Jacob Hester, RB

ToughJ.Riggins

Hall of Famer
Joined
Nov 19, 2006
Messages
5,063
Location
Ontario Canada
Colonel_Reb said:
I hope that the Charger running back stable gets smaller and smaller so they will have to give Jacob a chance. He can and will do the job, if just given a chance!

I agree Colonel; I don't want to see any serious injuries obviously, but minor bumps and bruises happen all the time in the NFL.

Maybe they will sit Tomlinson anyway with his turf toe?

He has been very ineffective and I hope if any starter in the league has to sit for a few games it's Tomlinson. I'm just wishing the coach wises up and sits Tomlinson with his turf toe with the team already virtually out of the playoff hunt.
 

ToughJ.Riggins

Hall of Famer
Joined
Nov 19, 2006
Messages
5,063
Location
Ontario Canada
Colonel_Reb said:
ToughJ.Riggins said:
Colonel_Reb said:
Congrats to Eric Weddle. I wish I could have seen that INT return, but I'm thrilled that he led the team with 10 tackles and is having a great season.
smiley32.gif
The problem is that Weddle is having to clean up after the Chargers CBs mistakes and the DWFs are blaming him for the long receptions when he is really the savior to the teams defensive problems. DWF: "Ahh yeah that Weddle guy just keeps making tackles downfield; why is he getting beat so much? We all know that it's a safety's job to cover the deep WR one on one right?" DWF 1,2,3,4,5: "Yeah dahhh!" Also Sproles has been playing pretty well, but how do we know Hester wouldn't do just as good or better? Sproles is too small to get more than 10-15 carries a game anyway and Tomlinson should really go to the bench with his ineffectiveness from turf toe problems.


Any coach with a brain would move Eric to CB, imho. That or get some decent corners to take the pressure off of him. It makes me sick at how ignorant these DWFs are.

Yeah it's just sickening! The DWFs will blame whites at positions that they are rare at because they stand out to them. In truth; more than half of the safeties in the league should be white!

DWF: "Yeah, that guy playing safety looks like me. Yeah...He must be a clumsy doughnut eating loser like me too...yeah, it's all his fault our team is losing...Yeah I just had an epiphany...bench whitey!"
smiley5.gif
 

Colonel_Reb

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
13,987
Location
The Deep South
Yeah, I feel like I cheated myself by keeping Tomlinson on my fantasy team this year.
 

Don Wassall

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 30, 2004
Messages
30,320
Location
Pennsylvania
I've had Tomlinson on one of my fantasy teams since his rookie season of 2001. I've always liked him because besides being a very good runner he blocks well and is a good receiver. And he doesn't have an out of control ego like so many black players. But he's declined quite a bit this year. He's noticeably slower and since he'snot that bighe's easier to catch and tackle as speed was his best weapon.


Sproles is too small to be an every down back, so Hester still has a chance to be LT's replacement. But we know how the NFL works. Hester's heroics for LSU are already forgotten by the media and the DWFs and he'll be decried as too slow, not elusive, not big enough. Norv Turner will probably be gone after this season and the new regime will have no loyalty to Hester whatsoever.
 

Don Wassall

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 30, 2004
Messages
30,320
Location
Pennsylvania
This article (which puts all the blame on Norv Turner for the Chargers' struggles) speculates that Tomlinson may want out of San Diego after this season:
<H1>LT Phone Home</H1>
<H2>LaDainian Tomlinson has gotten lost in the Chargers' wayward offenseâ€â€￾and wonders what it means for his future</H2>


AFTER THE Chargers fell to the Falcons on Sunday, their third straight defeat and fifth in six games, San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson stood next to his black SUV in the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot and pondered something even more unfathomable than the team's collapse: playing for another team next year.


"Right now I feel messed up because we're not winning," said Tomlinson, who has spent his entire eight-year career with the Chargers. "I'm trying to search for how we can fix it. So I can't say anything about my future right now. It wouldn't make sense. It's not the right time, and it's not fair to the rest of my teammates for me to come out and talk about me leaving this team. It just wouldn't be right."


The fact that he has been underusedâ€â€￾his projected season rushing totals of 289 carries, 1,058 yards and eight touchdowns would be career lowsâ€â€￾is one reason for the frustration Tomlinson shares with other veterans on a team that came up one game short of the Super Bowl last year and had 20 of 22 starters returning.


Any discussion of San Diego's struggles begins with second-year coach Norv Turner, who did not succeed in Washington or Oakland and appears to be losing credibility with his third team. In a recent interview, Pro Bowl special-teamer Kassim Osgood dodged a TV reporter's question several times when asked if Turner, who has a 73-95-1 career record, is a good head coach. Each time Osgood praised Turner as an offensive coordinator but did not address his abilities as a leader. Turner angrily called out Osgood in a team meeting, according to players in the room, without allowing Osgood a chance to reply. (Turner declined comment when approached by SI.)


Although Turner made his name in the NFL as an offensive coordinator, his recent play-calling has been debated in light of the team's scoring 20 points or less in six of its last eight games. Turner's game management has also been suspect. Against Indianapolis two Sundays ago, he burned a timeout after San Diego was stopped short on third down in the final two minutes of a tie game, providing Peyton Manning with an extra 30-plus seconds to drive for the winning field goal. Facing Atlanta last week, Turner called for a two-point-conversion attempt early in the third quarter with the Falcons leading 15--13. It failed, and when Atlanta scored a TD on the first play of the fourth quarter, the Chargers had a two-possession deficit they could not overcome.


There has also been concern that general manager A.J. Smith underestimated the value of veteran leadership (Lorenzo Neal, Keenan McCardell, Roman Oben and Donnie Edwards were cut loose) and overestimated the abilities of some young players, locking up too many with long-term deals. "We don't have a lot of guys whose voices get people's attention and make them listen," said one player.


Tomlinson is in the fifth season of an eight-year contract and still hopes to retire as a Charger. It isn't in his makeup to quit on the team or become a distraction in a bid to force a trade, but he can't help but question his diminished and uncertain role. The offense used to run through him, but Turner has gradually placed more responsibility on quarterback Philip Rivers. Balance is one thing, but every good team has plays it can run successfully even if the opponent knows they're coming.


For the Chargers under Turner's predecessor, Marty Schottenheimer, those plays were power runs. Under Turner, no one is sure.


[url]http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazin e/MAG1149333/index.htm?eref=sisf [/url]
 

Colonel_Reb

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
13,987
Location
The Deep South

C Darwin

Mentor
Joined
Mar 29, 2006
Messages
1,181
Location
New York

Colonel_Reb

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
13,987
Location
The Deep South
The best things about the clip to me, besides the run, were the looks on Jay Cutler and Tomlinson's faces.
 

SoberWF

Newbie
Joined
Dec 9, 2008
Messages
78
The great thing illustrated from that run is the hole (or lack thereof) Jacob sliced through to get into the secondary. That is not supposed to be the trademark of "tight-hipped" "down-hill" only backs when trying to run between the tackles. The run was a counter and he slipped through the hole and changed directions beautifully- great elusiveness! The rest of the play was just pure joy to watch- the tenacious effort in not getting taken down without a fight. With LT ailing somewhat, I would love to see Norv turn to his rookie for some more carries during the playoffs. Also, I would love to know what LT was smiling about. Like, "Ha ha, anybody can run through these guys." Or (better-yet), " Ha, ha, I better not get hurt anymore or I might be riding the bench."
 

Colonel_Reb

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
13,987
Location
The Deep South
I'm thinking the latter SoberWF, as it seemed like he was a bit nervous.
 

Don Wassall

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 30, 2004
Messages
30,320
Location
Pennsylvania
Clutch, thousand yard rusher against SEC competition on defending national champion is being totally screwed:


LT may miss rest of playoffs


While they're using phrases like "day to day" and "we'll see," no one in the Chargers organization truly expects LaDainian Tomlinson to play Sunday at Pittsburgh.


But the Chargers will not place Tomlinson on injured reserve, in the hope that he still could play in the postseason.


"He might be able to play in another week if we were able to go on," coach Norv Turner said. "Or maybe he could play in another week after that."


The likelihood, according to sources, is that Tomlinson's severely strained groin will keep him out the rest of the postseason and will require surgery. But Turner reported Sunday that the injury "is not any worse" after Tomlinson played on it Saturday.


Michael Bennett, who was active for the first time Saturday after being acquired on waivers on Nov. 12, carried four times for 24 yards against the Indianapolis Colts and likely will get more work in Pittsburgh.


Darren Sproles looked as if he had gone 15 rounds as he walked from Qualcomm Stadium on Saturday after carrying 23 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns.


"We've got (Sproles) packed in ice back in the training room right now. We'll let him out on Friday," Turner said with a laugh. "Yeah, there's a concern. He was absolutely exhausted. We'll get him a lot of rest this week.


"Michael Bennett, we'll get him ready to go, and he's going to be able to do a little more than he did last week. We're down to the point where everyone's going to do whatever it takes."


full article: [url]http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jan/04/chargers- s5chnotes-tomlinson/?chargers[/url]
 

jacknyc

Hall of Famer
Joined
May 14, 2006
Messages
4,091
Hester is screwed now that they brought in Bennett.
The only opportunities white RBs get is when others are injured, and even if they do well, coaches never wake-up and think of moving them up the depth chart. Instead they bring in someone else over them.
How many times have we seen that happen?! It's ridiculous!
 

dbwave

Newbie
Joined
Nov 6, 2008
Messages
73
What is really ridiculous is this is after a game where they let him touch the ball in "garbage time" and he excelled. Sprolles is a great back. No doubt about it but Hester should be getting the carries after him
 

Jack Lambert

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
4,743
Maybe if Sproles can't carry the full load, and Bennet stinks the game up, I hope they will give Hester a chance to carry the ball.
 

celticdb15

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
8,469
Best case scenario for Hester. Sproles gets overworked by halftime and cant play. Bennett is ineffective and Hester goes in to save the game. Ah wouldnt that be nice??
 
Joined
May 20, 2007
Messages
402
Location
Ontario
celticdb15 said:
Best case scenario for Hester. Sproles gets overworked by halftime and cant play. Bennett is ineffective and Hester goes in to save the game. Ah wouldnt that be nice??
Wouldn't it be nice if the coaching staff just realized that Hester is their best every down running back and let Sproles spell him on 3rd downs?
 

Don Wassall

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 30, 2004
Messages
30,320
Location
Pennsylvania
Hester embraces his role as blocking fullback:

Hester eats up new role

Jacob Hester was listed at 5-foot-11, 225 pounds in last season's Chargers media guide. A year later, that description no longer applies.

The second-year fullback has bulked up this offseason to better deal with the blocking responsibilities of his position after spending his final college season as primary rusher.

Hester looks powerful these days, but he hasn't gotten too big for his own good. He's moving well, and the added size doesn't prevent him from being a productive pass catcher and occasional runner out of the backfield.

He proved that during minicamp and the offseason coaching sessions, which concluded for veterans on Thursday.

Hester is more of hybrid back than the prototypical fullback Chargers fans grew accustomed to when Lorenzo Neal lined up in front of LaDainian Tomlinson earlier this decade. And finding that delicate balance between rhino and antelope has been no easy task for Hester.

"There was a time this offseason when I was trying to gain a bunch of muscle for playing fullback," Hester said last week. "But I got to a point where they stopped me and said, 'Don't forget that you still need to run the ball a little bit,' which meant they didn't want me to gain too much weight.

"There's a point where you can get too big and too stiff, and that's when you have to back off a little bit. It's a tough balance, trying to find that ideal weight where you can be versatile and effective, but I feel like we got it done."

Hester's magic number is 240 pounds. Hester rather enjoyed reaching his ideal playing weight, which involved a strenuous workout regimen and a little gluttony.

"It's pretty easy," Hester said. "You go home, let the wife cook and eat 'til you can't eat anymore. Then you work out like crazy and try to turn it into muscle. But in order to maintain the weight you want, you really have to watch your diet."

Hester wants to remain the same over the next few weeks, when there aren't any organized team activities for veterans leading up to training camp in July.

"You definitely don't want to take four weeks off," Hester said. "You have to keep up with the workouts and the learning the play script. Every day, I go through 30 or so plays and figure out exactly what you have to do. There is an offseason and there is some downtime, but you never stop thinking about football."

Hester isn't unique in that regard. Players are constantly preparing for the next season and are always working on something. Chargers strength and conditioning coach Jeff Hurd makes sure of that, tailoring workout plans to maximize skill sets.

It's easier to instruct when students are on campus for minicamps and organized workouts, but Hurd has to trust that his players won't slack off during downtimes such as this.

"The guys have done such a great job to this point that you don't want anyone to slip while they're away," Hurd said. "The goal is to build the foundation throughout the offseason, and while you won't wipe it all out with a few bad weeks, it can cause a player to take a significant step back. That rarely happens because these players are competitors who won't let themselves slack off."

Hurd doesn't feel the need to be a drill sergeant around these professional athletes, letting competitive drive motivate.

"At this level, they understand how important their workouts are to onfield success," Hurd said. "There's so much competition that everyone is trying to push themselves in order to win starting jobs or increase playing time. I don't have to do too much to police them."

Desire has sparked Hester to become bigger, faster and stronger. His goal is to maintain the work he has done and prove himself worthy of a starting spot and such a diverse offensive role when training camp arrives.

"You have to stick with your routine and keep working, even if there isn't outside pressure to do so," Hester said. "Training camp is no learning period. You hit the field running, and it's an all-day, everyday experience during camp. If you're behind, it's tough to catch up."

http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2009/06/14/sports/chargers/z0da939a4c6065198882575d200764dde.txt
 

jaxvid

Hall of Famer
Joined
Oct 15, 2004
Messages
7,247
Location
Michigan
Honestly I don't know why they drafted him. If that's all they were going to do with him there were lots of better guys for that role. It's really stupid to make him a blocking fullback, he's not built for it nor has he done it. Only the caste system would make something like this possible.
 

Colonel_Reb

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
13,987
Location
The Deep South
This is just another (the latest) example of why I don't get too excited over any one white skill player anymore. The same old stuff happens dang near every time. They either get screwed over or go all "team player" and forget about trying to stay at their natural position. Seems like I posted about this earlier in the week when someone thought we were being pessimistic. Maybe they will rethink their position a little bit, after another example of why I remain an optimistic realist. I agree with jaxvid's comments as well.
 

dwid

Hall of Famer
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
4,254
Location
Louisiana
This is pathetic, now hes probably going to be stiffer, and less explosive and some loss of speed and fans will think this is the role he should be in. He was perfectly fine where he was at even for a fullback, he had the strength and power of a fullback but the agility/speed of a powerback. id say 230 should be his maximum weight. Just who the hell is he going to be blocking for though? a diminishing LT? or a 5'6 darren sproles? I guess im getting a little too upset, 15 pounds he shouldnt lose that much speed and this was something interesting in the article:

""There was a time this offseason when I was trying to gain a bunch of muscle for playing fullback," Hester said last week. "But I got to a point where they stopped me and said, 'Don't forget that you still need to run the ball a little bit,' which meant they didn't want me to gain too much weight"Edited by: dwid
 

Thrashen

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jun 4, 2007
Messages
5,706
Location
Pennsylvania
Yeah, Hester is certainly not a battering ram in the mold of, say, Mike Karney.

This, like most NFL personnel decisions, makes no sense. Just for a little perspective...LeRon McClain was a feature back for most of last season. McClain also broke a few long runs (the most hilarious being against Dallas)...that really says something about the legedary "speed" of NFL defenders.

Hester, along with Peyton Hillis, are far from doomed. The amount of black RB's that are injured during a typical NFL season has become staggering at this point.
 

Jack Lambert

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
4,743
Thrashen said:
Yeah, Hester is certainly not a battering ram in the mold of, say, Mike Karney.

This, like most NFL personnel decisions, makes no sense. Just for a little perspective...LeRon McClain was a feature back for most of last season. McClain also broke a few long runs (the most hilarious being against Dallas)...that really says something about the legedary "speed" of NFL defenders.

Hester, along with Peyton Hillis, are far from doomed. The amount of black RB's that are injured during a typical NFL season has become staggering at this point.

Yeah, I agree. Hester may be able to have a chance yet. Most teams lose at least one back to injury in a given year. Some, a lot more than that, like the Broncos or Patriots last year for example.
 

celticdb15

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
8,469
way to be a bitch Hester
 
Top