NFL 2008 - LaDainian Tomlinson or Adrian Peterson?
by Bodog Sportsbook | Jun 27 2008
LT vs. PURPLE JESUS
San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson has been one of the best backs in the league since his rookie season in 2001. Last year, NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson electrified the league and helped the Minnesota Vikings improve to an 8-8 record. As fans and the media are prone to do, they started anointing AP as the best back in the NFL about Week 6 when he torched the Chicago Bears for 224 yards and three TDs. That’s way too early to be dethroning one of the most complete backs in NFL history. LT versus AP. It’s time to see how these two really stack up and look at which one of these backs will get more rushing yards next season.
RECKLESS ABANDONThe 23-year-old Palestine, Texas, product is entering his second NFL season and without a doubt he is poised to run around, over and through NFL defenses. AP put up incredible numbers last year, rushing for 1,341 yards, 12 touchdowns and a 5.6 yards-per-carry average. This made him the Offensive Rookie of the Year and he was selected to the Pro Bowl in his first year (not to mention winning the game’s MVP award). Not bad for a kid who slid all the way to No. 7 in the draft due to concerns over a broken something-or-other. Running behind one of the best offensive lines in pro football, Peterson should be a lock for another 1,000-plus-yard season. The question that surrounds this powerful back is the style he runs. AP throws his body into defensive players, initiating contact whenever one of them is fast enough to catch him. History has shown that this style can catch up with runners quickly and drastically shorten their careers.
THUNDER AND LIGHTNINGIf there were a “Rush City,” LaDainian Tomlinson would be mayor. He is the best back in football and possibly one of the most complete running backs ever to play the game. Everyone remembers LT sitting on the sidelines with his helmet on while Philip Rivers was on the field missing an ACL during the Chargers’ AFC Championship loss. Don’t confuse the issue. They both made a sacrifice for their team that day. Rivers did it by getting on the field, and Tomlinson made perhaps the tougher choice by sitting on the bench when he knew he would hurt his team. This future Hall of Famer had another great season last year, rushing for over 1,400 yards and 15 TDs on 315 carries. While LT might not be as good as his record-breaking performance from 2006, he is again going to be at the top of the running back food chain.
“Of course, that’s if everything works out the way it should. 18-1, anyone?”WHO WILL RUSH FOR MORE YARDS IN 2008?When trying to look at projecting a player’s performance, it’s going to be a little bit of science and a lot of guessing. If we look at the improvement LT made from his rookie year to his second in the league and then apply those to Adrian Peterson, we can roughly gauge where AP should end up next year. At a similar rate of improvement, Peterson should run for over 1,700 yards and 16 TDs on 271 carries. Compare that with Tomlinson’s career averages of over 1,500 yards and 16 TDs on 338 carries. Of course, that’s if everything works out the way it should. 18-1, anyone? That being said, and subject to any ACL, MCL, or hang nail incident, Peterson can expect to get more yards this year than LT, just looking at the strength of their respective passing games. Plus, AP will have lots of opportunity to eat clock in order to keep Minnesota’s new and suddenly scary defense rested if they hope to make a real run at the
2009 Super Bowl. Decide who you think is going to get more rushing yards next year and bet on all the
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