADING THE CHARGE
LaDainian Tomlinson will be carrying more than just the ball for the Chargers on Sunday. On the shoulders of the best running back in football will be the weight of coach Marty Schottenheimer’s awful playoff resume and an inexperienced quarterback, Phillip Rivers.
Meanwhile, Patriots coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady are on the other side of the ball. So, really, should the Chargers be the favorites? Maybe, when you consider five letters: LT, MVP.
Tomlinson will have to show his greatness to overcome Schottenheimer’s 5-12 playoff record and Rivers never having thrown a post-season pass. Tomlinson may be able to do it, though. His abilities might be best explained compared with his closest AFC contemporary, the Chiefs’ Larry Johnson.
“What makes him special is that he is not a limited runner,” ESPN’s Merrill Hoge said of Tomlinson. “To me, Larry Johnson is a limited runner. What I mean by that is that Larry is a one-cut runner. Larry makes a cut and runs downhill and, if you don’t redirect him a second time, you have a situation on your hands. Well, you can redirect LT three times and you still have a situation on your hands.
“He can run tackle to tackle. He can play on the perimeter. A team is very versatile when it has a runner like him.”
For good measure, Tomlinson is a threat to throw the halfback option. According to Hoge, Tomlinson is so multidimensional, there is not enough time to get ready to face him.
“That requires an inordinate amount of time to prepare for one player who can do so many things,” Hoge said. “You don’t have enough time during the week.”
Hoge said on the plane ride from Boston to San Diego, the Patriots would be forced to go over Tomlinson’s moves.
“I can’t think of another runner that does that to you,” Hoge said.
At 5 feet, 10 inches, 221 pounds, Tomlinson is unlike any other runner playing today and is starting to be recognized as one of the best ever. That is what happens when you gain more than 1,800 yards and score an NFL-record 28 rushing TDs (31 overall).
Sunday, Tomlinson likely will need to score a few more to drag Schottenheimer and Rivers into the AFC Championship game.
SUNday, AFC Divisional Playoff Patriots at Chargers 4:30 p.m., CBS
