For the 2^nd year in a row LaDainian Tomlinson sat on the sidelines while the Chargers were eliminated from the playoffs.  This image—of a feeble, injured LT—stands (or should I say: sits) in contrast to the one Charger fans know.  LT is the best running back of his generation, he is an incredibly durable back, he has won 57 games (including 3 playoff games) in the last 5 years, he is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and now AJ Smith and the Chargers organization need to help him out.  There can be no doubt they need to re-sign Darren Sproles, or go after (NY Giant’s free agent) Derrick Ward, or draft another top back, or do all 3.  Because if the Chargers want to keep LT off the bench in next year’s playoffs, they need to keep him on the bench more during the first 16 games.

There is a reason LaDainian Tomlinson breaks down every year in the playoffs: he is the most over-worked back in NFL history.  In his first 8 seasons, LT has 3167 touches (2657 carries, 510 catches); that is an average of 396 touches a season.  To put that in perspective, during Emmitt Smith’s first 8 years he averaged 373 touches, Walter Payton averaged 329, Barry Sanders 333, Jim Brown 287, Jerome Bettis 329, Curtis Martin 371, and Marshall Faulk 338.  In fact LT is the only one that might miss the Bush administration because he has more touches from 2001-2008 than any player in any eight-year span ever.  But clearly Bush’s work ethic didn’t rub off on him, because during those 8 years, LT missed exactly 1 regular season game (Week 17 2004, after the Chargers had clinched the playoffs, LT was rested).  Last January it was in the 18^th game of the season when he broke down; this year it took 17 games.  At this pace, with this workload, will he be able to handle even 16 games next season?  Why hasn’t Sproles been given more of a role?  Why draft Jacob Hester if you’re not going to use him?  Why not lessen LT’s workload in order to extend his season? 

Four of the Top 5 defenses made the playoffs, but all of the Top 5 running teams made the playoffs (only one of the Top 5 overall offenses made it).  Defense wins champions, but so does a running game.  And in today’s NFL, it takes (at least) two backs for a successful running game.  Among the 12 playoff teams, the Titans, Panthers, Ravens, Giants, Cardinals, and Dolphins all made conscious efforts to be a two-back team; while injuries forced the Steelers, Colts, and Eagles into using two backs throughout the regular season.  The Falcons and Vikings both have very capable backups but instead relied heavily on their primary back (although both were bounced in the first round due in part to sub-par performances from that primary back).  Meanwhile for 15 games the Chargers leaned on LT harder than any other team leaned on a single back.  On average a primary back carried about 53% of his team’s attempts; before Sproles’ breakout game in week 17, LT had more than 73% of the Chargers rushing attempts—and this was while the organization was aware he was hampered by an injury.

The 2008 season could be remembered as the Year of the Wildcat.  Miami realized they had two strong backs, and that they were a better offense when those two backs were on the field at the same time.  Meanwhile the Ravens’ leading rusher was their fullback.  And rather than just put Le’Ron McClain in the single back, Baltimore would put him out there to block for Willis McGahee, or line him up behind another fullback (Lorenzo Neal),  or any other of a number of formations to keep defenses off-balance.  Atlanta showed a similar resourcefulness; even though Michael Turner shouldered a heavy load, at least 5 times a game the Falcons would line up Turner at the same time as his backup Jerious Norwood.  Offenses are getting more and more creative in running the ball, and if Norv Turner is going to keep his reputation as an offensive innovator he needs to do more than just work with his QB (although Rivers has been much improved).  Turner and the Chargers need to find a creativity for their run game to get LT in space and keep him from taking so much abuse. 

Running backs age at the same pace as supermodels and crackheads; but like supermodels and crackheads, some survive longer than others.  Curtis Martin had over 1000 yards his first 10 seasons, Jerome Bettis had at least 100 carries for 13 straight seasons, and Emmitt Smith played till the ripe-old age of 35—although anyone that has watched him on ESPN knows the long-term effects it had on him.  LT’s not going to play forever, in fact any day now he could pull a Barry Sanders and just disappear from the NFL.  And even if LT hung it up today he would still be an All-Time Great; but if he can stick around just a little while longer he could really put a dent on the record books.  He’s currently tied for 4^th all time in touchdowns, just one average season would move him up to 3^rd and it would take three more good seasons for him to crack the Top Two.  In fact those three more good years would also put him as the all-time Rushing Touchdown leader.  Right now he’s 14^th all time in Rushing Yards, one more season and he’s Top 7, two more seasons and he’s Top 5 (possibly Top 4) all time.  But LT won’t stick around just for the Record Book, it would be to win a championship; and next year’s Chargers are in a better position than ever to win it all.  The Chargers defense (assuming they can hold on to Ron Rivera) will be even better when a healthy Shawne Merriman comes back in a contract year.  Rivers and the passing game will be even better with the maturation of Vincent Jackson and with the return of Buster Davis (who spent the second half of the year on IR).  The Chargers will also have the 16^th pick in the draft (going 8-8 has its perks.) 

The sports-industrial complex continues to over-hype QBs (and yes, after a certain Brett Favre column, I am including myself in this group) leaving the rest of the league to struggle for recognition.  Wide receivers have had to develop the modesty of Kanye West just to get noticed, while most running backs have just become expendable.  Looking at the Top 10 running backs of 2006, only LT and Brian Westbrook were also Top 10 in 2007.  Only LT was still there in 2008.  Let me repeat that: only one running back stayed in the Top 10 for three seasons in a row.  Which makes it even more remarkable that LT has been in the Top 10 for 8 straight seasons.  Meanwhile there were three rookies in the Top 10 this year; there is a perennial changing of the guard in the backfield, and yet there is LT, the exception to the rule, chugging along.  That is LT that Charger fans know—the consistent producer, the Professional, the face of the franchise.  But if LT is going to continue to be a Charger, if he is going to continue to be a factor, the Chargers’ only option is to give him a rest and let someone else carry the load for a while.