Hammock Parties
03-22-2007, 04:38 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/16949579.htm
Fewer Larry carries?
Chiefs plan to give Johnson some help, but workhorse running back is preparing for a season like last season.
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Larry Johnson is in New Jersey, preparing for the aches and pains of another season of carrying the Chiefs’ offense on his shoulders.
The Chiefs, back in Kansas City, are planning to give him a break.
While Johnson and the power running game are still central to their plans, the Chiefs are hoping to diversify by giving more work to backup Michael Bennett and perhaps a third back they would add in next month’s draft.
The idea is to reduce Johnson’s workload before he breaks down. He carried an NFL-record 416 times in the regular season last year and another 13 times in the playoff loss to Indianapolis.
“You don’t want to make one guy run the ball 400 times,” coach Herm Edwards said. “You won’t see that anymore. You won’t see it. We’ll get Michael Bennett in the mix, and you might have to get another back. There might be three backs.
“You need three backs. (With two backs) as soon as you get one nicked, then you only have one. You’re out of business all of a sudden. You have to change your offense.”
Johnson is preparing as if nothing will change. He’s near his offseason home in New York participating in a conditioning program designed by Joe Carini, a noted power lifter whose personal training clients have also included former Giants running back Tiki Barber.
Carini’s regimen relies on heavy lifting with only brief periods of rest, something similar to Johnson’s routine on Sundays in the fall.
“The Chiefs are going to be very surprised at the amount of size and strength LJ is acquiring,” Carini said. “I’m really pushing the man. He was already a tremendous physical specimen. By doing this type of training, I really believe he’s going to set a standard next season.”
Johnson can’t be blamed for thinking next season will be like the last.
Edwards felt much the same way about Johnson’s workload at this time last year, and the Chiefs proceeded to work him like no back ever before. Bennett didn’t join the Chiefs last year in a trade with New Orleans until training camp had started.
Even then, he was injured, and the Chiefs never became comfortable with exactly what Bennett could do. He battled injuries all season and wound up carrying just 36 times.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, were addicted to Johnson. They figure to rely heavily on the sure thing Johnson provides again, particularly if the inexperienced Brodie Croyle wins the starting quarterback position.
For now, at least, the Chiefs at a minimum would like to triple Bennett’s playing time. His speed and open-field running ability give the Chiefs more versatility.
“Michael Bennett is a guy we feel is a change-up hitter,” Edwards said. “We’ve got to get him the ball some more and get him more involved in the offense.
“I had Curtis Martin for five years (with the Jets). He ran the ball 325 times a season and he caught about 50 passes. That’s what you want from Larry.”
While Johnson can’t possibly give the Chiefs more as a runner than he has in the 1 1/2 seasons since he took over as the starter from Priest Holmes, he hasn’t become the receiver that Holmes was.
Johnson has 74 catches in the last two seasons. That matches Holmes’ total from his best receiving season in 2003.
“He has to be more of a pass catcher,” Edwards said. “We can get him the ball on the perimeter, in space, when he becomes a better pass receiver. It benefits our offense and him that he can catch the ball. He’s got to work on his routes. He’s got to run better routes so we can get him in space and in some (favorable) matchups.
“That’s where you save (wear and tear on) the backs. That’s what made Curtis Martin so good. He carried the ball 22, 25 times a game, and then he caught passes. When you get him outside the tackle box he’s in open space. Then he’s up against a linebacker, and that’s what you want. That’s what makes LaDainian Tomlinson so great. They get him in space, and he catches the ball a lot, too. People lose sight of that.”
Fewer Larry carries?
Chiefs plan to give Johnson some help, but workhorse running back is preparing for a season like last season.
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Larry Johnson is in New Jersey, preparing for the aches and pains of another season of carrying the Chiefs’ offense on his shoulders.
The Chiefs, back in Kansas City, are planning to give him a break.
While Johnson and the power running game are still central to their plans, the Chiefs are hoping to diversify by giving more work to backup Michael Bennett and perhaps a third back they would add in next month’s draft.
The idea is to reduce Johnson’s workload before he breaks down. He carried an NFL-record 416 times in the regular season last year and another 13 times in the playoff loss to Indianapolis.
“You don’t want to make one guy run the ball 400 times,” coach Herm Edwards said. “You won’t see that anymore. You won’t see it. We’ll get Michael Bennett in the mix, and you might have to get another back. There might be three backs.
“You need three backs. (With two backs) as soon as you get one nicked, then you only have one. You’re out of business all of a sudden. You have to change your offense.”
Johnson is preparing as if nothing will change. He’s near his offseason home in New York participating in a conditioning program designed by Joe Carini, a noted power lifter whose personal training clients have also included former Giants running back Tiki Barber.
Carini’s regimen relies on heavy lifting with only brief periods of rest, something similar to Johnson’s routine on Sundays in the fall.
“The Chiefs are going to be very surprised at the amount of size and strength LJ is acquiring,” Carini said. “I’m really pushing the man. He was already a tremendous physical specimen. By doing this type of training, I really believe he’s going to set a standard next season.”
Johnson can’t be blamed for thinking next season will be like the last.
Edwards felt much the same way about Johnson’s workload at this time last year, and the Chiefs proceeded to work him like no back ever before. Bennett didn’t join the Chiefs last year in a trade with New Orleans until training camp had started.
Even then, he was injured, and the Chiefs never became comfortable with exactly what Bennett could do. He battled injuries all season and wound up carrying just 36 times.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, were addicted to Johnson. They figure to rely heavily on the sure thing Johnson provides again, particularly if the inexperienced Brodie Croyle wins the starting quarterback position.
For now, at least, the Chiefs at a minimum would like to triple Bennett’s playing time. His speed and open-field running ability give the Chiefs more versatility.
“Michael Bennett is a guy we feel is a change-up hitter,” Edwards said. “We’ve got to get him the ball some more and get him more involved in the offense.
“I had Curtis Martin for five years (with the Jets). He ran the ball 325 times a season and he caught about 50 passes. That’s what you want from Larry.”
While Johnson can’t possibly give the Chiefs more as a runner than he has in the 1 1/2 seasons since he took over as the starter from Priest Holmes, he hasn’t become the receiver that Holmes was.
Johnson has 74 catches in the last two seasons. That matches Holmes’ total from his best receiving season in 2003.
“He has to be more of a pass catcher,” Edwards said. “We can get him the ball on the perimeter, in space, when he becomes a better pass receiver. It benefits our offense and him that he can catch the ball. He’s got to work on his routes. He’s got to run better routes so we can get him in space and in some (favorable) matchups.
“That’s where you save (wear and tear on) the backs. That’s what made Curtis Martin so good. He carried the ball 22, 25 times a game, and then he caught passes. When you get him outside the tackle box he’s in open space. Then he’s up against a linebacker, and that’s what you want. That’s what makes LaDainian Tomlinson so great. They get him in space, and he catches the ball a lot, too. People lose sight of that.”