Teicher:LJ can’t gain any ground against the Panthers
 

LJ can’t gain any ground against the Panthers
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Larry Johnson only thought things couldn’t get any worse than they were last month, when he rushed for 22 yards in a loss to Oakland.

That game was prosperity for Johnson compared with Sunday in the Chiefs’ 34-0 loss to Carolina. He had his lowest rushing total since becoming the Chiefs’ featured back in 2005, gaining only 2 yards on seven carries.

Unlike after the Oakland game, Johnson didn’t claim the Chiefs were phasing him out of the offense. He wasn’t even surprised at his lack of success, though he ran for 198 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win over Denver.

“I’ve seen it coming,” Johnson said. “There are certain things in a game that you as a player know what’s going to happen. They’re going to gang up on the run because of the success we had the week before. That’s what you’ve got to live with. You’ve got to take it in stride and hopefully do better next week.”

“This is a young team, and this is what happens when you rebuild.”

The Chiefs had reason to believe Johnson and their running game was beyond a game like this. Johnson also rushed for more than 100 yards in the second half of a loss in Atlanta two weeks ago.

But the Panthers pushed the Chiefs around, stacking the line of scrimmage in wait for Johnson, and usually swamping him as soon as he gained possession. His longest run of the day was 4 yards.

The game started on an ominous note for the Chiefs. They began at their 18 after a Carolina punt. A false-start penalty on guard Adrian Jones pushed them back to the 13.

Johnson lost 2 yards on the next play. Damon Huard was sacked and fumbled on second down, but the Chiefs retained the ball after Johnson fell on it at the 3.

Huard’s third-down pass, a screen intended for Jamaal Charles, was instead knocked down at the line of scrimmage.

The Chiefs had wanted a fast offensive start like last week, when Johnson ran for 65 yards on their second play.

“We wanted to get Larry going early,” Jones said. “We’re always trying to get him going early. You always want to establish the running game. That’s part of our game plan every game. We just never got it done this time.”

Going nowhere
Larry Johnson had the lowest rushing total Sunday of all the games he has started for the Chiefs.


DATE OPPONENT CAR. YDS. TD
Oct. 5, 2008 Carolina 7 2 0
Oct. 7, 2007 Jacksonville 9 12 0
Sept. 14, 2008 Oakland 12 22 0
Oct. 15, 2006 Pittsburgh 15 26 1
Jan. 6, 2007 Indianapolis* 13 32 0
Oct. 8, 2006 Arizona 16 36 0
*indicates playoff game

Teicher has that knack for stating the obvious.

So, by those stats, LJ has already used up BOTH of his twice-a-year "complete suckage" rushing yardage games.

100+ from here on out, baby!

He's got another one coming in their next game...he'll be lucky to have 0 yards.

There are about 50 running backs in the league I'd take before LJ. That contract was the stupidest thing the Chiefs have done in a while - and that includes signing Napoleon Harris.

What LJ needs to realize is that Kolby Smith and Jamaal Charles could have had 200 yards against Denver too. He remains a pouty soft whiner who goes down on first contact virtually all of the time.

What ever happened to the hard count and a decent play action pass?

When's the last time we got someone to jump offsides on a hard count. One or two offsides calls can sure slow up an overly aggressive defense.

The Chiefs should hire Steve DeBerg (if he's sober) to come in and teach our qbs the proper way to do a play action pass. I don't think we're fooling anyone. And we'd probably have to bring someone in that can teach the o-line how to feint a run.

Talk amongst yourselves...

At this point I don't care who is at RB until they can prove they have a down field threat they will remain zero dimensional. We got lucky against Denver. Stop the running game and you stop the Chiefs its that simple. Line can't block. QB's can't connect. Coaches can't coach and Herm can't inspire.

Herm and company will lose the locker room by week 10. This team needed an extreme makeover which included GM and the entire coaching staff. Maybe Clark will realize it and maybe he won't. But for our sake I hope he realizes it sooner rather than later.

Hell DeBerg drunk would be better that what we've got now.

Even with nine fingers. Nice avy. :D

so prety much LJ is telling us that he took the game off on purpose? He knew what was coming with carolina's defense, so he expected not to have a good game!? wow... just ****ing wow...

Does anyone still want to defend this selfish baby?

There's one person I can think of. I'll give you two guesses, though you should only need one.

No, he is saying that our QB blows ass as well as our OC and HC. WE ARE TOO PREDICTABLE PEOPLE!

You are right in that the biggest thing the Chiefs lack is an offensive playmaker with speed at the WR position. Not only for deep balls - just a guy who can make breaks like Steve Smith or Santana Moss and get quick separation in the 10-20 yard range. Plus maybe return a punt or take a screen for a TD every now and again. With Croyle in the game and an offensive playmaker with speed (Jeremy Maclin or Percy Harvin?) this whole thing looks different.

its time to bench LJ.