BOLT ANALYSIS SPECIAL REPORT: LT

Greetings Followers. I must opine on several important items that have surfaced lately in Bolt Nation. They both relate to LT.

The news of LT’s recent interviews first trickled out from Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune and then reached a steady flow on ESPN and other Sports networks over the last couple of days. It has been clear since the end of the season that LT’s stay has come to an end in San Diego. Let me start by saying it is sad that he is going at all…and even sadder that it appears he will not go out filled with peace and love. There will be much written on this topic over the next couple of months but let me start by saying we just could not have asked for a classier guy. No off-field problems, always likable and great at interviews. Just a guy you like a lot and you want to see have success. As I said in the recent Charger History Review, LT turned the team around, gave it a face, and put us on the map starting with his Draft Day in 2001. Shocking to think that he would not spend his whole career as a Charger, but that is what is going on.

It may be too simplistic, but I see LT’s demise with the team occurring in three parts:  1) the hiring of Norv Turner, 2) the injury in the 2007 playoffs, and 3) natural decline in production. When Norv took over, LT admittedly was “lost”. With Marty…he was the Man. The offense was built around him, the plays designed around him, and there was no question who the on and off field leader was. Norv has a different approach, Rivers became the man, and LT was reduced to a secondary role. I really think the whole team has struggled through this for the past couple of years. The embodiment of this shift occurred in 2007 after a playoff run put the Chargers up against the Colts and the Patriots with a shot at the Super Bowl. LT took himself out of both games with a knee injury while Rivers played with no ligament in his knee. Now, I have never played professional football, but that showing seemed to resonate with teammates and fans very strongly. Looking at stats…LT has never been the same since that injury. Another injury in the 2008 playoffs took him out of those games as well. Again, don’t know the severity, but do know that neither injury required surgery of any kind. Finally, these injuries..however severe…might just be symptoms of 9 years in the League getting beat up. Look at the incredibly quick decline of other runners Shaun Alexander and Larry Johnson. All of sudden, you just don’t have it any more.

This leads us to the current situation; LT has called out just about everyone. His coaches for not using him “correctly” and his teammates for a lack of commitment and bad attitudes. Not sure how to view the first one. It sure seemed that Norv tried to get LT off all year long. Even calling 15 touches in the Jets game when LT averaged less than 2 yards a touch. Hard to know how much of this is miserable lead blocking, miserable line blocking, or LTs lack of a burst…but I just cannot see this part.

The lack of commitment by teammates is a different story. This I agree with. There is a faction of dudes on this team that just don’t take it seriously. They just have not “got it” that an 11 game winning streak means nothing. The intensity of the playoffs are just that...intense. The news surfaces….and is corroborated by a mole in the Charger organization….that Phillips and Merriman are at a strip bar in San Diego until 2:30 in the morning the day before the Jets game. This follows rumors heard of Phillips and Cooper and others being absolutely drunk before road and home games in each of the past two seasons. This on top of the fact that Vincent Jackson has 2 DUIs and was pulled over for driving with a suspended license the day of the Jets game. This on top of the fact that Shawne Merriman is facing suits from Tila Tequila and a paternity suit from someone else. This on top of the fact the Antonio Cromartie has 7 kids with 5 different women, all under 5 years old. And on…and on….

Does this impact what happens on game day….who knows? The team went 13-3 with such distractions. Hard to say that this led to all kinds of problems. But, it does not help when things get into the pressure cooker of the playoffs. So, are LTs comments sour grapes…or real reflections on what “could have been” if this team was truly committed. Probably somewhere in the middle. I do believe it is just really a shame that the commitment and continuity that LT provided could not be awarded with a Super Bowl. The puzzle just never got put together right.

So, expect a lot of drama in the month ahead. And remember, the Chargers have a very bad history of treating their stars like commodities. Think the terrible send off of Junior Seau, the dismissal of Rodney Harrison, the exit of Drew Brees. We are not good at this. I hope they treat LT well…but if we know AJ at all, we know he will probably wait until the last minute and try to get the most value out of getting rid of him. That is his job after all.

What happens with Merriman, Phillips, Cromartie, and the rest….stay tuned. I have my opinions…but that is for another day. Goodbye in advance to LT. Thanks for everything. We will never forget the million-watt smile on his face when he set the all time TD record.