The Passing of the Mantel

If there is one thing to be excited about this year, it’s the performance of the Chargers offense.  After a slow start in the first half in week one, the Chargers offense came on in a hurry and almost stole a game from the Carolina Panthers.  In fact, the offensive output of the Chargers has only magnified the ineptitude of the Chargers defense.  They scored 31 points on offense last week and still lost?  Come on.

What is most encouraging about the Chargers offensive performance is the great play of QB Philip Rivers.  Is it possible that the offense no longer runs through LT (even when healthy) first?  I say yes, it’s possible, and it’s already happening.

Rivers has more than proven his skills behind center.  With LT constantly running against an 8-man (or more) defensive front, it always seemed that the passing game should be wide open.  Yet, Sunday against the Broncos, with LT playing sparingly due to a bad toe causing the opposing defense to play off the line, Rivers was still able to pick apart a secondary with stud CB’s Dre Bly and Champ Bailey for 377 yards and 3 TD’s, with only one (phantom) interception. 

I am not suggesting that LT is done.  I have complete confidence that once he recovers from his injury, he’ll be closer to the LT of old than not.  I’m just saying that LT doesn’t have to be the man anymore.  And that’s a good thing for the Chargers.  As Rivers continues to get better, it is likely that it will be the passing game that soon opens things up for LT. 

On a related note, there was a national article published a couple of days ago suggesting the high probability that LT is done.  I found it an interesting read, as it in part supported this post, a concept I’ve been working on since Sunday’s performance by Rivers.  But contrary to that article (that I don’t want to link to due to my disrepect of the author), I don’t think LT is done.  It’s easy to look at the stats of comparable running backs and begin to think that the end is near for the league’s rushing leader the last two years.  But what the stats don’t show is the punishment each player sustained throughout his career.  Look at RB’s like Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, and Shaun Alexander.  All top running backs at one time, and all who took massive hits at one time in their career causing severe damage to their bodies.  Look at SDSU alum Marshall Faulk, who played most of his career on turf.  That’s constant punishment whether you get hit or not.  LT has yet to receive that significant hit, has yet to suffer through that serious ligament tear, a concussion, or a broken bone.  LT is getting older, and he obviously can’t play forever, but he still has a few good years in him.  He’ll be fine.

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