Johnson is Chargers' Kryptonite

Hammock Parties · 10-24-2006, 10:18 AM

http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/a...ers241006.html

Dec. 24, 2005 - The Kansas City Chiefs line up with two tight ends on third-and-long in the red zone. Surprisingly, they hand the ball off to Larry Johnson, who sidesteps a linebacker, runs over a defensive back and picks up a first down.

Oct. 22, 2006 - The Kansas City Chiefs line up with two tight ends on third-and-long in the red zone. Surprisingly, they hand the ball off to Larry Johnson, who sidesteps a linebacker, runs over a defensive back, picks up a first down and scores.

The common thread between these two plays? The San Diego Chargers ' defense.

Practice makes perfect, I guess.

What exactly happened inside Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday? Johnson came into the game averaging just 3.4 yards per carry. The Chiefs, former owners of a long-feared rushing attack, were ranked 25th.

Johnson had totaled a whopping 62 yards rushing in his previous two starts. Now he had to play the big, bad, mean San Diego defense. The top defense in the NFL. The one with the players who chew up running backs and spit them out on their way to the quarterback.

Three hours later, after the dust settled, Johnson had piled up 132 yards rushing and two touchdowns, just as he had piled up 131 yards rushing and two touchdowns a year ago in the same game.

Defensive backs and linebackers littered the field in Johnson's wake. The Chiefs ran the ball so effectively that tight end Tony Gonzalez looked like he had just graduated from Cal, running down the field unchecked, dragging would-be tacklers into the next state and averaging over 20 yards a catch.

It was a contest so reminiscent of last year's Charger game in Kansas City, that if you squinted, Chiefs left tackle Jordan Black almost looked like Willie Roaf, clearing gaping holes for Johnson to stomp through.

The Chiefs seemingly had the game in hand at halftime, leading 20-6. But not so fast, said Marty Schottenheimer. A quick touchdown made it 20-13, and suddenly all the momentum was on San Diego's sideline. What would the Chiefs do?

You know what they did. They gave the ball to Johnson.

Sure, the Chiefs got some dramatic, late-game heroics to win the game. That was fun to watch. But this game was won in the third quarter. It was won by Johnson.

After San Diego's touchdown closed the gap, the Chiefs took over from their own 11-yard line. It was the perfect opportunity for San Diego's vaunted defense to force a stop and give Philip Rivers some field position.

Johnson had other ideas. The Chiefs grinded their way downfield. They picked up 89 yards in 14 plays, burning almost eight minutes off the clock. It was the kind of drive Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards has wet dreams about.

And it was all L.J. He touched the ball seven times on the drive and picked up 60 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown plunge that put all the pressure back on the Chargers.

And like the earlier play in the red zone on third down, the drive was remarkably similar to last year's game against the Chargers in Arrowhead. The Chiefs had a 16-play drive in the third and fourth quarters of that game that burned almost 10 minutes off the clock, and Johnson touched the ball 10 times.

The Arizona Cardinals held Johnson to 36 yards rushing a few weeks ago. The Chargers, even helped by steroids, had no answer for him.

So what happened? Who knows. You can't predict what any NFL running back will do from one week to the next.

Unless, of course, Larry Johnson is facing the San Diego Chargers .

**Easy 6** · 10-24-2006, 10:19 AM

Superman

HC_Chief · 10-24-2006, 10:20 AM

pfft

For LJ to be kryptonite one must first assume SD = Superman. Ha! Hardly. SD has feasted upon sub-.500 teams this season. They are paper tigers.

**Lzen** · 10-24-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

The Chargers, even helped by steroids, had no answer for him.

Nice jab.

Calcountry · 10-24-2006, 10:56 AM

"Wet dreams". You have to keep the Freudian slips out of your articles Chiefie.

**noa** · 10-24-2006, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

It was a contest so reminiscent of last year's Charger game in Kansas City, that if you squinted, Chiefs left tackle Jordan Black almost looked like Willie Roaf, clearing gaping holes for Johnson to stomp through.

I'm excited about the play of the OLine and all, but this is taking it way too far. Jordan Black should never ever ever ever be compared to Willie Roaf, even if he has a good game and I'm squinting as much as humanly possible.

Kyle401 · 10-24-2006, 11:43 AM

ground not grinded, and the wet dreams comment was a little juvenile.

Pretty good article otherwise.

bkkcoh · 10-24-2006, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

pfft

For LJ to be kryptonite one must first assume SD = Superman. Ha! Hardly. SD has feasted upon sub-.500 teams this season. They are paper tigers.

But I thought that SD had been annointed as the best team in the NFL!

10-24-2006, 12:00 PM

nice avatar gochiefs

penchief · 10-24-2006, 12:51 PM

The premise is good. And focusing on the second chiefs position of the third quarter as the most important of the game is accurate, IMO. I thought that drive was as impressive as any in the Vermeil era. It was a snapshot of what we can be.

I thought it was put up or shut up time for both LJ and Herm and that drive won the game, IMO. Martyball comes through and survives for at least one more week in KC. However, the biggest and maybe only, difference between Marty and Herm may ultimately be LJ.

Hammock Parties · 10-24-2006, 01:01 PM

Marty has shed his conservative mantle. San Diego came out passing. I'm convinced he's a changed man.

Although the playoffs are a different animal.

jidar · 10-24-2006, 01:03 PM

pretty good work. read it to the end

**noa** · 10-24-2006, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Marty has shed his conservative mantle. San Diego came out passing. I'm convinced he's a changed man.

Although the playoffs are a different animal.

Did you see the end of the Chargers vs. Ravens game? That was classic Martyball. The three games they have played since do not undo his entire career and philosophy.

Hammock Parties · 10-24-2006, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noa949

Did you see the end of the Chargers vs. Ravens game? That was classic Martyball. The three games they have played since do not undo his entire career and philosophy.

I suppose, and that Ravens game is a good example, but I felt even last year he was shedding his conservative snakeskin.

San Diego has been a passing team since that Ravens game.

**noa** · 10-24-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

I suppose, and that Ravens game is a good example, but I felt even last year he was shedding his conservative snakeskin.

San Diego has been a passing team since that Ravens game.

Yeah, I definitely think he's not as conservative as he used to be. I think LT has thrown 3 or 4 touchdowns in the last two seasons. I also think he's being more experimental with their two-back formations. Still, I think he'll always be more conservative than the average coach.

10-24-2006, 10:18 AM
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4800478	Johnson is Chargers' Kryptonite http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/a...ers241006.html Dec. 24, 2005 - The Kansas City Chiefs line up with two tight ends on third-and-long in the red zone. Surprisingly, they hand the ball off to Larry Johnson, who sidesteps a linebacker, runs over a defensive back and picks up a first down. Oct. 22, 2006 - The Kansas City Chiefs line up with two tight ends on third-and-long in the red zone. Surprisingly, they hand the ball off to Larry Johnson, who sidesteps a linebacker, runs over a defensive back, picks up a first down and scores. The common thread between these two plays? The San Diego Chargers ' defense. Practice makes perfect, I guess. What exactly happened inside Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday? Johnson came into the game averaging just 3.4 yards per carry. The Chiefs, former owners of a long-feared rushing attack, were ranked 25th. Johnson had totaled a whopping 62 yards rushing in his previous two starts. Now he had to play the big, bad, mean San Diego defense. The top defense in the NFL. The one with the players who chew up running backs and spit them out on their way to the quarterback. Three hours later, after the dust settled, Johnson had piled up 132 yards rushing and two touchdowns, just as he had piled up 131 yards rushing and two touchdowns a year ago in the same game. Defensive backs and linebackers littered the field in Johnson's wake. The Chiefs ran the ball so effectively that tight end Tony Gonzalez looked like he had just graduated from Cal, running down the field unchecked, dragging would-be tacklers into the next state and averaging over 20 yards a catch. It was a contest so reminiscent of last year's Charger game in Kansas City, that if you squinted, Chiefs left tackle Jordan Black almost looked like Willie Roaf, clearing gaping holes for Johnson to stomp through. The Chiefs seemingly had the game in hand at halftime, leading 20-6. But not so fast, said Marty Schottenheimer. A quick touchdown made it 20-13, and suddenly all the momentum was on San Diego's sideline. What would the Chiefs do? You know what they did. They gave the ball to Johnson. Sure, the Chiefs got some dramatic, late-game heroics to win the game. That was fun to watch. But this game was won in the third quarter. It was won by Johnson. After San Diego's touchdown closed the gap, the Chiefs took over from their own 11-yard line. It was the perfect opportunity for San Diego's vaunted defense to force a stop and give Philip Rivers some field position. Johnson had other ideas. The Chiefs grinded their way downfield. They picked up 89 yards in 14 plays, burning almost eight minutes off the clock. It was the kind of drive Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards has wet dreams about. And it was all L.J. He touched the ball seven times on the drive and picked up 60 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown plunge that put all the pressure back on the Chargers. And like the earlier play in the red zone on third down, the drive was remarkably similar to last year's game against the Chargers in Arrowhead. The Chiefs had a 16-play drive in the third and fourth quarters of that game that burned almost 10 minutes off the clock, and Johnson touched the ball 10 times. The Arizona Cardinals held Johnson to 36 yards rushing a few weeks ago. The Chargers, even helped by steroids, had no answer for him. So what happened? Who knows. You can't predict what any NFL running back will do from one week to the next. Unless, of course, Larry Johnson is facing the San Diego Chargers .
Posts: 277,451

10-24-2006, 10:19 AM	#2
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $3817775	Superman
Posts: 91,576

10-24-2006, 10:20 AM	#3
HC_Chief That's just f***in' stupid Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: suburbia Casino cash: $3687107	pfft For LJ to be kryptonite one must first assume SD = Superman. Ha! Hardly. SD has feasted upon sub-.500 teams this season. They are paper tigers. __________________ "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the war room!"
Posts: 12,355

10-24-2006, 10:56 AM	#5
Calcountry Shoot the tube Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $8751645	"Wet dreams". You have to keep the Freudian slips out of your articles Chiefie.
Posts: 28,248

10-24-2006, 11:43 AM	#7
Kyle401 1st Round Bust Join Date: Feb 2005 Casino cash: $10004900	ground not grinded, and the wet dreams comment was a little juvenile. Pretty good article otherwise. __________________ Adopt a Chief: Eric "Bench Warmer" Hicks - AKA Hali's Towel Boy
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10-24-2006, 12:00 PM	#9
mac58 Guest Casino cash: $	nice avatar gochiefs
Posts: n/a

10-24-2006, 12:51 PM	#10
penchief MVP Join Date: Feb 2003 Casino cash: $6335286	The premise is good. And focusing on the second chiefs position of the third quarter as the most important of the game is accurate, IMO. I thought that drive was as impressive as any in the Vermeil era. It was a snapshot of what we can be. I thought it was put up or shut up time for both LJ and Herm and that drive won the game, IMO. Martyball comes through and survives for at least one more week in KC. However, the biggest and maybe only, difference between Marty and Herm may ultimately be LJ.
Posts: 17,027

10-24-2006, 01:01 PM	#11
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4800478	Marty has shed his conservative mantle. San Diego came out passing. I'm convinced he's a changed man. Although the playoffs are a different animal. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 277,451

10-24-2006, 01:03 PM	#12
jidar MVP Join Date: May 2005 Location: a Casino cash: $10004900	pretty good work. read it to the end
Posts: 5,502