Following a 224-yard performance against the Chicago Bears during week six, 
the label of best in the league started being floated around by many in the media, in a typical everything-we-talk-about-must-be-the-biggest-or-best fashion. And the sentiment was repeated again Sunday by FOX's Brian Baldinger before Peterson was held to 70 yards on 20 carries by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Yes, Peterson is leading the league in rushing despite splitting carries with veteran Chester Taylor, but there is still a guy in San Diego named LaDainian Tomlinson who has been doing this for seven years, as opposed to seven games. Maybe you've heard of him? You know, the guy who tallied more than 2,300 yards from the line of scrimmage last year, scored 31 touchdowns, threw two TD passes, and took home last season's MVP honors.
Don't get me wrong. What Peterson has done since joining the league is nothing short of amazing. But he is human. And he will be prone to ups and downs just like any other athlete. So I would like to see him do it in more than a handful of games before anointing him the next Jim Brown or sizing him up for his Hall of Fame jacket. He'll certainly be tested over the second half of the season as defenses stack the box against the run because of the Vikings' inability to throw the ball.
Comments
So Peterson, who is splitting carries, is leading the league in rushing with 740 yards. Yet LT, who is NOT splitting carries and has 123 less yards is better because of his last season stats? What about Peterson’s NFL leading 933 yards from scrimmage? or his NFL leading 1257 total all purpose yards? The only stat LT leads AD in is touchdowns – LT has 7, AP has 6.
LT is an amazing back, but Peterson has earned all of the hype surrounding him. Don’t short change him.
He’s done it for seven games, Paul. LT has done it for seven years. How about a little respect for Tomlinson? He is the one who has truly earned the distinction of the best back in the league, and a handful of games just isn’t enough of a sample size to take that away from him. Lets see Peterson do it for a whole season before we annoint him the greatest.
No disrespect to LT at all. But don’t forget history either. Two years ago Alexander was the “best back in the league”. Last year it was LT. This year it is, at least right now, AP. The title is fluid and changes with time and performance. LT is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but given the choice between LT and AP who would you rather have on your team right now?
Maybe we can compromise and say that this Sunday the [i]two best[/i] backs in the league will be playing in the Metrodome.
Alexander may have set a TD record two years ago, but Tomlinson has been the best overall back in the league for several years now. And If I’ve got a choice between Tomlinson and the rookie Peterson for one season, it’s a no-brainer Paul. I take the proven superstar and reigning MVP over the guy who has only done it a handful of games. As I said in the article, I love Peterson’s prospects for the future, but people are just way, way too quick to jump on bandwagons while forgetting there are guys out there who have been doing it for years.
LT is wonderful, no doubt, but consider he also played on a team that went 14-2.
Not that he wasn’t a big part of that, but he had help.
How about giving Peterson a QB that hits 62% of his passes with 22TDs and 9INTs, and a TE (Pro Bowler Gates) to occupy LB and S from simply sitting in the box?
AD is an extraordinary talent. He’s doing this despite splitting carries and working with perhaps the least productive aerial attack in the league.
Is he getting lots of attention? Yep. Deserved? You bet!
Does he deserve the attention, Dollar? Sure. But it’s still very premature to be calling him the best back in the league. Peterson has gone through an impressive stretch, but let’s not make it into more than it really is.
ok, AD has been lighting it up this year. But teams did not know what the kid can do. So defensive coordinators are not stacking the box against AD like they are against the Chargers. When defenses stack 8 to 9 defenders in the box like they do against LT and AD can lead the league, then he’s the real deal. Every team knows the way to beat the chargers is to contain LT. Rivers isn’t an elite QB yet, teams are daring the Chargers to beat them through the air.
Rivers is not Manning or Brady, but looking at what LT and AD each work with …
Completion Pct:
Rivers – 65.1 (13th in NFL)
Jackson – 45.9 (34th, last among QB with at least 14 passes/gm)
Passer Rating:
Rivers – 90.3 (13th)
Jackson – 48.7 (34th, last again)
Holcomb has played a bit for Minnesota, but is only completing 51% of his passes. Jackson is completing 45.9. One guess as to where that ranks in the league …
I’m not gonna say AD is flat out the best in the league because LT is obviously special, but in terms of 8 and 9 man fronts, I’m betting that defenses respect Rivers and his capabilities much more than they respect any QB in Minnesota.
Teams most definitely have known what AD can do. He showed it throughout the preseason not to mention his pedigree coming into the league. There was never a question on what AD could do. The only question about him was his durability. Questions of durability do not factor into the opposition’s gameplan. Add to that the fact that SD opponents still have to minimally respect the passing game whereas Minnesota opponents do not.
If I’m a d-coordinator, I would sell out against the run much more when playing Minnesota than against San Diego.
do you really think defensive coordinators gameplan against AD the way they gameplan against LT? if you say yes, you’re kidding yourself. AD has the potential, yes. But he hasn’t done anything. They have no tapes on how he runs in a pro scheme and you think preseason is a true barometer? I’m not taking anything away from AD, but once defensives start to stack the line of scrimmage, let’s see what he can do. If he can, it’ll be exciting to watch
Rivers combined totals from 2006 and to this point in 2007:
Comp Pct: 62.7
2:1 TD to INT (32 TD, 16 INT)
Rating: apprx 91.0
I’d love to see AD with a QB who amassed these totals.
That is not to take away from LT, but to support the thought that he has a productive QB to play with.
Most backs find it easier to run when a team can’t simply focus on the ground game. I’d bet Tomlinson would rather have Rivers under center than Jackson, may eventually develop, but is young and simply in over his head right now.
In terms of scheme, the Vikes barely have an offensive scheme. They often look like a pee-wee league team when they pass the football. And yes, defensive coordinators are already focusing their efforts on limiting Peterson. They’ve got no reason to do otherwise.
“Let’s see, the league’s leading rusher over here, the 45% passer over here … who do we need to limit?”
Granted, there’s not ten miles of film to look at on him, but he’s not collecting his yards against nickel and dime defenses that have no idea he’s coming.
Ok i keep hearing “not to take awazy from LT” but that exactly wht you are doing. I remember when LT first came in the league we sure weren’t leading in pazsing numbers in fazct we were last. I know Adrian is exciting and showing that he COULD be a special back. He should not be compared to LT because he has not been doing it year after year like LT has. Post back in 5 years and we will see.
What kind of numbers would AP put up if this was the ‘98 team???? There wouldn’t be anybody close to his numbers!!!! LT has alot better personnel to work with than what AP is working with. Don’t kid yourself, AP is seeing plenty of eight in the box. He is young, but he is proving himself most every week.
I think its too early to even start comparing him to LT. He’s only played 7 games how about we wait a few years. And people seen to forget that when Tomlinson first joined the Chargers, our offense was dead last. Our offense pretty much consisted of LT. And the Chargers didn’t get a decent OL until 2004. AP has the luxury of having a great run block offense in his rookie year. By the time we had a decent OL, LT had already 6145 yards and a total of 1262 touches and 4.87 yards from scrimmage. 2003 was also the season where our No. 1 receiver was Boston, Brees still stuck it up and was being boo’d and LT still managed a total of 100 catches, and we were still the worst team. He almost totaled 2400 yards and by then in those 3 miserable years had somehow amassed 32 TD’s. He didn’t always have a Gates and Rivers. AP has been phenomenal so far, but no where near the complete back as Tomlinson. Lets wait a few years before start comparing AP. Maybe after he’s broken a few of LT’s records and maybe even an MVP award then we can start comparing and maybe even saying he might be better than LT. But for now, I think LT has proven why he’s the NFL’s Best Player. He runs, blocks, catches and throws and has been consistent for the past 7 years. He’s the best all around RB. His numbers maybe down right now, but by the end of the season, he’ll be up around his average again.
How does that foot taste? Of course, how are you supposed to know he’s going to set an NFL single-game record with 296 yards a few days after you call him over-hyped? We feel for you.
Nothing’s really changed Mac Bros. He’s still only done it for a handful of games, whereas LT has been having huge games for the past seven years.
AP just set the single game rushing record…296 yards and 3 TD’s. So much for all the “hype”.
As of 11/5/07 the best RB in the game RIGHT NOW is Adrian Peterson.
You can make your bones about the past but history is just that, history. The “Best RB in the league” is a title that has been past around year after year. It was Alexander just a couple years back and before that it was Priest Holmes and last year it was LT, now it’s AP.
LT may be the best RB ever but he isnt this year…
Uh, you should consider pulling this article from the internet. Bad timing on posting this one! He only had about 7x the rushing yards as LT yesterday. Believe the hype.
296 yards!!!
Yeah, the timing could have been better AJ…lol. The kid is starting to make a believer out of me, but I’d still like to see him do it over the course of the season before crowning him over a back who has been the best in the league for several seasons now.
I know hindsight is 20/20, but I bet you’d like to have THAT article back…
Yeah, the timing could have been better, Patrick, and the kid is starting to make a believer out of me, but the point remains the same. It’s still a little premature to say he is hands down the best back in the league.
I think LT is the over hyped-one here. How many touchdowns last year??? Who cares. AP is the hot hand now, LT has slowed down from over use last year. He’s a smug punk, and will never be a great football man like tom brady
All you LT lovers! Ha! You all keep saying, LT has been doing it for 7 years. I think you said it exactly right, HAS BEEN! AP is the future baby. Already the best of the best!
On November 4th, I have spoken.Please don’t bet against me again heathen in Green Bay. I believe I put up 200+ yds in Chicago, which also has natural turf. I am merciful James, it’s not too late to repent.
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