LaDainian Tomlinson Fantasy News

Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 2:49pm

"I've always been a proponent of running the football, obviously," LaDainian Tomlinson said. "I think that's another thing the Chargers really need to correct is getting another guy to go with Ryan Mathews. I think, at this point, Ryan has shown it's hard for him to stay healthy in the type of workload that he's had. So now, get somebody to help him. I still think he's a tremendous talent, but he needs some help in taking some of that workload off of him. ...

HC Smith: Michael Turner "is going to be an integral part of our offense."
Wednesday, August 22, 2012, 9:37pm

Falcons RB Michael Turner says catching passes in the screen game for running backs is something they’ve been working on in practice and throughout camp. So far this season running backs and fullbacks have caught 12 passes. Turner is getting familiar with an increased pass-catching role this preseason under new coordinator Dirk Koetter.

“I’m comfortable with it,” Turner said. “I’ve caught more passes than I have before last year. I’m just trying to get in the groove of things and getting accustomed to this offense.”

Despite the speculation that has swirled around Atlanta’s offense becoming more open and pass-friendly this season, HC Mike Smith said Turner and his running will remain a big part of what they’re trying to accomplish on offense. More importantly, Smith said despite what direction the offense goes in one game to the next, Turner is still the featured running back for the Falcons.

“I think Mike is going to be an integral part of our offense,” Smith said. “We have done some work in some different areas in the first two preseason games. Again, you’re not game planning, you’re trying to work on certain things. Michael is our No. 1 back and he’s going to get his touches just like the other guys. It’s going to be based on how people try to defend us.”

Jets expecting a "monster season" from Shonn Greene
Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 11:16am

The Jets have made it clear what they expect from Shonn Greene this season. The fourth-year running back will be the engine for an offense that hopes to revive its ground-and-pound attack.

“I’m asking for a monster season,” running backs coach Anthony Lynn told me. “I think he’s one of the best power backs in the game. Why wouldn’t you?”

Greene, coming off a 1,054-yard season, admitted that there’s additional incentive to play better in the final year of his contract and “get a fresh new start” under new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, who could turn him into the bellcow running back that Rex Ryan claimed he would be prior to last season.

Greene posted career highs in carries (253) and yards last season, but he never became the centerpiece of an offense in perpetual flux. He averaged 39 yards and 3.1 yards per carry through the first four games when the Jets leaned on Mark Sanchez to beat teams through the air. After Ryan made an executive decision to return their run-first roots, Greene averaged 75 yards and 4.4 yards per carry in the final 12 games, which would project to a 1,196-yard season. He averaged 31 percent more carries per game (16.8) in the final 12 games than he did in the first month (12.8).

Monday, July 30, 2012, 9:08am

Another position the Jets could be thin at is running back.

Behind Shonn Greene, the Jets have little experience. But second-year back Bilal Powell really stood out Sunday. He looked quick and hit the holes hard.

It has been assumed that Joe McKnight would fill the third-down running back role with LaDainian Tomlinson gone, but maybe Powell can move up the depth chart.

Friday, July 20, 2012, 9:11am

The Jets running game will live or die with RB Shonn Greene, who enters his second season as the featured back. For the first time in his career, he's the most accomplished runner on the team.

Greene, a notoriously slow starter, averaged 74 yards and 4.4 per carry over the final 12 games last season, but he needs that kind of production over the full season. Greene is a one-speed back who doesn't make enough yards on his own. This is a contract year, so he'll be plenty motivated.

Some players on the team believe RB Joe McKnight will be the break-out player on offense. He'll get the opportunity, that's for sure. He'll back up Greene and replace LaDainian Tomlinson as the third-down back, the first time in his young career that he'll have a legitimate role on offense.

Jets plan to use QB Tebow in red zone
Thursday, July 19, 2012, 8:59am

Jets QB Tim Tebow will be one of the most closely watched players in the NFL. Why? Because he's Tim Tebow. Another reason is because of his role: What is he?

The Jets say he's the No. 2 quarterback and will be used in the wildcat package. They haven't divulged any specifics, but it'll probably be closer to the read-option offense he ran in Denver than a true Wildcat, which is a direct snap to a running back.

Team insiders say the plan is to use Tebow in the red zone, where they can replace Mark Sanchez with another player/blocker to bolster the running game.

Friday, July 13, 2012, 12:55pm

LaDainian Tomlinson, who retired in June, said that he thinks new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano’s grinding approach to offense could become a problem for WR Santonio Holmes, who complained about the offense last season before sparking an in-huddle argument with Mark Sanchez during the season-ending loss to the Dolphins.

“Santonio was brought there to be the No. 1 receiver and catch a lot of balls through the passing game and if you are a team that’s not going to throw the ball very much that’s going to make for an unhappy receiver, right?” Tomlinson asked. “So, if Week 6 they haven’t thrown the ball more than 15 times a game and Santonio is not getting his catches you may hear some things: him speaking out, him saying things that may rub some teammates the wrong way. It could very well happen, but I hope Santonio learned from last year and that’s all you can really do. You have to learn from your previous mistakes.”

Monday, July 2, 2012, 2:50pm

Shonn Greene looked like an explosive tackle breaker during his rookie year, but he hasn’t seemed the same since. He played behind an aging LaDainian Tomlinson in 2010, and turned in a mediocre 2011 season, his first year as the Jets’ starter.

Greg Cosell of NFL Films, who studies the game tape, believes limited talent has contributed to Greene’s failure to develop into a dynamic NFL back.

“I think he’s a little bit of a one-speed runner,” Cosell said, “and I think that’s caught up to him a little bit. I think that he’s a strong kid. I think he can run downhill. I think he can move the pile because he’s got natural strength. But I don’t think there’s much burst to him. I think he’s pretty much of a one-speed runner. And I think those guys eventually struggle.

“He can gain yards, there’s no question. But I don’t think he gives you much more than what’s there. And I think it’s tough for those kinds of backs to truly be foundation backs.”

Cosell explained that Greene lacks an ability to create yardage on his own.

LaDainian Tomlinson to retire as a Charger
Monday, June 18, 2012, 11:00am

RB LaDainian Tomlinson will re-sign with the San Diego Chargers and then announce his retirement from the NFL during a Monday news conference scheduled for 11 a.m. PT.

Jets offense to feature Shonn Greene
Friday, June 1, 2012, 11:01am

Jets RB Shonn Greene set a career-high with 253 rushing attempts last season, and he said he had been led to believe by the offensive coordinator Tony Sparano that he will surpass that figure in 2012 — even if Tim Tebow does end up taking away carries that would have otherwise gone to him or the backup, Joe McKnight.

“We’re not going to disappoint you,” Coach Rex Ryan said. “We’re going to give the ball to Shonn Greene a bunch.”

Friday, May 25, 2012, 1:19pm

RB Shonn Greene is listed at 226 pounds, but it looks like he dropped a few. He ran with a little extra giddy-up.