Since the bye week, Chris Johnson has been averaging 147 yards a game at 6.0 yards a pop. But in the last two games, he has averaged a human-like 4.2 yards per carry with 115 yard per game average and 2 TDs, with both TDs coming in their routing of St. Louis last week.
Now I am only posing this question, but WHAT IF Johnson is hitting that proverbial "Sophomore Slump"? Or at least, a Sophomore wall? Johnson already has 21 more carries this year than last at 272. He is also of slight build, weighing in at around 200 pounds. With the carries, and not that he takes the big hits, his body could be slowing down a bit. At least, that is what I hope. This is something to consider, because in college, his highest number of carries was 236 (in his Sr. year). That was his only 200+ carry season. The year before, he carried only 78 times, presumably because of injury. His other two years he carried 134 and 176 respectively.
Last week, Johnson had an injury to his ankle, and still had 28 carries! He also is dangerous scoring a TD out of the backfield, having two receiving TDs this year with both going over 60 yards. But those are his only two. He is not entirely dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield considering his stats are skewed by one long break. For example, his last game, he had 3 catches for 69 yards, but one of those went for a 66 yard score. But with Chris Johnson, he is dangerous to break the long run at anytime.
That's the problem with Johnson, a presumably broken play can turn into big yardage gained. Miami really has to be ready for anything. They should be aggressive, but also maintain discipline in their reads because not only Chris Johnson, but also Vince Young can turn broken plays into big gains. In fact, on the 66 yard catch for a TD, Johnson admitted that it was a missed assignment. Granted, it was against St. Louis, but still, this is the NFL.
I think Miami is lucky to have both Chris Johnson and Vince Young a bit dinged up a bit this week. It could mean the difference between a 66 yard TD on a blown assignment or a 15 yard screen. I do not doubt these guys will play hard, and Miami's D-line has to bring it because their O-line is pretty damned good.
Although Chris Johnson is amazing, he cannot do it alone. Our OLB's will have to do a good job at setting the edge, and our DBs and ILBs will have to be ready to stick their noses into the trenches.Their TEs are not really a big threat, although, Bo Scaife is averaging about 5 catches and 60+ yards a game over the past 3 games. They are also not a big scoring threat, with only 2 TDs between Scaife and Crumpler (Crumpler scored his first TD last week). It is probable that Miami will cram the box, but it also important for our safeties to be smart. Miami will also have to concentrate on tackling. One missed tackle could mean a TD with Johnson.
I am confident Miami will come in this game with a good gameplan, but I also know it will probably be Miami's toughest challenge during this 3-game stretch playing on the road in Nashville. I do not think Miami can do too much to really stop Johnson, and I suspect he will get his 100+ yards and a TD, but if Miami can limit him to that, then maybe we have a chance. I also think Miami can help by scoring quickly and often to try to limit the amount of carries Johnson gets. He also gets stronger as the game goes on. So Miami's best defense against Chris Johnson might be its offense. Pair that with both Chris and Vince not being 100%, Miami might just get lucky.
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Best way to stop him is.... Oh wait no one has figured it out yet. He plays behind a good Oline and gets solid QB play. I just hope we can get up big and force them to start passing alot.
Fin-Omenal likes this. -
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They have won less than they have lost games. Teams have figured out how to do it, and so should we. The Phins are a stronger team down the stretch, and I think our momentum will get us through. Henne will have a huge day, and look for Ricky and Hartline to burn these guys. Our D will OWN!
dolfan7171 likes this. -
Years Ago...
There was a Bruce Willis movie called the "Last Boyscout"...
The opening scene was a football game in which the RB was running for a TD in the rain, he pulled out a gun and shot the opposing teams p;ayers trying to tackle him...
Perhaps we should implore that strategy against Chris Johnson....
Ok Bad choice but I had to say it, we were ALL thinking it
Just saying....:knucks: -
BuckeyeKing and dolfan7171 like this.
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Actually if we rely on the same strategy we employed to slow down the Colts running game we will stand a decent chance. Johnson is not a between the tackles runner - in that he doesn't run many plays directly into the A gap. He will cut back inside, but predominantly if he runs inside it is via a cut back, not like Ronnie. The Titans have tailored their ground game to fit his abilities and therefore run the stretch play a great deal, and operate a zone blocking scheme.
As with most teams that run that scheme, we need to get into a hole, but not all the way through it as the play flows outside. I'm not saying you don't shoot gaps, but that you do so judiciously. Otherwise, you naturally make a cutback lane and off the runner goes.
We will see the stretch play at least 7-9 times this week, so we had better make sure we defend it properly.dolfan7171 likes this. -
Maybe we can trade for Matt Roth, the magical edge-setting elf. Without Roth's unique ability to set the edge, we don't stand a chance!!!!
Okay, that will be the last time I bash Roth and his delusional supporters.
Posted via Mobile DeviceFin-Omenal likes this. -
Honestly?
Play Clemons and Jason Allen a bit more to have more speed out on the field, imho our Dline can handle their oline, but Johnson is so quick imho having more athletes on the field will help to contain him.gunn34, dolfan7171 and Delfin Alejandro like this. -
dolfan7171 likes this.
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The good thing we have going for us is that we typically haven't allowed RBs to beat us this year. That being said, those other RBs haven't been named Chris Johnson. I'm more afraid of Chris Johnson catching passes out of the backfield than I am Chris Johnson running the ball, although both are scary.
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Chris Johnson will gain over 100 yards. Thats not the problem. Can the #30 pass defense stop Chad Henne. I would take the gun in a street fight any day over the knife. We will get back to the 30+ points offense this weekend. I have faith in our defense to slow the titans down.
1. Chris Johnson, TEN 1626
2. Steven Jackson, STL 1279
3. Adrian Peterson, MIN 1200
4. Thomas Jones, NYJ 1167
5. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC 1136
4 of the top 5 in the NFL are obviously not the answer for their teams. It takes more than having the best RB in the league.dolfan7171 and MonstBlitz like this. -
So long as we don't have to play on a slippery field and our guys can keep a grip on the ball, I think we stand a pretty strong chance.
Were this not essentially a playoff game I don't know if I'd be as worried about it as a fan, but at this point every game is a potential playoff ender.dolfan7171 likes this. -
I agree that we should use Bell a lot more during this game. He is one of our quickest guys. Remember the game against the Pats, he made tackles from behind running past both Vontae and Smith. He caught Mr. Welker to prevent 6 points. I think using him will be key in this game.
dolfan7171 likes this. -
Our issue is gonna be can either Ayodele or Crowder get out to the edge? Or, will it be a small advantage in that there will be someone still in the middle if he does cut back. -
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OLBS need to contain.
Im so glad Vontae isn't tentative when it comes to tackling, they run ALOT of screens, sweeps and stretches.dolfan7171 likes this. -
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dolfan7171 likes this.
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I think the most important football technique we have to practice this week is tackling because miss tackles on Chris Johnson/Vince Young will turn into chunk yardage.
Fin-Omenal, dolfan7171 and Killerphins like this. -
I know how to do it. Find out where his breakfast is being prepared and get someone to mix a half pound of exlax in it .....
Otherwise lets hope to contain him because I doubt we can flat out stop him.jetssuck likes this. -
wrap up and tackle at initial contact no missed tackles
this is a must against cj -
The best way to stop him is to put up some really quick points against this team. We need to get up 14-21 points quick and make the Titans have to throw the ball down field. If you can get up on these guys they can't use CJ. Just like the Colts in week 5, they got up on them and CJ only got 9 carries. A few weeks later against the Pats same thing, only got 13 carries.
The other is just like the poster above said, you have to wrap up and tackle on first contact.dolfan7171 likes this. -
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honestly, theres not many ways to stop him right now with the way he's playing. Im not saying its impossible because i sure hope we can do it. I think our best bet is to limit him as much as possible. If he has 100 yrds or less and only 1 TD we may have put ourselves in a good shot to win the game.
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IMO, Chris Johnson is scarier running than catching the ball out of the backfield, although, it could just be scheme on the Titans part. -
I have conflicting interests. I am in the semi-finals of my fantasy league, and I am playing a buddy of mine who I refuse to lose to. Chris Johnson is on my fantasy team. I want him to do well, but I obviously want the Dolphins to win.
Hopefully he can do really well and the Dolphins win? -
hi,
titans fan here. first off.. good luck this week. should be a tough fight.
second, you don't really stop chris johnson... but there are a few things that help.
1. if kerry collins plays... you have a shot of containing him.
teams know that when KFC (kerry f***ing collins) is in the game all you have to do is blitz. blitz the run, blitz the pass... whatever, and our offense goes backward. Earlier in the season, CJ would break a long one, maybe 2 per game. it makes his stats look great but the offense usually goes nowhere with KFC outside of the huge play or 2 CJ will bring.
2. if you get a lead.. maybe. but the advantage of a guy like CJ is, when we play from behind and you expect pass, it just opens larger running lanes. CJ, if you've seen him, can score or get out of bounds about as quick as any passing play.
3. the most effective method i've seen is to play disciplined and not overly-aggressive. the last colts game saw CJ get about 120.. but the feeling was he had been stopped. the colts sacrificed a yard or two just to make sure he stayed in front of them. it worked in a sense... not pretty, but effective.
4. catching the ball he is much more effective with vince. but if you have a man right at him when he catches he usually doesn't do much. if he is open i give it 50/50 TD odds.
your best bet is hoping that KFC plays and blitzing the hell out of us.
if vince plays, i don't care who you are, CJ's going to get about 140 rushing. Vince helps open lanes and freezes the LB's enough to get CJ the first couple of yards... very vital for a speed back. Vince may not run much this week... which could help your LB reads. But his passing is better than KFCs has been all season.
and CJ does run in the A-gaps. In fact it drives us crazy seeing how much we run him there... sometimes he bounces it and gets yards, but about 3 times a game he'll make you hold your breath because he'll get 1-on-1 with a safety about 8 yards down field.
again, good luck and here's to hoping whomever wins this game can sneak into the playoffs.:up:Colmax, Fin-Omenal, NJFINSFAN1 and 6 others like this. -
I hopes CJ gets 140+ he only needs like 390 yards to have 2,000. the kids deserves it. Everyone said who is Chris Johnson in the draft. now everyone is saying ,how do we stop CJ?
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Please be respectful to the nice Titan fans coming to visit.:wink2: They are finding us on there own. I have stopped visiting others sites any more before our games.
Fin-Omenal likes this. -
NIce post Titanruss. KFC...funniest thing i've heard all month. I really hope the Chicken man is playing. Even the option play vince/CJ run scares the hell out of me. It would be tough for any defense to stop.
I saw the rams had quiet a few series where they penetrated the line and CJ was pretty ineffective. But then they lost gap control or no spy coverage on him for the screen pass, and CJ got it in space and good bye he's gone.
I think the colts strategy would be best. Let him get his yards but play him in front of you. Just prevent him from being a game breaker.
Another thing is our LB's and DB's need to have their feet moving. If your caught for a second flat footed he's gone. The tracking needs to be fluid and with contain in mind. If we get overagressive and miss a tackle. TD.
Should be a fun game. Tough challenges for both teams. HOpefully it's a great game with no injuries. Thanks for posting Titanruss. -
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Looking at his production, one might surmise that, in his last two games, his production has been very good for average backs, but not Johnson-esque. He is putting many miles on his legs and I wonder if that is contributing to the "low" numbers?
He also has an ankle injury, so that might be the reason, but the Titans know he has an ankle issue and still gave him 28 carries last game. Was that necessary, esp. against the Rams???
Like I said, his last two games, he is averaging a very average 4.2 yards/carry. I wonder if this is something to note or just lower statistical games for Johnson?
Yet, if you had read it in its entirety, I would not have had to elaborate (again)...... -
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alright the dolphins will torch the titans D. i think YB and Gibril can contain Johnson (not shut down, just contain). as long as the line protects Henne we will be fine. by the way i am going to this game (3rd row endzone seats) how sweet is that!!!
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