NFL Primetime's take on our troubles
 

According to ESPN a lot of our problem is LJ. He looks complacent and "he's not stroking it in there like used to." They mentioned his new contract, too. Recommended benching him if that's the effort he gives.

Obviously it's not ALL him, but if you watch the plays he looks timid. He's not always HITTING holes. How responsible is LJ for our rushing game?

He is getting no blocking at all. I had endzone seats Sunday and the one thing I could see real well was there was no holes for LJ to hit. RBs with no blocking look like this.

I watch alot of Raider's games because a friend of mine is a fan. The past 2 years Lamont Jordan danced, ran into the back of lineman, etc just like LJ is doing now. This season Jordan has some blocking, is hitting his holes and as a result he was leading the NFL in rushing before his injury.

LJ isn't the problem IMO

but once in the open field, lately it's been the first contact that brings him down...

I think there's some truth to that. Nobody could have run well with the way our O-Line played yesterday, the few touches he got, and Jacksonville's excellent defense, but he does look different this season.

No holes = no yards unless your name is Barry Sanders.

So last year LJ is praised for learning to be so patient from Priest. Waiting for the hole to open up, and hitting hard when it does. Now he's trying the same thing, but the holes are not there, and it's his fault.

Remind me again why I should care what ESPN says?

Who gives a rat's ass what Merrill Hoge has to say about our squad?

Yesterday was a perfect example of LJ's lack of effort when compared to the Jacksonville backs. They'd fall forward for 2 yards, and LJ would fall down for 0.

He isn't running hard, and he isn't bouncing outside when there's no hole for him to hit. He's stuttering up to the pile half-assed and laying down.

He just got a PHAT new contract. What did you guys expect? Another 400 carry and possible 2000 yard season?

What bothers me most is that he will blame the line and create problems in the locker room.

I say activate Holmes and let LJ ride the pine for a few games and piss him off good and maybe we will see some of the OLD LJ back after some pouting time on the bench?

I agree. Maybe it was the hold out, I don't know but his timing seems like it is really off. Some of the failed rushing attempts you can put on the O-line but LJ is not running the same.

Except when he is hit 3 yds. deep in the backfield.

He use to charge the hole so fast he busted thru a small opening, now he go thru the motions. He wants a bigger hole to drill thru. He should treat that OL like like sex, see a small hole and drill it.

That is what I have been seeing exactly.

Never happen. The old Larry was pissed because he wasn't getting a chance to show he needed a new contract. The only thing he's missing by not playing now is street cred.

If Larry was half-assing it, why would he care so much after the game? I don't think he's half-assing it.

I really don't know how much of it's LJ, but if he isn't running effectively, he is worthless, because he is a liability in the passing game.

Bingo

what ****ing holes?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I think he's playing hurt. Even Herm was saying he wasn't 100% during the week and was considering not playing LJ.

Except that he's caught every catchable pass thrown to him this year.

Obviously you, your posting in a thread you claim not to care about. lol

I like hearing other peoples take on what they think is wrong.

Reggie Bush is a better pass blocker than LJ.

He's hitting them, but they're NOT there! Shoot, I'd be timid too if I kept runing into a ****ING brick wall. NONE of our RB's can run. Did they all just forget how? That tells me it's the twisted $hit Pile we call an O-line that's mostly to blame. Plus, if the single back set isn't working - we don't even have a legit NFL FB on the team. :cuss:

Your post was relevent, but this one is too. He does look complacent, and I for one am thrilled he's been called out by ESPN. Expect better production immediately. Not the numbers we're used too, this line he's running behind put him in this funk. I have a feeling this is the week he comes out now. Thanks ESPN.

ESPN is still lighting him up. Tom Jackson goes on to talk about unnamed players getting fat contracts and letting up, telling them to find new vocations because they're tough to watch. Boomer follows it up immediately by naming LJ. I love it.

It's not necessarily that he's half-assing it, it's that he doesn't seem to be playing with any passion or energy. I'm sure he's trying to get yards, but it's not the same.

Let's see, the Chiefs have a Pro Bowler and one of the best backs in the NFL in LJ and a 2003 Pro Bowler in Michael Bennett. Both RB's cannot get going, both get hit as soon as they touch the ball and both have no holes to run through:

Bennett 18 Att, 49 yards in 5 games

LJ 84 Att, 275 yards in 5 games

I think the problem is the O-line, how can it be LJ?

It's a combination of a bunch of bad elements.

1. The offensive linemen aren't currently suited to the running style Edwards wants to employ.

2. Larry Johnson isn't running with the same tenacity.

3. The playcalling in the earlygoing has been very predictable and has forced the Chiefs to have to deal with concentrated run defense efforts.

I beleive that says it all. Regardless of their effort, when your being hit in the backfield every other play it aint happening.

Pampers Johnson is 90% of the problem.

LJ painted a bull's eye on himself with his hold out and fat contract, he's fair game in the media for that. However, the stats show that the problem is NOT LJ. LJ has nowhere to run and the playcalling hasn't helped him, either.

What's hilarious to me is that Mike Solari was the running game coordinator under Saunders, but he can't coordinate one worth a shit now.

Weiggman is not a legit NFL center anymore. The only holes Welbourn can create are the ones in his arm from his needles.

This right side of the O-line is the worst in the NFL.

i didn't post here

Some would say the reason he got hired is because of KC's offensive line dominance. this appears to be a classic case of the players making the coach look great.

LJ is mailing it in. He's not trying to get yards, just shuffling around looking for the huge holes he used to have and going all PMS when they aren't there.

Back when the LJ vs. Holmes debates started, I used to say LJ was the better back for that line, because he had more top end speed and with those huge holes he could get 10+ yards on runs that Holmes was only getting 5-6 on. Now that our O-line isn't very good we could really use a runner like Holmes - someone that can power through tiny spaces and has quick feet. Not that a Holmes in his prime would be getting 4+ ypc behind this line, but he'd probably get you a good 3-4 ypc instead of this anemic shit diaper boy is putting up.

sad to say, but that's true. While at the game yesterday, inside was plugged, he bounced out to the right, and was met by the CB; rather than turn it up field/initiate contact, he continued to get flushed where he went out of bounds upright.

Michael Bennett has some of the quickest steps in the NFL, is 5'9" and he is getting nailed in the backfield as well. I'm not giving LJ a free pass, but this OL is failing anyone who tries to rush the football.

I think Bob Dole hit the nail on the head!

Yeah, it's Larry Johnson's fault not the asshats who haven't won a playoff game in 14 years up in the luxury boxes.

:rolleyes:

I need to take a break from this team.

Our run blocking is atrocious. Weigman doesn't fit smashmouth football, why do you think the Bears gave up on him? Mcintosh is better than Black, but not by much. I've seen him standing round looking for a player to block rather than intiate a block down field. Waters has had untimely penalties. Welbourn is a big son of a gun, but doesn't execute all of his assignments and Turley has flat out just lost a step. Terry has played better than Turls, but he isn't anything special. Kris Wilson absolutely sucks as a blocking FB and we want to blame LJ for our woes? No rushing TDs in the first five games equates to shitty blocking.

:thumb:

That's a great take.

Kyle Turley was hurt the last two weeks IIRC. I think when he is healthy (haha, yeah right) he is reasonably serviceable, from what I've seen, which is admitedly not much. I think most of what I am upset about is Waters. He is getting beat and getting a lot of penalties. I'm sure a lot of it is coming from this line not being able to win any battles, but he is supposed to be the real deal.

I have been pleased with the pass protection. We have been in A LOT of obvious pass situations, and they have held up. However, watching the run blocking usually leads to this... :cuss: :cuss: :banghead:

Buehler brings up a good point. These guys CAN pass protect. Which begs the question, which RB is better in the draws/delays a la Holmes? Might be a good idea to give Bennett a try in spread formations and see if he can scat/juke some yardage. Other than that, we're hosed in the I-formation.

That's another thing. What's with all these sh*tty swing passes to LJ while he's still in the backfield? Seems like we always call it when the opposing defense is in a zone, and it always goes for a loss. Just so many wasted plays checking down.

I'd rather see LJ run around the lines and catch a ball ten yards down field.

Also reminds me... Consider how when Ty Law played way off their receiver they ran 12 yards, curled and caught. When they were playing off of Bowe, we throw it to him at the line and he has to make a guy miss to get any yardage.

Why can't WE do that?

When there aren't ANY holes for him there's no way you can be productive. It's bad enough that we don't have any holes for him. What's even worse is that this season I am seeing LJ getting tackled in the backfield more than the last 2 seasons combined.

Our running game is a SERIOUS problem. And the way Herm likes to play, if you can't run the football, then forget it you might as just well chalk it up for a loss because we aren't passing it to get back into the game because that's arena league shit.

I hate to say it, but they are doing that because last year, LJ made guys miss when he caught swing passes. This year, he hasn't done that.

Come on, LJ!!! :(

Among other things we are hosed in the I-formation due to the lack of a true fullback

I think it's a combination of both poor run blocking by the line, and LJs attitude isn't helping either. Bad combination if you ask me?

He doesn't run with much authority like he were are used to seeing him doing. But I seriously think this offensive line needs to be retooled in the off-season.

We need a lot more size on that line. Some bigger, meaner, nastier guys without a question. Wiegmann should be gone, and welbourne and turley aren't the answer for our running game.

75% of our line isn't the answer.

Lj is soft, bennett is soft, the line is soft, the playcalling, blocking schemes, coaching all soft. our team thinks the field is a big cushy bed, and it's time for a nap.
Bennett sucked last year, and still sucks.

DING! DING! DING!

I can't blame him all that much since he hasn't exactly had to have tremendous vision in the past due to KC's pretty-darn-solid oline (and just outstanding his first year).

But time and again I've watched as he just plows into the backs of his blockers when there's 20 yards of open field just around the corner.

Maybe he's just not needed that vision and, thus, doesn't have it.

MM
~~:shrug:

When you are going up against a wall of defenders, I think most people would be hesistant. They need to find a way to make him successful. If it takes the pass to set up the run, then f'n do it. But find a way.....


It is extremely difficult for any rb to run against 8 - 9 man fronts.....

The offensive line is no worse than it was last year. Those guys are right, IMO. Larry isn't putting forth the effort that he has in the past.

The line is much worse at run blocking this year. Welbourn is below average at this point in his career without the "B-12". It's a big step down from Shields even though Will had an off year in 2006.

The Colts established a gameplan to beat KC and everybody has copied it. The Chiefs baintrust haven't found a way to adjust yet.