nychief
09-14-2005, 04:31 PM
Raiders prepare for KC's two-headed running back monster
By JOSH DUBOW
BC-FBN--Raiders-Chiefs Backs,0704
Raiders prepare for KC's two-headed running back monster
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- It was hard enough to defend the Kansas City Chiefs when three-time Pro Bowler Priest Holmes was the main focus of the running game.
Now that they've mixed in Larry Johnson to give Holmes an occasional break, the task has become that much tougher.
After watching Kansas City's two-headed monster at running back combine for 195 yards on the ground in a season-opening 27-7 victory over the New York Jets, the Raiders know what to expect when these AFC West rivals meet Sunday night in Oakland's home opener.
"Both of them are good outside threats and both of those guys can make you miss or run over you," Raiders linebacker Danny Clark said. "They have a great combination of speed and quickness and toughness. We'll have to be ready for them."
The Chiefs showed off the explosiveness of their two backs on their opening drive of the season when Johnson followed a 35-yard run by Holmes with a 35-yarder of his own for a score.
When it was over, Johnson had gained 110 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, while Holmes had 85 yards and one score on 22 carries. Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said he plans to use both backs extensively again this week.
"It looked to me like they don't change a great deal depending on who's in there," Oakland coach Norv Turner said. "They run the same plays. It starts with Kansas City with the offensive line. You have to handle their offensive line. You have to do a good job against them and then you have to tackle well. Both of the backs looked to me like they broke numerous tackles during the game."
Johnson, a first-round pick out of Penn State in 2003, got a chance to prove himself last season when Holmes missed the final eight games with an injured knee. Johnson had 197 yards and three touchdowns on 45 carries in two late-season victories over Oakland last season.
Holmes, meanwhile, has averaged 201 yards from scrimmage with five touchdowns in his last four meetings with the Raiders, proving to be nearly as adept catching the ball as he is running it.
"I think any time you have to prepare for Priest Holmes, it takes a lot of attention to detail," linebacker Tyler Brayton said. "Both of those guys present challenges, especially in the running game. They both can catch the ball out of the backfield on screen passes. But the run is paramount."
Johnson is a more powerful runner while Holmes' strength is his elusiveness and ability to be a dangerous threat catching the ball out of the backfield. But the Raiders say they need to focus more on Kansas City's heralded offensive line than on which back is in the game.
"You have to have a game plan for both of them but you also have to go out there and just play your game," defensive lineman Bobby Hamilton said. "They're not going to change their blocking scheme because they have two different styles of running. You just have to go out and play ball. You can't worry about the little things like who is in the game. You just have to go out there and play. If you have C gap, play C gap. If you have B gap, play B gap."
The Chiefs could be short-handed on the line because of a hamstring injury to 10-time Pro Bowler Willie Roaf. Vermeil said his star tackle is questionable, but Oakland is preparing as if he'll play Sunday.
The Raiders, who struggled last season stopping the run, had much more success up front in their opener despite losing 30-20 to New England. Oakland held Corey Dillon to 63 yards and gave up just 2.4 yards per carry.
But the Raiders struggled when New England spread them out with four receivers, picking on Oakland's thin secondary. Despite that success by the Patriots, Turner does not expect the Chiefs to get too far away from their strength -- pounding away with their backs.
"They spread us out at times when we played them in each of the games last year," Turner said. "But they like to keep those tight ends close to their tackles, where they can run those double teams in the run blocking."
By JOSH DUBOW
BC-FBN--Raiders-Chiefs Backs,0704
Raiders prepare for KC's two-headed running back monster
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- It was hard enough to defend the Kansas City Chiefs when three-time Pro Bowler Priest Holmes was the main focus of the running game.
Now that they've mixed in Larry Johnson to give Holmes an occasional break, the task has become that much tougher.
After watching Kansas City's two-headed monster at running back combine for 195 yards on the ground in a season-opening 27-7 victory over the New York Jets, the Raiders know what to expect when these AFC West rivals meet Sunday night in Oakland's home opener.
"Both of them are good outside threats and both of those guys can make you miss or run over you," Raiders linebacker Danny Clark said. "They have a great combination of speed and quickness and toughness. We'll have to be ready for them."
The Chiefs showed off the explosiveness of their two backs on their opening drive of the season when Johnson followed a 35-yard run by Holmes with a 35-yarder of his own for a score.
When it was over, Johnson had gained 110 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, while Holmes had 85 yards and one score on 22 carries. Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said he plans to use both backs extensively again this week.
"It looked to me like they don't change a great deal depending on who's in there," Oakland coach Norv Turner said. "They run the same plays. It starts with Kansas City with the offensive line. You have to handle their offensive line. You have to do a good job against them and then you have to tackle well. Both of the backs looked to me like they broke numerous tackles during the game."
Johnson, a first-round pick out of Penn State in 2003, got a chance to prove himself last season when Holmes missed the final eight games with an injured knee. Johnson had 197 yards and three touchdowns on 45 carries in two late-season victories over Oakland last season.
Holmes, meanwhile, has averaged 201 yards from scrimmage with five touchdowns in his last four meetings with the Raiders, proving to be nearly as adept catching the ball as he is running it.
"I think any time you have to prepare for Priest Holmes, it takes a lot of attention to detail," linebacker Tyler Brayton said. "Both of those guys present challenges, especially in the running game. They both can catch the ball out of the backfield on screen passes. But the run is paramount."
Johnson is a more powerful runner while Holmes' strength is his elusiveness and ability to be a dangerous threat catching the ball out of the backfield. But the Raiders say they need to focus more on Kansas City's heralded offensive line than on which back is in the game.
"You have to have a game plan for both of them but you also have to go out there and just play your game," defensive lineman Bobby Hamilton said. "They're not going to change their blocking scheme because they have two different styles of running. You just have to go out and play ball. You can't worry about the little things like who is in the game. You just have to go out there and play. If you have C gap, play C gap. If you have B gap, play B gap."
The Chiefs could be short-handed on the line because of a hamstring injury to 10-time Pro Bowler Willie Roaf. Vermeil said his star tackle is questionable, but Oakland is preparing as if he'll play Sunday.
The Raiders, who struggled last season stopping the run, had much more success up front in their opener despite losing 30-20 to New England. Oakland held Corey Dillon to 63 yards and gave up just 2.4 yards per carry.
But the Raiders struggled when New England spread them out with four receivers, picking on Oakland's thin secondary. Despite that success by the Patriots, Turner does not expect the Chiefs to get too far away from their strength -- pounding away with their backs.
"They spread us out at times when we played them in each of the games last year," Turner said. "But they like to keep those tight ends close to their tackles, where they can run those double teams in the run blocking."