Teicher: Chiefs still counting on Johnson to carry his share of load
 

Chiefs still counting on Johnson to carry his share of load
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star


The day will come again, Chiefs coach Herm Edwards insisted, when Larry Johnson will be one of the NFL’s busiest and most productive running backs.

Edwards said he’d like to see it happen Sunday when the Chiefs play the Falcons in Atlanta. Regardless, Edwards said, Johnson is not being phased out of the offense, as Johnson suggested Sunday after the Chiefs’ 23-8 loss to Oakland at Arrowhead Stadium.

“We haven’t lost any confidence in him at all,” Edwards said. “He’ll still our starter and still the guy we’re going to most often. We’d like him to touch the ball 20, 25 times every game. But it doesn’t always work out that way.”

The Chiefs are replacing Johnson with rookie Jamaal Charles or Kolby Smith in obvious passing situations and when they are near the opponent’s goal line. Johnson was in for only one of four plays from the New England 5 in the final minute two weeks ago.

He didn’t play on the only scoring drive against Oakland as the Chiefs were in a desperate, catch-up mode.

Clearly, the Chiefs believe that Charles and Smith are more valuable players in such situations. The Chiefs appear more comfortable with either as a pass blocker or pass receiver.

Edwards wouldn’t address this directly, saying only, “Larry can play in the passing game. He’s a complete player, absolutely. There’s not anything we can do in our offense that we can’t do with him in the game.”

Edwards agreed with the suggestion that Johnson is most valuable to the Chiefs when they are playing with the lead and trying to protect it. That way, they can use the 230-pound Johnson to wear down the opposing defense.

That’s something he did exceedingly well in 2005 and 2006, when Johnson rushed for 37 touchdowns and more than 3,500 yards.

The problem for Johnson is that the Chiefs, losers of 11 straight regular-season games, are almost always playing from behind. They haven’t led in either of their two games this season.

The Chiefs haven’t been ahead of an opponent since the 14th game of last season, when they held a 17-13 lead over Tennessee in the third quarter.

Judging from the loss to the Raiders, the Chiefs might be facing similar circumstances against the Falcons — and for the foreseeable future. Oakland, which lost its opener against Denver at home by four touchdowns, dominated Sunday, rushing for 300 yards and holding the Chiefs to 190 yards of total offense.

Johnson carried only 12 times for 22 yards, one of his worst days since becoming the Chiefs’ featured back. More frustrating, he said Sunday, was that he’s coming out of the game when the Chiefs are trying to score points.

“He’s not being phased out,” Edwards said. “Our plans are always to get him the ball. But as the game played out, when it got late in the third quarter, we went into a different mode of having to try to throw the ball. We had the ball for only 5 minutes in the third quarter. We were in a mode of trying to catch up. When they took that big lead, we had a whole different personnel group in there. We got away from the run because we had to throw the ball.”

Still, 12 carries, 22 yards and watching from the sideline at some of the game’s crucial moments are hardly what the Chiefs had in mind last summer when they signed Johnson to a contract extension that guaranteed him a minimum of $19 million.

That contract has become the line of delineation for Johnson’s career. Before, in 28 starts, he averaged 122 yards per game and scored 38 touchdowns.

Since, in 10 starts: 66 yards per game and three touchdowns.

Edwards said Johnson hasn’t lost his edge since signing the contract.

“I thought he ran the ball really well in training camp, ran it really well at times in the preseason,” Edwards said. “He ran really hard in New England. He ran it hard against Oakland. It just wasn’t working very well, we got behind and we had to start passing the ball a lot.”

Edwards said Johnson met Monday with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, who explained the situation.

“Larry was fine with it,” Edwards said. “If you look at the history of Chan Gailey and his offenses, they’ve always run the ball. We’re going to run the ball, and Larry is going to be a big part of that. He knows that. There are going to be games where Larry’s going to get the ball a lot.”

I'm counting on him to finish the season with 2.7 YPC

Whatever happend to that angry burst to the hole he had....

He is so damn hesitant now, just ****ing go like a freight train jay z jr

I don't entirely blame LJ. He was running behind Willie Roaf and Will Shields and other guys who were clicking well at the time when he put up his great stats. Plus we actually had a passing attack that forced other teams to stay honest. Now he has crap on the OL (although I do like what I've seen from Albert) and no passing game at all. So its not all his fault, but he still doesn't look the same as those awesome seasons.

Well...he still has the angry part down pat if that makes you feel any better.

He's Eddie George.

Herm probably forgot he had LJ on Sunday.

We need to at least try to attempt to open up the run with the pass. 'cause we don't have enough of a running attack to open up the run much less open up the pass. Time to try something new on 1st down.

With this offensive line and overall lack of offensive weapons, I'd be surprised if he had a 1.7 YPC average.

Better sign a bunch of QB's before trying that.

Because the opposing D-lines will flatten the right side of our line 87% of the time.

Throw in 5% for left side and you're looking at another QB on the injury list.

Short passing, not 7-step drops or playaction. I'll take a 4-yard quick out to Bowe or Gonzalez over a 0- or 1-yard run up the gut. Do it a few times, get the DBs to start thinking about jumping routes, then start throwing in playaction and draws. Even incompletions would help, because it puts the possibility in their mind.

I'm guessing that's what we're setting up to do later in the season. Every team studying film knows our tendency to run on first down even better than we (fans) do...

Hell, I'd even come out the first two or three series on Sunday and not even attempt to run it. Wouldn't be the first time. Might not work, but it would be a change-up.

Need to run more then just right up the gut. Try a sweep, counter or something.

LJ is not a complete back, Herm is dumb as usual.

The guy got abused, they road him till they ruined his career and now they wonder why he isn't productive.

****** I do, lazy son of a bitch.

Just guessing but im thinking that LJ is a little "Randy Moss Raiders" like these days.

Basically hes playing disinterested, unmotivated and unwilling to sacrifice his body for the cause.

Not saying its right (considering the amount of cash hes making) but can you blame him really??