LT or Ryan Grant?

[Zool]

Sproles had a big game or two this year. LT has a torn groin, thats the only reason Sproles is getting the spotlight right now.

LT is a first ballet HOF following up a legendary year with an injury plagued mediocre one. Sproles is just a guy. Nowhere near the talent of last years backup thats on the Falcons now.

I disagree with you 100%

He's now 2 years removed from that legendary season and declining. I just cant trust a guy with so much wear on his body.

[Pugger]

I'd rather we spend money elsewhere. LT is gonna cost a pretty penny and he is getting a little long in the tooth. We have other issues to address than RB right now.

[SkinBasket]

Sproles had a big game or two this year. LT has a torn groin, thats the only reason Sproles is getting the spotlight right now.

LT is a first ballet HOF following up a legendary year with an injury plagued mediocre one. Sproles is just a guy. Nowhere near the talent of last years backup thats on the Falcons now.

I disagree with you 100%

He's now 2 years removed from that legendary season and declining. I just cant trust a guy with so much wear on his body.

Oh Zool, there you go again letting reality taint your argument...

Not only is this a guy who's taken on 300-350 carries a year his entire career, but he's had at least 50 and as many as 100 receptions in each of those years. He might have another year or two as a moderately better than average back, but with that wear and coming off a leg injury, I'd rather watch another team try to drain the last of his life force than hoping he's better fading than Grant is coming into his prime and Jackson is as he's maturing.

[ND72]

I think the only person that thinks Grant and LT are comparable is TEX and we all know how delusional he can be.

I wouldn't bet money that Grant outplays the worn down and fading Tomlinson next season--even though I think he will, but three years, probably two years from now, hell yeah, bank on it. Grant with his much less mileage will be better.

Add to that the strong probability that even in his current state of decline, Tomlinson would cost more money than Grant, and it's obvious.

The delusional people around here are the negativists that deny the reality of injuries and other bad luck being primarily responsible the ruination of last season--just like injuries ruined the 4-12 season a few years back. Delusional would be denying those.

I will put money down that Grant won't be our starting RB in 2-3 years.

[Fritz]

I think the only person that thinks Grant and LT are comparable is TEX and we all know how delusional he can be.

I wouldn't bet money that Grant outplays the worn down and fading Tomlinson next season--even though I think he will, but three years, probably two years from now, hell yeah, bank on it. Grant with his much less mileage will be better.

Add to that the strong probability that even in his current state of decline, Tomlinson would cost more money than Grant, and it's obvious.

The delusional people around here are the negativists that deny the reality of injuries and other bad luck being primarily responsible the ruination of last season--just like injuries ruined the 4-12 season a few years back. Delusional would be denying those.

I will put money down that Grant won't be our starting RB in 2-3 years.

ND, I wonder if someone (uh, not me) did a survey of who the starting running backs were for each NFL team in 2006, then who the starting running backs were for each team in 2008, if statistically that person would find that your bet would be a wise one for any team not featuring Adrian Peterson.

[RashanGary]

I do not want a 30 year old LT. VERY VERY few running backs play past 30 at a high level and if they do it usually depends on a great OL.

No thanks. I'm happy with Grant, Jackson and whatever other young player we decide to go with. If money not an option (lets say we could get LT for a 3 year, 12 million dollar deal), I'd take him in a heart beat and start him over Grant but for what LT would command, no freaking way. Sign Jennings. He'll be good for 10 more years.

[bobblehead]

Hm, hit the wrong button.

Other. Brandon Jackson.

QFT..I get the fumbling holdout king or the used up and spent former superstar.

Gimme the young hungry guy who seems to have figured it all out AND holds onto the football. Keep the two underproducing multi millionaires.

[The Leaper]

LT is a great back...much better than Grant right now...but he's got a lot of mileage. I wouldn't sign him to a huge deal. I'd keep Grant and spend the money on some high end OL help. I think GB is in a good position at RB right now...Grant is solid and Jackson is improving, and neither breaks the bank.

[Waldo]

Hm, hit the wrong button.

Other. Brandon Jackson.

QFT..I get the fumbling holdout king or the used up and spent former superstar.

Gimme the young hungry guy who seems to have figured it all out AND holds onto the football. Keep the two underproducing multi millionaires.

Grant runs with this weird stiff hunched over style. His center of gravity is pretty high and not over his legs (hence he falls over easy).

Jackson is so much more natural of a runner. He has much better bend (for lack of a better word) and runs really compact and low to the ground, over his legs, making his a lot harder to tackle.

He was a developmental RB (AD had almost 2x as many carried as Jackson when he got to the pros, as Jackson has had since high school) that is just beginning to find his groove with vision and patience. He has the makings of a superstar back. I didn't see what TT saw in him at first, but this season it was pretty clear, his running motion is naturally darn near perfect, and the kid is extremely fast.

Don't get too wound up about Grants contract. It is basically to pay him well to take a beating while we look for a better RB. He can be cut after any season with no cap hit, and we don't have to decide to pay him his roster bonus this year until after FA opens. We could shop around, sign Sproles, and dump Grant without having to pay his roster bonus. 95% of roster/option bonuses are due before FA for a reason. Grant gets a big premium for how ridiculously unguaranteed his contract is.

[rbaloha1]

RG is younger and fresher. Expect a big 09 season from RG.

[Badgerinmaine]

I'd rather we spend money elsewhere. LT is gonna cost a pretty penny and he is getting a little long in the tooth. We have other issues to address than RB right now.

I agree. San Diego sending so many signals out that they may be done with their signature player tells me they are lacking faith in him. Running back's a tough way to make a living, and these guys don't last like other positions do.

[DonHutson]

I voted 'other.'

If we dump Grant, (and I'm ambivalent about that - he's OK at what he does, but he's also one-dimensional with no really special qualities) then I don't want a 30-year old, crippled up LT. I'd want the NEXT LT. Or at least a younger, multi-dimensional back.

I'd be pefectly OK to get rid of Grant before his big roster bonus is due, IF I saw an obvious replacement out there. But they could end up in the same situation as last year where they draft a guy high, he takes too long to develop, and then they have to scramble to find someone off the scrapheap that can play.

So likely Grant is back. I wouldn't be opposed at all to adding another RB in the draft to eventually push Grant out of the lineup.

Giving Tomlinson a lot of money at this point is a huge gamble that we don't need to take. He's the face of the Chargers franchise, and their best player since the Dan Fouts era. If they're ready to give up on him, what does that tell you about his injuries?

[RashanGary]

Hm, hit the wrong button.

Other. Brandon Jackson.

QFT..I get the fumbling holdout king or the used up and spent former superstar.

Gimme the young hungry guy who seems to have figured it all out AND holds onto the football. Keep the two underproducing multi millionaires.

Grant runs with this weird stiff hunched over style. His center of gravity is pretty high and not over his legs (hence he falls over easy).

Jackson is so much more natural of a runner. He has much better bend (for lack of a better word) and runs really compact and low to the ground, over his legs, making his a lot harder to tackle.

He was a developmental RB (AD had almost 2x as many carried as Jackson when he got to the pros, as Jackson has had since high school) that is just beginning to find his groove with vision and patience. He has the makings of a superstar back. I didn't see what TT saw in him at first, but this season it was pretty clear, his running motion is naturally darn near perfect, and the kid is extremely fast.

Don't get too wound up about Grants contract. It is basically to pay him well to take a beating while we look for a better RB. He can be cut after any season with no cap hit, and we don't have to decide to pay him his roster bonus this year until after FA opens. We could shop around, sign Sproles, and dump Grant without having to pay his roster bonus. 95% of roster/option bonuses are due before FA for a reason. Grant gets a big premium for how ridiculously unguaranteed his contract is.

Nice post. I was also down on the Brandon Jackson pick, but watching him run this year, I saw the things you just listed. The way you described his low running style and low center of gravity is interesting. Man, he was hard to tackle. In order to get Jackson's legs out from under him, you have to wrap him up and pull him down. One hit isn't going to do it. He doesn't fall down.

I also like the idea of bringing Jackson along but putting the wear on Grant right now. I like the way Jackson runs better, but I like the way Grant runs too. It would be nice to wear on Grant all year long and then bring in a fresh Jackson late in games to finish off tired defenses.

[Partial]

Jackson is looking ok but far from a star. LT is a million times better than either of our backs. Even at 30.

[bobblehead]

Jackson is looking ok but far from a star. LT is a million times better than either of our backs. Even at 30.

AJ Smith has a pretty fucking good track record at assessing talent and if he thinks LT isn't worth keeping I'm gonna trust his opinion over yours, mine or anyone elses.