> On the 7th day, LT has already rested
>
> By Kevin Acee
> UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
> November 13, 2006
>
> CINCINNATI - LaDainian Tomlinson continued to tear up the record book
> yesterday, and it turns out that his coaches get some of the credit for
> his recent burst in production.
>
> It has nothing to do with play-calling on Sundays.
>
> In the week prior to Tomlinson beginning this current streak of three
> consecutive 100-yard/three-touchdown games, coordinator Cam Cameron and
> running backs coach Clarence Shelmon suggested the Chargers give
> Tomlinson fewer reps during practices.
>
> Since then, Tomlinson has rushed for 183, 172 and 104 yards and scored
> three, three and four touchdowns.
>
> "I think it's allowed me to be a little more fresh," said Tomlinson,
> adding that he might feel as good as he ever has ever after nine games.
>
> He looks it. Yesterday concluded just the second three-game stretch of
> 100-yard games in his six seasons.
>
> "He seems like his legs are fresher," head coach Marty Schottenheimer
> said. "There's that darting quickness there was before."
>
> With his four rushing scores yesterday - tying a team record - Tomlinson
> continued on a scoring run that is unprecedented in the NFL. He has
> scored 15 touchdowns in the past five games, breaking by one the record
> previously held by Jim Brown.
>
> Brown edged him to 80 touchdowns and beat him pretty good on the way to
> 90. But it appears Tomlinson will win in a walk to 100.
>
> Tomlinson has 98 touchdowns in 88 games. Brown scored his 100th TD in
> his 93rd game.
>
> "Jim Brown is one of the best to ever play the game, a lot of people say
> he is the best," Tomlinson said. " . . . Just to be mentioned with Jim
> Brown is very important to me."
>
> Lights on
>
> Shawne Merriman watched the game from his home and laughed as he saw
> Cincinnati's Robert Geathers and Chad Johnson imitate his "Lights Out"
> dance and then kick at the air as if to boot it aside.
>
> "I don't mind it," Merriman said. "It was cool. They didn't have it down
> pat, but it looked good."
>
> Teammates spoke of Merriman yesterday, crediting him as one of the
> team's leaders even as he serves a four-game suspension for his positive
> steroid test. Some noticed the Bengals' antics.
>
> "Shawne is our guy," Tomlinson said. "It's mocking him that he's not here."
>
> One player who did not see Geathers and Johnson's act was Shaun
> Phillips. But after getting his seventh sack of the season and forcing a
> fumble in the fourth quarter, Phillips did Merriman's dance.
>
> "I was going to do it anyway," Phillips said. "I said as soon as I get a
> sack my first one is for my boy Lights."
>
> Said Merriman: "He did a real good job."
>
> Merriman will leave tomorrow for New Orleans, where he will work with
> the United Way building houses. He said he looked forward to the trip,
> but yesterday he was simply heartened by the Chargers' comeback.
>
> "I'm real proud of the guys," he said. "They faced adversity. That
> showed what this team is made of."
>
> Floyd fill-in
>
> The Chargers' depth at receiver was proved yesterday when Eric Parker
> left the game with a neck injury in the second quarter.
>
> Malcom Floyd filled in more than adequately with his first 100-yard game
> as a pro. Among his five catches for 109 yards was a 27-yard
> catch-and-run that set up a Tomlinson touchdown on the next play and a
> 46-yard touchdown reception on the Chargers' next possession.
>
> "I just had to fill in for E.P." Floyd said.
>
> He was exponentially more interested in the victory.
>
> "Man, that was the greatest comeback I have ever been in," he said, his
> eyes alight. "I was so happy. I was hugging everybody."
>
> Said quarterback Philip Rivers: "He grew up a ton. Malcom hasn't been in
> a big-time game like this. He's out there catching balls, breaking
> tackles, keeping his feet in on a third-down catch. You hate to see E.P.
> go down. But now we know we can keep rotating guys in there."
>
> The extent of Parker's injury was not known. He is expected to undergo
> further tests today.
>
> McCree regretful
>
> Safety Marlon McCree made the biggest hit of the game, running in to
> level T.J. Houshmandzadeh on a fourth-quarter pass well before the ball
> arrived. Unfortunately, the vicious hit resulted in Houshmandzadeh being
> helped off the field not knowing what country he was in and in an
> 18-yard pass interference penalty.
>
> "It was a bad hit," McCree said. "I was going to go for the
> interception, but at the last minute there was a blind spot, and I
> couldn't see the ball. So instead of going for the interception and
> missing it, I had to eliminate the guy. I just hope he's OK. I don't
> intend to hurt anybody intentionally."
>
> While not intentional, knocking out Houshmandzadeh probably helped save
> the game. He is the Bengals' leading third-down receiver, and he was
> missed as they attempted to come back at the end.
>
> Nuts 'n' Bolts
>
> Center Nick Hardwick left for a series in the third (and early fourth)
> quarter after hurting his ankle. He returned to finish the game but said
> it was "really sore" afterward.
>
> Defensive tackle Jamal Williams suffered a toe injury. He finished the
> game but could miss practice time this week.
>
> All 36 times they have crossed their opponents' 20-yard line -
> excluding one game-ending possession where they kneeled down - the
> Chargers have scored. Cincinnati was the only other team to have scored
> on every red-zone possession this season - until the Bengals failed at
> game's end yesterday. The Chargers scored touchdowns all six times they
> got into the red zone yesterday.
>
> The Chargers have won eight straight November games.
>
> Yesterday's was Schottenheimer's 193rd regular-season victory, tying
> him with Chuck Noll for fifth on the all-time list.
>
> After winning the time of possession the first seven games of the
> season, the Chargers have had the ball less than their opponents the
> past two games.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------­-----
> Kevin Acee: (619) 293-1857; kevin.a...@uniontrib.com
>
> Find this article at:http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20061113-9999-1s13chnot...