LJ and Bennett to Share Carries (1 Viewer)

[az_prof]

Given that he missed all preseason and needs to get in shape, and that he carried over 400 times last year, it makes sense that Herm wants to limit LJ's carries. But he makes it sound like it will continue on beyond the first couple of games, which surprises me. As was pointed out in the Ronnie Brown thread, almost every backfield "shares" carries...The question is: how much?

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2007/09/04/he...conference__94/

Q: In baseball they have pitch counts, is LJ [Larry Johnson] on a play count?

EDWARDS: “Yeah, and I have an idea. When we’re home I’ve got an idea that I’m going to make these little cards where people – like they do in baseball – can actually mark it. I’m going to try to patent that. [laughs]

“He’s going to be on a little bit of a leash early. He carried the ball two or three times in St. Louis. So he has to get his legs underneath him. Michael Bennett is healthy and that’s good; it gives us another runner. We feel very comfortable with the runners we have. It’s not all on LJ. It’s tough on one guy and he did a yeoman’s job last year.

“When I took this job I didn’t anticipate him carrying the ball that much. But injuries and losing the quarterback…the last time I checked you give the ball to your best player. He was our best player last year.

“It’s kind of ironic. He’s back, signed a big contract, now he’s not going to get the ball as much. The first thing he’s going to do is come to my office after the third game and ask, ‘why am I not getting the ball?’ That’s the question you will be asking after week four: ‘why won’t you give Larry the ball more?’ Oh really, last year you said we gave him the ball too much last year. He’ll get the ball.”

Q: Is it going to be hard keeping him on a leash?

EDWARDS: “He’ll be fine the first two weeks because he knows he can’t do that. It’s about that fourth week. He knows and we’re protecting Larry. That’s important. The kind of guy he is, after week four I know what he’s going to do. He’s going to come up to me and say, ‘I can carry it a few more times if you need me to.”

“Now, it’s 25 [times] and now it’s 30 and I’m answering the question again: are you giving him the ball too much?”

Q: You can talk about it but, like you say, when the game’s on the line it’s hard to do?

EDWARDS: “It’s hard to do. I went through this with Curtis Martin [with the Jets]. Curtis told me, ‘I don’t get warmed up until I carry the ball at least 22 times.’ Now, if I give him 22 and he’s not warmed up yet and the 22 are pretty good, then I say I’ll give him more so he’s really going to do good. We’ll find out.”

Q: How is Michael Bennett this year compared to last?

EDWARDS: “He’s got his legs underneath him and now more confident in his offense. We know more about Michael Bennett than we did when he first arrived in training camp and got nicked and couldn’t play a lot. Then he got nicked again and it was one of those deals. I think we saw a little glimpse of him Thanksgiving against Denver last year; you saw what he could bring to the table. He’s been involved in the offense all off-season; he’s gotten a lot of reps due to the fact that Larry wasn’t in training camp. All of a sudden you’ve got some guys who have played in the system more.”

 

[dickey moe]

85%/15% AT MOST.

 

[Gr00vus]

The first thing he’s going to do is come to my office after the third game and ask, ‘why am I not getting the ball?’ That’s the question you will be asking after week four: ‘why won’t you give Larry the ball more?’ Oh really, last year you said we gave him the ball too much last year. He’ll get the ball.”

Watched hard knocks Sunday night. Every time I hear Edwards speak I wonder, did he inspire Jackie Childs or did Edwards learn how to speak by watching Jackie Childs. Read the above quote - now imagine he's Jackie Childs.Anyway, he's talking about 25 to 30 carries being "too much" here. I think Larry's going to get the ball plenty - more than enough to be the #2 or #3 back in the NFL at the end of the year. Understand this, he's a monster, and he IS the offense. He's this decades incarnation of Earl Campbell. If anything I'd wager that Mr. Glass breaks down again if he has to deal with more than 5 touches or so a game.

 

[shadow2k]

If LJ averages 25 carries per game this year, that's 400 carries. They ran the ball 513 times last year. If they run on avg, 32 times per game, I'd guess Bennett gets 5-8 of those.

This is basically a non-issue. They aren't "sharing" carries, Bennett is just going to get LJ's leftovers.

 

[TommyGilmore]

The first thing he’s going to do is come to my office after the third game and ask, ‘why am I not getting the ball?’ That’s the question you will be asking after week four: ‘why won’t you give Larry the ball more?’ Oh really, last year you said we gave him the ball too much last year. He’ll get the ball.”

Watched hard knocks Sunday night. Every time I hear Edwards speak I wonder, did he inspire Jackie Childs or did Edwards learn how to speak by watching Jackie Childs. Read the above quote - now imagine he's Jackie Childs.

"Who told you to get the ball? I didn't tell you to get the ball. Why'd you get the ball? Oh-oh-oh, so a maestro tells you to get the ball and you do it? I'll tell you what this is -- it's a public humiliation!"

 

[az_prof]

If LJ averages 25 carries per game this year, that's 400 carries. They ran the ball 513 times last year. If they run on avg, 32 times per game, I'd guess Bennett gets 5-8 of those. This is basically a non-issue. They aren't "sharing" carries, Bennett is just going to get LJ's leftovers.

Maybe so. I don't know; did he say that LJ would get 25 a game? It sounded non-commital on a number. What struck me was the comment that LJ and reporters are going to be asking him in game 4 why he isn't getting more carries. That tells me that he isn't going to get 400 again this year. It's going to be less. How much? Who knows.

 

[Jason Wood]

If by share carries, he means Bennett will a series or two early before LJ reminds Herm and everyone of just how much better he is than anyone else on that team, then yes, they're going to "share carries."

 

[Banger]

Sharing carries means that Bennett will get more than 36 carries this year. Non story.

 

[joffer]

gotta love Herm

O/U on the number of games until LJ tops 30 carries is 4. I'll take the under.

 

[shadow2k]

gotta love Herm O/U on the number of games until LJ tops 30 carries is 4. I'll take the under.

He only hit 30+ in 6 games last year. If you tell people LJ will only get 20-25 carries per game, they'll freak out. That's 320-400 and the end of the year.

 

[Rovers]

Hermie:

“When I took this job I didn’t anticipate him carrying the ball that much. But injuries and losing the quarterback…the last time I checked you give the ball to your best player. He was our best player last year.

Yeah, well Herm, in case no one told you yet, he's still the best player you have. And you will run him into the ground. But, be sure to tell us how honesty is the single most important virtue a man can have.... preach, baby, preach! Then give the 800 number for donations.

 

[mad sweeney]

Hermie:“When I took this job I didn’t anticipate him carrying the ball that much. But injuries and losing the quarterback…the last time I checked you give the ball to your best player. He was our best player last year.Yeah, well Herm, in case no one told you yet, he's still the best player you have. And you will run him into the ground. But, be sure to tell us how honesty is the single most important virtue a man can have.... preach, baby, preach! Then give the 800 number for donations.

He would've been the best player last year even if Green had a career pro bowl year.

 

[Judge Smails]

Guess I don't understand why Larry can't be close to 100% week one. I mean, he's not coming off an injury. He worked out like a madman in the offseason. Been in pads for two weeks now (close to 3 by the time the season starts). Why shouldn't he be ready to pound it this weekend?

 

[nygiants56]

The first thing he’s going to do is come to my office after the third game and ask, ‘why am I not getting the ball?’ That’s the question you will be asking after week four: ‘why won’t you give Larry the ball more?’ Oh really, last year you said we gave him the ball too much last year. He’ll get the ball.”

Watched hard knocks Sunday night. Every time I hear Edwards speak I wonder, did he inspire Jackie Childs or did Edwards learn how to speak by watching Jackie Childs. Read the above quote - now imagine he's Jackie Childs.Anyway, he's talking about 25 to 30 carries being "too much" here. I think Larry's going to get the ball plenty - more than enough to be the #2 or #3 back in the NFL at the end of the year. Understand this, he's a monster, and he IS the offense. He's this decades incarnation of Earl Campbell. If anything I'd wager that Mr. Glass breaks down again if he has to deal with more than 5 touches or so a game.

who told you about the balm, I didn't tell you put the balm on..'

 

[nygiants56]

this whole thread is a non-factor. Herm uses coachspeak more than any other coach in the NFL. He's a ra-ra guy, glass is half full kind of guy..

but when the dust settles, LJ will have rushed over 370 times in 2007..



and,not for nothing, when did Mike Bennett EVER matter, anyways?! its like you'd love to interview him , just to say ' hey, so who are you , again?! what's your name?!?!'

he couldn't be the best man in a whorehouse with a fist full of 20's.

 

[SteelerMurf]

This is funny, I have read about 5 threads around the internet on "sharing carries". LJ and Bennett, Ronnie and Chatman, Betts and Portis.

When doesn't a RB share carries?

Everyone knows LJ isn't going to carry the ball as much as last season and everyone thinks this is a good thing so he lasts the full year and is fresh in games.

Now this stretches to some kind of RBBC? Bennett will get a couple carries, get stuffed at the line a couple times...and LJ will be in the game. Herm isn't gonna lose a game cause he wants to "ease" LJ into it. LT and SJax carried the ball zero times in preseason...anyone think they will be eased in? It's not like LJ was sitting on the couch, he was at a facility specifically to get athletes ready during holdouts, etc.

By the way, LT shares carries with Turner...he will this year and he did last year

no story, move along

 

[hellz_fireflies]

Every starting RB in the NFL comes out once in a while for a break..if not they be dead by 3rd week.

 

[gregjcross]

Old Herm, loves to hear himself talk, and talk and talk. I think LJ gets a few less carries because their passing game fails to move the chains. Mike Bennet will never change

This is funny, I have read about 5 threads around the internet on "sharing carries". LJ and Bennett, Ronnie and Chatman, Betts and Portis.When doesn't a RB share carries?Everyone knows LJ isn't going to carry the ball as much as last season and everyone thinks this is a good thing so he lasts the full year and is fresh in games.Now this stretches to some kind of RBBC? Bennett will get a couple carries, get stuffed at the line a couple times...and LJ will be in the game. Herm isn't gonna lose a game cause he wants to "ease" LJ into it. LT and SJax carried the ball zero times in preseason...anyone think they will be eased in? It's not like LJ was sitting on the couch, he was at a facility specifically to get athletes ready during holdouts, etc.By the way, LT shares carries with Turner...he will this year and he did last yearno story, move along

 

[BigRed]

Bash on this as "coachspeak" all you want but some of us LJ owners are nervous as hell about him this year.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

Bash on this as "coachspeak" all you want but some of us LJ owners are nervous as hell about him this year.

I'm not nervous at all.

 

[BigRed]

I said some.

 

[One]

Bash on this as "coachspeak" all you want but some of us LJ owners are nervous as hell about him this year.

speak for yourself. he's probably the last guy I'm worried about on any of my teams.

 

[BigRed]

OK I'm the only friggin LJ owner anywhere who's worried. Happy? geez

 

[Arnold. S]

Bennett will fumble on one of his carries in week 1, and we'll not hear about this again

 

[BigRed]

thas what I'm talking 'bout

 

[el-gato-grande]

OK I'm the only friggin LJ owner anywhere who's worried. Happy? geez

No, you're not the only owner who is worried. But, finding flaws with LJ's situation has become a cottage industry on this board. At some point, most of us have said "enough already". Let's play the games and then we'll see. Bottom line - he's a great RB with a crappy supporting cast. But, he isn't the first RB in that situation and won't be the last. Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and OJ Simpson just to name a few...

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

Seems like just about everyone is discounting what Herm said. Maybe you're all correct. I don't own LJ and I'm not a Chiefs fan, so this is just a general-interest story for me. If you paid that much for a guy, why not use him as much as possible? I'm not saying to purposely over-use him, but why have the mindset that you have to limit anything (outside of getting him into football shape)?

That being said, he sounds like he wants Bennett to play a role. Maybe it's all coach-speak but it seems clear to me. It also seems clear that it's a bad idea.

 

[One]

OK I'm the only friggin LJ owner anywhere who's worried. Happy? geez

...okay, maybe a little.

 

[Dexter Manley]

If this was a couple years ago, and Herm was talking about LJ and Priest, I'd pay attention. But this rb situation, like 90% of the rb situations that HC's talk about w/regards to splitting carries, is all talk.

What it comes down to is this: LJ will get spelled by Bennett as planned (most of the time) in the first half, and when he is out of breath throughout the game. But once you're in the 2nd half and trying to win football games with everything on the line (reminder: it's a 16 game season!), if you think Herm or any other coach is going to take out his franchise rb because he doesn't want to give him extra wear and tear so he can perserve him for the season and/or lengthen his career, you're deluding yourself.

 

[Mr. Fusion]

I hope he gets fewer carries in the first few games to make the LJ owner in my leagues nervous. I have Gore in 2 leagues and Parker in my 3rd and would love to make a move for LJ.

 

[SteelerMurf]

If this was a couple years ago, and Herm was talking about LJ and Priest, I'd pay attention. But this rb situation, like 90% of the rb situations that HC's talk about w/regards to splitting carries, is all talk. What it comes down to is this: LJ will get spelled by Bennett as planned (most of the time) in the first half, and when he is out of breath throughout the game. But once you're in the 2nd half and trying to win football games with everything on the line (reminder: it's a 16 game season!), if you think Herm or any other coach is going to take out his franchise rb because he doesn't want to give him extra wear and tear so he can perserve him for the season and/or lengthen his career, you're deluding yourself.