FYI: On Larry Johnson (1 Viewer)

[The Jacket]

The Chiefs have lost four games. In only one of them did Johnson get more than 18 carries, and the Chiefs lost that one 9-6 in overtime in a game they led throughout and should've won (in large part thanks to LJ's 126 yards at 4.7 per clip).

In the other three losses, LJ carried the ball 17, 15 and 18 times. The Chiefs couldn't establish the running game and, with Huard as the quarterback, couldn't win the game.

I think fantasy owners will continue to smile this year because him getting carries equals Chiefs winning. They're unbeatable at home when he busts for 100+, and in only one of their seven wins this season has Johnson carried it less than 27 times (which was a game where he had 106 receiving yards that greatly influenced the outcome).

 

[Ilov80s]

Larry Johnson is Earl Campbell II.

 

[smcindoe]

I think fantasy owners will continue to smile this year because him getting carries equals Chiefs winning.

Or does the Chiefs winning equal him getting carries?Very different ideas.

 

[Islander]

How is LJ/Chiefs different than other teams? Most teams have more run plays in games they won than in the games they lost. And most teams have a greater run% in games they won than in games they lost.

 

[realamerican85]

Larry Johnson is Earl Campbell II.

That means enjoy the ride while it lasts... I am thoroughly enjoying this ride though. The great news is that he has picked up the pace over the last month and a half and while it might be a bit much to ask for the same second half as last year I can cross my fingers and say it isn't out of the question/

 

[Rounders]

What's going to be the most interesting about this is to see how many carries he finishes with and how that effects his status in 2007.....IIRC didn't Yudkin do a study on the number of carries RB have in n-1 to analyze their impact???

I don't think the results were too positive....yeah yeah, I know that's next year, but when you are eliminated from the playoffs that's all you can look forward too.

 

[The Jacket]

Or does the Chiefs winning equal him getting carries?Very different ideas.

It does. But I'd argue that the Chiefs win when LJ is getting carries and running well (see the game against Denver, San Diego, etc.); they're not very good when he isn't, and that doesn't apply to some teams.Obviously every team will be at its best when their star players are playing well and getting touches, but I see other teams win more frequently without them than the Chiefs.

 

[Islander]

Or does the Chiefs winning equal him getting carries?

Very different ideas.

It does. But I'd argue that the Chiefs win when LJ is getting carries and running well (see the game against Denver, San Diego, etc.); they're not very good when he isn't, and that doesn't apply to some teams.Obviously every team will be at its best when their star players are playing well and getting touches, but I see other teams win more frequently without them than the Chiefs.

So which teams have more runs when they lose than when they win? I don't buy it until I see some facts to back this up. I would say almost all teams run more in their wins than their losses.

 

[HULLOBUDMAN]

Think about how much better this team would have been if Roaf wouldn't have screwed them with the last minute retirement.

 

[redman]

Think about how much better this team would have been if Roaf wouldn't have screwed them with the last minute retirement.

Look at last year's stats - Roaf's absence had zero effect upon LJ's effectiveness. I'm also not aware of (but admittedly haven't studied) any affect his absence had upon the passing game. This was the deciding factor for me in drafting LJ first overall this season.

 

[The Jacket]

So which teams have more runs when they lose than when they win?

I haven't once said that this is the case; I don't know why you continue to make out as if I said the Chiefs are the only team to run more in a win than a loss.I'm not saying that. I'm saying that the Chiefs win when Larry Johnson gets carries, and they lose when he doesn't. I added that there aren't many teams, if any, that rely more on its star player.

 

[HULLOBUDMAN]

Think about how much better this team would have been if Roaf wouldn't have screwed them with the last minute retirement.

Look at last year's stats - Roaf's absence had zero effect upon LJ's effectiveness. I'm also not aware of (but admittedly haven't studied) any affect his absence had upon the passing game. This was the deciding factor for me in drafting LJ first overall this season.

Look at the run defense of teams they played in Roaf's absense. It is ridiculous to think that loosing a pro bowl tackle would not have made the run and pass game better. I wouldn't even know how to look this up but from watching all the Chief's games this year it sure does seem like LJ is not nearly as effective on the stretch play as he was last year.

 

[-OZ-]

... I added that there aren't many teams, if any, that rely more on its star player.

Let's seeColtsCarolinaSan Diego New EnglandGreen BayYou're right, not many, and of those, only one other relies as heavy on it's RB. Although they might be ok with Rivers, Gates and Turner.

 

[redman]

Think about how much better this team would have been if Roaf wouldn't have screwed them with the last minute retirement.

Look at last year's stats - Roaf's absence had zero effect upon LJ's effectiveness. I'm also not aware of (but admittedly haven't studied) any affect his absence had upon the passing game. This was the deciding factor for me in drafting LJ first overall this season.

Look at the run defense of teams they played in Roaf's absense. It is ridiculous to think that loosing a pro bowl tackle would not have made the run and pass game better. I wouldn't even know how to look this up but from watching all the Chief's games this year it sure does seem like LJ is not nearly as effective on the stretch play as he was last year.

Well, LJ's averaging a full yard less per carry than he was last year (5.2 vs. 4.2; even if you only look at his starts last year), so there's certainly something different. However, as others have said you have much more conservative play calling and they were also missing Trent Green for much of the year. I have no doubt that Roaf's absence has contributed, but there are other factors at work. As for last year's performance in Roaf's absence, you're correct that those three starts he had in weeks 9-11 vs. the Raiders, Bills and Texans (with the 25th, 31st and 32nd ranked run defenses) weren't exactly grueling tests for the Chiefs, however what I took note of when deciding to draft him was that his performance as measured by ypc and TD output (and receiving yardage too) was consistent with his efforts against other teams. In other words, his numbers did not become inflated from playing those teams, nor did they drop off.

This year has borne out that LJ's a stud regardless.

 

[HULLOBUDMAN]

Think about how much better this team would have been if Roaf wouldn't have screwed them with the last minute retirement.

Look at last year's stats - Roaf's absence had zero effect upon LJ's effectiveness. I'm also not aware of (but admittedly haven't studied) any affect his absence had upon the passing game. This was the deciding factor for me in drafting LJ first overall this season.

Look at the run defense of teams they played in Roaf's absense. It is ridiculous to think that loosing a pro bowl tackle would not have made the run and pass game better. I wouldn't even know how to look this up but from watching all the Chief's games this year it sure does seem like LJ is not nearly as effective on the stretch play as he was last year.

Well, LJ's averaging a full yard less per carry than he was last year (5.2 vs. 4.2; even if you only look at his starts last year), so there's certainly something different. However, as others have said you have much more conservative play calling and they were also missing Trent Green for much of the year. I have no doubt that Roaf's absence has contributed, but there are other factors at work. As for last year's performance in Roaf's absence, you're correct that those three starts he had in weeks 9-11 vs. the Raiders, Bills and Texans (with the 25th, 31st and 32nd ranked run defenses) where exactly grueling tests for the Chiefs, however what I took note of when deciding to draft him was that his performance as measured by ypc and TD output (and receiving yardage too) was consistent with his efforts against other teams. In other words, his numbers did not become inflated from playing those teams, nor did they drop off.

This year has borne out that LJ's a stud regardless.

I'm not arguing that fact. He made some pretty good linebacker whiff last night.

 

[The Jacket]

Think about how much better this team would have been if Roaf wouldn't have screwed them with the last minute retirement.

Indeed.And if they hadn't got raped by injuries most of the season.

 

[Otis]

Think about how much better this team would have been if Roaf wouldn't have screwed them with the last minute retirement.

Look at last year's stats - Roaf's absence had zero effect upon LJ's effectiveness. I'm also not aware of (but admittedly haven't studied) any affect his absence had upon the passing game. This was the deciding factor for me in drafting LJ first overall this season.

Look at the run defense of teams they played in Roaf's absense. It is ridiculous to think that loosing a pro bowl tackle would not have made the run and pass game better. I wouldn't even know how to look this up but from watching all the Chief's games this year it sure does seem like LJ is not nearly as effective on the stretch play as he was last year.

Well, LJ's averaging a full yard less per carry than he was last year (5.2 vs. 4.2; even if you only look at his starts last year), so there's certainly something different. However, as others have said you have much more conservative play calling and they were also missing Trent Green for much of the year. I have no doubt that Roaf's absence has contributed, but there are other factors at work. As for last year's performance in Roaf's absence, you're correct that those three starts he had in weeks 9-11 vs. the Raiders, Bills and Texans (with the 25th, 31st and 32nd ranked run defenses) where exactly grueling tests for the Chiefs, however what I took note of when deciding to draft him was that his performance as measured by ypc and TD output (and receiving yardage too) was consistent with his efforts against other teams. In other words, his numbers did not become inflated from playing those teams, nor did they drop off.

This year has borne out that LJ's a stud regardless.

I'm not arguing that fact. He made some pretty good linebacker whiff last night.

I don't think there is a back in the NFL who is as big and powerful and yet quick on his feet as LJ. He can run through you or right around you. I was amazed to hear on the NFLN last night that LJ has 4.3-something speed. That's sick for a guy his size. I think the only back in the NFL who comes close to those measurables at that size is Ronnie Brown, and he doesn't have near LJ's instincts at the position.

 

[joffer]

I was amazed to hear on the NFLN last night that LJ has 4.3-something speed.

sounds like one more thing the NFLN got wrong last night.

 

[One]

Think about how much better this team would have been if Roaf wouldn't have screwed them with the last minute retirement.

Look at last year's stats - Roaf's absence had zero effect upon LJ's effectiveness. I'm also not aware of (but admittedly haven't studied) any affect his absence had upon the passing game. This was the deciding factor for me in drafting LJ first overall this season.

Look at the run defense of teams they played in Roaf's absense. It is ridiculous to think that loosing a pro bowl tackle would not have made the run and pass game better. I wouldn't even know how to look this up but from watching all the Chief's games this year it sure does seem like LJ is not nearly as effective on the stretch play as he was last year.

Well, LJ's averaging a full yard less per carry than he was last year (5.2 vs. 4.2; even if you only look at his starts last year), so there's certainly something different. However, as others have said you have much more conservative play calling and they were also missing Trent Green for much of the year. I have no doubt that Roaf's absence has contributed, but there are other factors at work. As for last year's performance in Roaf's absence, you're correct that those three starts he had in weeks 9-11 vs. the Raiders, Bills and Texans (with the 25th, 31st and 32nd ranked run defenses) where exactly grueling tests for the Chiefs, however what I took note of when deciding to draft him was that his performance as measured by ypc and TD output (and receiving yardage too) was consistent with his efforts against other teams. In other words, his numbers did not become inflated from playing those teams, nor did they drop off.

This year has borne out that LJ's a stud regardless.

I'm not arguing that fact. He made some pretty good linebacker whiff last night.

I don't think there is a back in the NFL who is as big and powerful and yet quick on his feet as LJ. He can run through you or right around you. I was amazed to hear on the NFLN last night that LJ has 4.3-something speed. That's sick for a guy his size. I think the only back in the NFL who comes close to those measurables at that size is Ronnie Brown, and he doesn't have near LJ's instincts at the position.

But damn.. have you ever seen so many ankle tackles in ONE night on ONE guy? There shoulda' been 2 more TD's in the LJ basket last night. ...but I'm not complaining.

 

[MLBrandow]

Larry Johnson is Earl Campbell II.

If by Earl Campbell you mean Jim Brown, then yes.

 

[dotman]

It's like LJ was born to run the ball and that's all he cares about. And I love watching him play. But I think 2 more years of this and he could turn into Eddie George. No one's body can take that nowadays.