Why LaDainian Tomlinson Chose the Jets

by John B on Mar 15, 2010 8:18 AM EDT

SI's Jim Trotter explains why LaDainian Tomlison decided to become a Jet instead of a Viking.

1. Scheme: New York runs the same offense that LT played under for nine seasons in San Diego, rushing for 12,490 yards and 138 touchdowns. He would have had to learn a new playbook and verbiage in Minnesota. The Jets also are committed to the running game; their 607 rushes last season were 82 more than any other team, and Tomlinson wanted to get back to a ground-oriented attack after San Diego transitioned to an aerial assault in 2007, when Norv Turner replaced Marty Schottenheimer as coach.

2. Staff: Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer -- Marty's son -- was the quarterbacks coach in San Diego for five of Tomlinson's first six seasons, including 2006 when Tomlinson won the first of two rushing titles and his only league MVP. Tomlinson's familiarity with the younger Schottenheimer was important from a comfort standpoint.

3. Personnel: Tominson said from the start that he wanted to play on a team that had an established quarterback, and the uncertainty over Brett Favre's future was a factor. Favre led the Vikings to the NFC Championship game in his first year with Minnesota, but he's mulling retirement and has been given no deadline for making a decision. If Favre calls it a career, the Vikings presumably would turn to Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson, neither of whom has proven himself to be a capable fulltime starter.

I don't think anybody should be surprised by any of this.

Even with Favre, the Vikings have a tougher road to the title. They don't have a big margin for error in the regular season. The Jets are built to win on the road. They don't necessarily need home field advantage to go far. The Vikings do. Favre plays very poorly in bad weather. They need to avoid January games in cold weather, which means staying in their dome.

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Jets are lucky to have him

boys looked stacked on paper

bring Dawk & Westy home

by MeanGreen5 on Mar 15, 2010 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

I've missed a lot since this past Wednesday

I’m pretty happy that we got Brodney Pool; he came very cheap and he has tremendous upside. I can see him flourishing under Rex Ryan.

The other major story of course is the signing of LaDainian Tomlinson. I see a lot of arguing about whether or not LDT is better than TJ. The way I see it is this… LDT is most certainly an upgrade over TJ, and I’ll tell you why:

There’s this thing called regression to the mean that people seem to be forgetting. An RB having his best season at 31/32 years old is a major anomaly. Remember when Curtis Martin did that? Remember what happened to him the following year?
People have noted that LDT was awful with yards after contact last year. You know who else was? TJ. So at the very least you can basically expect similar production from LDT given the same amount of carries and similar blocking.
LDT has been declining for the last three years, yes… but you know what happened three years ago? Norv happened. SD has become pass happy as all hell under Norv. Andy Reid is probably jealous of their offense. Anyway my point is that it’s hard to be a productive back at carrying the ball when your team is not equipped to do that. Their offensive line is awful at run blocking and their playbook isn’t geared towards running.

People are also saying that he doesn’t fit the offense, but this is somewhat of a silly argument in my opinion because we don’t know what the gameplan is going to be next year. As far as I can tell, they’re obviously planning on passing the ball more, and as far as I’m concerned that’s a good thing. This is the time to be a passing-oriented offense, which we probably still won’t be next year, but it’s good to start moving in that direction. At the very least, LDT makes our offense potentially more dynamic. But the main thing is that saying he doesn’t fit our offense is absolutely silly because he only doesn’t fit if we don’t allow him to fit. Good coaches mold their schemes to fit the players, and despite my disagreements with the guy, I really do think Schotty is a good coach when he isn’t being boneheaded.

So yeah, welcome aboard LDT!

by Exystence on Mar 15, 2010 9:32 AM EDT reply actions

Thank You Favre.

If Brett was any sort of a consistant fixture in the Vikings locker room LT would have chose them without a problem. Just one of the many ways a flighty, aging QB can hamstring your team in the offseason. Even as a huge Favre fan I am still glad as all holy hell this guy is sombody elses migrane

by colinyoung on Mar 15, 2010 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

and even if LT was enamored with Favre, you have to figure he only has one more season and he’s done. Look at the choice of the Vikes QBs then.

by oldskooljet on Mar 15, 2010 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Absolutely. It just goes to show how this guy can hurt your chances of signing big name FA’s. I loved the guy as a kid. Like real football hero type stuff. But the entire Vikings front office has got to be livid that this guy can’t comit to his team. Why would LT want to play there if he didn’t know if your QB is Brett Favre or T-Jack. There goes Favre takin another team and cutting them off at the waist.

by colinyoung on Mar 15, 2010 1:43 PM EDT reply actions

I've been a Vikes fan for 38 years...

and I could not possibly disagree more with this assertion. After only one season Vikes fans know that Favre deserves as much time as he wants to make his decision, and we will respect that decision whatever it turns out to be. Maybe this is only true because our alternatives are considerably less attractive, but it is true. For his part, Favre poured his heart and soul into our ’09 season, and after his effort in the NFCCG he can take all the time he wants as far as I am concerned.

TJ and Rosenfels need to prepare as if they will be the starters… every QB on every roster should do the same. It only takes one play for that to be the case, even for those teams like the Jets who are so very fortunate to have a young legitimate QB. Otherwise, Favre’s eventual status should have no impact on any Viking plans regarding the QB spot in either FA or the draft. If Favre comes back we are a better team… hands-down.

Although few team organizations would concede, I think that some players deserve the right to go out on their terms at the time of their choosing. Favre is one of those players.

As for LT, I have to believe that like every true competitor he wants to play and he wants the ball. You could see that in his face while he watched from the sidelines as his offensive unit failed to get the job done against the Jets D in the playoffs. NY is clearly a better option for him to redeem himself and slay his demons. The Jets have the personnel to give him every chance to do so, and will be poised to reap the rewards of his success. None of those statements are true for Minnesota.

by Jshore on Mar 16, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

LT saw the Jets come into SD and beat the Chargers in the playoffs

I think LT saw the window closing for SD and the Jets as a team on the rise

He also knows in the AFC he gets a shot at revenge vs San Diego

Vikings are good, but Favre has maybe one more year left

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Mar 15, 2010 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

Welcome to the JETS LT...

A yo, LT saw the big holes the JETS O.F.L blasted open for Greene and Jones in the playoffs, Gang green O.F.L beat team’s down with the ground and pound !! J-E-T-S! JETS