Teicher: Johnson’s return doesn’t have major impact on KC’s offense

[Tribal Warfare]

Johnson’s return doesn’t have major impact on KC’s offense
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Larry Johnson returned to the Chiefs’ lineup Sunday, but his impact failed to rise up to meet the hype.

Johnson was something less than an integral part of the 30-20 loss to the Saints at Arrowhead Stadium. He rushed 19 times for 67 yards and also took a screen pass 20 yards.

He meshed with the spread offense, installed by the Chiefs during his four-game absence. Most of his longer runs happened with the Chiefs operating out of the shotgun.

But his stamp on this game came when quarterback Tyler Thigpen was under center in a more conventional formation. Then, Johnson failed to gain a yard in three carries inside the New Orleans 5.

The Chiefs had to settle for field goals on each of those two possessions and could have used the points Johnson failed to provide.

“His timing was off,” coach Herm Edwards said of Johnson, who between a benching by the Chiefs and an NFL suspension missed the last four games. “He hadn’t played in a month. There were probably some (plays) where he’ll look at the tape and say he could have cut back (and gained more yards).

“But I thought for the most part he did a pretty good job.”

The Chiefs tinkered with their shotgun, shortening Thigpen’s depth, in an effort to help Johnson and the running game. But they stayed for the most part in the spread in an effort to help Thigpen, who has played much better since the Chiefs began using the spread as their base offense.

“The little wrinkle we showed gives us the ability to do both things we really want to do,” guard Brian Waters said.

Johnson didn’t answer questions after the game. He played most of the game, except when the Chiefs operated without a running back, or on third downs, when he was replaced by Jamaal Charles.

“He was able to adapt to the style we’re doing now,” tackle Damion McIntosh said. “We’re trying to keep a tempo, we’re trying to keep defenses on their heels. LJ ran well, and he’ll get better and better as we go on.”

That’s what the Chiefs are hoping. While Thigpen and the passing game flourished in Johnson’s absence, the Chiefs had been getting little from their running game.

“We found a way to run the ball out of the shotgun a little bit better, but that’s still a work in progress,” Edwards said. “I thought a couple of times it looked pretty good. We’re going to continue to play that way because that’s the way we’ve moved the ball over the last month. That’s our offense, and that’s not going to change.”

LJ stuffed close to end zone
Running back Larry Johnson carried the ball five times inside the Saints 10 Sunday, and every time he failed to gain yardage. He lost a total of 5 yards in those five carries.

FIRST QUARTER

•First down from Saints 4

Ran up middle for minus-2 yards

SECOND QUARTER

•First down from Saints 1

Ran up the middle for no gain

•Second down from Saints 1

Ran up the middle for minus-1 yard

THIRD QUARTER

•First down from Saints 3

Ran off right tackle for no gain

FOURTH QUARTER

•First down from Saints 3

Ran off left tackle for minus-2 yards