I agree that LT is definitley a better receiver then TJ but I dot think TJ was that bad at catching the ball out of the backfield. Like I posted earlier he had 36 receptions in 08 and then only 10 in 09. His 36 receptions playing with Leon Washington (who gets the majority of those plays drawn up for him) isnt really that bad. I think the reason his receptions were down were due more to play calling rather then him not being able to catch the ball. I think if Leon Washington is back healthy then we dont relly need LT but if he isnt then having LT on our team should definitley help us as he brings a different dimension to the team that Greene doesnt bring.
It's not so much about TJ's hands. Being a receiver out of the backfield requires the back to be able to get in position to make the catch, including body position and separation from whatever safeties or linebackers are in the area. I remember a number of times where TJ was too close to the defender to make a viable dump-off option. LT has years of expereince and a very good instinct as a dump-off man.
ok say leon or greene goes out for the season again this year? greenes running style instantly takes a few years off his career and liable to get nicked up to where hes trying to tote the rock at 70 or 80% all year. leon coming off a broken leg, I want to keep him but youve got to cover all bases. LT is here 2 yrs; i love the pick up but I'm talking long term. say we nabbed Blount; Gerhart; or one of the Dixon's. thats 2nd rd-4th picks im speaking of. this draft is so deep with legit prospects I'm just saying when the draft is this deep in a position so prone to injury yet crucial to our system. we need to at least entertain the thought if were able to address the trenches early or nab a quality CB.
Thing is, we're not bringing LT in to be 'really good'. We're bringing him in as a depth player that is versatile for the passing game, and to be a COP back in the chance that Leon ends up elsewhere. I know the pricetag is high for that kind of thing, but you and I both know thaty Woody is also banking on name recognition to sell seats. Jones would have been a nice depth player, but his skillset isn't a great asset as a 3rd down back in the passing game. He couldn't get much separation from LBs and safeties as a dump-off option and his speed to the hole is far less than even our pounder, Greene. He wouldn't be an ultra-effective COP back. His blocking was nice, but LT can backfield block just as effectively. Plus, you're just not acknowledging at all the terrible run-blocking that the Chargers have been ruining their ground game with the past couple of years. They gave up their commitment to the ground game the moment they let Mike Turner walk to Atlanta.
Great Post. I have nothing to add. That's exactly how I felt about Jones the last 3 years. I have never seen a RB go down so easy.
Without a doubt. I cant argue with that. He is definitley the better receiver. But Jones had success as a pass catcher out of the backfield in 08 with Favre. Basically what im saying is that throwing the ball to the RB in our offense was thrown out the window after LW got hurt. Although that could just be because the coaching staff didnt trust Greene and or Jones to do it.
I wouldn't have trusted Greene, the kid barely had any passes thrown to him in college. TJ, I saw a number of times where Sanchez got in trouble and looked for the dump-off, and TJ had defenders close to him - one or two ended up as picks, the other times Sanchez threw the ball away. Favre had the NFL passer's savvy to buy another second or 2 to let him get clear of a defender. We don't have that kind of luxury with a rookie QB, we need a back that can get separation immediately.
Gotta say, I'm disappointed with the decision to trade TJ. Best rushing offense in the league and we get rid of our top RB? That doesn't make sense to me. Not to mention, last season was his best ever. I know he's getting old (so is LT though), but I think he's still a force to be reckoned with. Jones proved that he's a versatile tank that couldn't be stopped. We lost Leon, lost Greene in the end where it counted, but Jones stuck in there and just performed.
If you wanted "people to go on the record" you probably should've made it a public poll. :wink: But I like the moves, I think LT will be just as productive as TJ would've been next year, at half the price.
