Tomlinson becoming a rare breed - San Diego running back putting up numbers with some of the game's best
DENVER - LaDainian Tomlinson is operating in some extremely
rare company.
The San Diego Chargers running back has scored touchdowns
at such a rapid pace, his name is etched in the record
books alongside some of the game's all-time greats.
With four touchdowns in San Diego's 35-27 win over Denver
on Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High, Tomlinson reached
100 touchdowns in 89 games. Jim Brown and Emmitt Smith
were previously the fastest to 100 and it took them 93
games.
"I looked up to Emmitt Smith growing up but Jim
Brown, to me, was an icon. The man was incredible,"
Tomlinson said. "I heard Barry (Sanders) talking
about this: Jim Brown was Barry's father - he never let
Barry live up to what Jim Brown did. My father is 72 years
old, so obviously he was a big fan of Jim Brown's. It's
phenomenal to be mentioned in the same breath as a guy
like Jim Brown."
Tomlinson rushed for 105 yards on 20 carries Sunday and
also caught three passes for 74 yards. He had two 3-yard
touchdown runs and another 1-yarder. Even though Denver
coach Mike Shanahan said it wasn't a defensive breakdown,
Tomlinson was matched up with defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban
on a 51-yard touchdown reception.
Entering the game, Tomlinson was on a torrid scoring
streak over his last five games with 15 touchdowns. Only
two players have ever scored 14 touchdowns or more in
a five-game span: Brown (twice) and Jerry Rice.
"I think he's the best there is," San Diego
quarterback Phillip Rivers said. "Every down he brings
it, whether he's blocking, catching it or running it.
His value can't be measured for us."
HE'S A BEAR: Second-year Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson,
who set the bar for receiving records at the University
of Northern Colorado, had a solid game with three catches
for 39 yards. He hauled in a 26-yard pass that led up
to the Chargers' opening score of the game and his 5-yard
touchdown reception - where he snatched the ball high
in the air and barely kept both feet in bounds - in the
fourth quarter put San Diego ahead for good, 28-27.
"I was definitely a passing threat at UNC and here,
I am more a part of the running game. I am very proud
of that," Jackson said. "I know we have a lot
of weapons in our offense and I can't be selfish about
my stats. My job is just to go out there every Sunday
and be ready to catch some balls."
BIG BOOST: Damien Nash gave the Broncos a nice lift in
the running game, particularly in the first half. Nash
averaged 11 yards per carry in the first half, including
two runs of more than 20 yards, and finished with 52 yards
on 10 carries.
"Any time my name is called, I'm just trying to
go out there and help the team," Nash said. "I
always want to go out and make big plays, that's what
you have to do to win games."
TOO SHORT: Shanahan was upset with the Broncos' play
on special teams, particularly the short field San Diego
had all day. On average, the Chargers' drives began on
their own 36-yard line and they had 169 total return yards
on punts and kickoffs.
"It's disappointing, the field position we gave
up on special teams," Shanahan said. "I don't
know what we're going to do, but we're going to have to
do something to be more productive than we've been."
