It’s no secret that LaDainian Tomlinson has been the star of the 2010 preseason for the New York Jets. While many in the media throw the words “washed up” and “too old” around when mentioning the 31-year-old running back, he’s out to prove age is just a number.
Against the Washington Redskins on Thursday, Tomlinson put together his best performance of the NFL’s practice season. On 11 rushing attempts, he picked up 86 yards, including a 43-yarder that had the Redskins defense scrambling to catch up to him. Those stats were not enough, however, as the Jets lost, 16-11, at New Meadowlands Stadium.
For Tomlinson, the preseason is something he rarely took part in over nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers. Head coaches Mike Riley, Marty Schottenheimer and Norv Turner each limited Tomlinson’s preseason workload to save his body for the grind of a 16-game season, plus, hopefully, a playoff run. This didn’t sit well with the former fifth-round pick (2001) out of Texas Christian University.
“I’ve always wanted to play. I’ve been held back by the coaches and I’m not a guy who argues against coaches’ authority. I’ve always gone along with it.” said Tomlinson, who has 129 yards on 22 carries in three games this preseason. “I’ve always wanted to play and it’s just kind of the way it goes.”
For several of those years, Tomlinson got no touches in the preseason. Jets head coach Rex Ryan has shown little signs of holding back his team’s number-one rusher. Shonn Greene will be handed the reigns at the top of the depth chart after spending 2009-10 behind Thomas Jones. Greene has 23 carries for 72 yards in New York’s three games so far.
“I feel real good. I’m good in the offense,” Greene said. “I feel a lot more comfortable, which allows me to play a lot faster, just be more confident.”
Greene and Tomlinson credit the Jets’ offensive line for their success thus far. Tomlinson went as far as to call this group the best he’s ever run behind, a sentiment Greene wouldn’t argue with.
“They do a great job,” Greene said. “Any (back) that’s in there can pop one at any time.”
The centerpiece of that offensive line is center Nick Mangold. The four-year pro signed a seven-year contract extension with the Jets on Tuesday. Two days later, he was out there opening gaps for the six teammates to run the ball and working to protect quarterback Mark Sanchez (13-for-21, 139 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT).
“(We’re) about two weeks out. We’re getting there,” Mangold said. “We’re doing some good things and some things need to get fixed up. This is the preseason and now is the time to fix those things and you can’t be dilly dallying.”
The Jets fell to 1-2 following the loss. New York’s offense has only scored 36 points against their opponents, while the defense has surrendered 49. Sanchez believes the offense is lagging early in the game and they need to prevent stalled drives from carrying over to their next possession. The Jets have also scored seven field goals to just two touchdowns.
“I think we’re getting to those third downs in the red zone and we didn’t convert, but we got field goals,” Sanchez said. “As long as we get points we’ll be okay. We just want to turn those into touchdowns and that will happen when we don’t turn the ball over.”
Offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson plays alongside Mangold on the Jets’ line, which has given up 10 sacks this preseason. Ferguson has no concerns whether they’ll be ready to play next week against the Philadelphia Eagles, then in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens.
“I’m very optimistic that we’ll be able to take care of anything that shows up,” he said. “I don’t think there will be anything that’s so drastic or dire that we’re incapable of fixing. I think we’ll make those changes and fix what we need to.”
A bright spot in the loss to the Redskins was outside linebacker Vernon Gholston, who has struggled to fit in since the Jets took him 6th overall out of Ohio State in 2008. Gholston picked up a fumble on special teams that gave New York the ball back on Washington’s end of the field.
“It’s huge. Obviously putting the offense back out there and in a good position to score,” Gholston said. “Those opportunities create huge momentums for us as a team and for the offense to get something going.”
Four plays later, Sanchez threw an interception into the hands of Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall that left the Jets with no points.
Gholston will receive more playing time now that the Jets have lost Calvin Pace to a broken foot, which he sustained in Thursday’s loss. Pace is expected to miss at least four regular season games.
Linebacker Jason Taylor wouldn’t put the blame solely on the offense, but said it was both sides that need work.
“We need to take care of the ball better as a team. You can’t win in this league if you turn the ball over. It’s darn near impossible,” said Taylor, who signed with the Jets after 12 seasons in Miami and a stint with Washington in 2008.
“We need to play a little better defensively in certain situations, not giving up third downs… We need to mow our own grass on the defensive side and get ourselves ready to go.”
Despite this being Taylor’s first year in the Jets defense, which was ranked at the top of nearly all NFL defensive categories last season, he says he’s fitting right in.
“Yeah, I feel good. I’m feeling comfortable and confident mentally,” he said. “The physical will always follow the mental.”
Washington head coach Mike Shanahan saw first-hand the potential of this Jets defense, and was not shy in assessing them.
“The Jets do have an excellent defense, they proved that last year,” Shanahan said. “They’re very, very good and they’re very, very consistent. They’re going to play that way this year.”
Hall believes the Washington defense, which collected three fumble recoveries, four interceptions and a pick against New York, can one day be placed into the same defensive category as their opponent, but not right now.
“We have a lot to do to live up to those expectations,” Hall said. “Week by week, day by day we’re going to definitely keep fighting and keep working to be considered in that category, to be considered in that category with teams like the Jets, the Ravens, Pittsburgh that have consistently year after year put up the numbers and backed it up on the field.”
Quarterback Rex Grossman, who filled in for the injured Donovan McNabb as the starter Thursday, believes the Redskins defense is already there.
“Our defense is explosive. They’re confusing… they can rush the passer, they can stop the run,” Grossman (8-for-16, 111 yds) said. “They can do anything you need a defense to do. They’re going to be a Top 5 defense in the league, I have no question.”
The Jets need to find the offense that can get the best of any defense, no matter where they rank among the NFL’s 32 teams. It’s going to start with Tomlinson and Greene. Sanchez, in his second year, needs to develop chemistry with veteran wideouts Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery.
If the passing game catches up with the rushing game, the offense will catch up to the defense, which at this point is several yards ahead.