Why Norv Turner Needs to Forget the Three-headed Monster?

           Let’s stop now talking about how the Chargers need to come to the realization that LaDainian Tomlinson is over the hill and can’t play anymore.  The only realization that they need to come to is that a two back system wins.  Take a look at the successful teams and the playoff teams from this year as the example.  The Ravens, Steelers, Cardinals, Giants, and Dolphins were all successful because they had two backs.  Currently the Chargers have the best back (over the last five years anyway) Tomlinson and what could be the back of the teams future, Darren Sproles, on the roster right now and they can’t afford to blow the chance that they have been handed.  While Sproles will command more money then he probably should this off-season it shouldn’t be a problem for the Chargers to get him to stay.  The thought of splitting time with Tomlinson, the greatest back of this era, and playing for an already contender should be enough to get him to stay.

            There is one big obstacle standing in the way of this system working, Head Coach Norv Turner.  He thought that he would come in here and turn Phillip Rivers, Antonio Gates, and Tomlinson into this decades, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmitt Smith.  While their numbers have been good their injures have plagued them for at least the last two seasons and the only way that Tomlinson is going to get back into form is to leave the three-headed monster thought at home and let him share carries.  Face it, the life of a running back is only a few years anyway, a team’s best option is to have two running backs.  This way instead of one back running the ball thirty times, you can have one back carry it twenty to twenty five times and the other back running carry it ten to fifteen times.

            This sort of offense gives you several other options as well.  If one back is having trouble getting the line and can’t find holes then the other can set up and see if his vision is better that day.  If one back is hurting more than the other then the healthy one can get the bulk of the carries, but I think the biggest option you get is the different formations and the trickery that could be used in your favor.  Even at Running back Tomlinson has thrown 7 touchdown passes in his 8 year career, what could stop the Chargers from running their own successful version of the wildcat offense.  Could you really imagine trying to stop Tomlinson taking the snap and running a speed option with Sproles or even their speedster wide receiver Vincent Jackson at his side, it would be next to impossible.

            Please Coach Turner listen to some of us Charger fans that still care for L.T.  There is no need to release or trade him, just find a niche for him and not throw him to wolves’ year in and year out getting rushed at play after play by men three times his size.  I think he can still be the productive back he always was if Turner would just stop being stubborn about it and face the facts.  His philosophy doesn’t work anymore.  One back can’t carry the ball this many times and stay healthy.  Defensive linemen are bigger, stronger and faster.  His scheme is outdated and he needs to find himself an offensive coordinator to bring some freshness to the game.  If he doesn’t then Ron Rivera is going to replace him quicker then he thinks.

Till next time Go Bolts!