Wile_E_Coyote
08-22-2005, 07:19 AM
Rick Dean, Topeka Capital Journal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chiefs got a brief glimpse Saturday night of a phenomenon the Denver Broncos have experienced for years.
A truly effective running back relay team.
It happened in the first half of the 24-17 loss to Arizona, long before No. 3 quarterback Damon Huard and the KC reserves threw away a 10-0 halftime lead posted by the regulars.
Priest Holmes, after busting loose for 13 yards on his first run, suddenly seemed stuck in neutral. Seven carries later he had a net of three additional yards to show for his efforts. He played on three possessions, then retired for the night.
It was Larry Johnson's turn with the baton.
The third-year runner started nearly as poorly as Holmes finished. But after getting swarmed for a loss of four, Johnson stormed back with carries of 16, 6, 11 and 12 yards before he was finally stuffed for no gain on a second-down play at the 20.
In Johnson's mind, this is what a complementary running game is all about.
"It's hard to just come into a game and change the tempo, but I think that's the great thing about me and Priest playing in that kind of combination," Johnson said. "He's going to give you the outside runs, and he'll make you miss. Then you get a back that's going to take it right at you and won't stop until you fall over.
"I think that can open some eyes, get the offensive line excited to be bowling over people."
Johnson finished the night with 49 yards on nine carries, a decent 5.4-yard average. He now has 86 yards on 17 carries in two preseason outings for a 5.1-yard average. Holmes is averaging 4.8 yards on his 12 tries following his big 4-for-42 start against Minnesota.
Come the regular season, of course, Holmes most likely will return to the traditional role of the featured back. Johnson will be there when he needs a breather or -- as happened last year when Holmes missed the season's final eight games -- if he gets hurt.
Still, it wouldn't be surprising to find offensive coordinator Al Saunders recommending that Holmes take more breathers this year, knowing that Johnson can be effective coming off the bench.
That would go against conventional wisdom that says a back gets better as he gets into the flow of a game and begins sensing where his holes will open.
Johnson, though, believes both he and Holmes still can be effective in a limited rotation.
"Priest showed he could do that at Baltimore and (the University of) Texas," Johnson noted. "I did it at Penn State when I had two guys ahead of me.
"There will be a point when he plays more than I will," Johnson acknowledged. "But there will also be a time when we need to bang people around, like when we're running out the clock. Then I'll come in and bang people around. I think we can co-exist."
Whether Holmes and Johnson ever play on the field together remains to be seen. The Chiefs have installed such a package on the practice field. Whether they show it on Sundays is anybody's guess.
One thing about such a package is certain. It won't have a blocking back.
"If we use it, one guy will be there as a runner and the other will be a receiver," coach Dick Vermeil noted. "Neither of those guys will be in there to block for the other."
That's fine with Johnson, too. His 100-yard receiving game last year against San Diego, which followed three 100-yard rushing games, showed him there is more than one way to get his Benjamin.
"I think that showed I can be a threat as a receiver out of the backfield, as well as being a runner," Johnson said. "Maybe this year I can run some corners routes like the receivers do -- dive and catch some balls, all of that."
And then Johnson thought of another wrinkle for Saunders' playbook.
"I think it would be nice to have us both in there and be able to run two separate screens," he said. "Wouldn't that shake defenses up?"
CHIEFS NOTES -- The Chiefs reported injuries to receiver and returner Dante Hall (sprained knee) and to Huard, who sustained a mild concussion during his 1-for-12, two-interception performance. Vermeil said the team doesn't believe Hall's knee injury to be a serious one but that it bears watching.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chiefs got a brief glimpse Saturday night of a phenomenon the Denver Broncos have experienced for years.
A truly effective running back relay team.
It happened in the first half of the 24-17 loss to Arizona, long before No. 3 quarterback Damon Huard and the KC reserves threw away a 10-0 halftime lead posted by the regulars.
Priest Holmes, after busting loose for 13 yards on his first run, suddenly seemed stuck in neutral. Seven carries later he had a net of three additional yards to show for his efforts. He played on three possessions, then retired for the night.
It was Larry Johnson's turn with the baton.
The third-year runner started nearly as poorly as Holmes finished. But after getting swarmed for a loss of four, Johnson stormed back with carries of 16, 6, 11 and 12 yards before he was finally stuffed for no gain on a second-down play at the 20.
In Johnson's mind, this is what a complementary running game is all about.
"It's hard to just come into a game and change the tempo, but I think that's the great thing about me and Priest playing in that kind of combination," Johnson said. "He's going to give you the outside runs, and he'll make you miss. Then you get a back that's going to take it right at you and won't stop until you fall over.
"I think that can open some eyes, get the offensive line excited to be bowling over people."
Johnson finished the night with 49 yards on nine carries, a decent 5.4-yard average. He now has 86 yards on 17 carries in two preseason outings for a 5.1-yard average. Holmes is averaging 4.8 yards on his 12 tries following his big 4-for-42 start against Minnesota.
Come the regular season, of course, Holmes most likely will return to the traditional role of the featured back. Johnson will be there when he needs a breather or -- as happened last year when Holmes missed the season's final eight games -- if he gets hurt.
Still, it wouldn't be surprising to find offensive coordinator Al Saunders recommending that Holmes take more breathers this year, knowing that Johnson can be effective coming off the bench.
That would go against conventional wisdom that says a back gets better as he gets into the flow of a game and begins sensing where his holes will open.
Johnson, though, believes both he and Holmes still can be effective in a limited rotation.
"Priest showed he could do that at Baltimore and (the University of) Texas," Johnson noted. "I did it at Penn State when I had two guys ahead of me.
"There will be a point when he plays more than I will," Johnson acknowledged. "But there will also be a time when we need to bang people around, like when we're running out the clock. Then I'll come in and bang people around. I think we can co-exist."
Whether Holmes and Johnson ever play on the field together remains to be seen. The Chiefs have installed such a package on the practice field. Whether they show it on Sundays is anybody's guess.
One thing about such a package is certain. It won't have a blocking back.
"If we use it, one guy will be there as a runner and the other will be a receiver," coach Dick Vermeil noted. "Neither of those guys will be in there to block for the other."
That's fine with Johnson, too. His 100-yard receiving game last year against San Diego, which followed three 100-yard rushing games, showed him there is more than one way to get his Benjamin.
"I think that showed I can be a threat as a receiver out of the backfield, as well as being a runner," Johnson said. "Maybe this year I can run some corners routes like the receivers do -- dive and catch some balls, all of that."
And then Johnson thought of another wrinkle for Saunders' playbook.
"I think it would be nice to have us both in there and be able to run two separate screens," he said. "Wouldn't that shake defenses up?"
CHIEFS NOTES -- The Chiefs reported injuries to receiver and returner Dante Hall (sprained knee) and to Huard, who sustained a mild concussion during his 1-for-12, two-interception performance. Vermeil said the team doesn't believe Hall's knee injury to be a serious one but that it bears watching.