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Article: Tomlinson Runs A Little Behind; Holdout Hinders Rookie Running Back
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- September 8, 2001
- Author:
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Because of a month-long holdout, LaDainian Tomlinson had five
carries in the entire preseason.
Still, Chargers Coach Mike Riley said Tomlinson, the 2000 Doak
Walker Award winner as college football's best running back, will be
playing "a lot" during Sunday's season opener against the Washington
Redskins.
"He won't be in every personnel group, but we expect him to be the
first- and second-down guy," Riley said.
Tomlinson is "mentally" capable of also playing on third downs,
but Terrell Fletcher and Ronney Jenkins "are probably ahead of him
knowing what to do there," Riley said.
"It's a matter of getting enough practice at all these things,"
Riley said. "Knowing it and doing it physically all ...