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

[Tribal Warfare]

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